From John Jay to Benjamin Franklin, 11 September 1783
To Benjamin Franklin
Passy 11 Septr. 1783
Sir
I have been favored with your Letter of Yesterday, and will answer it explicitly.
I have never been witness to any Action or Conversation of yours which indicated a Reluctance ^[illegible]^ ^have no Reason whatever to believe that you was averse^ to our obtaining the full Extent of Boundary & Fishery secured to us by the Treaty.—^but your Conduct respecting them throughout the Negociation of^ indicated ^a^ strong & evident ^& steady^ attachment to both those objects, & ^in my opinion^ promoted the attainment of them—
I remember that in a Conversation which Mr. de Rayneval, the first Secretary of Count De Vergennes, had with you and me, in the Summer of 1782, you contended for our full Right to the Fishery, and argued it on various Principles.
Your Letters to me when in Spain, considered our Territory as extending to the Missisippi, and expressed your opinion against ceding the Navigation of that River, in very strong and pointed Terms—1
In short Sir: I do not recollect the least Difference in Sentiment between us respecting the Boundaries or Fisheries—on the contrary, we were unanimous and united in adhering to, and insisting on them—nor did I ever percieve the least Disposition in either of us, to recede from our Claims, or be satisfied with less than we obtained— I have the Honor to be with great Respect & Esteem Sir Your most obedient and very h’ble Servt.2
Dft, NNC (EJ: 7822). Addressed “His Exy Dr. Franklin—”. Tr, MH: Sparks (EJ: 5362), in William Jay’s hand, endorsed by Sparks, “The above letters were copied by Wm. Jay from his father’s papers, and sent to me, Dec. 1829.”
1. See BF to JJ, 2 Oct. 1780, 27 Jan. 1781, : 279–82, 383–85.
2. For JA’s more grudging response to BF of 13 Sept. 1783, see : 15, 291–92; , 6: 696–97. On this incident, see also “The Commissioners Defend the Treaty” (editorial note) on pp. 416–19; and , 445.