American Peace Commissioners to Francis Dana, 12 December 1782

American Peace Commissioners to Francis Dana

Paris Decr. 12. 17821

Sir

We have the Honour to congratulate you, on the Signature of the preliminary Treaty of Peace, between his Britannic Majesty and the United States of America, to be inserted in the definitive Treaty, when France and Britain2 shall have agreed upon their Terms. The Articles, of which We do ourselves the honour to inclose you a Copy, were compleated on the thirtieth of last Month.3

To Us, at this Distance, the present opportunity, appears to be the most favourable for you to communicate your mission to the Ministers of the Empress of Russia, and to the Ministers of the other neutral Powers residing at her Court, and if you have no objections, We presume you will wish to be furnished with the inclosed Paper, to communicate at the same Time.

We heartily wish you Success, and if you should inform Us of a fair prospect of it, We shall propose an Article in the definitive Treaty, to secure the Freedom of Navigation according to the Principles of the late marine Treaty between the neutral Powers.4 With great Respect, We have the Honour to be, Sir, your most obedient and most humble Servants

John Adams
B Franklin
John Jay
Henry Laurens

The Honourable Francis Dana Esq.

ALS, in the hand of JA, MHi: Dana Family Papers (EJ: 4688). Endorsed: “Letter from J. Adams & other / Commissioners of the U. States / Dated Paris Dec. 12th. 1782 / Recd. Jany. 1st. 1783— O. Stile”. LbkC (Dft), and LbkC-Tr, both MHi: Adams (see PJA description begins Robert J. Taylor, Gregg L. Lint, et al., eds., Papers of John Adams (16 vols. to date; Cambridge, Mass., 1977–) description ends , 14: 120–21).

1. JA and BF had agreed to send this letter to Dana, who had instructions from Congress to gain American entry into the League of Armed Neutrality, on 3 Dec. See PBF description begins William B. Willcox et al., eds., The Papers of Benjamin Franklin (40 vols. to date; New Haven, Conn., 1959–) description ends , 38: 403.

2. JA’s draft had originally read “when the other belligerent powers”. See PBF description begins William B. Willcox et al., eds., The Papers of Benjamin Franklin (40 vols. to date; New Haven, Conn., 1959–) description ends , 38: 439.

3. See the Preliminary Articles of Peace, 30 Nov., above.

4. For JA’s conversation with the Dutch peace negotiator, Gerard Brantsen, which triggered the present letter, and for his consultation with JJ about it, see Adams, Diary description begins Lyman H. Butterfield et al., eds., Diary and Autobiography of John Adams (4 vols.; Cambridge, Mass., 1961) description ends , 3: 85–88.

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Source Project: Jay Papers
Title: American Peace Commissioners to Francis Dana, 12 December 1782
Author: American Peace Commissioners
Recipient: Dana, Francis
Date: 12 December 1782

Reference

Cite as: “American Peace Commissioners to Francis Dana, 12 December 1782,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jay/01-03-02-0089. [Original source: The Selected Papers of John Jay, vol. 3, 1782–1784, ed. Elizabeth M. Nuxoll. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2013, pp. 279–280.]