THE

DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE

OF THE

AMERICAN REVOLUTION;

BEING

THE LETTERS OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, SILAS DEANE, JOHN
ADAMS, JOHN JAY, ARTHUR LEE, WILLIAM LEE, RALPH
IZARD, FRANCIS DANA, WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, HENRY
LAURENS, JOHN LAURENS, M. DE LAFAYETTE, M.
DUMAS, AND OTHERS, CONCERNING THE FOREIGN
RELATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES DURING
THE WHOLE REVOLUTION;

TOGETHER WITH

THE LETTERS IN REPLY FROM THE SECRET COMMITTEE OF CONGRESS, AND THE SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

ALSO,

THE ENTIRE CORRESPONDENCE OF THE FRENCH MINISTERS, GERARD AND LUZERNE, WITH CONGRESS.

Published under the Direction of the President of the United States, from
the original Manuscripts in the Department of State, conformably
to a Resolution of Congress, of March 27th, 1818.

EDITED

BY JARED SPARKS.

VOL. VII.

BOSTON:

NATHAN HALE AND GRAY & BOWEN;

G. & C. & H. CARVILL, NEW YORK; P. THOMPSON, WASHINGTON.

1830.

To Robert R. Livingston. Paris, December 14th,

1782,

The King of Sweden's compliment to the United

States. The signing of the preliminaries an-

nounced to Parliament.-Quotes a note from the

Courier de l'Europe.-Requests leave to return.

Robert R. Livingston to John Adams. Philadel-

phia, December 19th, 1782,

Mr Jefferson accepts his appointment.-Financial

arrangements for raising a revenue.

To Charles W. F. Dumas. Paris, January 1st,

M. Brantzen.-Conversation with Mr Oswald on

freedom of navigation.

To Robert R. Livingston. Paris, January 22d,

1783,

Preliminaries and armistice between England, and

Spain, and France, signed and sealed.-Terms

England offers to the Dutch.

To Robert R. Livingston. Paris, January 23d,

Grounds of Mr Adams's opinions of European poli-

tics. Mr Laurens's services.-The northern

powers friendly to America.-America has suf-

fered by reposing confidence in a certain minister.

Page.

3

4

6

10

To C. W. F. Dumas. Paris, January 29th, 1783,

Proceedings of Congress in reference to the armed

neutrality.-America is ready to accede to its

principles.

To Robert R. Livingston. Paris, February 5th,

Causes of the revocation of his commission for nego-

tiating a treaty of commerce with Great Britain.-

Recommends the appointment of a Minister to

England for negotiating a treaty of commerce.-

Mr Adams's idea of the qualifications necessary
for an American Minister, particularly at the Eng-
lish Court.-Address and fluency in speaking
French of little importance.-Mr Jay's services
and qualifications.

Robert R. Livingston to John Adams. Philadel-

phia, February 13th, 1783,

-

Financial embarrassments of the country.

To Robert R. Livingston. Paris, March 2d, 1783,

Transmitting an application from a French house at

Leghorn to be appointed consul or commercial

agent of the United States.

Robert R. Livingston to John Adams. Philadel-

phia, April 14th, 1783,

Ambiguous expressions in the declaration of the ces-

sation of hostilities.-Affairs of the Dutch.-Mr

Adams's accounts.

To Robert R. Livingston. Paris, April 14th, 1783,

Mr Hartley succeeds Mr Oswald.-Prospect of a

general congress at Paris.

To Robert Morris. Paris, May 21st, 1783,

The Dutch loan; perplexities and embarrassments.-

Wishes to be at home to persuade the Americans

to pay taxes and build ships.

To Robert R. Livingston. Paris, May 24th, 1783,

A temporary regulation of commerce with England

will be necessary.-The American ministers in-

vited to London with a promise that they should

be treated as the ministers of other sovereign

states. The English court wishes to interchange

ministers with America.

To Robert R. Livingston. Paris, May 30th, 1783,

Receives the ratification by Congress of the treaty

with Holland.-Delay in the negotiations of the

definitive treaty.

To Robert R. Livingston. Paris, June 9th, 1783,

"Letters from a Distinguished American," written

by Mr Adams.

To Robert R. Livingston. Paris, June 16th, 1783,

Ambiguities in the articles of the provisional treaty

Page.

13

14

23

25

26

28

30

31

34

35

36