President of Congress (Thomas Mifflin) to the American Peace Commissioners, 14 January 1784
President of Congress (Thomas Mifflin) to
the American Peace Commissioners
[Annapolis 14th Jany 1784]
Gentlemen,
This Day, nine States being represented in Congress, Vizt: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina & South Carolina, together with one Member from New Hampshire and One member from New-Jersey, The Treaty of Peace was ratified by the Unanimous Vote of the Members; This being done, Congress by an unanimous Vote, ordered a Proclamation to be issued, enjoyning the strict and faithful Observance thereof; and published an earnest Recommendation to the several States in the very Words of the 5th Article— They have likewise resolved, that the Ratification of the Definitive Treaty of Peace between the United States & Great Britain be transmitted, with all possible Dispatch, under the Care of a faithful Person, to our Ministers in France, who have negotiated the Treaty; to be exchanged; & have appointed Colonel Josiah Harmar to that service. He will have the Honor of delivering to you the Ratification; together with Copies of the Proclamation of Congress and of their Recommendation to the States conformably to the 5th Article.1
I take the liberty of recommending Colonel Harmar as a brave and deserving Officer, and am, with the highest Respect and Esteem, Gentlemen, Your Obedient and most humble Servant,
(signed) Thomas Mifflin
C, PPAmP: Franklin (EJ: 2579).
1. For the treaty ratification, proclamation, and recommendation that the state legislatures observe the terms of the treaty and restore Loyalist estates confiscated between 30 Nov. 1782 and 14 Jan. 1783, see , 26: 22–31. The signing was delayed by the lack of a quorum until Richard Beresford, a South Carolina delegate who had been ill, was able to attend Congress. Arrangements were made for Josiah Harmar to sail for Europe from New York with the treaty and other dispatches on the French packet, but his departure was delayed by ice. He finally sailed on the Courier de l’Amerique in mid-February and did not reach Paris until 29 Mar., several weeks after the 3 Mar. deadline set for the exchange of ratifications with the British. Another copy of the treaty was entrusted to David Salisbury Franks, whose departure was likewise delayed. Franks sailed on the Edward, bound for London. JJ and BF notified Hartley of the arrival of the treaty and exchanged ratifications with him in Paris on 12 May. The Committee of the States received the ratified treaty on 30 July and announced it to the public on 2 Aug. 1784. See Hartley to JJ, 2 Mar., BF to JJ, 30 Mar., BF and JJ to Hartley, 31 Mar., JJ to Henry Laurens, 5 Apr., and Laurens to JJ, 11 Apr. 1784, below; , 13–14, 18, 29, 81; and , 21: 274–76, 283–86, 386–87, 398, 404–5, 693, 698, 740, 745, 747–51, 753.