1. On 18 June Congress received Benjamin Franklin’s dispatch and appointed the committee (NA: PCC, No. 185, III, 68; No. 186, fol. 108). In his dispatch, addressed to Robert R. Livingston, secretary for foreign affairs until 5 June 1783, Franklin also mentioned that the king of Denmark and Norway “has a strong desire to have a treaty of friendship and commerce with the United States” (Wharton, Revol. Dipl. Corr description begins Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States (6 vols.; Washington, 1889). description ends ., VI, 377–80). See also Papers of Madison description begins William T. Hutchinson, William M. E. Rachal, et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison (7 vols. to date; Chicago, 1962——). description ends , VI, 224, n. 7; 419, n. 4.

2. 28 September 1782 (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, 1904–37). description ends , XXIII, 610–24; Papers of Madison description begins William T. Hutchinson, William M. E. Rachal, et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison (7 vols. to date; Chicago, 1962——). description ends , V, 167–68; 168, nn. 2, 3; 186–87; 397).

3. Gustavus III.

4. Franklin and his Swedish counterpart, Gustav Filip, Count Creutz, signed the treaty at Paris on 3 April 1783 (Papers of Madison description begins William T. Hutchinson, William M. E. Rachal, et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison (7 vols. to date; Chicago, 1962——). description ends , VI, 338, n. 21; Hunter Miller, ed., Treaties and Other International Acts, II, 123–50).

5. The American instrument of ratification is in French with an English translation entered on the lower part of the respective pages, but only the English version was spread on the journal of Congress (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, 1904–37). description ends , XXIV, 457–77). The original instrument in the Swedish archives is in French only (Hunter Miller, ed., Treaties and Other International Acts, II, 123, 149 n.).

6. Congress delayed ratifying the treaty until 29 July, because on that day, apparently for the first time since 11 July, effective delegations from nine states, the minimum required by Article IX of the Articles of Confederation for adopting a treaty, were in attendance. The omission of the ratifying poll from the journal probably signifies unanimity. Two tallied divisions on the same day indicate only eight states present with at least two delegates each (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, 1904–37). description ends , XXIV, 457, 478–79; Burnett, Letters description begins Edmund C. Burnett, ed., Letters of Members of the Continental Congress (8 vols.; Washington, 1921–36). description ends , VII, 242–43, 249, 265).

The king of Sweden had ratified the treaty on 23 May 1783. Before exchanging ratifications in Paris on 6 February 1784 with Erik Magnus, Baron de Stael-Holstein, the ambassador of Sweden at the court of King Louis XVI of France, Franklin informed de Stael of Congress’ instructions that the terminology in the treaty should be amended so as to delete Treize and Septentrionale from the title Treize États Unis de l’Amérique Septentrionale and to substitute “Delaware” for les Comtês de New-Castle, de Kent et de Sussex sur la Delaware (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, 1904–37). description ends , XXIV, 477; Hunter Miller, ed., Treaties and Other International Acts, II, 123, 149 n.; Wharton, Revol. Dipl. Corr description begins Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States (6 vols.; Washington, 1889). description ends ., VI, 654). See also Burnett, Letters description begins Edmund C. Burnett, ed., Letters of Members of the Continental Congress (8 vols.; Washington, 1921–36). description ends , VII, 256.

7. Under the fourth rule of procedure adopted by Congress on 4 May 1781, the report, as noted in the docket, was “delivered” to Charles Thomson on 24 July 1783. On that day he “Entd.” the report in his records and “read” it to the delegates (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, 1904–37). description ends , XX, 476; XXIV, 477, n. 1). On 29 July the treaty, which comprised most of the report, was debated and ratified (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, 1904–37). description ends , XXIV, 457–77). The balance of the report consisted of “The proclamation.” Nearly two months elapsed before it came again before Congress and “Passed.” As adopted, the wording except for minor variations was what JM had proposed. Instead of “&c,” the proclamation in its final form closed with “at Princeton, this twenty-fifth day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty three, and of our sovereignty and independence the eighth” (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, 1904–37). description ends , XXV, 613–14, 989).