Papers of John Adams, volume 7

16 The Commissioners to C. W. F. Dumas, 9 September 1778 Franklin, Benjamin Lee, Arthur JA First Joint Commission at Paris Dumas, Charles William Frederic

1778-09-09

The Commissioners to C. W. F. Dumas, 9 September 1778 Franklin, Benjamin Lee, Arthur Adams, John First Joint Commission at Paris Dumas, Charles William Frederic
The Commissioners to C. W. F. Dumas
Sir Passi Septemr. 9. 1778

We received yours1 in which you hint that it is wished by some of our Friends that the Commissioners would propose a Treaty to your Government. It would really be a great Pleasure to them to be instrumental in cementing a Union between the two Republics of Holland and the United States, by a Treaty of Amity and Commerce, similar to that lately concluded with France, or varying where Circumstances might require it. But having received no Answer from the Grand Pensionary, to a Letter2 they respectfully wrote his Excellency some Months since, expressing their Dispositions to such a good Work, they apprehend that any further Motion of the Kind, on their part, would not at present be agreeable, tho' they still hold themselves ready to enter upon such a Treaty whenever it shall seem good to their High Mightinesses. We are with Esteem Your very humble Servants

B Franklin Arthur Lee John Adams

RC (Dr. Frederick M. Dearborn, N.Y., 1956).

1.

See 4 Sept. (above).

2.

Commissioners to Pieter van Bleiswyck, 28 April (vol. 6:61–62).