1Instructions to the American Commissioners, May–June 1784 (Adams Papers)
Whereas Instructions bearing date the 29 th. day of October 1783 were sent to the Ministers Plenipotentiary of the United States of America at the Court of Versailles empowered to Negotiate A Peace or to any one or more of them for concerting Draughts or Propositions for Treaties of Amity and Commerce with the Commercial Powers of Europe Resolved That it will be advantageous to these United...
2Continental Congress to the American Commissioners: Instructions, [7 May 1784–3 June 1784] (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives; press copy of copy: American Philosophical Society The instructions that follow established a new diplomatic commission to negotiate and sign a total of twenty treaties of amity and commerce with European and North African powers. Their creation was a long and contentious process. On October 29, 1783, Congress authorized the peace...
I have the Honor to transmit to you the following Acts of Congress relating to the formation of commercial Treaties &c viz— N1. Letter to the Ministers plenipotentiary at the Courts of Versailles and Madrid dated 17 th of October 1780— N2. Instructions to the Ministers of the United States for making Peace with Great Britain dated May 30 th 1783 N3. Instructions to the Ministers...
4Charles Thomson to the American Commissioners, 18 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor of forwarding three comm[issions] which were not prepared in time to go by M r Jefferson, [and] a duplicate of the instructions he carried with him. I [also] enclose a copy of the Journal of the last session of Congr[ess] as far as printed and a news paper containing the Ordinance for putting the treasury into commission and an Act defining the powers of the committee of the...
5Charles Thomson to the American Commissioners, 18 June 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I have the honor of forwarding three comm[issions] which were not prepared in time to go by Mr Jefferson, [and] a duplicate of the instructions he carried with him. I [also] enclose a copy of the Journal of the last session of Congress as far as printed and a news paper containing the Ordinance for putting the treasury into commission and an act...
6Charles Thomson to the American Commissioners, 18 June 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor of forwarding three comm[issions] which were not prepared in time to go by Mr. Jefferson, [and] a duplicate of the instructions he carried with him. I [also] enclose a copy of the Journal of the last session of Congr[ess] as far as printed and a news paper containing the ord[i]nance for putting the treasury into commission and an act defining the powers of the committee of the...
7Charles Thomson to the American Commissioners, 16 July 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives; copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania In obedience to the order of the Committee of the States, I have the honor to send you copies of the papers relating to the brig L’Amiable Elizabeth a french vessel that was deserted by her Crew at Sea and was boarded and taken up by citizens of the United States and carried into St Johns in Newfoundland, where she was seized by...
8Charles Thomson to the American Commissioners, 16 July 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
In obedience to the order of the Committee of the States, I have the honor to send you copies of the papers relating to the brig L’Amiable Elizabeth a french vessel that was deserted by her Crew at Sea and was boarded and taken up by Citizens of the United States and carried into St. Johns in Newfoundland, where she was seized by a public Officer and her cargo disposed of; that you may require...
9Charles Thomson to the American Commissioners, 13 August 1784 (Adams Papers)
In pursuance of the orders of the Com ee of the States I have the honor to transmit to you the Copy of a letter signed T. Gilfillan dated London the 19 feb y 1784 with the copy of an inspection roll of Negroes taken on board certain vessels at Anchor near Staten Island on the 30 Nov r 1783. to be made use of in any negotiations you may have with the Court of Great Britain agreeably to the...
10Charles Thomson to the American Commissioners, 13 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania In pursuance of the Orders of the Committee of the States, I have the honor to transmit to you the copy of a letter signed T. Gilfillan, dated London the 19 feby 1784 with a copy of an inspection roll of Negroes taken on board certain vessels at anchor near Staten Island on the 30 of November 1783, to be made use...
11Charles Thomson to the American Commissioners, 13 August 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
In pursuance of the orders of the Committee of the States I have the honor to transmit to you the copy of a letter signed T. Gilfillan dated London the 19 feby 1784 with the copy of an inspection roll of Negroes taken on board certain vessels at Anchor near Staten Island on the 30 Novr. 1783. to be made use of in any negotiations you may have with the Court of Great Britain agreeably to the...
You may with great Truth assure the American Ministers of our ready and friendly disposition to receive any proposals from the United States for the forming such regulations as may tend to the mutual and reciprocal advantage of both Countries.— That his Majesty’s govern t w d at all times be ready to concur in the forming such a System as may fully answer every purpose of commercial as well as...
13David Hartley to the American Commissioners: Memorandum, [16 September 1784] (Franklin Papers)
AD and copy : National Archives David Hartley met with the American commissioners on September 16 for what would be the last time. The purpose of his visit was to inform them of his recall and to reassure them that the British government remained eager to establish friendly trade relations. He left with the commissioners the present memorandum—passages excerpted from two letters he had...
14Luigi Pio to the American Commissioners: Résumé, 26 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: National Archives ⟨Paris, September 26, 1784, in French: I received the letter you had the honor to write me on the 22nd of this month, concerning a treaty of amity and commerce that the United States of America wishes to make with the king, my master, for the good of our respective subjects. I will forward it to His Sicilian Majesty and as soon as I receive a response, I will...
15De Pio to the American Commissioners, 26 September 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
J’ai bien reçu la lettre que vous me faites l’honneur de m’écrire le 22. du courant au sujet d’un Traité d’amitié et de Commerce que les Etats Unis de l’Amerique voudraient faire avec le Roy mon Maître pour le bien des sujets respectifs. Je me charge avec le plus grand empressement, Messieurs, de passer sous les yeux de Sa Majesté Sicilienne votre proposition, et si tôt que j’aurai la-dessus...
16Riviere to the American Commissioners, [26 September 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
J’ai recu la Lettre dont Vous m’avéz honoré le 22. d.c. et je n’ai pas manqué suivant vos desirs de la faire passer à ma Cour. Aussitot que j’aurai sa reponse, je me ferai un devoir de Vous la porter. J’ai l honneur d’etre avec un profond respect Messieurs Votre tres humble et tres obeissant serviteur, Chargé des affaires de la Cour de Saxe RC ( DNA : PCC , No. 86); without date, which has...
17De Scarnafis to the American Commissioners, 26 September 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
J’ai reçu, Messieurs, la lettre, que Vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire en date du 22. de Septembre, par la quelle vous m’informez, que Les Etats Unis d’Amerique assemblés en Congrès vous ont autorisés de pouvoir former un Traité d’Amitié et de commerce avec Sa Majesté le Roi de Sardaigne, je viens d’en faire part à ma Cour, et si l’on me mande quelque chose de particulier à ce sujet, je...
18The Conde de Aranda to the American Commissioners, with a Contemporary Translation, 27 September 1784 (Adams Papers)
Antes de ayer recibi la carta de V. S as. del 22 por mano del S r. Humphreys Secretarío de la comission, en la qual me comunican la íntencion de los Estados unidos de America de establecer con el Rey Catolico una correspondencia conveniente ã los dos Dominíos, y fundada en los principios de igualdad, reciprocidad, y amistad, que mutuamente sea ventajosa ã las dos Naciones. Que para este efecto...
19Aranda to the American Commissioners: Résumé, [27 September 1784] (Franklin Papers)
LS , translation, and copy: National Archives ⟨Paris, [September 27, 1784], in Spanish: I received your letter of the 22nd by the hand of Mr. Humphreys, in which you communicate the intention of the United States of America to establish with his Catholic Majesty an agreement that may be advantageous to the two nations. Certainly such principles as communicated in your letter will be pleasing...
20D’Aranda to the American Commissioners, 27 September 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
Antes de ayer recibí la carta de Vuestras Señorías del 22 por mano del Sr. Humphreys, Secretario de la comissión, en la qual me comunican la intentión de los Estados Unidos de America de establecer con le Rey Católico una correspondencia conveniente a los dos Dominios, y fundada en los principios de igualdad, reciprocidad, y amistad, que mutuamente sea ventajosa a las dos Naciones. Que para...
21Delfino to the American Commissioners, 27 September 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
C’est avec la plus grande satisfaction, que je viens de recevoir La Lettre, que vous m’avez fait L’honneur de m’ecrire. Je ne manquerai pas, Messieurs, de transmettre au Senat votre information, et aussitôt que j’en aurai reçu Les reponses, je me ferai un devoir de vous Les communiquer. J’ai L’honneur en attendant d’être avec toute La consideration, et L’attachement possible: Messieurs Votre...
22De Souza to the American Commissioners, 27 September 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
L’Ambassadeur de Portugal a l’honneur de prevenir Messieurs Francklin, Adams, et Jefferson qu’il a reçu leur lettre et qu’il l’a fait passer immediatement a sa Cour dont il attend la reponse pour pouvoir communiquer avec eux sur les articles relatifs au Traité de Commerce. RC ( DNA : PCC , No. 86); in a clerk’s hand, unsigned; endorsed in part: “The Ambassador of Portugal.” Tr ( DNA : PCC ,...
23Baron Staël von Holstein to the American Commissioners: Résumé, 5 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: National Archives ⟨Paris, October 5, 1784, in French: When I received your letter from Mr. Humphreys, secretary of the Commission for Treaties of the United States of America, which I will forward to the king, I suggested that in order to save time, I also communicate some notion of what additions are being proposed by the United States. If you agree, I will send the dispatches...
24Stael de Holstein to the American Commissioners, 5 October 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
J’ai eu L’honneur de repondre préallablement au Secretaire de La Commission pour les Traités des Etats Unis de L’Amerique, Monsr. Humphries, en recevant La Lettre que Messrs. Les Ministre Plenipotentiaires m’ont fait L’honneur de m’ecrire, que je ne manquerai pas de La mettre Sous les yeux du Roi, mais que je Souhaitois pour gagner du temps d’etre mis dans le cas de pouvoir d’abord communiquer...
Je n’ai point différé de porter à la connoissance du Roi mon Maître les dispositions des Etats-Unis de l’Amérique pour la conclusion d’un Traité d’Amitié et de Commerce, que Vous m’avez fait connoître, Messieurs, par la lettre dont Vous m’avez honoré en date du 9. de Septembre Dernier. Sa Majesté ayant jugé à propos de me munir des Pleinpouvoirs requis pour donner au dit Traité toute la...
26Friedrich Wilhelm von Thulemeier to the American Commissioners: Résumé, 8 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: National Archives ⟨The Hague, October 8, 1784, in French: I have notified the king without delay of the dispositions of the United States for the conclusion of a treaty of amity and commerce, contained in your letter of September 9. His majesty has furnished me with full powers to conclude this treaty, of which I am enclosing a copy. It appears unnecessary to send you a copy of...
27De Thulemeier to the American Commissioners, 8 October 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
Je n’ai point différé de porter à la connoissance du Roi mon Maître les dispositions des Etats-Unis de l’Amérique pour la conclusion d’un Traité d’Amitié et de Commerce, que Vous m’avez fait connoître, Messieurs, par la lettre dont Vous m’avez honoré en date du 9. de Septembre dernier. Sa Majesté ayant jugé à propos de me munir des Pleinpouvoirs requis pour donner au dit Traité toute la...
28Favi to the American Commissioners, 10 October 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
J’ai reçu la lettre, que vous m’avés fait L’honneur de m’écrire le 30 du mois passé, et par La quelle vous m’avés fait la grace de m’annoncer la commission et les pleins pouvoirs, dont vous avés eté revetus par Les Etats unis de l’Amerique assemblés en Congrés pour proposer, et former des liaisons d’amitiè, et de Commerce avec Les Etats de Toscane. Je me ferai un devoir de donner cette...
The Secretary of the Commission by appointment waited on the Duke of Dorset & delivered to him two Letters from the American Ministers dated the 28 th instant: whereupon the British Ambassador desired M r Humphreys to inform the Ministers of the United States, “that being entirely unacquainted with the negotiations proposed through M r Hartley to the Court of London, he could say nothing on...
30Francesco Favi to the American Commissioners, 16 November 1784 (Adams Papers)
Je n’ai pas manqué de faire passer à ma Cour La Lettre, dont vous m’avés honoré Le 30. 7b e dernier relative à un Traité d’amitié, et de Commerce entre Les Sujets de Msg̃r L’archiduc Grand Duc de Toscane mon Maitre, et ceux des Etats unis de l’Amerique. Je dois avoir L’honneur de vous informer, Messieurs, que cette invitation a eté très agreable à Son Altesse Royale, et qu’Elle recevra avec...