The United States of America in Congress Assembled judging that an intercourse between the Subjects of His Prussian Majesty and the Citizens of the said States founded on the principles of equality reciprocity and friendship, may be of mutual advantage to both nations, on the twelfth day of May last, issued their Commission under the Seal of the said States to the Subscribers as their...
2The American Commissioners to the Conde de Sousa Coutinho, 9 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): National Archives After having met in person with Hartley, the British negotiator who would soon return to London, and Walterstorff, the Danish envoy with whom Franklin had negotiated a draft treaty in 1783, the American commissioners decided to send a circular letter to official representatives of the other nations with which they were empowered to negotiate treaties of commerce...
3American Commissioners to De Souza, 9 September 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
The United States of America in Congress assembled, judging that an Intercourse between the Subjects of [her most Faithfull Majesty of Portugal] and the Citizens of the Said States founded on the Principles of Equality, Reciprocity, and friendship, may be of mutual Advantage to both Nations, on the twelfth day of May last, issued their Commission under the Seal of the Said States, to the...
4American Commissioners to De Thulemeier, 9 September 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
Passy, 9 Sep. 1784 . This letter is almost identical with the Commissioners’ letter to De Souza of this date, q.v. for variations in the text. FC ( DNA : PCC , No. 116); at head of text: “The object of the Commission with respect to the completion of a Treaty of Amity & Commerce between the United States of America and His Majesty the King of Prussia was communicated in the subsequent Letter...
5The American Commissioners’ Memorandum of a Conversation with the Comte de Vergennes, 15 September 1784 (Adams Papers)
The American Ministers plenipotentiary exhibited officially to the Count de Vergennes Minister and Secretary of State having the Department of foreign Affairs, the Commission of the United States in Congress assembled authorizing them to negotiate & conclude a supplementary Treaty between the United States and His Most Christian Majesty—a Copy whereof was left with the Count, who informed...
6American Commissioners to D’Aranda and Others, 22 September 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
Passy, 22 Sep. 1784 . These letters are virtually identical with the Commissioners’ letter to De Souza, 9 Sep. 1784 , q.v. for variations in the text. FC ( DNA : PCC , No. 116); at head of text: “On the 22nd day of Septr. the following communication was made to His Excellency the Count d’Aranda Ambassador extraordinary & plenipotentiary from His Catholic Majesty the King of Spain at the Court...
7American Commissioners to Stael de Holstein, 28 September 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
The United States of America in Congress assembled judging that it might be necessary, for the purpose of promoting and perfecting the commercial intercourse so happily begun between his Sweedish Majesty and them, that supplementary Treaties be formed in addition to the Treaty of Amity and Commerce already entered into between the two Nations, on the third day of June last, constituted the...
8[American Commissioners to Favi, 30 September 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Passy, 30 Sep. 1784 . A letter almost identical with the Commissioners’ letter to D’Aranda and others, 22 Sep. 1784, q.v., and note, but not dated or sent until this date “from a mistake in transcribing.” No copy of the actual letter to Favi has been found.]
9The American Commissioners’ Memorandum of a Conversation with Per Olof von Asp, 8 October 1784 (Adams Papers)
The objects of the supplementary Treaty proposed on the part of the United States with His Sweedish Majesty are in substance these: MS in David Humphreys’ hand ( PCC , No. 116, f. 46–47). At the head of the MS , David Humphreys wrote, “in consequence of the preceding letter the subsequent verbal information was remitted to his Excellency the Ambassador by the hand of M r d’Asp Secretary to the...
10The American Commissioners to the Conde de Aranda, 28 October 1784 (Adams Papers)
We have received the Letter you did us the honour to write us on the 27 th day of Sept r last, and we thank you for your care in transmitting to your Court, the information of our appointment to treat with it. You desire to be informed if one or more of us can repair to Madrid for the purpose of conducting & concluding the negotiation, because that it is the system of your Court in matters...
11The American Commissioners to the Duke of Dorset, 28 October 1784 (Adams Papers)
The United States of america in Congress assembled judging that an intercourse between the Subjects of his Britannic Majesty & the Citizens of the Said States founded on the Principles of equality, reciprocity & friendship may be of mutual advantage to both nations, on the 12 th. day of may last, issued their Commission under the Seal of the Said States to the Subscribers as their Ministers...
12The American Commissioners to the Duke of Dorset, 28 October 1784 (Adams Papers)
While M. hartley was here as Minister from the Court of Great Britain, we had the honour of mentioning to him that we were instructed by the Congress to treat on Some points distinct from any regulations of Commerce He Communicated this to his Court & the very Satisfactory answer which he received & made to us of its good disposition & willingness to receive & consider any propositions that...
13The American Commissioners to Aranda: Résumé, 28 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: National Archives ⟨Passy, October 28, 1784: We received your letter of September 27 and thank you for sending the news of our appointment to your court. Regarding your question of whether one or more of us could travel to Madrid in order to conduct and conclude the negotiation, we have the honor to inform you that the United States in Congress assembled has proposed treaties with most of...
14American Commissioners to D’Aranda, 28 October 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
We have received the Letter you did us the honour to write us on the 27th day of Septr. last, and we thank you for your care in transmitting to your Court, the information of our appointment to treat with it. You desire to be informed if one or more of us can repair to Madrid for the purpose of conducting and concluding the negotiation, because that it is the system of your Court in matters...
15American Commissioners to Dorset, 28 October 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
The United States of America in Congress assembled judging that an intercourse between the subjects of his Britannic Majesty and the citizens of the said States founded on the principles of equality reciprocity and friendship may be of mutual advantage to both nations, on the 12th day of May last, issued their commission under the seal of the said States to the Subscribers as their Ministers...
16American Commissioners to Dorset, 28 October 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
While Mr. Hartley was here as Minister from the Court of Great Britain, we had the honour of mentioning to him, that we were instructed by the Congress to treat on some points distinct from any regulations of commerce. He communicated this to his Court and the very satisfactory answer which he received and made to us of its good disposition and willingness to receive and consider any...
We received the Letter your Excellency did us the honour of writing to us the 8 th Ult o. together with the copy of your full powers to treat with us. M r Adams had as you suppose, preserved a copy of the project of a Treaty that had been concerted between your Excellency & him; but having by instruction from the Congress our Sovereign certain new articles to propose in all our Treaties with...
18III. The American Commissioners’ Memorandum in Support of Article 23 of the Draft Prussian-American Treaty of Amity and … (Adams Papers)
By the original Law of Nations war and extirpation was the punishment of injury—humanizing by degrees, it admitted slavery instead of death. A farther step was, the exchange of prisoners instead of slavery. Another, to respect more the property of private persons under conquest, and be content with acquired dominion. Why should not this Law of Nations go on improving? Ages have intervened...
19The American Commissioners to Thulemeier, 10 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: National Archives We received the Letter your Excellency did us the honour of writing to us the 8th Ulto. together with the copy of your full powers to treat with us. Mr Adams had as you suppose, preserved a copy of the project of a Treaty that had been concerted between your Excellency & him; but having by instruction from the Congress our Sovereign certain new articles to propose in...
20American Commissioners to De Thulemeier, with Observations on Treaty, 10 November 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
We received the Letter your Excellency did us the honour of writing to us the 8th Ulto. together with the copy of your full powers to treat with us. Mr. Adams had as you suppose, preserved a copy of the project of a Treaty that had been concerted between your Excellency and him; but having by instruction from the Congress our Sovereign certain new articles to propose in all our Treaties with...
Having assembled together at this place about the latter end of August we proceeded in obedience to the commands of Congress to notify our appointment and its objects to such Powers as we thought it adviseable at that time to address. We wrote a circular letter in the form N o. 1. to the Ambassadors or other Ministers residing here from the courts of Saxony; the two Sicilies, Sardinia, Venice,...
22The American Commissioners to the President of Congress: Résumé, 11 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Copy and AL (draft): National Archives ⟨Paris, November 11, 1784: Having assembled here at the end of August, we followed the instructions of Congress by announcing our appointment and its purpose to such powers as we thought it advisable at this time to address. We wrote a circular letter in the form of enclosure 1 to the ambassadors or other ministers from the courts of Saxony, the Two...
23American Commissioners to the President of Congress, 11 November 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
Having assembled together at this place about the latter end of August we proceeded in obedience to the commands of Congress to notify our appointment and it’s objects to such Powers as we thought it adviseable at that time to address. We wrote a circular letter in the form No. 1 to the Ambassadors or other ministers residing here from the courts of Saxony, the two Sicilies, Sardinia, Venice,...
We have received the Extract of the letter from Monsieur de Sa of the 24 th Oct r 1784 which your Excellency was pleased to send us by the hand of the Secretary of your legation. “That in consequence of our letter your Excellency might assure us that Her Most faithful Majesty will be very glad to have the best correspondence with the United States, and that we may explain to your Excellency...
25The American Commissioners to Sousa Coutinho: Résumé, 30 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: National Archives ⟨Passy, November 30, 1784: We received from your secretary the extract of the letter from Monsieur de Sa of October 24. Conformable to the desires of Her Majesty, we enclose a draft of a project of a treaty of amity and commerce to be concluded between our two countries. If this project is acceptable and Her Majesty sends you power to conclude, we are ready to sign such...
26American Commissioners to De Souza, 30 November 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
We have received the Extract of the letter from Monsieur de Sa of the 24th Octr. 1784 which your Excellency was pleased to send us by the hand of the Secretary of your legation. “That in consequence of our letter your Excellency might assure us that Her Most faithful Majesty will be very glad to have the best correspondence with the United States, and that we may explain to your Excellency the...
27The American Commissioners to the Duke of Dorset, 9 December 1784 (Adams Papers)
We have received the Letter which your grace did us the honour of writing us on the 24 th. day of Last month, and we received with much Satisfaction the assurances on the part of his Britannic Majesty’s Ministers of their readiness to take into consideration any proposals coming from the United States of america that Can tend to the establishing a System of mutual & permanent advantage, to the...
28The American Commissioners to Francesco Favi, 9 December 1784 (Adams Papers)
We have received your letter of the 16 th. of Nov r. wherein you are pleased to inform us that you had communicated to His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Tuscany the overtures we had the honour of making for the establishment of a treaty of Amity & Commerce between the Subjects of His Royal Highness & the Citizens of the United States of America; that these were agreeable to him, and that...
29The American Commissioners to the Duke of Dorset: Résumé, 9 December 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: National Archives (Passy, December 9, 1784: We received your letter of November 24, and are greatly satisfied with your ministers’ assurances. As to the previous stipulation proposed by your Court, we can only say that if by this proposition it is intended that the United States should appoint a minister to reside at your court, we,...
30The American Commissioners to Favi: Résumé, 9 December 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: National Archives ⟨Passy, December 9, 1784: We received your letter of November 16, informing us that His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Tuscany would receive with pleasure our propositions for a treaty. We now enclose a plan of such a treaty of amity and commerce, and are ready to sign it if it should meet with approbation. It is founded on principles of equal right and is calculated...