1John Jay to the American Commissioners, 11 March 1785 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives, Massachusetts Historical Society; AL (draft): National Archives; copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives (three) On the 7th. of May 1784 Congress was pleased to resolve “that Treaties of Amity and Commerce be entered into with Morocco, and the Regencies of Tunis, Algiers and Tripoli, to continue for the Term of ten Years or for a Term as much longer...
2Thulemeier to the American Commissioners: Résumé, 4 March 1785 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: National Archives ⟨The Hague, March 4, 1785, in French: The orders of the king, which I have now received, enable me to respond more fully to your last letter, which I acknowledged in my letter of February 11. His Majesty is convinced that the establishment of one or two free ports would be useless, after the very apt remark by the American plenipotentiaries that Articles 2 and 3...
3Thulemeier to the American Commissioners: Résumé, 11 February 1785 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: National Archives ⟨The Hague, February 11, 1785, in French: The letter that you wrote to me in January, without indication of a specific date, reached me a few days ago. I transmitted to the king the offer to establish the ports of Emden and Stettin as free ports, and I await His Majesty’s orders, which I will hasten to make known to you. You will have received by now the...
LS and copy: National Archives ⟨Paris, February 2, 1785, in French: Having informed my court of the letter you wrote to me on September 22 of last year, notifying me that you were authorized by the United States of America to negotiate a treaty of commerce with His Sardinian Majesty, I hereby inform you that the king will be pleased if United States ships use the free port he has at Nice,...
5Thulemeier to the American Commissioners: Résumé, 24 January 1785 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: National Archives ⟨The Hague, January 24, 1785, in French: The king has authorized me to transmit to you some observations on the counterproject of the treaty of commerce, which you sent me on November 10 and which a Dutch courier delivered on the twenty-sixth. An express courier charged with dispatches for the Dutch ambassador at Paris provides me today with a safe and swift...
6Pio to the American Commissioners: Résumé, 22 January 1785 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: National Archives ⟨Paris, January 22, 1785, in French: I gave the king your letter of September 27, 1784, offering to conclude a treaty of amity and commerce. He has authorized me to assure you that nothing would give him greater pleasure. His Majesty has lately opened and established a free port at Messina in Sicily, open to all nations, as the enclosed edict will show. Moreover,...
7John Jay to the American Commissioners, 14 January 1785 (Franklin Papers)
LS and two copies: National Archives On the 21st. Ultimo I accepted the Place of Secretary for foreign Affairs. All the foreign letters which had been received during the recess of Congress were then and are still in the hands of a Committee to whom they had been referred—none have since arrived.— The adjournment from Trenton to this Place necessarily occasioned delay in business— Congress...
8Sousa Coutinho to the American Commissioners: Résumé, 22 December 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: National Archives ⟨Paris, December 22, 1784, in French: I received your letter and the plan of a treaty it enclosed, which I will forward to the court at Lisbon. ⟩ Published in Jefferson Papers, VII , 580. The commissioners’ letter was dated Nov. 30 (above). The Portuguese court returned no answer until the fall of 1785, when it was prodded again by Sousa, himself responding to a...
9Pamphili to the American Commissioners: Résumé, 15 December 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: National Archives ⟨Paris, December 15, 1784, in French: I communicated to my court the overture contained in your letter of September 22. His Holiness orders me to tell you that all vessels flying the flag of the United States of America will be welcomed in the ports of Civitavecchia, on the Mediterranean, and Ancona, on the Adriatic, with the reciprocal understanding that ships...
10Thulemeier to the American Commissioners: Résumé, 10 December 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: National Archives ⟨The Hague, December 10, 1784, in French: Your letter of November 10, conveyed by a Dutch courier, did not reach me until the 26th. I transmitted to the king a French translation of your draft treaty, to which the recent instructions of Congress obliged you to make a few changes that differ from the proposal I gave to Mr. Adams on April 9. I will notify you of...
11The Duke of Dorset to the American Commissioners: Résumé, 24 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: National Archives; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society ⟨Paris, November 24, 1784: I transmitted copies of the two letters you sent me to the Marquis of Carmarthen, His Majesty’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and am authorized to assure you of our ministers’ readiness to consider any proposals that will establish a system of mutual and permanent advantage to our two...
12Francesco Favi to the American Commissioners: Résumé, 16 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy: National Archives ⟨Paris, November 16, 1784, in French: I sent to my court your letter of September 30. Your invitation was very agreeable to His Royal Highness, and he will receive with pleasure the communication of proposals.⟩ Published in Jefferson Papers, VII , 533, and, with an English translation, in Adams Papers, XVI , 430.
13Friedrich Wilhelm von Thulemeier to the American Commissioners: Résumé, 8 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: National Archives ⟨The Hague, October 8, 1784, in French: I have notified the king without delay of the dispositions of the United States for the conclusion of a treaty of amity and commerce, contained in your letter of September 9. His majesty has furnished me with full powers to conclude this treaty, of which I am enclosing a copy. It appears unnecessary to send you a copy of...
14Baron Staël von Holstein to the American Commissioners: Résumé, 5 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: National Archives ⟨Paris, October 5, 1784, in French: When I received your letter from Mr. Humphreys, secretary of the Commission for Treaties of the United States of America, which I will forward to the king, I suggested that in order to save time, I also communicate some notion of what additions are being proposed by the United States. If you agree, I will send the dispatches...
15Aranda to the American Commissioners: Résumé, [27 September 1784] (Franklin Papers)
LS , translation, and copy: National Archives ⟨Paris, [September 27, 1784], in Spanish: I received your letter of the 22nd by the hand of Mr. Humphreys, in which you communicate the intention of the United States of America to establish with his Catholic Majesty an agreement that may be advantageous to the two nations. Certainly such principles as communicated in your letter will be pleasing...
16Luigi Pio to the American Commissioners: Résumé, 26 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: National Archives ⟨Paris, September 26, 1784, in French: I received the letter you had the honor to write me on the 22nd of this month, concerning a treaty of amity and commerce that the United States of America wishes to make with the king, my master, for the good of our respective subjects. I will forward it to His Sicilian Majesty and as soon as I receive a response, I will...
17David Hartley to the American Commissioners: Memorandum, [16 September 1784] (Franklin Papers)
AD and copy : National Archives David Hartley met with the American commissioners on September 16 for what would be the last time. The purpose of his visit was to inform them of his recall and to reassure them that the British government remained eager to establish friendly trade relations. He left with the commissioners the present memorandum—passages excerpted from two letters he had...
18Charles Thomson to the American Commissioners, 13 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania In pursuance of the Orders of the Committee of the States, I have the honor to transmit to you the copy of a letter signed T. Gilfillan, dated London the 19 feby 1784 with a copy of an inspection roll of Negroes taken on board certain vessels at anchor near Staten Island on the 30 of November 1783, to be made use...
19Charles Thomson to the American Commissioners, 16 July 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives; copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania In obedience to the order of the Committee of the States, I have the honor to send you copies of the papers relating to the brig L’Amiable Elizabeth a french vessel that was deserted by her Crew at Sea and was boarded and taken up by citizens of the United States and carried into St Johns in Newfoundland, where she was seized by...
20Charles Thomson to the American Commissioners, 18 June 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I have the honor of forwarding three comm[issions] which were not prepared in time to go by Mr Jefferson, [and] a duplicate of the instructions he carried with him. I [also] enclose a copy of the Journal of the last session of Congress as far as printed and a news paper containing the Ordinance for putting the treasury into commission and an act...
21Continental Congress to the American Commissioners: Instructions, [7 May 1784–3 June 1784] (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives; press copy of copy: American Philosophical Society The instructions that follow established a new diplomatic commission to negotiate and sign a total of twenty treaties of amity and commerce with European and North African powers. Their creation was a long and contentious process. On October 29, 1783, Congress authorized the peace...
22British Counterproposal to the Second Draft Treaty: Selected Articles, [19 November 1782] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Massachusetts Historical Society When Henry Strachey arrived in London on November 10, the British Cabinet was summoned to review the second draft treaty. Shelburne urged the members to come to a “provisional agreement” with America. The King reluctantly agreed to accept independence, rationalizing that “knavery seems to be so much the striking feature of [America’s] Inhabitants that it...
23Michael Hillegas to the American Commissioner or Commissioners, 13 November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Two ALS : American Philosophical Society In Pursuance of the resolve of Congress (hereunto annexed) I have signed, fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth of Two Setts of Loan Office Bills of Exchange of the numbers, and denominations following viz No. 73 November 10th 1778 for Twenty-four Dollars 76 November 10th. 1778 for Thirty Dollars Both in favour of Mr John Loring Amounting to fifty-four...
24Francis Hopkinson to the American Commissioner or Commissioners, [on or after 8 December 1780] (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society In pursuance of the Resolve of Congress hereunto annexed I have signed fifth sixth seventh and eighth Sets of Loan Office Bills of Exchange of the Numbers and Denominations following Viz. No. 265. 1 Set for 60 Doll. in favor of Sarah Cheeseman dated Octr. 31. 1779 309. 1 120 do. do. 919. 1 120 do. Sepr. 21. 1779 767. 1 12 do. do. 796. 1 24 do. John Woodhull...
25Francis Hopkinson to the American Commissioner or Commissioners, 24 July 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Three ALS : American Philosophical Society Since my last of the 27th. of June the following Sets of Exchange have issued from my office vizt. To the State of Maryland dlr Dolr 7 Sets 100 each No. 1–7 700 5 200 1–5 1000
26Francis Hopkinson to the American Commissioner or Commissioners, 6 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Two ALS : American Philosophical Society Since my last of the 14th. of Jany. the following Setts of Exchange have issued from my Office Viz To Pennsylvania Dolls 150 setts 36 Dolls. No. 2218–2367 = 5,400 To New Jersey Dolls 50 setts 30 Dols. No. 2026–2075 = 1,500
27Barbeu-Dubourg: Memorandum for the American Commissioners, [after 21 December 1776] (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society M. D. propose a Messieurs F. D. et L. de leur faire des avances soit de draps, soit de fusils (du modele de 1763, controllés et tirés des propres magazins du Roy) pour la valeur de trois cent mille livres tournois, a condition que ces Messieurs lui fourniront en retour des tabacs de Virginie et de Mariland pour pareille somme, bien entendu que les achats...
28Tristram Barnard to the American Commissioners, [after 9 October 1778]: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <[Paris, after October 9, 1778]: A valuable whaling business has been established by the English since the onset of hostilities with America. If you intend to destroy it I could give you adequate intelligence. I was involved in this business but quit, aware that I was doing wrong. Fifteen whaling ships, manned primarily by Americans who would gladly return...
29Francis Hopkinson to the American Commissioner or Commissioners, 19 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Since my last of Sept 8th the following Setts of Exchange have issued from my Office Vizt. To the State of Connecticut Doll 25 Setts 12 Doll. No. 1655–1679= 300 50 18 1658–1707= 900 50 24 1658–1707= 1200
30Intelligence from Bilbao and Other Places, 3 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
D : National Archives During the months covered by the present volume there was a considerable decline in the volume of intelligence collected by the chevalier de Kéralio and given to Franklin for eventual forwarding to Congress. Kéralio was absent from Paris for much of the period and made arrangements to provide such information during his absence, but from late August until the end of...