1Abigail Adams to Isaac Smith Sr., 12 March 1787 (Adams Papers)
Charles Alexandre de Calonne, comptroller general of the finances of France, sent a letter on 22 Oct. 1786 to Thomas Jefferson detailing a plan for improved commercial relations between the United States and France. The letter was published in the New York
2Abigail Adams 2d to John Quincy Adams, 26 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
expressed her views with less reservation, and compared both the United States and France favorably to England in several respects. Her opinions there are quite similar to those of
3From John Adams to Richard Henry Lee, 15 July 1785 (Adams Papers)
...a Britain, which produce an Explosion. if an American Should be known to Sollicit an Employment in India for an American, the East Indies would instantly be Seen, in Imagination, independent of Britain and in Alliance with the United States and France.
4John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 15 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
as U.S. minister at The Hague. While in this post, Murray played a crucial role in promoting peace between the United States and France, following the XYZ Affair and the quasi war of 1799–1800. See
5To Thomas Jefferson from Calonne, 22 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
For a brief account of the immediate background of this general code of regulations affecting trade between the United States and France, see
6To Benjamin Franklin from Jérôme-Marie Champion de Cicé, 27 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
proposed the appointment of a French ecclesiastic to oversee the Catholic Church in America. The archbishop urged Vergennes not to miss this opportunity to strengthen the Catholic faith as well as ties between the United States and France. Before he answered
7Continental Congress to the American Commissioners: Instructions, [7 May 1784–3 June 1784] (Franklin Papers)
On May 20, 1783, Vergennes proposed three additional articles to the Franco-American treaty, which affirmed that the United States and France would grant each other most-favored-nation status. The peace commissioners did not forward the proposal to Congress until after the definitive treaty with Britain had been concluded:
8To George Washington from Charles-Guillaume-Frédéric Dumas, 28 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
Charles-Guillaume-Frédéric Dumas (1725–1796), who was born of French parents in Germany and had been living in The Hague since 1756, was an agent in Holland during the American Revolution for both the United States and France. At this time he was the unofficial chargé d’affaires there for the United States. For details of his career, see
9Report on the Proposed Postal Convention, 29 March 1786 (Jay Papers)
. February last on the proposed Convention between the Post Offices of the United States and France—
10To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, with Enclosure, 27 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Congress being desirous that the Commerce between the United States and France may be promoted by every reciprocal Regulation conducive to that End, wish that no Time may be lost in ascertaining the Privileges, Powers and Duties of their respective Consuls, Vice Consuls and commercial Agents and Commissaries.