1Definitive Treaty of Peace between the United States and Great Britain, 3 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
DS : Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives (two), Public Record Office; copies: Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives (two.) Early on the morning of September 3, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and William Temple Franklin rode into Paris carrying four official copies of the treaty that would end the War for American Independence. Joined by Adams,...
2The American Peace Commissioners to David Hartley, 30 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: National Archives, William L. Clements Library, Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society; press copy of copy: National Archives The American Ministers Plenipotentiary for making Peace with great Britain, present their Compliments to Mr. Hartley. They regret that Mr. Hartley’s Instructions will not permit him to sign the Definitive Treaty of Peace with America at the Place...
3David Hartley to the American Peace Commissioners, 29 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : William L. Clements Library; copies: Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives; press copy of copy: National Archives As the day is now fixed for the signatures of the Definitive treaties between Great Britain France and Spain I beg leave to inform you that I am ready to sign the Definitive treaty between Great Britain and the united States of America...
As I am informed that next Wednesday is appointed for the Signature of the definitive Treaties of Peace, I Suppose it will be thought proper to think of Some Conveyance of the Ratification of the Provisional Treaty, and of the Original of our definitive Treaty as Soon as it Shall be Signed To Congress. By what Vessell it will be proper to Send it, deserves to be considered as soon as possible,...
5John Adams to Franklin and John Jay, 27 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Columbia University Library; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society As I am informed that next Wednesday is appointed for the Signature of the definitive Treaties of Peace, I Suppose it will be thought proper to think of Some Conveyance of the Ratification of the Provisional Treaty, and of the Original of our definitive Treaty as Soon as it Shall be Signed to Congress. By what Vessell it...
6The American Peace Commissioners to David Hartley, 13 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Public Record Office; copies: William L. Clements Library, Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society We have received the Letter which you did us the honour to write on the 12th. Inst. and shall take the first Opportunity of conveying to Congress the agreable Information contained in it. The Sentiments & Sensations which the Re-establishment of Peace between our two Countries,...
7David Hartley to the American Peace Commissioners, 12 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Public Record Office, Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society August 12 and 13 were of far greater diplomatic consequence than this exchange of formal letters about the birth of an English princess (the present letter and the commissioners’ answer of the following day) would suggest. On Tuesday, August 12, at the weekly meeting of ministers at Versailles, Franklin and...
8The American Peace Commissioners to Robert R. Livingston, 27 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society The Definitive Treaties between the late beligerent 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...
9Lafayette to the American Peace Commissioners, 22 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society Having Been Honoured With letters from Congress, it Becomes my duty to Consult You Upon a point Which they Have particularly Recommended— In the late preliminaries no time is Mentionned for the American Merchants paying their English debts— A Matter of Great Moment to our Merchants who Require at least three or four Years to Accomplish the Business— Upon...
10The American Peace Commissioners to Robert R. Livingston, 18 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; press copy of LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society, Yale University Library; transcript: National Archives We have had the honour of receiving by Capt. Barney your two Letters of the 25th. of March & 21st of April, with the Papers referred to in them. We are happy to find that the Provisional Articles have...
11The American Peace Commissioners to David Hartley, 17 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Public Record Office; AL (drafts): American Philosophical Society, Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: William L. Clements Library, Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives We have the honour to inform you that we have just received from Congress their Ratification in due Form of the Provisional Articles of the 30th. of November 1782, and we are ready...
12Draft Letter from the American Peace Commissioners to Bariatinskii and Arkadii Markov, [before 15 July 1783] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Around July 13, the American commissioners had been given to understand that mediation by the imperial courts was “a mere formality—a mere Compliment, consisting wholly in the Imperial Ministers putting their names & Seals to the parchment, & can have no ill effect.” On that basis, and believing that Vergennes was in favor of it, Adams drafted the...
13Elias Boudinot to the American Peace Commissioners, 15 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: National Archives As Congress have not yet elected any Minister for Foreign Affairs, and knowing the importance of your Being fully informed of every public transaction relative to these States, I have concluded that you would not think it amiss to hear from me on the subject of the removal of Congress to this place, tho’ I cannot consider this communication as official but merely for...
14The American Peace Commissioners to Vergennes, 10 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères Messieurs Adams, Franklin & Jay, Ministers of the United States for treating of Peace, present their Respects to Mr le Comte de Vergennes, & request he would be pleased to favour them with a Copy of the Offer made by the two Imperial Courts of their Mediation. Notations: juillet 10 / rep. le 31 Juillet 1783. Written by BF . At Versailles on...
15The American Peace Commissioners to Prince Bariatinskii, [2 July 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Retranslation: reprinted from Nina N. Bashkina et al. , eds., The United States and Russia: the Beginning of Relations, 1765–1815 ([Washington, D.C., 1980]), p. 199. On Tuesday, July 1, at the weekly gathering of ministers at Versailles, Vergennes informed the American peace commissioners that the Anglo-French treaty had been settled, pending British approval, and the time had come for them to...
16The American Peace Commissioners to David Hartley: Answers to Propositions, [29 June 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Copies: William L. Clements Library, Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society (two), National Archives (two), Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; transcript: National Archives Answers to Mr Hartleys six Propositions for the definitive Treaty— To the 1st This matter has been already regulated in the 5th & 6th Articles of the Provisional Treaty to the utmost extent of our...
17The American Peace Commissioners to David Hartley: Proposals, [29 June 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Copies: William L. Clements Library, Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives, Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; press copy of copy and transcript: National Archives Propositions made to Mr Hartley for the definitive Treaty— 1st To omit in the Definitive Treaty the Exception at the End of the 2d Article of the Provisional Treaty: Viz: these Words “Excepting such Islands...
18David Hartley to the American Peace Commissioners: Propositions for the Definitive Treaty, [19 June 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society (two), William L. Clements Library, Library of Congress, National Archives (two); transcript: National Archives When the American peace commissioners saw David Hartley at Versailles on Tuesday, June 17, they told him that Congress had issued an order on April 24 opening American ports to British vessels—or so they understood from credible private...
19David Hartley to the American Peace Commissioners: Revised Article, [14–18] June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress (two), William L. Clements Library, Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives; press copy of copy: National Archives It is agreed, that the Citizens of the United States of America shall be permitted to import into and to export from any Port or Place of the Territories belonging to the Crown of Great Britain in American Ships, any Goods, Wares &...
20Elias Boudinot to the American Peace Commissioners, 16 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress (two), Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives This letter from Elias Boudinot, president of Congress, not only announces the resignation of Minister for Foreign Affairs Robert R. Livingston, it also encloses a resolution of great importance to the peace commissioners. On February 5 John Adams had written to Congress that there no longer was a reason to...
21David Hartley to the American Peace Commissioners, 14 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress, William L. Clements Library, Massachusetts Historical Society; two incomplete copies and incomplete transcript: National Archives The American peace commissioners grew increasingly suspicious as they waited for Fox to respond to the article that Hartley had presented to them without prior approval on May 21. Hartley drafted another memorial for them on June 1, but...
22To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 6 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
L : American Philosophical Society Mr: Adams’ Compliments wait on Dr: Franklin, in return to his polite Invitation for Sunday the 8th. inst:— Mr: Adams will do himself the honor of waiting on Dr: Franklin. Addressed: Monsieur / Monsr: Franklin. / Passy. Charles Storer, who penned this letter, received a similar invitation from BF . He wrote his own note on June 6 accepting on behalf of himself...
23Ferdinand Grand to the American Peace Commissioners, 2 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Quoique la lettre que vous m’aves fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 22e du mois passé, ne me flattat pas de recevoir les Secours dont les Finances du Congrès avoient besoin; Néantmoins, l’Espérance du Succès des Soins que j’étois bien assuré que vous donneriès, Messieurs, à un objet aussi intéressant, m’a fait parvenir à Satisfaire à tous les payemens qui se...
24David Hartley to the American Peace Commissioners: Memorial, 1 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: National Archives (two), Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society, Public Record Office; transcript: National Archives The proposition which has been made for an universal & unlimited reciprocity of Intercourse & Commerce, between Great-Britain and the American United-States, requires a very serious Consideration on the part of Great-Britain, for the reasons already stated...
Congress were yesterday pleased to pass the enclosed Resolutions on the subject of the payment of British Debts— The language they speak requires no Comment— I complained in my last of your long Silence, or rather laid before you the Complaint of Congress. These I think receive additional force from Intelligence I have since had, that the Negotiations are still going on, and that important...
26Robert R. Livingston to the American Peace Commissioners, 31 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Massachusetts Historical Society; AL (draft): New-York Historical Society; transcript: National Archives Congress were yesterday pleased to pass the enclosed Resolutions on the subject of the payment of British Debts— The language they speak requires no Comment— I complained in my last of your long Silence, or rather laid before you the Complaint of Congress. These I think receive...
27Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje to the American Peace Commissioners, 29 … (Adams Papers)
We observe by the favour of your Excellencies most honour’d letter of 22 Inst. that M r. Grand has laid before your Exc s. a state of the Affairs of the United States under his Care; and that the Dispositions made upon him are Such, that therefore your Exc s. advise us to remit to M r. Grand on account of Said States a sum of half a Million Livres Tournois, if the Cash in our hands, compared...
28Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje to the American Peace Commissioners, 29 … (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: Massachusetts Historical Society; copy and incomplete copy: Library of Congress We observe by the favour of your Excellencies most honour’d letter of 22 Inst. that Mr. Grand has laid before your Excs. a state of the Affairs of the United States under his Care; and that the Dispositions made upon him are Such, that therefore your Excs. advise us to remit to Mr. Grand on account of...
By the direction of Congress, contained in the enclosd resolutions, I have the honor to transmit you the Correspondence between General Washington & Sir Guy Carlton, together with minutes of their Conference, when, in pursuance of the invitation of the first, they met in Orange-County. Nothing can be a more direct violation of the 7 th: Article of the Provisional Treaty, than sending off the...
30Robert R. Livingston to the American Peace Commissioners, 28 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, South Carolina Historical Society; AL (draft): New-York Historical Society; transcript: National Archives By the direction of Congress, contained in the enclosed resolutions, I have the honor to transmit you the Correspondence between General Washington & Sir Guy Carlton, together with minutes of their Conference, when, in pursuance of the invitation...
31Proposal by the American Peace Commissioners to David Hartley (Adams Papers)
Paris, 22 May 1783. PRINTED: JA , D&A , 3:125–127 . LbC-Tr ( Adams Papers ); APM Reel 103. With this offer the commissioners sought to counter Hartley’s proposal of the previous day (above) as well as the 14 May Order in Council. They proposed an agreement whereby both parties would appoint ministers to negotiate a permanent commercial treaty. Until such time as an agreement was concluded,...
32The American Peace Commissioners to Rodolphe-Ferdinand Grand, 22 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress (two), Massachusetts Historical Society; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society We have received the Letter you did us the honour to write us on the 10th. Day of this Month, containing a brief State of the affairs of the United States in your hands. We see the Difficulties you are in, and are sorry to say that it is not in our Power to afford you any Relief....
33The American Peace Commissioners to Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 22 … (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress (two), Massachusetts Historical Society; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society Mr. Grand, has laid before us, a State of the affairs of the United States under his Care, and the Demands upon him for money to discharge the Bills drawn upon him, are such as to require some assistance from you, if the Demands upon you will admit of it. If therefore, the State of...
34Memorial from David Hartley to the American Peace Commissioners (Adams Papers)
Paris, 21 May 1783. PRINTED: JA , D&A , 3:131–134 . LbC ( Adams Papers ); APM Reel 109. LbC-Tr ( Adams Papers ); APM Reel 103. This memorial was Hartley’s response to the article that the commissioners had proposed on 29 April to open American and British ports to virtually unrestricted free trade, to which Hartley had at least tentatively agreed ( calendared, above
35David Hartley to the American Peace Commissioners: Memorial and Proposed Article, [19 May 1783] (Franklin Papers)
(I) Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society (four), William L. Clements Library, Library of Congress, National Archives (four); press copy of copy: National Archives; (II) Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society (four), Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères, William L. Clements Library, Library of Congress, National Archives (four); press copy of copy: National Archives Formal...
36To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 14 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society As there are Several Things which require the Deliberation of the American Ministers, Mr Adams has the Honour to propose to Dr Franklin a Meeting at the Hotel du Roi Tomorrow at Eleven, if that time and Place are convenient to his Excellency. Mr A. will give notice to the other Gentlemen. Addressed: Son Excellence / Monsieur Franklin / en son hotel / Paris...
Having yesterday conferred with Count de Vergennes upon some Public Concerns, He requested I would tell you what, instead of troubling you with the Demand of a meeting, I think better to mention in this Note. The several Powers said he, are going to make up their Treaties, and when ready to sign, they will of Course meet to do it alltogether. The Mediation of the Emperor and that of Russia...
38Lafayette to the American Peace Commissioners, 12 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, Library of Congress Having Yesterday conferred with Count de Vergennes upon some Public Concerns, He requested I would tell you what, instead of troubling you with the Demand of a meeting, I think better to mention in this Note. The several Powers said he, are going to make up their Treaties, and when ready to sign, they will of Course meet to do it...
39Henry Grand to the American Peace Commissioners, 10 May 1783 (Adams Papers)
It is some Months ago since I had the honor to write you, & am well persuaded, altho I received no Answer thereto, that it will have engaged your attention. I earnestly wish it may have been productive of an Improvement to the Finances of Congress which I then foresaw would be short of our Wants & which is unfortunately too much the case at present. Last Month I remitted to the Honorable R t....
40Ferdinand Grand to the American Peace Commissioners, 10 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, Library of Congress; partial copy: Library of Congress It is some Months ago since I had the honor to write you, & am well persuaded, altho I received no Answer thereto, that it will have engaged your attention. I earnestly wish it may have been productive of an Improvement to the Finances of Congress which I then foresaw would be short of our Wants &...
41Matthew Ridley to the American Peace Commissioners, [before 6 May? 1783] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society On my return from Versailles I found a Letter from my Friend Mr. Joshua Johnson at Nantes covering the Inclosed Extract of a Letter from Mr S Chase & sent him by his Brother the Governor of Maryland— Mr. J. Johnson desires me to communicate the Intelligence it contains to you & also to the Ministers of the French Court—it being probably the only authentic...
[ Paris, 29 April 1783 ]. PRINTED: JA , D&A , 3:114–115 . MS ( Adams Papers ). LbC ( Adams Papers ); APM Reel 109. LbC-Tr
43The American Peace Commissioners: Three Proposed Articles, [29 April 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society (three), National Archives (two), William L. Clements Library, Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères, Library of Congress; press copy of copy: American Philosophical Society; transcript and partial copy: National Archives No. 1. Article It is agreed, that so soon, as his Britannic Majesty shall have withdrawn all his Armies, Garrisons and...
44Proposed Article Regarding Article 7 of the Preliminary Peace Treaty, 28 April 1783 (Adams Papers)
Article. His Britannic Majesty agrees, that within Months from this Date, and as much Sooner as may be, he will withdraw all his Armies, Garrisons and Fleets, from the Said United States, and from every Port Place and Harbour within the Same, and without causing any Destruction, or carrying away any Negroes, or other Property of the American Inhabitants, and leaving in all Fortifications the...
45To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams and John Jay, 28 April 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Historical Society of Delaware Mr Adams and Mr Jay present their Compliments to Dr Franklin and inform him, that they have just seen Mr Laurens and agreed with him upon a Meeting of the American Ministers Tomorrow at Eleven, at Mr Laurens’s Lodgings. The Drs Company is desired, and Mr Franklin Junr is requested also to attend. Addressed: Son Excellence / Monsieur Franklin / Ministre...
46David Hartley to the American Peace Commissioners: Memorandum, [before 27 April 1783] (Franklin Papers)
D : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Public Record Office David Hartley arrived in Paris on April 24. The following day he called on the individual American peace commissioners and found them eager to arrange for the opening of British and American ports to each other’s trade and to conclude as quickly as possible a definitive treaty of peace. On April 26 he went to Versailles,...
47Draft Articles to Supplement the Preliminary Anglo-American Peace Treaty, [ca. 27 April 1783] (Adams Papers)
Articles agreed upon by and between David Hartley Esquire, Minister Plenipotentiary of his Britannic Majesty for &c in behalf of his Said Majesty on the one Part, and J.A. B.F. J.J. and H.L, Ministers Plenipotentiary of the United States of America for treating of Peace with the Minister Plenipotentiary of his Said Majesty, on their behalf, on the other Part, in Addition to those Articles...
48Proposed Explanatory Article Regarding the Effective Date of the Provisional Peace Treaty, [ca. 27 April 1783] (Adams Papers)
Article. Whereas Provisional Articles, were agreed upon by and between the Crown of Great Britain on one side and the United states of America on the other on the 30 of November 1782, to be inserted in, and to constitute the Treaty of Peace proposed to be concluded between the Crown of Great Britain and the Said United states of America, but which Treaty was not to be concluded, untill Terms...
49Proposed Explanatory Article Regarding Article 6 of the Provisional Peace Treaty, [ca. 27 April 1783] (Adams Papers)
Whereas, by the 6 th. Article of the Provisional Treaty of the 30 th of November 1782, it was agreed in these Words vizt “That there Shall be no future Confiscations made, nor any Prosecutions commenced, against any Person or Persons, for, or by Reason of, the Part which he or they may have taken in the present War, and that no Person Shall on that Account, Suffer any future Loss or Damage,...
Article. Manufactures. foreign Commodities. It is agreed, that American Merchants shall be allowed to import into any Part of the Dominions of his Britannic Majesty and there Sell and dispose of any Manufactures of the said United states or any other Merchandizes, of whatever kind of the Growth Production or Manufacture of any Part of the World, for the Purpose of making Remittances and paying...