Benjamin Franklin Papers
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From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 4 July 1784

To John Adams

ALS: Massachusetts Historical Society

Passy, July 4. 1784

Sir,

I have received the Letter your Excelly. did me the Honour of writing to me the 29th past.

The Annunciation directed by the Instruction you mention has not yet been made; some Circumstances and Considerations, not necessary to particularize at present, occasioned the Delay here; but it may now be done immediately by your Excellency, if you think proper, to the Imperial Minister at the Hague; or I will do it to Count Mercy, by presenting him a Copy of the Instruction itself.—3

I hope the Report that Mr Jay is appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs will prove true.— Such an Officer has long been wanted, and he will make a good one. It is said here that Mr Jefferson was talk’d of to succeed me, of which I shall be glad on all Accounts; but I have no Letter, nor the least Hint from any one of the Congress relating to these Matters. I wrote to you a few Days since,4 and sent you Copy of the last Dispatch, and the only one I have received since January.— Mr Hartley who has been here more than two Months, is in a similar Situation. He has expected Instructions by every late Courier to treat with us on commercial Points; but they do not arrive. He thinks the Delay occasion’d by the Report of the Committee of Council on the Subject not having been ready to lay before Parliament.5 The Moment he is ready to treat, I shall acquaint your Excellency with it; for I make no doubt of its being “the Design and Expectation of Congress that we should join”6 in that Transaction.

Montgomery of Alicant appears to have acted very imprudently in writing to Morocco without the least Authority from Congress or any of their Ministers.—7 It might be well however to treat with that Prince8 if we were provided with the proper & necessary Presents; in which Case this Court would assist our Negociations, agreable to their Treaty with Congress.9

I have the honour to be, very respectfully, Sir, Your most obedient & most humble Servant

B. Franklin

His Excellency John Adams Esqr

Endorsed: Dr Franklin 4. July. 1784. ansd. 19. July

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

3BF delayed his overture to Mercy-Argenteau until he received word of the new commission: BF’s journal, [June 26—July 27], entry of July 26 (above); BF to Mercy-Argenteau, July 30 (below).

4On June 27, above.

5For the report see the annotation of Laurens’ first letter of April 18.

6BF is quoting from JA’s letter of June 29, above.

7See XL, 311n, 369, 621.

8Sidi Muhammad ibn Abdallah.

9By Article 8 of the 1778 Treaty of Amity and Commerce: XXV, 602–3.

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