old friend Mr. Hartley. Our former correspondence on the subject of peace since the beginning of this year, I have kept by itself, as it preceded this, was in the time of the old ministry, and consisted wholly of letters unmixed with personal conversation. This being the first letter from him under the new ministry, and as it may be followed by others which may relate to the negotiation, I insert it here, with my answer, and shall continue to insert the future letters I may receive from him relative to the same subject.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

TO DR. FRANKLIN.

London, May 3, 1782. I write to you only one line, just to inform you that a general order is issued, by our government, for the release of all the American prisoners every where. I have had this from Lord Shelburne, who informed me that the order was not partial or conditional, but general and absolute. I heartily congratulate you upon this first step towards sweet reconciliation. I hope other things will follow. I have had a long conversation with Lord Shelburne, relating to America, in which he expressed himself in most favorable terms. I shall have the honor of seeing and conversing with him again. But at present, as you know, certain matters are depending from your side of the water. Mr. Laurens is entirely at liberty. I see him very frequently, and when you see him he will tell you many things from me, which have occurred to me in the course of my poor endeavors to promote the cause of peace. Da pacem, Domine, in diebus nostris. Your affectionate, D. HARTLEY.

&c.

TO DAVID HARTLEY, ESQ. M.P.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

Passy, May 13, 1782. I have just received your favor of the 3rd instant. I thank you much for the good news you give me, that "an order is issued by your government for the release of all the American prisoners every where, an order not partial or conditional, but general and absolute." I rejoice with you in this step not only on account of the unhappy captives, who by it will be set at liberty, and restored to their friends and families, but as I think it will tend greatly towards a reconciliation, on which alone the hope of a durable peace can be founded. I am much indebted to your good brother, for a very kind and obliging letter, which was mislaid when it should have been answered. I beg you would present to him my thankful acknowledgments, and my very sincere respects. I join with you most heartily in the prayer that ends your letter, Da pacem, Domine, in diebus nostris! I am ever, my friend, yours most affectionately, B. FRANKLIN.

Our business standing still at present till the return of Mr. Oswald, gives me a void that I may fill up with two or three circumstances, not at present connected with this intended treaty, but which serve to show something of the disposition of courts, who have, or may have, a concern in it.

Mr. Jay had written to me from time to time of the unaccountable delays he had met with since his residence at the court of Spain, and that he was now no nearer in the business he had been charged with than when he first arrived. Upon the first coming

of Mr. Oswald, and the apparent prospect of a treaty, I wrote to press his coming hither; and being a little out of humour with that court, I said, 'they have taken four years to consider whether they should treat with us, give them forty, and let us mind our own business;' and I sent the letter under cover to a person at Madrid, who I hoped would open and read it. It seems to me that we have in most instances hurt our credit and importance, by sending all over Europe begging alliances, and soliciting declarations of our independence. The nations, perhaps, thence seem to think, that our independence is something they have to sell, and that we do not offer enough for it. Mr. Adams has succeeded in Holland, owing to their war with England, and a good deal to the late votes in the Commons towards a reconciliation; but the ministers of the other Powers refused, as I hear, to return his visits, because our independence was not yet acknowledged by their courts. I had heard here by good luck, that the same resolution was taken by several of them not to return the visits I should make them (as they supposed) when I was first received here as Minister Plenipotentiary, and I disappointed their project by visiting none of them. In my private opinion the first civility is due from the old resident to the stranger and new comer. My opinion indeed is good for nothing against custom, which I should have obeyed, but for the circumstances, that rendered it more prudent to avoid disputes and affronts, though at the hazard of being thought rude or singular. While I am writing, something ridiculous enough on this head has happened to me. The Comte du Nord, who is son to the Empress of Russia, arriving at Paris, ordered, it

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seems, cards of visit to be sent to all the foreign ministers. One of them, on which was written LE COMTE DU NORD ET LE PRINCE BARIATINSKI, was brought to me. It was on Monday evening last. Being at court the next day, I inquired of an old minister, my friend, what was the etiquette, and whether the Comte received visits. The answer was, Non. On se fait écrire. Voilà tout. This is

done here by passing the door, and ordering your name to be written in the porter's book. Accordingly, on Wednesday I passed the house of Prince Bariatinski, ambassador of Russia, where the Comte lodged, and left my name on the list of each. I thought no more of the matter. But this day, May 24, comes the servant who brought the card, and in a great affliction, saying he was like to be ruined by his mistake in bringing the card here, and wishing to obtain from me some paper of I know not what kind, for I did not see him. In the afternoon came my friend, Mr. Le Roy, who is also a friend of the Prince's, telling me how much he, the Prince, was concerned at the accident; that both himself and the Comte had great personal regard for me, and my character, but that our independence not yet being acknowledged by the court of Russia, it was impossible for him to permit himself to make me a visit as minister. I told Mr. Le Roy it was not my custom to seek such honors, though I was very sensible of them when conferred upon me; that I should not have voluntarily intruded a visit; and that in this case I had only done what I was informed the etiquette required of me. But if it would be attended with any inconvenience to Prince Bariatinski, whom I much esteemed and respected, I thought

the remedy was easy; he had only to raze my name out of his book of visits received, and I would burn their card.

All the northern princes are not ashamed of a little civility committed towards an American. The King of Denmark travelling in England under an assumed name, sent me a card expressing in strong terms his esteem for me, and inviting me to dinner with him at St. James's. And the ambassador from the King of Sweden lately asked me whether I had powers to make a treaty of commerce with their kingdom, for he said his master was desirous of such a treaty with the United States, had directed him to ask me the question, and had charged him to tell me, that it would flatter him greatly to make it with a person whose character he so much esteemed, &c. Such compliments might probably make me a little proud, if we Americans were not naturally as much so already as the porter, who being told he had with his burthen jostled the great Czar Peter, (then in London, walking the street,) poh! said he, we are all Czars here.

I did not write by Mr. Oswald to Mr. Laurens, because from some expressions in his last to me, I expected him here, and I desired Mr. Oswald, if he found him still in London, or met him on the road, to give him that reason. I am disappointed in my expectation, for I have now received (May 25) the following letter from him.

SIR,

Ostend, May 17, 1782. I had the honor of addressing you under the 30th ultimo by post, a duplicate of which will accompany this in order to guard against the effect of