Papers of John Adams, volume 14
ca. 20 February 1783]
We have recd. the Letter wh you did us the Honor to write on the 18th. Inst, together with the Passports mentioned in it.
His britannic Majesty's Proclamation of the 14th. Instant has our entire approbation, and we have the honor of transmitting to you, herewith enclosed, a Declaration perfectly correspondent with it.
It appears to us important to both Countries that a System be speedily adopted to regulate the Commerce between them; and it gives us pleasure to inform you that we are authorized to form one,1 on Principles so liberal, as that british Merchants shall enjoy in America & her Ports & Waters, the same Immunities and Priviledges with her own; provided that a similar Indulgence be allowed to those of our Country, in common with british Subjects merchts. in general—
We presume that such a System will on consideration appear most convenient to both; but if it sh if so, we shall be ready to include it in the definitive Treaty—d. not, we shall be ready to frame one on narrower Principles of Reciprocity.
We flatter ourselves that this overture will be considered as a Mark of our attention to the Principles adopted in the Preamble of our Preliminaries,2 and of our Desire to render the commercial Intercourse between us free from Embarrassing & partial Restrictions—
We have the Honor to be with great Regard & Esteem / Sir / Your most obt & very / hble servt
Dft in an unknown hand (Adams Papers); endorsed in an unknown hand: “Sketch of a Letter.”; and by JA: “to Mr Fitzherbert.”
Congress resolved on 31 Dec. 1782 to authorize the American Peace Commissioners to negotiate commercial stipulations as part of an Anglo-American peace treaty (
JCC
, 23:838).
The preamble to the preliminary treaty of 30 Nov. 1782, above, expresses the joint hope that “a beneficial and Satisfactory Intercourse, between the two Countries may be established, as to promise and Secure to both, perpetual Peace and Harmony.”