Adams Papers Digital Edition

Papers of John Adams, volume 7

The Commissioners to E. F. van Berckel

From Edmé Jacques Genet
The Commissioners to the Comte de Vergennes, 29 October 1778 Franklin, Benjamin Lee, Arthur JA First Joint Commission at Paris Vergennes, Charles Gravier, Comte de

1778-10-29

 The Commissioners to the Comte de Vergennes, 29 October 1778 Franklin, Benjamin Lee, Arthur Adams, John First Joint Commission at Paris Vergennes, Charles Gravier, Comte de
The Commissioners to the Comte de Vergennes
Sir Passy, Oct. 29 1778

We have the Honour to inform your Excellency that we are ready to execute and exchange the Declarations, concerning the Omission of the eleventh and twelfth Articles of the Treaty of Commerce, and to request your Excellency to appoint a Day to wait on your Excellency for that Purpose.1 We have the Honour to be with the most respectful Consideration Your Excellency's most obedient and most humble Servants

B. Franklin Arthur Lee John Adams

RC (Arch. Aff. Etr., Paris, Corr. Pol., E.-U., vol. 5); docketed in the left margin below the salutation: “Sujet des deux articles a suprimer dans le traite avec les Etats unis.”

1.

Vergennes, in his reply of 31 Oct., set 2 Nov. for the exchange and asked the Commissioners to dine with him on that day (LbC, Adams Papers). For the French and American declarations, both dated I Sept., as well as a note on their exchange, see Miller, ed., Treaties , 2:32–34. An unsigned and undated copy of the American declaration is in the Adams Papers (filmed under the date of [post 4 May 1778], Adams Papers, Microfilms, Reel 349). See also an explanation of the reasons for the deletion of the two articles in vol. 6:119–120.