Papers of John Adams, volume 15
We have the honoúr to acknowledge the Receit of yoúr Excellency’s most esteemed favoúr of 27th. May. wherein we Observe what yoúr Excelly. is pleased to Say about the Definitive Treaty. but as by all dispensed Accounts we have no great Reason to think of its being Soon Concluded, it may make yoúr Excellys. Stay at Paris much Longer than yoúr Excelly. self can fooreseen; wherefore Should it Succeed us (so as we hope). in distributing a Large quantity of Obligations in the Months of July and August, it Certainly would put ús into Some Inconveniency.1 This has determined us to take the Liberty to Send yoúr Excellency by way of the Widow Smit’s of Anvers a Small Case Containing Two Thousand and Three Obligations (which three only Serve in Case any misfortúne in 43Signing of ’em happen).2 Claim[ing] on them yoúr Excellency’s Signature, as Likewise the Return of ’em, as Soon as yoúr Excellency’s Occupations will permit it—.
We have the honoúr to Remain Very Respectfúlly / Sir / Yoúr Excellency’s most / Obedt. humb. Servants.
s.& Jacob van Staphorst:
RC (Adams Papers), internal address: “To his Excelly. John Adams Esqr: / at Paris.” Some loss of text due to wear at the edge.
In his letter of 27 May (LbC, APM Reel 108), JA indicated that delays in negotiating the definitive treaty meant that he would be at Paris for the foreseeable future. He requested that the consortium delay sending him the unsigned obligations but indicated his determination to sign those that remained before he left Europe.
The widow Jean Marten Smets wrote JA on 18 June (Adams Papers), indicating that she was sending the case via the regular stagecoach from Brussels and offering her services if the United States should seek to raise a loan in Belgium. In his 26 June reply to the consortium (LbC, APM Reel 108), JA indicated that the obligations had not yet arrived and that he was surprised the loan was not filling more rapidly. JA returned the signed obligations with his letter of 5 July, below.
19 June 1783]1
1. That Lands belonging to Persons of any description which have not actually been sold shall be restored to the old Possessors without Price.
2. That an equal and free Participation of the different carrying Places, and the Navigation of all the Lakes and Rivers of that Country thro’ which the Water Line of Division passes between Canada and the United States shall be enjoyed fully and uninterruptedly by both Parties
3. That in any such Places within the Boundaries assigned— generally to the American States as are adjoining to the Water Line of Division, and which are not specifically under the Dominion of any one State, all Persons at present resident or having Possessions or Occupations as Merchants or otherwise may remain in peaceable Enjoyment of all civil Rights and in pursuit of their respective Occupations.
4. That in any such Places adjoining to the Water Line of 44Division as may be under the specific Dominion of any particular State, all Persons at present resident or having Possessions or Occupations as Merchants or otherwise may remain in the peaceable Enjoyment of all civil Rights and in pursuit of their Occupations untill they shall receive Notice of removal from the State to which any such Place may appertain; and that upon any such Notice of Removal a Term of three Years shall be allowed for selling or withdrawing their valuable Effects, and for settling their Affairs.
5. That his Britannic Majesty’s Forces not exceeding in Number may continue in the Ports now occupied by them contiguous to the Water Line for the Term of three Years for the Purpose of securing the Lives, Property and Peace of any Persons settled in that Country, against the Invasion or Ravages of the Neighboring Indian Nations who may be suspected of retaining Resentment in consequence of the late War.
6. That no Tax or Impost whatsoever shall be laid on any Articles of Commerce passing or repassing thro’ the Country, but that the Trade may be left entirely open for the Benefit of all Parties interested therein.—
MS (ScL [ScU]:Kendall Coll.); endorsed: “Mr [Hartle]y’s / Propositions & / our Answers / July 1783. / for defin. Treaty.” Some loss of text due to a torn manuscript. LbC (Adams Papers); APM Reel 109. LbC-Tr (Adams Papers); APM Reel 103.
This date is derived from JA’s 19 June Diary entry. There he indicates that he “went with Mr. Hartley in his Carriage to Passy where he made his Propositions for the Definitive Treaty” (JA, D&A
, 3:139). JA did not comment on their nature, but they were David Hartley’s final extant proposals for a definitive peace treaty. Clearly Hartley did not contemplate, as he had with his proposals in April and May, anything beyond an agreement dealing specifically with issues arising from the peace. This reflected the limitations imposed on him by his instructions from London and is in line with his 14 June letter to the commissioners and its enclosed memorial, above. For the commissioners’ reaction to Hartley’s proposals, particularly points two through five, see their “Answers” of 29 June; but see also their own “Propositions” for a definitive treaty of the same date, and the [ante 19 July] draft definitive treaty, all below.