Benjamin Franklin Papers
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Definitive Treaty of Peace between the United States and Great Britain, 3 September 1783

Definitive Treaty of Peace between the United States and Great Britain

DS: Massachusetts Historical Society,2 National Archives (two), Public Record Office; copies: Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives (two.)

Early on the morning of September 3, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and William Temple Franklin rode into Paris carrying four official copies of the treaty that would end the War for American Independence.3 Joined by Adams, they convened at Hartley’s chambers at the Hôtel de York. There the texts were reviewed, and the two secretaries—William Temple Franklin and George Hammond—attested the copies of the commissions that would be appended to them. At half past ten o’clock, the four principals signed the treaties and affixed their seals “with the most perfect cordiality on both sides,” as Hartley wrote. Cordiality may have reigned, but this was not the treaty any of them had hoped for.

Hartley assured the Americans that morning, on Fox’s behalf, that all the points that had been under consideration since the previous spring and any others they might wish to raise would be “immediately resumed in negotiation.”4 In the meantime, they were signing essentially the same document they had signed on November 30, 1782.5 The nine articles of the provisional treaty were retained nearly verbatim, the chief difference being the shift of a portion of text from the end of Article 1 to the beginning of Article 2, where it belonged thematically. The British added a tenth article stipulating standard terms for ratification and dropped the separate article concerning the borders of West Florida. Fox had worried that the Americans would object to the crown’s priority in the preamble he supplied, but they did not.6

Another matter of protocol which caused concern on both sides was the question of gifts. Fox knew that royal portraits were out of the question, but he thought it would not be excessive to present each of the four American peace commissioners with the sum of £1,000 sterling that was customary for a sole ambassador. Manchester and Hartley recommended that each commissioner receive half that sum, for a total of £2,000. Hartley promised to broach the subject with Franklin. As the American commissioners had no means to reciprocate and did not wish to insult the king by refusing, they were in a quandary. “So much was said against it,” according to Adams’ later account, “that we never saw the presents and heard no more about them.”7

Once the treaties were signed, the commissioners dispatched a messenger to Versailles, as Vergennes had requested.8 The British and Spanish ambassadors and their secretaries convened at Vergennes’ chambers between noon and one o’clock to sign their own treaties. (The preliminary Anglo-Dutch treaty had been signed the previous day.) That business was concluded at three o’clock in the afternoon, after which Vergennes hosted a dinner for those who had been involved in all four negotiations. There were 31 at table.9

None of the American commissioners left descriptions of the evening’s celebration, other than Adams’ recollection 30 years later that they traveled to Versailles in company with Hartley and “dined amidst mutual congratulations.”1 Franklin anticipated the day’s events with a degree of resignation. When informing Henry Laurens, he wrote that after so many frustrating months, “it is come finally to this.” When Laurens wrote to Congress, he expressed regret at the outcome. Adams was overtly gloomy when writing to his wife the day after the signing: “We have negotiated here, these Six Months for nothing.” Jay said nothing of his disappointment when writing to Robert Morris, but did offer a reflection. “We are now thank God in the full Possession of Peace and Independence,” he wrote. “If we are not a happy People now, it will be our own Fault.”2

[September 3, 1783]

In THE Name OF THE MOST Holy & UNDIVIDED Trinity.

It HAVING pleased the divine Providence to dispose the Hearts of the most Serene & most Potent Prince George the third, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France & Ireland Defender of the Faith, Duke of Brunswick & Lunebourg, Arch-Treasurer, and Prince Elector of the holy Roman Empire &ca. and of the United States of America to forget all past Misunderstandings and Differences that have unhappily interrupted the good Correspondence and Friendship which they mutually wish to restore; and to establish such a beneficial and satisfactory Intercourse between the two Countries upon the Ground of reciprocal Advantages and mutual Convenience as may promote and secure to both perpetual Peace & Harmony; and having for this desirable End already laid the Foundation of Peace & Reconciliation by the Provisional Articles signed at Paris on the 30th. of Novr. 1782 by the Commissioners empower’d on each Part, which Articles were agreed to be inserted in and to constitute the Treaty of Peace proposed to be concluded between the Crown of Great Britain and the said United States, but which Treaty was not to be concluded until Terms of Peace should be agreed upon between Great Britain & France, and his Britannic Majesty should be ready to conclude such Treaty accordingly: and the Treaty between Great Britain and France having since been concluded, His Britannic Majesty & the United States of America, in order to carry into full Effect the Provisional Articles above mentioned, according to the Tenor thereof, have constituted & appointed, that is to say His Britannic Majesty on his Part, David Hartley Esqre: Member of the Parliament of Great Britain; and the said United States on their Part John Adams Esqre: late a Commissioner of the United States of America at the Court of Versailles, late Delegate in Congress from the State of Massachusetts and Chief Justice of the said State, and Minister Plenipotentiary of the said United States to their High Mightinesses the States General of the United Netherlands; Benjamin Franklin Esqre: late Delegate in Congress from the State of Pennsylvania, President of the Convention of the said State & Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States of America at the Court of Versailles; John Jay Esqre: late President of Congress, and Chief Justice of the state of New-York & Minister Plenipotentiary from the said United States at the Court of Madrid; to be the Plenipotentiaries for the concluding and signing the present Definitive Treaty; who after having reciprocally communicated their respective full Powers3 have agreed upon & confirmed the following Articles.

Article 1st.

His Britannic Majesty acknowledges the said United States, viz. New-Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode-Island & Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New-York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina & Georgia, to be free sovereign & Independent States; that he Treats with them as such, and for himself his Heirs & Successors relinquishes all Claims to the Government Propriety and Territorial Rights of the same & every Part thereof.

Article 2d.

And that all Disputes which might arise in future on the Subject of the Boundaries of the said United States may be prevented, it is hereby agreed and declared, that the following are and shall be their Boundaries Viz: From the North West Angle of Nova Scotia, viz: that Angle which is formed by a Line drawn due North from the Source of St Croix River to the Highlands along the said Highlands which divide those Rivers that empty themselves into the River St. Lawrence from those which fall into the Atlantic Ocean, to the Northwesternmost Head of Connecticut River; Thence down along the Middle of that River to the forty fifth Degree of North Latitude; From thence by a Line due West on said Latitude until it strikes the River Iroquois or Cataraquy; Thence along the middle of said River into Lake Ontario; through the Middle of said Lake until it strikes the Communication by Water between that Lake & Lake Erie; Thence along the middle of said Communication into Lake Erie; through the middle of said Lake, untill it arrives at the Water Communication between that Lake & Lake Huron; Thence along the middle of said Water Communication into the Lake Huron, thence through the middle of said Lake to the Water-Communication between that Lake and Lake Superior thence through Lake Superior Northward of the Isles Royal & Phelipeaux to the Long Lake; Thence through the Middle of said Long Lake, and the Water Communication between it and the Lake of the Woods, to the said Lake of the Woods, Thence through the said Lake to the most Northwestern Point thereof, & from thence on a due West Course to the River Mississippi, Thence by a Line to be drawn along the middle of the said River Mississippi until it shall intersect the Northernmost Part of the thirty first Degree of North Latitude. South, by a Line to be drawn due East from the Determination of the Line last mentioned, in the Latitude of thirty one Degrees North of the Equator to the Middle of the River Apalachicola or Catahouche: Thence along the middle thereof to its Junction with the Flint River; Thence strait to the Head of St Mary’s River, and thence down along the Middle of St Mary’s River to the Atlantic Ocean. East by a Line to be drawn along the Middle of the River St Croix, from its Mouth in the Bay of Funday to its Source, and from its Source directly North to the aforesaid Highlands, which divide the Rivers that fall into the Atlantic Ocean from those which fall into the River St. Lawrence; comprehending all Islands within twenty Leagues of any Part of the Shores of the United States, & lying between Lines to be drawn due East from the Points where the aforesaid Boundaries between Nova Scotia on the one Part and East Florida on the other, shall respectively touch the Bay of Fundy and the Atlantic Ocean, excepting such Islands as now are or heretofore have been within the Limits of the said Province of Nova Scotia.

Article 3d.

It is agreed that the People of the United States shall continue to enjoy unmolested the Right to take Fish of every kind on the Grand Bank and on all the other Banks of Newfoundland, also in the Gulph of St. Lawrence and at all other Places in the Sea where the Inhabitants of both Countries used at any time heretofore to fish. And also that the Inhabitants of the United States shall have Liberty to take Fish of every kind on such Part of the Coast of Newfoundland as British Fishermen shall use, (but not to dry or cure the same on that Island) and also on the Coasts Bays & Creeks of all other of his Britannic Majestys Dominions in America, and that the American Fishermen shall have Liberty to dry & cure Fish in any of the unsettled Bays Harbours and Creeks of Nova-Scotia, Magdalen Islands, and Labrador, so long as the same shall remain unsettled, but so soon as the same or either of them shall be settled, it shall not be lawful for the sd: Fishermen to dry or cure Fish at such Settlement, without a previous Agreement for that purpose with the Inhabitants, Proprietors or Possessors of the Ground.

Article 4th.

It is agreed that Creditors on either Side shall meet with no Lawful Impediment to the Recovery of the full Value in Sterling Money of all bona fide Debts heretofore contracted.

Article 5th.

It is agreed that the Congress shall earnestly recommend it to the Legislatures of the respective States to provide for the Restitution of all Estates, Rights and Properties which have been confiscated belonging to real British Subjects; and also of the Estates Rights & Properties of Persons resident in Districts in the Possession of his Majesty’s Arms, and who have not borne Arms against the said United States. And that Persons of any other Description shall have free Liberty to go to any Part or Parts of any of the thirteen United States and therein to remain twelve Months unmolested in their Endeavours to obtain the Restitution of such of their Estates, Rights, and Properties as may have been confiscated. And that Congress shall also earnestly recommend to the several States, a Reconsideration and Revision of all Acts or Laws regarding the Premises, so as to render the said Laws or Acts perfectly consistent not only with Justice and Equity but with that Spirit of Conciliation which on the Return of the Blessings of Peace should universally prevail. And that Congress shall also earnestly recommend to the several States, that the Estates Rights & Property’s of such last mentioned Persons shall be restored to them, they refunding to any Persons who may be now in Possession the bona fide Price (where any has been given) which such Persons may have Paid on purchasing any of the said Lands, Rights or Properties, since the Confiscation.

And it is agreed that all Persons who have any Interest in confiscated Lands either by Debts, Marriage Settlements or otherwise, shall meet with no lawful Impediment in the Prosecution of their just Rights.

Article 6th.

That there shall be no future Confiscations made, nor any Prosecutions commenced against any Person or Persons for or by Reason of the Part which he or they may have taken in the present War and that no Person shall on that Account suffer any future Loss or Damage either in his Person Liberty or Property; and that those who may be in Confinement on such Charges at the Time of the Ratification of the Treaty in America shall be immediately set at Liberty, and the Prosecutions so commenc’d be discontinued.

Article 7th.

There shall be a firm & perpetual Peace between his Britannic Majesty and the said States & between the Subjects of the one, and the Citizens of the other, wherefore all Hostilities both by Sea & Land shall from hence forth cease: All Prisoners on both sides shall be set at Liberty, and his Britannic Majesty shall with all convenient Speed, and without causing any Destruction, or carrying away any Negroes or other Property of the American Inhabitants, withdraw all his Armies, Garrisons and Fleets from the said United States, and from every Port, Place and Harbour within the same; leaving in all Fortifications the American Artillery that may be therein. And shall also order & cause all Archives, Records, Deeds & Papers belonging to any of the said States or their Citizens, which in the Course of the War may have fallen into the Hands of his Officers, to be forthwith restored and deliver’d to the proper States & Persons to whom they belong.

Article 8th.

The Navigation of the River Mississippi, from its Source to the Ocean shall forever remain free and open to the Subjects of Great Britain and the Citizens of the United States.

Article 9th.

In Case it should so happen that any Place or Territory belonging to Great Britain or to the United States should have been conquer’d by the Arms of either from the other before the Arrival of the said Provisional Articles in America it is agreed that the same shall be restored without Difficulty and without requiring any Compensation.

Article 10th.

The Solemn Ratifications of the present Treaty expedited in good and due Form shall be exchanged between the contracting Parties in the Space of Six Months or sooner if possible to be computed from the Day of the Signature of the present Treaty. In WITNESS whereof we the undersigned their Ministers Plenipotentiary have in their Name & in Virtue of our full Powers signed with our Hands the present Definitive Treaty, and caused the Seals of our Arms to be affixed thereto.

Done AT Paris, this third Day of September, In the Year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred & Eighty three.

[seal] D Hartley   [seal] John Adams.
[seal]B Franklin
[seal] John Jay

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

2We have silently corrected a few minor copying errors.

3The four copies known to have been signed on Sept. 3 were either written by WTF or prepared under his supervision. Two are entirely in WTF’s hand: the primary copy kept by the American commissioners (published here) and one of the two copies marked “Duplicate” that they sent to Congress (National Archives). The treaty that Hartley would carry to England (Public Record Office) and the second congressional copy (National Archives) were written by BF’s French secretary Jean L’Air de Lamotte, with WTF adding the final dateline. On the version given to Hartley, WTF also penned the opening lines.

4He told Fox that he intended to put this in writing, as indeed he did: Hartley to Fox, Sept. 3, 1783, in Giunta, Emerging Nation, II, 222; Hartley to the Commissioners, Sept. 4, below.

5XXXVIII, 382–8.

6“When a treaty is signed between two crowned Heads,” Fox explained to Hartley, “in order to prevent disputes about precedency, the name of the one stands first in one instrument, & that of the other in the other, but when the treaty is between a crowned Head & a republick, the Name of the Monarch is mentioned first in each Instrument. I believe if you will inquire upon this subject among the Corps Diplomatique, you will find this to have been the constant Practice.” Hartley answered that he never had occasion to employ this argument, as the Americans never raised the issue: Fox to Hartley, Aug. 21, 1783; Hartley to Fox, Sept. 1, 1783 (Giunta, Emerging Nation, I, 923, 930). In fact, this was not a change from the preliminary articles.

7The Americans also worried about their obligation toward the mediators, should they have been employed, as “we had no money to spare for the purchase of gold tobacco boxes, set with pictures and diamonds”: Adams Papers, XV, 251n. See also Lord John Russell, ed., Memorials and Correspondence of Charles James Fox (2 vols., Philadelphia, 1853), II, 129–30, 132–3.

8See Gérard de Rayneval to BF, Aug. 29.

9Manchester dispatched a courier to London as soon as the signing was concluded: Giunta, Emerging Nation, II, 137. The number of guests, 11 of whom were named, was reported in the Gaz. de Leyde, Sept. 12, 1783. It has been claimed that the duc de Croÿ was also present and exchanged witty remarks with Vergennes. In fact, the duc was not in Paris at the time; he had dined with Vergennes the previous February, after the preliminary treaty was printed: Stacy Schiff, A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America (New York, 2005), pp. 349–50; Emmanuel, duc de Croÿ, Journal inédit du duc de Croÿ … (4 vols., Paris, 1906–7), IV, 270–1.

1Adams Papers, XV, 250–1n. JA mentioned nothing about the dinner at Versailles when writing to his wife the next day, though he did say that he had just had tea with the Duchess of Manchester: Adams Correspondence, V, 233–4. Hartley had written to Fox on Sept. 1 that they would all travel to Versailles together after the signing, and that he would entertain the Americans the following day: Giunta, Emerging Nation, I, 930–1.

2BF to Laurens, Aug. 21; Laurens Papers, XVI, 337; Adams Correspondence, V, 233; Morris Papers, VIII, 506.

3For the Americans’ commission of June 15, 1781, see XXXV, 163–5; for Hartley’s of May 14, 1783, see XXXIX, 605–7.

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