1. In a private letter to Lafayette of 12 Apr. 1783 (LDC description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds., Letters of Delegates to the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (26 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1976–98) description ends , 20: 168–70), the President of Congress Elias Boudinot reported general satisfaction with the peace terms except for the fact that the time to be allowed for American merchants to pay their English debts had been stipulated. Since the merchants had suffered greatly during the war, he recommended that the American peace commissioners ask for a three- to four-year grace period. The commissioners had already suggested that the article on debts be amended to delay execution on a judgment of an American debt to a British creditor for three years from the date of the treaty in their letter to Hartley of 17 July 1783, above.

Boudinot also suggested to Lafayette that France should back the request for a grace period to avoid throwing American merchants “too absolutely into the hands of the English Creditor.” In his 5 Aug. response to a letter from Lafayette asking for his support for this proposal, Vergennes stated that Hartley’s commission allowed him to negotiate for the interests of his nation, but not those of private individuals. For Lafayette’s letter to Vergennes of 21 July, and his reply to Boudinot of 20 July, see Lafayette Papers description begins Stanley J. Idzerda et al., eds., Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790 (5 vols.; Ithaca, N.Y., 1977–83) description ends , 5: 142–45.

2. No reply from the commissioners to Lafayette’s letter has been found.