Article X.

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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.

(Signed)

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GEORGE HAMMOND,
Secretary to the British commission.

WM. TEMPLE FRANKLIN,

Secretary to the American commission.

DAVID HARTLEY, ESQ. TO THE AMERICAN

GENTLEMEN,

MINISTERS.

Paris, Sept. 4, 1783,.

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. 1 can assure you that his Britannie 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 defi nitive 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

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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 good will. 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 impor tant 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.

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." 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, Esg.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

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. You have deceived 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 is now nine months since the evacuations were promised. You expect with reason that the people of New York should do your merchants justice in the payment of their old debts; consider the injustice you do them in keeping them so long out of their habitations and out of their business, by which they might have been enabled to make payment.

There is no truth more clear to me than this, that the great interest of our two countries is, a thorough reconciliation. Restraints on the freedom of commerce and intercourse between us, can afford no advantage equivalent to the mischief they will do by keeping up ill humor and promoting a total alienation. Let you and I, my dear friend, do our best towards advancing and securing that reconciliation. We can do nothing that will in a dying hour afford us more solid satisfaction.

I wish you a prosperous journey, and a happy sight of your friends. Present my best respects to your good brother and sister, and believe me ever, with sincere and great esteem, yours most affectionately,

B. FRANKLIN.

(Enclosed in the foregoing.)

To The Right Hòn. C. J. Fox, Esq.

SIR,

Passy, Sept. 5, 1789. I received in its time the letter you did me the honor of writing to me by Mr. Hartley; and I cannot let him depart without expressing my satisfaction in his conduct towards us, and applauding the prudence of that choice which

, sent us a man possessed of such a spirit of conciliation, and of all that frankness, sincerity, and candor, which naturally produce confidence, and thereby facilitate the most difficult negociations. Our countries are now happily at peace, on which I congratulate you most cordially; and I beg you, to