The Definitive Treaties between the late belligerent 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 in answering, thro’ Negligence perhaps since they have heard our Ports are open, or thro’ Indecision occasioned by Ignorance of the Subject or thro’ want of Union among the Ministers. We send you herewith Copies of several Papers that have pass’d between us. He has for sometime assured us that he is in Hourly Expectation of Answers but they do not arrive. The British Proclamation respecting the Commerce appears to vex him a good deal. We enclose a Copy.1 And we are of Opinion that finally we shall find it best to drop all Commercial Articles in our Definitive Treaty and leave every thing of that kind to a future special Treaty to be made either in America or in Europe as Congress shall think fit to Order. Perhaps it may be best to give Powers for that Purpose to the Minister that probably will be sent to London. The Opinion here is that it will be becoming in us to take the first Step towards the mutual Exchange of Ministers; and we have been assured by the English Minister who treats with us here, that ours will be well received.

The Dutch Preliminaries are not yet agreed on, and it seems to be settled, that we are to sign all together, in the Presence of the Ministers of the two Imperial Courts who are to be complimented with the Opportunity of Signing as Mediators, tho’ they have not yet, and perhaps will not be consulted in the negociations. Mr. Adams has gone to Holland for three Weeks, but will return sooner if wanted. The Propositions you mention as made to us from that State we suppose he has given you an Account of. Nothing was or is likely to be done upon them here, and therefore it was less necessary to say anything towards concerning them. A Minister from thence has been gone some time to Congress, and if he has those Propositions in Charge they will best be consider’d there.2 With great Esteem, we have the Honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient & most humble Sevts.