From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 15 November 1784
To John Adams
AL: Massachusetts Historical Society
Passy, Nov. 15. 84—
Mr Franklin presents his respectful Compliments to Mr Adams, and encloses a Paper left with him by the Secretary of the Portuguese Ambassador last Night, being an Extract of a Letter from the First Minister of that Court.4 No Notice is taken in it of the preceding Plan of a Treaty, and Mr. F. mentions for Consideration, whether it would not be right to send a Copy of the new Plan immediately to that Ambassador.
There will be no Court at Versailles to-morrow.
4. An extract of an Oct. 24 letter from Portuguese prime minister Aires de Sa e Melo to Sousa, responding to the commissioners’ proposal (Sept. 9, above) to renegotiate a treaty of commerce. The extract reads: “En consequence de ce que les Agens des Etats Unis de l’Amerique ont ecrit a Ve. Exce., elle peut les assurer que Sa Majestée T. F. [Très Fidèle] sera fort aise d’avoir avec les Etats Unis la meilleur correspondence: Que les Agens peuvent s’expliquer avec Ve. Exce., & lui communiquer les intentions du Congres pour en faire part à sa Cour qui les ecoutera avec beaucoup d’attention.” National Archives.