Papers of John Adams, volume 14
Paris, 21 May 1783. PRINTED: JA, D&A, 3:131–134. LbC (Adams Papers); APM Reel 109. LbC-Tr (Adams Papers); APM Reel 103. This memorial was Hartley's response to the article that the commissioners had proposed on 29 April to open American and British ports to virtually unrestricted free trade, to which Hartley had at least tentatively agreed (calendared, above). In his memorial Hartley provided the text of the 29 April article but noted 486that it provided greater commercial privileges to the Americans than they had possessed while part of the British empire and was so sweeping “as to amount to an entire Abolition of the British Act of Navigation.” He proposed instead that a temporary convention be put in place while Parliament considered the broader article. The temporary convention would allow the United States to export raw materials to Britain and manufactured goods to the West Indies, while Britain could export manufactured goods to the United States. The only additional restriction on American ships might be that they would be barred from carrying foreign goods to either market. Hartley's revised position reflected an Order in Council adopted on 14 May (JA, D&A, 3:129–134) that JA called “the first link in that great chain of Orders in Council, which has been since stretched and extended, till it has shackled the commerce of the whole globe; that of Great Britain herself, as much as any other. Poor unfortunate commerce! Universal commerce! The commerce of the world!” (Boston Patriot, 4 Jan. 1812).
Paris, 22 May 1783. PRINTED: JA, D&A, 3:125–127. LbC-Tr (Adams Papers); APM Reel 103. With this offer the commissioners sought to counter Hartley's proposal of the previous day (above) as well as the 14 May Order in Council. They proposed an agreement whereby both parties would appoint ministers to negotiate a permanent commercial treaty. Until such time as an agreement was concluded, Anglo-American commerce would be returned to the status quo ante bellum. This would be done with the understanding that nothing in the agreement could be advanced as a precedent by either side during the negotiations.
In Consequence of yoúr Excellency's Esteemed Letter of the 13th. Instt. a Credit of £2500—Sterl Will be given in favoúr of Mr. Francis Dana at Petersbourg for accóunt of Congress. not doubting of their Approbation on yoúr Excellency's proceedings.1
We Should be glad to Know if your Excells. intentions are to be Shortly here again, than if yoúr Excellencys Occupations Shall make your Stay any Longer at Paris, if So, you'll oblige ús Very much in telling ús if it Should be Convenient that we dispatch to yoúr Excellency a Pack of thousand Obligations to Claim his Signature on ’em.
We have the Honour to Remain Very Respectfully. / Sir / Yoúr Excellency's most obedt. / most humb Servants
s.& Jacob van Staphorst.
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “To his Excelly. John Adams Esqr. / at Paris.”
The credit that JA sought for Francis Dana in his letter of 13 May (LbC, APM Reel 108) was in response to Dana's request in his letter of 25 Nov. 1782, above, for funds to defray the costs of negotiating a treaty with Russia. By 22 May Russia's refusal to recognize the United States made the funds unnecessary, but the final word came in Dana's letter of [29 July], in which he informed JA that Congress refused the expenditure and authorized his return from Russia: “they will not buy a Treaty at this day” (Adams Papers, filmed at 18 July).