TO THE HON. ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON, ESO.

Since my last an extraordinary revolution has taken place in the court of England. All the old ministers are out, and the chiefs of the opposition are in their places. The newspapers that I send will give you the names as correctly as we yet know them. Our last advices mention their kissing hands but they had yet done nothing in their respective offices, by which one might judge of their projected measures; as whether they will ask a peace of which they have great need, the nation having of late suffered many losses, men grown, extremely scarce,band Lord North's new taxes proposed as funds for the loan, meeting with great opposition; or whether they will strive to find new resources, and obtain allies to enable them to please the king and nation by some vigorous exertions against France, Spain, and Holland. With re@gard to America, having while in opposition carried the vote for making no longer an offensive war with us, they seem to have tied their own hands from acting against us. Their predecessors had been tampering with this court, for a separate peace. The king's answer gave me, and will give you great pleasure. It will be sent to M. de la Luzerne, and by him be communicated to congress. None of their attempts to divide us met with the least encouragement : and I imagine the present set will try other measures. *Hit wod, pay spavaos bas mods du With great esteem, I have the honour to be, &C. 199 i B. FRANKLIN.)

VOL. II.

H

TO THE HON. ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON, Esq.

SIR,

Passy, April 12, 1782.

Being at court on Tuesday, I learnt from the Dutch minister, that the new English ministry have offered, through the minister of Russia, a cessation of arms to Holland, and a renewal of the treaty of 1674. M. de Berkenroode seemed to be of opinion that the offer was intended to gain time, to obstruct the concert of operations with France for the ensuing campaign, and to prevent the conclusion of a treaty with America: it is apprehended that it may have some effect in strengthening the hands of the English party in that country, and retard affairs a little, but it is hoped that the proposal will not be finally agreed to It would indeed render the Dutch ridiculous. A having a cane in his hand meets his neighbour B. who happens to have none, takes the advantage, and gives him a sound drubbing: B. having found a stick, and coming to return the blows he received; A. says, my old friend, why should we quarrel? We are neighbours, let us be good ones, and live peaceably by each other as we used to do. If Bis so easily satisfied, and lays aside his stick, the rest of the neighbours as well as A. will" laugh at him. This is the light in which I stated it. Enclosed I send you a copy of the proposition.

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I see by the newspapers that the Spaniards having taken a little post called St. Joseph, pretend to have made a conquest of the Hlinois country. In what light does this proceeding appear to congress? While they decline our offered friendship, are they to be suffered to encroach on our bounds, and shut us up within the Apalachian mountains? I begin to fear they have some such project.

With great esteem, I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

B. FRANKLIN.

TO THE HON. HENRY LAURENS, ESQ.

SIR,

Passy, April 12, 1782.

I should sooner have paid my respects to you by letter, if I had not till lately expected you here, as I understood it to be your intention. Your enlargement gave me great pleasure; and I hope that the terms exacted by the late ministry, will now be relaxed; especially when they are informed that you are one of the commissioners appointed to treat of peace. Herewith I send you a copy of the commission; the purport of which you can com→ municate to the ministers, if you find it proper. If they are disposed to make peace with us and our allies at the same time, I will on notice from you send to Mr. Jay, to prepare for meeting at such time and place as shall be agreed on. As to our treating separately and quitting our present alliance, which the late ministry seemed to desire, it is impossible. Our treaties, and our instructions, tas well as the honour and interest of our country forbid it. I will communicate those instructions to you as soon as I have the pleasure of seeing you. If you have occasion for money, please to acquaint me with the sum you desire, and I will endeavour, to supply you. With very great esteem and respect, I have the honour to be, Sir, &c. B. FRANKLIN.

COMMISSION to Messrs. Adams, Franklin, Jay, Laurens, and

Jefferson.

The UNITED STATES of AMERICA in CONGRESS

assembled; To all to whom these presents shall come, send greeting.

Whereas these United States from a sincere desire of putting an end to the hostilities between his most Christian Majesty and these United States on the one part, and his Britannic Majesty on the other, and of terminating the same by a peace founded on such solid and equitable principles as reasonably to promise a permanency of the blessings of tranquillity, did heretofore appoint the Hon. John Adams, 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, their minister plenipotentiary, with full powers, general and special, to act in that quality, to confer, treat, agree and conclude with the ambassadors or plenipotentiaries of his most Christian Majesty, and of his Britannic Majesty, and those of any other princes or states whom it might concern, relating to the reestablishment of peace and friendship. And whereas, the flames of war have since that time been extended, and other nations and states are involved therein: Now know ye, that we still continuing earnestly desirous as far as depends upon us, to put a stop to the effusion of blood, and to convince the powers of Europe that we wish for nothing more ardently than to terminate the war by safe and honorable peace, have thought proper to renew the powers formerly given to the said John Adams, and to join four other persons in commission with him, and having full confidence in the integrity, prudence, and ability of the Hon. Benjamin Franklin, our minister plenipotentiary at the Court of Versailles ; and the Hon. John Jay, late president of Congress, and chief justice of the state of New-York, and our minister plenipotentiary at the Court of Madrid; and the Hon. Henry Laurens, formerly president of Congress, and commissionated and sent as our agent to the United Provinces of the Low Countries; and the Hon. Thomas Jefferson, governor of the commonwealth of Virginia;

have nominated, constituted, and appointed the said Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, Henry Laurens, and Thomas Jefferson, in addition to the said John Adams, giving and granting to them the said John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, Henry Laurens, and Thomas Jefferson, or the majority of them, or of such of them as may assemble, or in case of the death, absence, indisposition, or other impediment of the others, to any one of them, full power and authority, general and special commission to repair to such place as may be fixed upon for opening the negociations for peace, and there for us, and in our name, to confer, treat, agree, and conclude, with the ambassadors, commissioners, and plenipotentiaries of the princes and states whom it may concern, vested with equal powers, relating to the establishment of peace; and whatsoever s shall be agreed and concluded for us and in our name, sign, and thereupon make a treaty or treaties, and to transact every thing that may be necessary, for completing, securing, and strengthening the great work of pacification, in as ample form and with the e same effect as if we were personally present and acted therein; hereby promising in good faith, that we will accept, ratify, fulfil and execute, whatever shall be agreed, concluded, and signed by our said ministers plenipotentiary, or a majority of them, or of such of them as may assemble, or in case of the death, absence, indisposition, or other impediment of the others, by any one of th them; and that we will never act, nor suffer any person to act contrary to the same, in whole or in any part. In witness whereof we have caused these presents to be signed by our president, and sealed with his seal.

to

Done at Philadelphia the fifteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-one, and in the fifth year of our independence, by the United States in Congress assembled.

SAMUEL HUNTINGTON,

(Signed,)

(L. S.)

President.