Papers of John Adams, volume 16

The President of Congress to the American Commissioners, 20 May 1784 President of Congress American Commissioners

The President of Congress to the American Commissioners

Gentlemen, Annapolis May 20th 1784

I have the Honor to transmit to you the following Acts of Congress relating to the formation of commercial Treaties &c viz—

N1. Letter to the Ministers plenipotentiary at the Courts of Versailles and Madrid dated 17th of October 1780—1

N2. Instructions to the Ministers of the United States for making Peace with Great Britain dated May 30th 17832

N3. Instructions to the Ministers plenipotentiary of the United States of America at the Court of Versailles empowered to negotiate a Peace &c. dated the 29th of October 1783, May 7th. 1784 & May 11th 1784.—3

N4. Instructions to the Ministers of the United States at the Court of Madrid dated May 3d 1784.4

I also transmit to you the Papers relating to the detention of the Schooner Nancy referred to in the Instruction of May 11th 1784.

I have the honor to be with the greatest Respect and Esteem / your Obident & humble Servant

Thomas Mifflin

FC (PCC, No. 16, f. 309); internal address: “The Honorable / John Adams & Benjamin Franklin.”

These letters, which Congress resolved on 17 Oct. 1780 to send to the “Ministers Plenipotentiary of the United States at the Courts of Versailles and Madrid,” were intended to assist the commissioners’ negotiation of a Spanish-American commercial treaty and were an explanation of “the reasons and principles on which the instructions to Mr. Jay the 4th instant are founded” ( JCC , 18:900–902, 935–947). For a discussion of Jay’s 4 Oct. instructions, which focused on free navigation of the Mississippi River, and Congress’ reasons for issuing them and sending the explanation of 17 Oct., see vol. 10:413–414.

This was Congress’ 30 May 1783 resolution, originally enclosed with Robert R. 218 Livingston’s 31 May letter to the commissioners, concerning the payment of debts to British creditors and the expenses incurred for the subsistence of British prisoners of war (vol. 14:512, 513; JCC , 24:372–376).

For the 29 Oct. 1783 instructions, see vol. 15:329, 331–334; for those of 7 and 11 May 1784, see the instructions to the commissioners at 7 May, above.

That is, of 3 June, for which see the commissioners’ 7 May instructions, and note 16, above.

Thomas Barclay to John Adams, 22 May 1784 Barclay, Thomas Adams, John

From Thomas Barclay

Dear Sir Paris 22d. May 1784—

I am favor’d with your letter Covering one from Mess: Hope & Co. relative to the Draughts on Mr. Jay which were twice paid. and I am much obliged to you for the Trouble you have had—1

The Trunk which you Mention was left by Mr. Ridley, but No Key that I Can hear of, there is another Trunk of yours here, Exclusive of a very small one, and a quantity of Cloaths— I Do not beleive I Can Engage a person to be depended on to go to the Hague with your things— But if you are at a loss. on this head, I Can, and will with pleasure send My Servant Charles with such of your things as you order, He has lived with Me upwards of a year, and is I Beleive as Honest as most Domestics— He is heartily at your service on this occasion, therefore do not decline his going if it will be the least Usefull to you— Your large Trunk was opned at the Custom House, being stop’d at the Barriere as it was passing to this House— A smith did the business as there was No Key, and I Beleive if the things go on to the Hague it will be Necessary to Repack them— This is the account Mr. Champion gives Me, who attended the Examination at the Custom house—

There is also here a parcil of Books belonging to you, Be particular in your Instructions relative to Every thing—

I Believe, but am Not quite Certain, that I am Clear of any Engagement respecting Auteuil, and that the matter is done with—

I have Examind Very Carefully the account of the acceptances which you gave Me, and I find in page 18, you mention No. 55 dated 6th. July 1780 favor of Joseph Carleton 550 florins presented by Mess: De Neufville & son the 24th. July 1781— The first of the set, Letter O— and in page 36, you describe the same Bill, Exact in All its Circumstances, as presented by Mess: De Neufvilles the 8th. July 1782—

You will oblige Me if you will Examen Your Book, and give me some Information respecting this Matter— If I send Charles to the Hague I will return by him the papers you gave me to Compare with 219 the Copies you made of your Vouchers, and perhaps You wou’d incline to furnish your account Current with the United States— I shall also take that Opportunity of procuring the Original Bills of Exchange from Mess Fezeaux & Grand, & Mess: Willinks—

I am with great Respect / and Esteem / Dear Sir / Your Very Obed Sevt.

Thos Barclay

RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “His Excellency John Adams Esqr. / at the Hague—”; endorsed: “M. Barclay / 22 May. Ansd 28. / 1784.”

Of 12 May, above.