signed at Paris on the 30th of November, 1782, by the commissioners empowered on each part, which articles were agreed to be inserted in and to constitute the treaty of peace proposed to be concluded between the crown of Great Britain and the said United States, but which treaty was not to be concluded until terms of peace should be agreed upon between Great Britain and France, and his Britannic Majesty should be ready to conclude such treaty accordingly; and the treaty between Great Britain and France having since been concluded; his Britannic Majesty and the United States of America, in order to carry into full effect the provisional articles abovementioned, according to the tenor thereof, have constituted and appointed, that is to say, his Britannic Majesty on his part, David Hartley, Esq. member of the parliament of Great Britain: and the said United States on their part, John Adams, Esq. late a commissioner of the United States of America at the court of Versailles, late delegate in congress from the state of Massachusetts, and chief justice of the said state, and minister plenipotentiary of the said United States to their high mightinesses the states-general of the United Netherlands; Benjamin Franklin, Esq. late delegate in congress from the state of Pennsylvania, president of the convention of the said state, and minister plenipotentiary from the United States of America at the court of Versailles; John Jay, Esq. late president of congress, and chief justice of the state of New York, and minister plenipotentiary from the said United States at the court of Madrid, to be the Plenipotentiaries for the concluding and signing the present definitive treaty; who after having reciprocally communicated their respective full powers, have agreed upon, and confirmed the following articles: N. B. The nine first articles were the same as the P&ELIMINARY ARTICLES signed with Mr. Oswald, Nov. 30, 1782. (See page 278.) Article X. The solemn ratification of the present treaty, expedited in good and due form, shall be exchanged between the contracting parties in the space of six months, or sooner if possible, to be computed from the day of the signature of the present treaty. In witness whereof we the undersigned, their ministers plenipotentiary, have in their name and virtue of our full powers, signed, with our hands, the present definitive treaty, and caused the seals of our arms to be affixed thereto. Doue at Paris this third day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three. At the end of this treaty were added Mr. Hartley's and the American ministers' commissions, and certified thus: We certify the foregoing copies of the respective full powers, to be authentic. It is with the sincerest pleasure that I congratulate you on the happy event which took place yesterday, viz. the signature of the definitive treaty between our two countries. I consider it as the auspicious presage of returning confidence, and of the future intercourse of all good offices between us. I doubt not that our two countries will entertain the same sentiments, and that they will behold with satisfaction the period which terminates the memory of their late unhappy dissensions, and which leads to the renewal of all the ancient ties of amity and peace. I can assure you that his Britannic majesty, and his confidential servants, entertain the strongest desire of a cordial good understanding with the United States of America. And that nothing may be wanting on our parts to perfect the great work of pacification, I shall propose to you, in a very short time, to renew the discussion of those points of amity and intercourse, which have been lately 'suspended to make way for the signature of the treaties between all the late belligerent powers, which took place yesterday. We have now the fairest prospects before us, and an unembarrassed field for the exercise of every beneficent disposition, and for the accomplishment of every object of reciprocal advantage between us. Let us then join our hearts and hands together in one common cause, for the reunion of all our ancient affections and common interests. I am, gentlemen, with the greatest respect and consideration, your most obedient servant, D. HARTLEY. SIR, TO DAVID HARTLEY, Esq. Passy, Sept. 5, 1783. We have received the letter which you did us the honor to write yesterday. Your friendly congratulations on the signature of the definitive treaty, meet with cordial returns on our part; and we sincerely rejoice with you in that event by which the ruler of nations has been graciously pleased to give peace to our two countries. We are no less ready to join our endeavors than our wishes 1 with yours, to concert such measures for regulating the future intercourse between Great Britain and the United States, as by being consistent with the honor and interest of both, may tend to increase and perpetuate mutual confidence and goodwill. We must nevertheless candidly inform you, that we consider our commission as terminated, and therefore, without further authority from congress, will not be able to sign and conclude. All we can at present do is to confer with you, and recommend to congress such propositions as may appear to us to merit their assent. And we shall propose to them to send a commission to Europe without delay for these important purposes.: . The unrestrained course already given by the states to the British commerce with them, and the unconditional liberation of prisoners, at a time when more caution would not have been singular, are marks of liberality and confidence, which we flatter ourselves will be equalled by the magnanimity of his majesty and the people of Great Britain, We have communicated to congress the warm and repeated assurances with which you have officially honored us on these subjects; and we are persuaded that the period of their being realised, will have an auspicious and conciliating influence on all the parties in the late unhappy dissensions. We have the honor to be, sir, with great respect and esteem, your most obedient and humble servants, JOHN ADAMS, B. FRANKLIN, TO DAVID HARTLEY, ESQ. Passy, Sept. 7, 1785. The enclosed letters, to you and to Mr. Fox, were MY DEAR FRIEND, written before I saw you yesterday. On my return home last night I found dispatches from congress, which may remove the difficulties we were entangled with. Mr. Adams will be here this morning, when you will hear from us. I am ever yours sincerely, B. FRANKLIN. TO DAVID HARTLEY, ESQ. MY DEAR FRIEND, You have deceived Passy, Sept. 6, 1783. Enclosed is my letter to Mr. Fox. I beg you would assure him, that my expressions of esteem for him are not mere professions. I really think him a great man; and I would not think so, if I did not believe he was at bottom, and would prove himself, a good one. Guard him against mistaken notions of the American people. yourselves too long with vain expectations of reaping advantage from our little discontents. We are more thoroughly an enlightened people, with respect to our political interests, than perhaps any other under the heaven. Every man among us reads, and is so easy in his circumstances as to have leisure for conversations of improvement, and for acquiring information. Our domestic misunderstandings, when we have them, are of small extent, though monstrously magnified by your microscopic newspapers. He who judges from them, that we are on the point of falling into anarchy, or returning to the obedience of Britain, is like one who, being shown some spots in the sun, should fancy that the whole disk would soon be overspread with them, and that there would be an end of day-light. The great body of intelligence among our people, surrounds and overpowers our petty dissensions, as the sun's great mass of fire diminishes and destroys his spots. Do not therefore any longer delay the evacuation of New York, in the vain hope of a new revolution in your favor, if such a hope has indeed had any effect in occasioning that delay. It |