Papers of John Adams, volume 16
to the Duke of Dorset
r.9
th.1784.
We have received the Letter which your grace did us the honour of writing us on the 24th. day of Last month, and we received with
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much Satisfaction the assurances on the part of his Britannic Majesty’s Ministers of their readiness to take into consideration any proposals coming from the United States of america that Can tend to the establishing a System of mutual & permanent advantage, to the two Countries
As to the Previous Stipulation proposed by your Court that the United States Should Send a person properly authorized & invested with the necessary powers to London as more Suitable to the dignity of either power than would be Carrying on in any third place à negocitiation of So Great importance, we Can only Say, that if By this proposition it is intended that the united States Should Send a public Minister to reside constantly at the Court of Great Britain we are not authorized to answer it but we Shall transmit a Copy of your grace’s letter to Congress, who will determine upon it according to their wisdom:1 but if it is intended only that the proposed negotiation Should be Conducted in London we Can inform your Grace & his majesty’s Ministers, that we have a full Power in due form as Ministers plenipotentiary to his Britannic Majesty, not only to treat but conclude upon all the Sujects in question; and although we have no apprehension that it is inconsistent with the dignity of the United States to treat in any third place; and altho it would be inconvenient to us to leave Paris where we have already Commenced negotiations with Several other powers for any long time— Yet we are So desirous of Shewing a respect to the Sentiments of your Court that we would readily repair to London as we are not Limited by our Commission nor instructions to any place.
We Shall therefore wait for further information from your grace & from his Majesty’s Ministers, and if it Shall appear to be their desire to meet us in London, we will do ourselves the honour of Paying our respects to them in person without loss of time
With Great Respect / We have the honour to be / your grace’s / Most obedient et Most hble. Servants
B. Franklin
T. Jefferson.
FC in David Humphreys’ hand (Adams Papers); internal address: “His Grace the Duke of Dorset Ambassador / from his B. M. at the Court of versailles.”; docketed by JA: “4. / Letter from Messrs / Adams Franklin & Jefferson / to / His Grace the Duke of Dorsett / 9. Decr. 1784.” Dft (Adams Papers).
The commissioners enclosed copies of Dorset’s letter of 24 Nov., above, and their reply with their 15 Dec. letter to the president of Congress, below.