1The 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...
2To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens, 27 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress; copy: University of South Carolina Library My thanks are due for the justice you did me, in beleiving I had written to some one or other of my Colleagus since my last return to London, altho’ it appears by the Letter you have honored me with under the 21st Inst. mine of the 9th. addressed to the whole had not reached them, an unlucky circumstance which gives me much...
3The 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,...
4Henry Laurens to the American Peace Commissioners, 9 August 1783 (Adams Papers)
Availing my self of your consent & recommendation I embarked at le Havre on board the Washington & Sailed from thence the 1 st Inst. On the 2 d. at 9 o’Clõ. AM. we were within six Leagues of Poole in Dorsetshire. The Wind being very favorable, I quitted the Ship, went on board a small Hoy bound to Poole & urged Capt. Barney to proceed on his Voyage, leaving my excellent Post Carriage to take...
5Henry Laurens to the Other American Peace Commissioners, 9 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New-York Historical Society; two copies and transcript: National Archives; copy: South Carolina Historical Society Availing my self of your consent & recommendation I embarked at le Havre on board the Washington & Sailed from thence the 1st. Inst. On the 2d. at 9 o’Clo. AM. we were within six Leagues of Poole in Dorsetshire. The Wind being very favorable, I quitted the Ship, went on...
6The 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...
7The 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...
8The 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...
9To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens, 17 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Library of Congress; copy: South Carolina Historical Society I have but this moment 1 o Clock PM been honored with your Letter of the 6th. Instant, it has been long in its Passage, I must endeavour to make more Expedition in complying with your wish to return as soon as possible to Paris. I had flattered myself with hopes of being free. As tis possible nay probable that I shall be with...
10Draft 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...
11The 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...
12The 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...
13The 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...
14The 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...
15To John Adams from Henry Laurens, 25 June 1783 (Adams Papers)
I beg leave to refer you to my Letters of the 17 th. and 20 th. Instant to the American Ministers. I had very early applied to Ramsden one of the most celebrated opticians in London for the Spectacles which you desired me to procure for you he was dilatory in finishing them and occasioned the loss of an excellent opportunity for transmission, they came to me just as I was leaving London in...
16Henry Laurens to the American Peace Commissioners, 20 June 1783 (Adams Papers)
Permit me to refer to what I had the honor of writing to you the 17 th. You will recollect my Suggestions, as soon as we perceived the falling off, from those warm Assurances which had been pressed in March and April, they were not ill founded; I dalayed a Week in hopes of Intelligence & left you with Reluctance; the temper of the times forbids even an essay. What a happy Country is this,...
17Henry Laurens to the Other American Peace Commissioners, 20 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, Library of Congress, South Carolina Historical Society Permit me to refer to what I had the honor of writing to you the 17th. You will recollect my Suggestions, as soon as we perceived the falling off, from those warm Assurances which had been pressed in March and April, they were not ill founded; I dalayed a Week in hopes of Intelligence & left you...
18Henry Laurens to the American Peace Commissioners, 17 June 1783 (Adams Papers)
I had the honor of addressing you the 10 th. immediately after my landing at Dover— As early as possible after my arrival here I obtained an Interview with M r. Secretary Fox, who was pleased to read to me part of his latest Dispatches to M r. Hartley which he supposed would reach Paris on the 14 th. tis probable therefore that before this time, as much of the Contents as is proper for your...
19Henry Laurens to the Other American Peace Commissioners, 17 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, South Carolina Historical Society I had the honor of addressing you the 10th. immediately after my landing at Dover— As early as possible after my arrival here I obtained an Interview with Mr. Secretary Fox, who was pleased to read to me part of his latest Dispatches to Mr. Hartley which he supposed would reach Paris...
20Henry Laurens to the Other American Peace Commissioners, 10 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, Library of Congress This Moment landed— As a Boat is going over to Calais, the inclosed Proclamation may possibly arrive new to you. To me it wears the Aspect of one Part of a commercial Treaty. I shall not wonder, should I see our Friend, D. H. in London this Week. I purpose Lodging there to night. There & every where, I shall be as I am, Your...
21The 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....
22The 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...
23To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens, 19 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL : University of Pennsylvania Library Mr. Laurens presents his respectful Compliments to Doctor Franklin & thanks the Doctor for his goodness in sending the American News Papers, Mr. L. will convey them to Mr. Adams to morrow. Addressed: His Excellency / Doctor Franklin / Passy.
24To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 30 April 1783 (Washington Papers)
This will have the honor of being delivered to your Excellency by Il Comte di Vermé Cousin to Prince Caromanico the Neapolitan Ambassador at the Court of London, who in pursuit of his travels intends very shortly a Visit to the United States of America. Permit me to introduce this Nobleman to Your Excellency’s acquaintance and Protection; I have not the honor of personal Knowledge of the...
[ Paris, 29 April 1783 ]. PRINTED: JA , D&A , 3:114–115 . MS ( Adams Papers ). LbC ( Adams Papers ); APM Reel 109. LbC-Tr
26The 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...
27Proposed 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...
28Draft 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...
29Proposed 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...