1From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 15 August 1783 (Adams Papers)
France England Spain and America are all agreed, but M r: Hartley is Sanguine that the Treaty will not be signed, because he says the Comte de Vergennes dont mean to sign it. His Reasons for his opinion I know not. and I think he is mistaken. It is very certain however, that the French Minister is embarass’d and would not perhaps be sorry to find good Reasons for postponing the Signature for...
2From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 13 August 1783 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday, I went to Court with D r: Franklin, and presented to the Comte de Vergennes, our Project of a definitive Treaty, who told us he would examine it, and give us his sentiments upon it. It was Ambassadors day, and I had Conversation with a Number of Ministers, of which it is proper I should give you an Account. The Dutch Ambassador Berkenrode, told me, that last Saturday the Comte de...
3From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 13 August 1783 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday at Versailles the Baron de Waltersdorff came to me and told me, he had delivered to M r: Franklin, a Project of a Treaty between the Court of Denmark, and the United States, and asked me, if M r: Franklin had shewn it to me? I answered him, that I knew nothing of it.— He said he wondered at that, he presumed it was because of my Absence at the Hague, for that it had been shewn to M...
4From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 13 August 1783 (Adams Papers)
The Question before the French Cabinet, whether they shall involve themselves in a War against two Christian Empires, in order to support a Turkish one is of a Serious Nature on many Accounts—If the Turks should be driven out of Europe, France would lose some of the Levant Trade and some of the coasting Trade of Italy: and these commercial and Naval Considerations are reinforced by others...
5From Alexander Hamilton to Robert R. Livingston, [13 August 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
I arrived here two days ago. Being in company with Mrs. Schuyler I was induced, in complaisance to her, to pass through New York. But I was sorry not to find any satisfactory ground to believe that the suspicions entertained of the arrival of the definitive treaty were well founded; though Rivington when it is mentioned to him shrugs up his shoulders and looks significantly; and Sir Guy has...
6From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 10 August 1783 (Adams Papers)
On the sixth I left the Hague, and last night arrived here; I had several Interviews, on some of the last days, at the Hague, which I had not time to give you an Account of as a great Part of my time, was taken up with visits, to take Leave of the Court, the President, the Grand Pensionary, Greffier &c. Ceremonies which must be repeated at every coming and going, and upon many other Occasions,...
7From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 3 August 1783 (Adams Papers)
The Fiscal Systems of the Powers of Europe, have such an ill Influence on Commerce, that they deserve the Serious attention of Congress and their Ministers whenever they have under Consideration a Treaty with any foreign Power. In Conversation yesterday with M r: D’Asp the Chargé des affaires of Sweeden, I enquired of him what Imposts were payable in their Ports upon the Importation and...
8From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 2 August 1783 (Adams Papers)
M r: Berenger the Secretary of the French Legation has this Moment left me He came in to inform me of the News. The Empress of Russia has communicated, to the King of Prussia, a Treaty of Alliance between the Emperor of Germany and her, defensive against the Christian Powers and offensive against the Turk. The King of Prussia has answered her “That he is very sensible, upon this Communication...
9From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 1 August 1783 (Adams Papers)
I had last evening some Conversation with D. Joas Theolonico de Almeida the envoy extraordinary of Portugal who desired to meet me to day at any hour at his House or mine. I promised to visit him at twelve, which I did. He said he had heard that the French Minister had proposed to the Duke of Manchester, at Versailles, to reduce the Duties upon French Wines in England, to the level of those...
10From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 31 July [1783] (Adams Papers)
The last Evening, at Court, in the House in the Grove, where all the foreign Ministers supped, the Comte Montagnini de Mirabel, the Minister Plenipotentiary from the King of Sardinia, took an opportunity to enter largely into Conversation with me. As he and I were at a Party of Politicks while the greatest Part of the Company were at Cards, for two or three hours, We ran over all the World,...
11From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 30 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
I have been the more particular in my letters to you, concerning that extensive Manufacture and Commerce of refined Sugars, in this Country because the Proximity of all the Sugar Colonies to us, renders a share in it naturally usefull and convenient both to us and them. Fifty Thousand Hogsheads of raw Sugars are annually wrought in this Republick and exported at a great Profit to Germany,...
12From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 28 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
I find upon Inquiry, that there are in this Republick at Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Dort, near 130 Sugar Houses. The whole of the raw Sugars produced, in Surrinam, Berbice Essequibo & Demarary, were wrought in these houses. and besides, raw Sugars were purchased in Bourdeaux & Nantes, after being imported from the French Islands in French Bottoms: raw Sugars were also purchased in London, which...
13The American Peace Commissioners to Robert R. Livingston, 27 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society The Definitive Treaties between the late beligerent Powers are none of them yet compleated. Ours has gone on slowly, owing partly to the Necessity Mr. Hartley (Successor of Mr Oswald) thinks himself under of sending every Proposition, either his own or ours, to his Court for their Approbation; and their Delay...
14American Peace Commissioners to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston), 27 July 1783 (Jay Papers)
The Definitive Treaties between the late belligerent Powers are none of them yet compleated. Ours has gone on slowly, owing partly to the Necessity M r . Hartley (Successor of M r . Oswald) thinks himself under of sending every Proposition either his own or ours to his Court for their Approbation; and their Delay in answering, thro’ Negligence perhaps since they have heard our Ports are open,...
15From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 22[–26] July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS , press copy of LS , and transcript: National Archives; AL (draft): Library of Congress You have complained sometimes with reason of not hearing often from your foreign Ministers; we have had cause to make the same Complaint, six full Months having intervened between the latest Date of your preceeding Letters, and the receipt of those per Capt. Barney. During all this Time we were ignorant...
16From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 25 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
It is the general opinion here both among the Members of the States, and the Hotel de la France, that the Delays of the definitive Pacification, are contrived by the Court of London, in order to set all their Instruments at work, in this Republic, to induce it to renew its ancient connections with Great-Britain, particularly their Alliance offensive and Defensive, by which each Power was bound...
17From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 23–24 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
On Saturday last, I left Paris, and arrived here last night. This Morning, I sent M r: Dumas to M r. Van Berckel and M r Gyselaer to inform them of my arrival and to desire a Conversation with them upon the Subject of the Commerce, between the United States and the Dutch Establishments in the West Indies. M r: Van Berckel told M r Dumas “That S t: Eustatius and Curacao were open to the Vessels...
18From Alexander Hamilton to Robert R. Livingston, 23 July 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
It happens My Dear Sir that both Mr. Maddison and myself are here. We have talked over the subject of your letter to him, and need not assure you how happy we should both be to promote your wish; but the representation continues so thin, that we should have little hope that any thing which is out of the ordinary course and has somewhat of novelty in it could go through. We therefore have...
19From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 23 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New-York Historical Society; copy: Sächsisches Hauptstaatsarchiv This will be delivered to you by M. Thieriot, who goes to Philadelphia by order of his Court as Commissioner of the Commerce of Saxony, in order to establish a Correspondence between the two Countrys, that may, it is thought, be greatly advantageous to both. We have all along had many well-wishers in that Electorate, and I...
20From John Jay to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston), 20 July 1783 (Jay Papers)
The Delays which have unexpectedly postponed the Completion of the definitive Treaty, have hitherto prevented my trying the Effect of the Waters of Bath for a Pain in my Breast, which has continued in different Degrees for a Year past. Were I much longer to neglect that only probable Chance of restoring my Health, my little Family might have much Reason to complain. I fear that the fluctuating...
21From John Jay to Robert R. Livingston, 19 July 1783 (Jay Papers)
our Dispatches by Barney must be ready the Day after Tomorrow. The many Letters I have written, and have still to write, together with Conferences, Company &c a . keep me fully employed. You will therefore excuse my not descending so much to particulars, as both of us indeed might wish— As little that passes in Congress is kept entirely secret, we think it prudent at least to postpone giving...
22From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 18 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
There is cause to be solicitous about the State of things in England. The present Ministry swerve more & more from the true System for the prosperity of their Country & ours. M r: Hartley, whose Sentiments are at bottom just, is probably kept here, (if he was not sent at first) merely to amuse us, & to keep him out of the way of embarrassing the Coalition, in Parliament We need not fear that...
We have had the honour of receiving by Capt. Barney your two Letters of the 25 th: of March and 21 st of April, with the Papers referred to in them. We are happy to find that the Provisional Articles have been approved & ratified by Congress, and we regret that the Manner in which that Business was conducted, does not coincide with your Ideas of Propriety. We are persuaded however that this is...
24The American Peace Commissioners to Robert R. Livingston, 18 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; press copy of LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society, Yale University Library; transcript: National Archives We have had the honour of receiving by Capt. Barney your two Letters of the 25th. of March & 21st of April, with the Papers referred to in them. We are happy to find that the Provisional Articles have...
25American Peace Commissioners to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston), 18 July 1783 (Jay Papers)
We have had the honour of receiving by Capt. Barney your two Letters of the 25 th . of March & 21 st of April, with the Papers referred to in them. We are happy to find that the Provisional Articles have been approved & ratified by Congress, and we regret that the Manner in which that Business was conducted, does not coincide with your Ideas of Propriety. We are persuaded however that this is...
26John Jay’s Draft of the American Peace Commissioners to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston) … (Jay Papers)
We have had the honor of receiving by Capt. Barney your two letters of the 21 & 25 Ap. last, with the Papers referred to in them. We are happy to find that the provisional Articles have been approved and ratified by Congress, and we regret that the manner, in which that business was conducted, does not coincide with your Ideas of Propriety. Your Doubts on that Head appear to have arisen from...
27From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 17 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
Last evening M r. Hartley spent two hours with me, and appeared much chagrined at the Proclamation, which had never been communicated to him by his Principals. He has too much contempt of the commercial abilities of the French—and consequently said that the French could derive but little benefit from this step of his Court, but thought the Dutch would make a great advantage by it. I...
28From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 16 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday we waited on the Comte de Vergennes at Versailles, and shew him the Project of a Letter to the Ministers of the two Imperial Courts, which he read and approved. We told him, that we were at a loss what might be the effect of the Mediation—possibly we might be involved in difficulties by it—possibly the British Ministers might persuade the Mediators to offer Us their Advice upon some...
29From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 15 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed are Copies of Papers, which have passed between M r. Hartley and the American Ministers. We have not thought it prudent to enter into any written Controversy with him, upon any of these Papers. We have recieved whatever he has offered us.— But he has offered nothing in the Name of his Court, has signed nothing, and upon Enquiry of him, we have found that he has never had Authority to...
30From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 14 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
The United States of America have propagated far & wide in Europe the Ideas of the Liberty of Navigation and Commerce. The Powers of Europe, however, cannot agree as yet, in adopting them in their full extent. Each one desires to maintain the exclusive dominion of some particular Sea, or River, and yet to enjoy the liberty of navigating all others. Great Britain wishes to preserve the...
31From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 14 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
A Jealousy of American Ships, Seamen, Carrying Trade, and naval Power, appears every day more & more conspicuous. This Jealousy, which has been all along discovered by the French Minister, is at length communicated to the English. The following Proclamation, which will not increase British Ships and Seamen, in any proportion as it will diminish those of the United States, will contribute...
32From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 13 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday Coll o: Ogden arrived with the originals, of what we had before received in Duplicates by Cap n: Barney. The Ratification of the Dutch Treaty had been before rec d. & exchanged. The Ratification of Their High-Mightinesses is in the safe Custody of M r: Dumas at present, at the Hague.— I believe we shall accept of the mediation of the two Imperial Courts at the Definitive Treaty, as...
33From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 12 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
Reports have been spread, that the Regency of Algiers has been employed in fitting Ships to cruise for American Vessels. There are reports too, that Spain has an Armament prepared to attack their Town. How much truth there may be in either, I cannot pretend to say. Whether Congress will take any Measures for treating with these piratical States must be submitted to them. The Custom of these...
34From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 11 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
As there are certain particulars, in which it has appeared to me that the friendship of a French Minister has been problematical at least, or rather not to exist at all, I have freely mentioned them to Congress; because I hold it to be the first duty of a public Minister in my Situation, to conceal no important Truth of this kind from his Masters. But Ingratitude is an odious Vice, & ought to...
35From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 10 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
In the present violent heat of the Weather, and feverish state of my own health, I cannot pretend to sit long at my Pen, and must pray you to accept of a few short hints only. To talk, in a general stile, of Confidence in the French Court & ca. is to use a general language, which may mean almost any thing, or almost nothing.— To a certain degree, and as far as the Treaties and Engagements...
36From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 9 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
Since the dangerous fever I had in Amsterdam, 2. years ago, I have never enjoyed my health: Thro’ the whole of the last Winter & Spring I have suffered under weaknesses & pains, w h: have scarcely permitted me to do business: The excessive heats of the last week or two have bro’t on me a fever again, which exhausts one in such a manner as to be very discouraging & incapacitates one for every...
37From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 7 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
We cannot as yet obtain from M r: Hartley or his Principals an explicit consent to any one proposition whatever: Yet England & France, & England & Spain are probably agreed, and Holland I suppose must comply. Our last resource must be to say we are ready to sign the Provisional Treaty, totidem verbis, as the Definitive Treaty. I think it is plain that the British Ministry do not intend to sign...
38From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 3 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
On the last Ambassador’s day, w h: was last Tuesday, D r: Franklin, M r: Jay & myself, waited on Mons r: de Vergennes, who told us he tho’t he had agreed with the Duke of Manchester, but that his Grace had not yet rec d. the positive approbation of his Court— The Comte advised us to make a visit, all together, to the Ambassadors of the two Imperial Courts. Accordingly yesterday morn g: we...
39From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 27 June 1783 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday D r: Franklin, M r: Jay, & myself met to prepare the Definitive Treaty, and made so much progress in it, that tomorrow we shall be ready to communicate to M r: Hartley the result: But I have small hopes of obtaining any thing more by the Definitive Treaty.— The Duke of Manchester & the Comte d’Aranda have arranged every thing between England & Spain, and are ready to finish for their...
40From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 27 June 1783 (Adams Papers)
A few Vessells have arrived in England from various Parts of America, and have probably made the Ministry, Merchants and Manufacturers less anxious about a present Arrangement of Commerce. Whether these Vessells have rashly hazarded these Voyages against the Laws of their Country, or whether they have Permission from Congress or their States We are not informed. It would have been better no...
41From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 24 June 1783 (Adams Papers)
The Gazettes of Europe Still continue to be employed as the great Engines of Fraud and Imposture, to the good People of America. Stock Jobbers are not the only People, who employ a Set of Scribblers to invent and publish Falshoods for their peculiar Purposes. British and French, as well as other Politicians entertain these Fabricators of Paragraphs, who are Stationed about in the various...
42From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 23 June 1783 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of April. 14 th. N o: 16, acknowledged the receipt of mine of the 21 st. & 22 d. January, but took no notice of any letters which went by Cap n: Barney: Neither D r: Franklin, M r: Jay, nor myself, have any answer to the Dispatches, which went by that Express, altho’ yours to me, N o: 16, gave cause to expect Letters to us all, with Instructions concerning the Definitive Treaty—...
43From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 23 June 1783 (Adams Papers)
The British Ministry, and Nation are in a very unsettled State. They find themselves in a new Situation and have not digested any Plan. Ireland is in a new Situation. She is independent of Parliament. And the English know not how to manage her.— To what an Extent She will claim a Right of trading with the United States is unknown. Canada too and Nova Scotia are in a new Situation. the former...
44From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 16 June 1783 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday afternoon, the duplicate of your Letter of the 14 th. of April N o. 16. was brought in to me, with the Post-Mark “Brest” upon it. As soon as I had read it, I went out to Passy, in hopes that other Dispatches had arrived there, but I found none. While I was there, a Packet of News-Papers, addressed to us all, was brought in with the Post Mark of Brest on it. I still hope & believe...
45From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 12 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and transcript: National Archives I write to you fully by a Vessel from Nantes, which I hope will reach you before this. If not, this may inform you, That the Ratification of the Treaty with Sweden is come, & ready to be exchang’d when I shall receive that from Congress; That the Treaty with Denmark is going on, and will probably be ready before the Commission for signing it arrives from...
46From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 9 June 1783 (Adams Papers)
The enclosed N o. 121 of the Politique Hollandais, having translated a few Sentences of mine, and the Author intending to insert more, as he has already inserted a good deal of the Same Correspondence, I think it proper to transmit You, a Short Relation of it. In 1780, at Paris, a Number of Pamphlets of M r Galloway were sent me from England. I wrote to a Friend an Answer to them. He Sent it...
47From John Jay to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston), 1 June 1783 (Jay Papers)
I have had the honor of rec g your Favor of the 4 th . of Jan y . last. The Cypher you mention to have enclosed, is missing—my letter by Cap t . Barney affords an answer to the greater part of your Enquiries. Business here goes on heavily. The dutch & English are not yet agreed and some points remain still to be adjusted between the latter and the french and Spaniards. M r . Hartley has an...
48From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 30 May 1783 (Adams Papers)
On the 28 th. of this Month I rec d the Letter you did me the Honour to write me on the 13. of February, which arrived at the Hague inclosed with the Ratification of the Treaty with their High Mightinesses, which will be exchanged by M r Dumas, as the Conferences here for the definitive Treaty will not admit of my taking So long a Journey, at this Time. This Arrival in Season to exchange the...
49From John Jay to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston), 30 May 1783 (Jay Papers)
It cannot in my opinion be long before Congress will think it expedient to name a minister to the Court of London. Perhaps my Friends may wish to add me to the number of Candidates for that office— If that should be the Case I request the Favor of you to declare in the most explicit Terms that I view the Expectations of M r Adams on that head, as founded in Equity & Reason, & that I will not...
50From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 25 May 1783 (Adams Papers)
M r. Jay has favoured me with a Sight of your Letter of the 4 th. January, & I am happy to find you had rec d from him a Copy of M r. Marbois Letter— This Letter contained nothing unexpected to me; because I have been several years convinced in my own mind, that the Sentiments it contains were the real secret designs of the French Minister of foreign Affairs— I have lost too much Sleep in...