To Benjamin Franklin from Nathaniel Falconer, 8 July 1783
From Nathaniel Falconer
ALS: American Philosophical Society
London July the 8. 1783
My Dear Friend
I inclose you a gazzet that Came out on the 5 day of this month which Surprised me much after hearing So much Taulk about Giveing the amerricans Everey thing but Bringing the Shugers Directley from the west indies that they Should issue an order of Councel for there owen Ships onley.8 I have taken Care to Send two of the Gazetts one by Each Ship Bound to philadelphia as Soon as they apear to our friend Mifflin who is in Congress. I hope this will meet with your approbation. Yesterday on Change I taulkt to Some of the Committee of Merchants about it they all Seemd Surprised I told them they might be Shure Congress as Soon as it Got to hand would prevent aney of there Ships Loading in the united States for the west indies. I Shall take Care while I am hear to Give you Everey information in my power am Glad to inform you that our friend Mr Bingham is arrived and his Lady will make a stay hear for Some time he will also Give Everey information I am Dr Sir your Sincer friend
Nath Falconer
Addressed: For / Docter Franklin / at the / Court of / parris
Notation: Falconet July 8. 1783
8. The king’s Order in Council of July 2, published in the London Gaz. of July 5, restricted trade between the United States and the British West Indies to British subjects using British-built, British-owned, and Britishmanned ships. This marked a complete reversal of British policy toward the United States and doomed the commercial negotiations. See Harlow, Second British Empire, I, 476–7; see also the annotation of the commissioners’ proposals to Hartley, [June 29], and their letter to Hartley, July 17.