John Jay Papers
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American Peace Commissioners to Henry Laurens, c. 24 August 1783

American Peace Commissioners to Henry Laurens

[Paris, c. 24 August 1783]

Sir

We have recd. your Letter of the 9 Augt. last Inst.1 and entirely approve of the Packets having proceeded on her Voyage immediately on your leaving her. We fear however that our consenting to your Proposition of going over to England in her, caused you more Trouble than convenience; especially as it deprived you of your carriage at a time when you had a Journey to make.2

We have perused your ^the^ notes of your Conversation with Mr. Fox, and altho in general we approve of it, yet candor obliges us to remark, that you seem to have somewhat mistaken our Sentiments on your Proposal to speak to Mr. Fox about the Reception of an american minister by the british Court.—

Britain having acknowledged the Sovereignty of the United States, and treated with us as with an independent nation, it followed as a natural Consequence that they wd. recieve our minister. Mr. Hartley’s official Communication to us on that Subject, was in the most explicit Terms—no Doubts could remain on that Head. In conversing with us on this Subject, and about this Communication, you observed that there was a wide Difference between a minister being ceremoniously and formally recd., and his being recd. and treated in a cordial friendly manner—that we were not as yet accurately informed of the Intention of the british Cabinet on the latter point, and that you thought it would be expedient to ascertain it ^in a Conversation with Mr. Fox^—with this Sentiment we coincided; and you promised to inform us of the Result.

The British Court prefer forming a definitive Treaty of the provisional articles, without any alterations or additions. We wish with you that certain matters in them could have been more accurately adjusted—but ^as^ at the Time of signing them, you made no Objections to any of the Articles or Expressions, we presume you then thought as we did, that they were in the best State that, all things considered, it was in our power to put them—3

Dft, NHi: Jay (EJ: 587). Endorsed by JJ: “Dr. answr. to Mr. Laurens’s / Letter of 9 Augt. 1783”.

1See Laurens’s letter of 9 Aug. 1783, PHL description begins Philip M. Hamer et al., eds., The Papers of Henry Laurens (16 vols.; Columbia, S.C., 1968–2003) description ends , 16: 248–54, in which he detailed his lengthy conversation with Charles James Fox on 5 Aug. Laurens had asked Fox whether an American minister would be acceptable at the British court, and was assured one would be.

2On Lauren’s voyage to England with Barney on the General Washington, see the editorial note “The Commissioners Defend the Treaty,” note 6, on p. 418.

3On negotiations for the definitive treaty, see the editorial note “Signing the Definitive Treaty” on pp. 462–67; and Laurens to JJ, 5 Sept. 1783, below.

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