Papers of John Adams, volume 16
Mr Franklin presents his respectful Compliments to Mr Adams, and enclosos a Paper left with him by the Secretary of the Portuguese Ambassador last Night, being an Extract of a Letter from the First Minister of that Court. No Notice is taken in it of the preceding Plan of a Treaty, and Mr. F. mentions for Consideration, whether it would not be right to send a Copy of the new Plan immediately to that Ambassador:1
There will be no Court at Versailles to-morrow.
RC (Adams Papers).
Franklin enclosed an extract from the 24 Oct. letter from the Portuguese prime minister, Aires de Sá e Melo, to his ambassador at Versailles, the Conde de Sousa Coutinho, regarding his reply to the commissioners’ 9 Sept. letter announcing their authorization to negotiate a Portuguese-American commercial treaty. The minister directed Sousa Coutinho to inform the commissioners that Portugal looked forward to better relations with the United States and was ready to entertain proposals toward that end, but he did not mention the draft treaty Franklin discussed with Sousa Coutinho during the summer of 1783 (vol. 15:106;
Dipl. Corr., 1783–1789
, 1:540; Wharton, Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev.
, 6:583, 588–591). The commissioners sent a new draft treaty to the Portuguese ambassador on 30 Nov. 1784, below. For the commissioners’ 9 Sept. letter to Sousa Coutinho, see their letter of the same date to the Baron von Thulemeier, and note 3, above.
e.1784
Je n’ai pas manqué de faire passer à ma Cour La Lettre, dont vous m’avés honoré Le 30. 7be dernier relative à un Traité d’amitié, et de Commerce entre Les Sujets de Msg̃r L’archiduc Grand Duc de Toscane mon Maitre, et ceux des Etats unis de l’Amerique.1
Je dois avoir L’honneur de vous informer, Messieurs, que cette invitation a eté très agreable à Son Altesse Royale, et qu’Elle recevra avec plaisir la comunication des propositions, et du plan sur Le quel devra etre traitèe cette convention afin de pouvoir Les prendre en consideration.2
J’ai L’honneur d’etre avec Le plus grand respect / Messieurs / Votre très humble, et / Très Obeissant Serviteur
I did not fail to pass on to my court the letter with which you honored me on 30 September last relative to a treaty of friendship and commerce between the subjects of my lord monsignor the archduke, grand duke of Tuscany, and those of the United States of America.1
I do indeed have the honor of informing you, gentlemen, that this invitation was very agreeable to His Royal Highness and that he will receive with pleasure the communication of proposals and the agenda for what must be dealt with in this treaty in order to be able to take them into consideration.2
I have the honor of being with the greatest respect, gentlemen, your very humble and very obedient servant
RC (PCC, No. 86, f. 65–68); endorsed: “Paris Novr 16. 1784 / from / Mr. Favi. Charge des / Affaires of Tuscany.”
For the commissioners’ 30 Sept. letter to Favi, see their 9 Sept. letter to the Baron von Thulemeier, and note 3, above. In his 10 Oct. reply, Favi had promised to send the commissioners’ letter to his government, for which see the Conde de Aranda’s 27 Sept. letter to the commissioners, and note 1, above.
The commissioners enclosed a draft treaty, not found, with their letter to Favi of 9 Dec., below.