bassadors, Commissioners, and Plenipotentiaries of the Princes and States, whom it may concern, vested with equal powers relating to the establishment of peace, and whatsoever shall be agreed and concluded for us, and in our name to sign and thereupon make a treaty or treaties, and to transact everything, that may be necessary for completing, securing, and strengthening the great work of pacification, in as ample form, and with the 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 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.

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

SAMUEL HUNTINGTON, President.

COMMISSION то ACCEPT THE MEDIATION OF THE EMPRESS OF RUSSIA AND THE EMPEROR OF GERMANY.

The United States of America to all to whom these presents shall come, send Greeting.

Whereas his Most Christian Majesty, our great and

beloved friend and ally, has informed us by his Minister Plenipotentiary, whom he has appointed to reside near us, that their Imperial Majesties the Empress of Russia and the Emperor of Germany, actuated by sentiments of humanity, and a desire to put a stop to the calamities of war, have offered their mediation to the belligerent powers, in order to promote peace; now know ye, that we, desirous as far as depends upon us, to put a stop to the effusion of blood, and convince all the powers of Europe that we wish for nothing more ardently than to terminate this war by a safe and honorable peace; relying on the justice of our cause, and persuaded of the wisdom and equity of their Imperial Majesties, who have so generously interposed their good offices for promoting so salutary a measure; have appointed and constituted, and by these presents do constitute and appoint, our trusty and well beloved John Adams, late delegate in Congress, from the State of Massachusetts, and Benjamin Franklin, our Minister at the Court of France, John Jay, late President of Congress, and now our Minister at the Court of Madrid, Henry Laurens, formerly President of Congress, and commissioned and sent as our agent to the United Provinces of the Netherlands, and Thomas Jefferson, Governor of the Com.nonwealth of Virginia, our Ministers Plenipotentiary, giving and granting to them, or such of them as shall assemble, or in case of death, absence, indisposition, or other impediment, of the others, to any one of them, full power and authority in our name, and on our behalf, in concurrence with his Most Christian Majesty, to accept in due form, the mediation of their Imperial Majesties the Empress of Russia and the Emperor of Germany.

In testimony whereof, we have caused these presents to be signed by our President, and sealed with his seal.

Done at Philadelphia this fifteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eightyone, and in the fifth year of our independence.

By the United States in Congress assembled.

SAMUEL HUNTINGTON, President.

INSTRUCTIONS TO THE COMMISSIONERS FOR PEACE.

In Congress, June 15th, 1781.

To the Honorable John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, Henry Laurens, and Thomas Jefferson, Ministers Plenipotentiary in behalf of the United States, to negotiate a treaty of peace.

Gentlemen,

You are hereby authorised and instructed to concur, in behalf of these United States, with his Most Christian Majesty, in accepting the mediation proposed by the Empress of Russia and the Emperor of Germany.

You are to accede to no treaty of peace, which shall not be such as may 1st, effectually secure the independence and sovereignty of the Thirteen United States, according to the form and effect of the treaties subsisting between the said United States and his Most Christian Majesty; and 2dly, in which the said treaties shall not be left in their full force and validity.

As to disputed boundaries, and other particulars, we refer you to the instructions given to Mr John Adams, dated 14th of August, 1779, and 18th of October, 1780,* from which you will easily perceive the desires and expectations of Congress. But we think it unsafe, at this distance, to

* See these instructions in John Adams's Correspondence, Vol. IV p. 339; and Secret Journal, Vol. II. p. 339.

tie you up by absolute and peremptory directions upon any other subject, than the two essential articles above mentioned. You are therefore at liberty to secure the interest of the United States, in such manner as circumstances may direct, and as the state of the belligerent, and the disposition of the mediating powers may require. For this purpose, you are to make the most candid and confidential communications upon all subjects to the Ministers of our generous ally, the King of France; to undertake nothing in the negotiations for peace or truce, without their knowledge and concurrence; and ultimately to govern yourselves by their advice and opinion, endeavoring in your whole conduct to make them sensible how much we rely upon his Majesty's influence for effectual aid in everything that may be necessary to the peace, security, and future prosperity of the United States of America.

If a difficulty should arise, in the course of the negotiation for peace, from the backwardness of Great Britain to acknowledge our independence, you are at liberty to agree to a truce, or to make such other concessions as may not affect the substance of what we contend for; and provided that Great Britain be not left in possession of any part of the United States.

SAMUEL HUNTINGTON, President.

THE KING'S WARRANT FOR RICHARD OSWALD'S FIRST COMMISSION FOR NEGOTIATING PEACE.*

George R.

Our will and pleasure is, and we hereby authorise and command, you forthwith to prepare a bill for our signature,

*The parts of this Commission, which were objected to by the American Commissioners are printed in italics.

to pass our great seal of Great Britain, in the words or to the effect following, viz;

George the Third, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, and so forth. To our trusty and well beloved Richard Oswald, of our city of London, Esquire, Greeting. Whereas by virtue of an Act passed in the last session of Parliament, entitled "An Act to enable his Majesty to conclude a peace or truce with certain Colonies in North America therein mentioned," it is recited, 'that it is essential to the interest, welfare, and prosperity of Great Britain and the Colonies or Plantations of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the lower counties on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, in North America, that peace, intercourse, trade and commerce, should be restored between them; Therefore, and for a full manifestation of our most earnest wish and desire, and that of our Parliament to put an end to the calamities of war, it is enacted, that it should and might be lawful for us to treat, consult of, agree and conclude, with any Commissioner or Commissioners, named or to be named, by the said Colonies or Plantations, or with any body or bodies, corporate or politic, or any assembly or assemblies or description of men, or any person or persons whatsoever, a peace or truce with the said Colonies or Plantations, or any of them, or any part or parts thereof, any law, act, or acts of Parliament, matter or thing, to the contrary in anywise notwithstanding.

Now know ye that we, reposing special trust in your wisdom, loyalty, diligence, and circumspection in the management of the affairs to be hereby committed to your