The United States of america in Congress assembled judging that an intercourse between the Subjects of his Britannic Majesty & the Citizens of the Said States founded on the Principles of equality, reciprocity & friendship may be of mutual advantage to both nations, on the 12th. day of may last, issued their Commission under the Seal of the Said States to the Subscribers as their Ministers plenipotentiary, giving to them or the majority of them full power & authority, for them the Said States & in their name, to confer treat & negotiate With the ambassador, Minister or Commissioner of His 355 Said Britannic Majesty vested With full & Sufficient powers, of & concerning a Treaty of amity & commere, to make, & receive propositions for Such treaty & to conclude & Sign the Same, transmitting it to the Said United States in Congress assembled for their final ratification

Of the receipt of these powers and of our being ready to enter on the execution of them We gave information to Mr: Hartley Who had been appointed on the part of his Britannic Majesty to treat, on the Same Subjects With the Ministers of the United States, and We received through him assurances from his court of their ready & friendly disposition to receive proposals from the united States for the forming Such regulations as might tend to the mutual & reciprocal advantage of both countries the Subsequent return of this Minister to London renders it proper for us to repeat to your Excellency these Communications, to express to you the Satisfaction With Which, We have received assurances of the friendly Disposition of the Court of London, and to inform you that we Shall be ready to make proposals on our part so Soon as they shall be pleased to advise us of the person tho whom they would chuse to have them addressed.1 With great respect we have the honour to be / Your Excellencys / most obedient & most / humble Servants

While M. hartley was here as Minister from the Court of Great Britain, we had the honour of mentioning to him that we were 356 357 instructed by the Congress to treat on Some points distinct from any regulations of Commerce He Communicated this to his Court & the very Satisfactory answer which he received & made to us of its good disposition & willingness to receive & consider any propositions that might tend to promote and Secure a good understanding between the two countries confirm us in the opinion that those we have to make will be readily taken in to consideration.— For that purpose we now Communicate them to your Excellency as follows,

In the Preliminaries of Peace between England & France Signed on the 20th. of January 1783 and acceded to the Same day by the Ministers of the United States, the clause relative to captures is in these words voz “Les vaisseaux et effets qui pourroient être pris dans la manche, et dans les Mers du Nord, après l’espace de 12 jours à compter depuis la ratification des présens articles préliminaires, Seront de part et d’autre restitués, que le terme Sera d’un mois depuis la manche et les mers du Nord jusqu’aux Isles Canaries inclusivement Soit dans l’Océan, Soit dans la méditerannée; de deux mois depuis les dites Isles Canaries jusqu’à la ligne equinoctiale ou l’Equateur; et Enfin de Cinq mois dans tous les autres Endroits du Monde, Sans aucune Exception, ni autre description plus particuliere de tems et de lieux”—1 on this article Some doubts have arisen, and the Final decision of Sundry captures & questions of Insurance have been Suspended till those doubts should be obviated. This may be done we think by agreeing to invert the words, Jusqu’à la latitude des Isles Canaries, instead of Jusqu’aux Isles Canaries, and also the Words depuis la latitude des dittes Isles Canaries instead of depuis les dittes Isles Canaries; 2 it being apparent From the mention of the Mediterranean as in the Same Stage with the Canaries and of the Equinoctial Line as the next Stage, that the line of Latitude of the Canaries was intended

The fourth article of the definitive Treaty declares it to be agreed that the Creditors on either Side Shall meet with no legal impediment to the recovery of the full value in Sterling money of all bona fide debts heretofore contracted.3

It is undoubtedly just that Law should rather aid than impede the execution of bona Fide Contracts; but there are Some unusual circumstances attending the English debts in america contracted prior to the war, that Seem to merit consideration, and to Show the reasonableness & utility of explaining & modifying that article, by 358 Some provisions which we have to propose that may make the Collection of Such debts more practicable & more advantageous to the Creditors as well as debtors than the methods that are otherwise Likely to be pursued

We have further to propose that provision Should be speedily made for the Satisfaction of the masters whose negroes were Carried away with other property, contrary to the Express Stipulations of the 7th. article of the treaty and Farther we propose that measures be taken For liquidating the charges of Prisoners of War on Both Sides, in order to payment of the Balance.4

We apprehend that a Fair equitable & Friendly discussion & adjustment of theses matters may contribute mach to a Future good understanding & amity between the two Countries— With that view we have Stated them—& Shall hold ourselves ready to meet & confer thereon with any Minister authorized by your Court for the purpose; and are with great esteem & respect / Your Excellencys / most obedient, & most humble / Servants.