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...
3From John Jay to William Carmichael, 14 August 1783 (Jay Papers)
I have this moment rec d . a Letter from His Ex y . the Count de Montmorin, in w h . he mentions your having communicated to him my Letter to you of the Ult., and also favors me with his Sentiments on the Subject of it. As that Letter was written by me in a public Capacity, to you in a public Capacity, and on public Business, I endulged the Expectation of rec g an Answer to it from You. When...
4The 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,...
5From John Jay to William Bingham, 29 July 1783 (Jay Papers)
I have been favored with your obliging Letter of the 10 th . Instant, and sincerely congratulate You & M rs . Bingham on your safe arrival. A Tour thro’ ^ parts of ^ Europe cannot fail of being agreable to M rs . Bingham ^ her ^ and as
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...
7To John Adams from John Jay, 26 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
I hope I may by this Time congratulate You on your safe Arrival, and happy meeting with your Son at amsterdam. M r. Laurens is here, & in better Health than I have heretofore seen him since he left America— His Stay will probably be short, for his Permission to return creates Doubts in his Mind as to the Propriety of his continuing to act with us, unless by our particular Request; and M r...
8From John Jay to Catharine W. Livingston, 20 July 1783 (Jay Papers)
I have now your kind Letter of the 24 May last before me, and sincerely thank You for it. It is a little singular that so few Letters from [us h]ave reached You, especially as several of them have been written [since] the Cessation of Hostilities. M rs . Izard is on the way to Philadelphia— The Departure of the Vessel in which she expected to sail disappointed her exceedingly, & occasioned...
9From John Jay to Robert Morris, 20 July 1783 (Jay Papers)
By Cap t . Barney I was favored with Yours of the 31 st . May. By this Time I hope you will have rec d . several Letters for from me w h . were then on the way. Want of Health here has long made much writing painful to me, so that my Letters in general are short. My Jaunt to Normandy did me some Service, but less than I expected— The pure air of this Place has been very useful to me— The pain...
10From John Jay to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston), 20 July 1783 (Jay Papers)
The Delays which have unexpectedly postponed the Completion of the definitive Treaty, have hitherto prevented my trying the Effect of the Waters of Bath for a Pain in my Breast, which has continued in different Degrees for a Year past. Were I much longer to neglect that only probable Chance of restoring my Health, my little Family might have much Reason to complain. I fear that the fluctuating...
11John Jay: Account of Conversations with Franklin, 19 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AD : Columbia University Library On July 19, the day after the American peace commissioners finalized their letter to Livingston, John Adams left for Holland, and Franklin and Jay, to judge by the present document, indulged in some moments of relaxed conversation. The thirty-eight-year-old Jay had been living at the Hôtel Valentinois with his family for more than a month, and Franklin seemed...
12From John Jay to Robert R. Livingston, 19 July 1783 (Jay Papers)
our Dispatches by Barney must be ready the Day after Tomorrow. The many Letters I have written, and have still to write, together with Conferences, Company &c a . keep me fully employed. You will therefore excuse my not descending so much to particulars, as both of us indeed might wish— As little that passes in Congress is kept entirely secret, we think it prudent at least to postpone giving...
13From John Jay to William Livingston, 19 July 1783 (Jay Papers)
On the 1 st . Instant I had the Pleasure of seeing ^ rec g . ^ your Favor of the 21 May Ma last, but have neither seen nor heard any thing of Doctor Wearing whom you mention as the Bearer of it— Should he come this Way, I shall certainly pay him all the Attention w h . you or Presidt Boudinott could wish— I am happy to hear that the provisional Articles meet with general approbation— The...
14From John Jay to Charles Thomson, 19 July 1783 (Jay Papers)
My last to you was a short Letter by M r John Penn, who I suppose is near america by this Time— When I consider that no Person in the World is so perfectly acquainted with the Rise, Conduct, and Conclusion of the american Revolution, as yourself, I cannot but wish that you would devote one hour in the four and twenty, to giving Posterity a true account of it. I think it might be comprized in a...
15The 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...
16John Jay’s Draft of the American Peace Commissioners to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston) … (Jay Papers)
We have had the honor of receiving by Capt. Barney your two letters of the 21 & 25 Ap. last, with the Papers referred to in them. We are happy to find that the provisional Articles have been approved and ratified by Congress, and we regret that the manner, in which that business was conducted, does not coincide with your Ideas of Propriety. Your Doubts on that Head appear to have arisen from...
17The 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...
18From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 17 July 1783 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your two Letters from you—one of the 29 Ap r . by Col. Ogden—the other of 30 May by Cap t . Barney— I am glad to see the Col. and shall readily do him any Service in my power, as well on acc t . of your Recommendation as his own Merit— By this Time I suppose there is much canvassing for foreign appointments— I thank you for thinking of me—but as I mean to return in the Spring,...
19Draft 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...
20The 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...
21The 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...
22From John Jay to Catharine W. Livingston, 1 July 1783 (Jay Papers)
Your’s by Col. Cambray, dated the 28 Jan y last, was delivered to us by that Gentleman about a fortnight ago, & tho several Vessels have since arrived, the only american Letter I have yet rec d . by them is from M r . Benson. I am surprized that no Letter from me has reached you since the arrival of Maj r . Franks— I have written not only several but many: but I have been so used to...
23American Peace Commissioners’ Propositions for the Definitive Treaty, [c. 1 July 1783] (Jay Papers)
Propositions made to M r Hartley for the Definitive Treaty. 1 st . To omit in the Definitive Treaty, the Exception at the End ^ of the 2 d : ^ Article of the Provisional Treaty: viz: these Words, “Excepting such Islands as now are, or heretofore have been within the Limits of the said Province of Nova Scotia.”— 2 dly . The Prisoners made respectively by the Arms of his Britannic Majesty & the...
24Proposals for an Anglo-American Commercial Agreement, June 1783 (Adams Papers)
[ Paris ], June 1783. LbC-Tr ’s in Jean L’Air de Lamotte’s hand ( Adams Papers ); APM Reel 103. The two proposals calendared here, one by David Hartley and the other by John Jay, are dated June in the Letterbook, but any effort to arrive at an exact date is problematical. They were likely done sometime after 21 May but prior to Hartley’s letter to the commissioners of 14 June , above, and...
25The 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...
26The 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...
27From Benjamin Franklin and John Jay to Vergennes, 28 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copies: Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives Mr Grand, Banker to the Congress, having laid before us the annexed State of their Affairs in his Hands, we conceive ourselves indispensably obliged to communicate the same to your Excellency, as some important Interests of both Countries are concerned. Before...
28From John Jay to Philip Van Brugh Livingston, 28 June 1783 (Jay Papers)
Your favor of the 7 Inst. was delivered to me three Days ago. I am happy to hear that your Tour has contributed to the Reestablishm t . of your Health, and I should have written to you frequently, If I had known where to direct my Letters—the one you mention to have written to me came safe to Hand— Some Months have elapsed since any of the Am. Ministers here have rec d . ^ either ^ official...
29Benjamin Franklin and John Jay to Vergennes, 28 June 1783 (Jay Papers)
M r Grand, Banker to the Congress, having laid before us the annexed State of their Affairs in his Hands, we conceive ourselves indispensably obliged to communicate the same to your Excellency, as some important Interests of both Countries are concerned. Before the Peace was known in America, and while M r . Morris had hopes of obtaining the Five per Cent Duty, and a larger Loan from his...
30From John Jay to Peter Van Schaack, 16 June 1783 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your favor of the 30 th Ult. Your affectionate answer to my Letter of the 17 th Sep r . last reached me about a month after its Date. The Prospect I then and long afterwards had of being able to visit England (where the Death of a Relation gave me some private Business to transact) induced me from Time to Time to postpone writing to you. It so happened however that my continuing...
31From John Jay to George Clinton, 12[–13] June 1783 (Jay Papers)
It would give me great Pleasure to be certain that this Letter will be delivered to you at your Home in the City of New York, but it is even doubtful whether orders to evacuate it have as yet been dispatched. What motives enduce this Delay can only be conjectured, perhaps it may be designed ^ by some of the british Cabinet ^ to stimulate our doing more for the Tories than ex than they...
32To George Washington from John Jay, 13 June 1783 (Washington Papers)
Mr Geo. Mason Junr who sailed lately from Nantes has a Letter from me to You. I have within these few Days past, read & admired your address to the army and their Proceedings in Consequence of it. Such Instances of Patriotism are rare, and america must find it difficult to express in adequate Terms, the Gratitude she owes to both. Such a Degree of Glory, so virtuously acquired, and so decently...
33From John Jay to Elias Boudinot, 11 June 1783 (Jay Papers)
You will I hope recieve this Letter from the Hands of Doct r . Bancroft, whom I take the Liberty of recommending as well as introducing to your Excellency. I have had the Pleasure of being intimately acquainted with this Gentleman, for this Year past, and assure you that in the Course of it, he has to my Knowledge been a useful and zealous friend to America. His long Residence in this Country,...
34From John Jay to John Marsden Pintard, 7 June 1783 (Jay Papers)
Your Favor of the 13 th . April last reached me a few Days ago. It gives me Pleasure to find that you are informed of the Friendship which formerly subsisted between our Families, and you rightly suppose that I will be influenced by it. The American Ministers in Europe are not authorized either severally or jointly, to appoint a Consul; and consequently I cannot have the Satisfaction of...
35From John Jay to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston), 1 June 1783 (Jay Papers)
I have had the honor of rec g your Favor of the 4 th . of Jan y . last. The Cypher you mention to have enclosed, is missing—my letter by Cap t . Barney affords an answer to the greater part of your Enquiries. Business here goes on heavily. The dutch & English are not yet agreed and some points remain still to be adjusted between the latter and the french and Spaniards. M r . Hartley has an...
Whereas a Variety of Circumstances and Considerations oppose the forming at Present a Permanent Treaty of Commerce between the Imperial Crown of Great Britain and the United States of America— And whereas it is expedient that a Commercial Intercourse should be without Delay opened and Regulated between the Kingdom and Territories of Great Britain and the said States by a temporary Convention....
37From John Jay to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston), 30 May 1783 (Jay Papers)
It cannot in my opinion be long before Congress will think it expedient to name a minister to the Court of London. Perhaps my Friends may wish to add me to the number of Candidates for that office— If that should be the Case I request the Favor of you to declare in the most explicit Terms that I view the Expectations of M r Adams on that head, as founded in Equity & Reason, & that I will not...
38Proposal 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,...
39The 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....
40The 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...
41From John Jay to William Livingston, 21 May 1783 (Jay Papers)
It was not until this Morning that your obliging Letter of the 8 th . Jan y . last reached me— I thank you for it sincerely, & regret that its arriving so late in the Season will render it useless to send you an assortment of Seeds for this Spring. You may expect them in the Fall & they shall be fresh & of this Years Growth. Your accounts of my Boy are flattering, & so is your affectionate...
[ 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...
46Draft 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...
47Proposed 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...
48Proposed 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...
Article. Commerce to be in force for Five Years unless sooner altered by a Treaty of Commerce 1. It is agreed that so soon as his Britannic Majesty, shall have withdrawn all his Armies Garrisons and Fleets, from the Said United states and from every Port Place and Harbour within the Same, according to the 7 Article of the Provisional Treaty of 30 Nov. 1782 all Ports in the Dominions of either...