Supposing that you would receive from Congress a direct communication of the powers given to yourself, Doctr. Franklin & myself, I have deferred from day to day writing to you, in hopes that every day would open to me a certainty of the time & place of my departure for the other side of the Atlantic. Paris being my 243 destination I have thought it best to enquire for a passage to France directly. I have hastened myself on my journey hither in hopes of having the pleasure of attending Mrs̃ Adams to Paris and of lessening some of the difficulties to which she may be exposed. but after some unexpected delays at Philadelphia & New York I arrived here yesterday and find her engaged for her passage to London & to sail tomorrow. it was therefore too late for her to alter her measures tho’ I think she might probably meet with you the sooner could she have taken her passage as I shall on board the French packet from N. York where I had ensured her choice of accomodations, and was promised that the departure of the vessel should be made agreeable to our movements.1 she goes however in a good ship, well accomodated as merchants’ ships generally are and I hope will have soon the pleasure of meeting with you.— with respect to our joint agency, our instructions are more special than those formerly sent. these I shall have the pleasure of communicating together with the commissions to yourself & Doctr. Franklin at Paris. my expectation is to sail from New York about the first or second week of the next month. the time of my arrival in Paris will depend on winds & weather: but probably it may be the middle or latter part of August.

We are informed that Congress adjourned on the 3d. of June to meet again at Trenton the 1st. Monday in November, leaving a committee of the states at the helm during their recess. the particulars of affairs here I shall have the pleasure of communicating to you more fully than I can by letter. for the present I will only inform you in general that their aspect is encouraging. I beg you to be assured of the sincere esteem & regard with which I have the honor to be Dear Sir / Your most obedient / & most humble servt

If my Memory does not deceive me, I have heretofore transmitted to Congress, the Advice of some of the foreign Ministers here, that 244 the United States in Congress assembled, Should write a Letter to each of the Sovereigns of Europe, informing them of the compleat Establishment of their Independance.1

Lately in seperate Conversations, with the Ministers of the two Empires, and the King of Sardinia they all repeated this Advice. They Say that this is the Rule: the Practice: and that the Precedents are uniform. The Empress of Russia, did it, lately, when She ascended the Throne. They add, that this is the precise point of Time, now that the Ratifications of the definitive Treaty of Peace are exchanged, which is most proper to make the Communication, and that their Courts expect it from Congress.

Congress no doubt will write an elegant Letter upon the Occasion, but it would, in substance, be sufficient to say, that on the 4. of July 1776, they found it necessary to declare themselves, a Sovereign State; that they have Since entered into Treaties with Several Powers of Europe, particularly a Treaty of Peace with the King of Great Britain, wherein that Crown has acknowledged formally and Solemnelly, their Sovereignty, and that it is their desire to live in good Intelligence and Correspondance with all the Sovereigns of Europe, and of all other Parts of the World, and with the one addressed in particular, and that there may be Friendship and Harmony between their respective Citizens and Subjects

These Letters may be transmitted to all or any of your Ministers in Europe, to be by them communicated, through the foreign Ministers at the Court where they reside, or they may be transmitted directly. if Congress are at a Loss for the Titles of any Sovereign, they may leave a Blank to be filled by the Minister to whom the Letter is sent for Communication.

The Answers which will be respectfully given to these Letters, will prevent many Questions, Discussions and Chicaneries: because that orders will then be given to all Ambassadors Governors, Generals Admirals &c to treat all Americans, Citizens of the United States according to their Characters.

With great Respect, I have the / Honour to be, Sir, your most / obedient and most humble / Servant