In answer to the letter you did us the honor to write on the 4 th. ins t. we beg leave to repeat what we often said in Conversation, viz. that the Restoration of such of the Estates of Refugees, as have been confiscated, is impracticable; because they were confiscated by Laws of particular States, &, in many instances, have passed by legal titles through several hands— Besides, Sir, as this a...
Articles to be proposed in the definitive Treaty. MS ( Adams Papers ); endorsed: “Minutes of Articles to be / proposed in the definitive / Treaty.” Filmed at [ Dec. 1782 – June 1783 ]. These dates are derived from JA ’s Diary entries for 10, 12, and 13 Dec. ( JA, D&A Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 3:94–96 ). In the first, JA...
3The American Peace Commissioners to Richard Oswald, 7 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS and three copies: Public Record Office; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: William L. Clements Library, Library of Congress (three), Massachusetts Historical Society (three), National Archives, North Carolina State Division of Archives and History; press copy of copy: Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives In answer to the letter you did us the honor to write...
4From John Jay to Richard Oswald, 10 September 1782 (Jay Papers)
It is with Regret that we find ourselves obliged by our Duty to the ^ our ^ Country to object to entering with You into negociations for Peace on the plan proposed—one Nation can treat with another Nation only on Terms of Equality, and it can not be expected that we should be the first and only Servants of Congress ^ who ^ would admit Doubts of their Independence. The Tenor of your Commission...
5From John Jay to Richard Oswald, 5 March 1784 (Jay Papers)
Had your Favor of the 27 th . Ult. been delivered to me a little sooner, an answer to it might have gone by this ^ to- ^ Days post; but that not having been the Case, this Letter will remain some Days in the Office. I am much obliged to you for communicating what passed between you and M r Stephens respecting the Letter he suppo sed ^ ses ^ to have rec d