RC (DLC). Recorded in SJL as received 9 Dec. 1787. Enclosures (FC in Dumas Papers, Rijksarchief, The Hague; photostats in DLC; translations printed in Dipl. Corr., 1783–89 description begins The Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States of America, from the Signing of the Definitive Treaty of Peace… to the Adoption of the Constitution, Washington, Blair & Rives, 1837, 3 vol. description ends , iii, 601–3, incorrectly dated 4 Oct. and 3 Oct. 1787, respectively): (1) Dumas to Jay, 4 Dec. 1787, reporting on his correspondence with TJ concerning his proposal of going to Brussels to carry on preliminary negotiations for a treaty of amity and commerce between the United States and the Austrian Netherlands; urging the importance of such a treaty and the certainty of successful negotiation; and stating that he has transmitted TJ’s letter of 14 Nov. 1787 both verbally and in writing to the emperor’s chargé d’affaires at Brussels. (2) Copy of Dumas’ letter to the emperor’s chargé d’affaires at Brussels, 3 Dec. 1787 (“la note jointe à l’incluse”) quoting a portion of TJ’s letter to Dumas of 14 Nov. 1787, q.v., and stating that he is writing directly to the U.S. secretary for foreign affairs for authorization, to be given either directly to him or through TJ, to carry on the preliminary negotiations for a treaty to be concluded by the ministers of the two countries either at Paris or Brussels.