B. VAUGHAN, Esq. TO DR. FRANKLIN. MY DEAREST SIR, (Private) Paris, Jan. 18, 1783. I cannot but in the most earnest manner, and from recent circumstances, press your going early to Versailles to-morrow; and I have considerable reason to think, that your appearance there will not displease the person whom you address. I am of opinion that it is very likely that you will have the glory of having concluded the peace, by this visit; at least I am sure, if the deliberations of tomorrow evening end unfavorably, that there is the strongest appearance of war; and if they end favorably, perhaps little difficulty may attend the rest.. After all, the peace will have as much that is conceded in it, as England can in any shape be made just now to relish ; owing to the stubborn demands principally of Spain, who would not I believe upon any motive recede from her conquests. What I wrote about Gibraltar, arrived after the subject as I understand was canvassed, and when it of course must have appeared impolitic eagerly and immediately to revive it.. You reproved me, or rather reproved a political scheme yesterday, of which I have heard more said favorably by your friends at Paris than by any persons whatever in London. But do you, my dear sir, make this peace, and trust our common sense respecting another war. England, said a man of sense to me the other day, will come out of the war like a convalescent out of a disease, and must be re-established by some physic and much regimen. I cannot easily tell in what shape a bankruptcy would come upon England, and still less easily in what mode and degree it would affect us; but if your confederacy mean to bankrupt us now, I am sure we shall lose the great fear that would deter us from another war. Your allies, therefore, for policy, and for hu→ manity's sake, will I hope stop short of this extremity; especially as we should do some mischief first to others, as well as to ourselves. I am, my dearest sir, your ever devoted, ever affectionate, and ever obliged, B. VAUGHAN. SIR, TO HIS EXCELLENCY J. ADAMS, ESQ. Passy, Jan. 19, 1783, Late last night I received a note from M. De Vergennes, acquainting me that it is very essential he should have a conference with us, and requesting I would inform my colleagues. He desires that we may be with him before ten on Monday morning. If it will suit you to call here, we may go together in my carriage. With great regard, I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient and most humble servant, B. FRANKLIN. Copy of MR. FITZHERBERT'S Commission to treat with France. Georgius Tertius, Dei Gratiâ, Magnæ Britanniæ Franciæ et Hiberniæ Rex, Fidei Defensor, Dux Brunsvicensis et Lunebergensis, Sacri Romani Imperii Archithesaurius et Princeps Elector, &c. omnibus et singulis ad quos præsentes hæ litteræ pervenerint, salutem. Cum belli incendio jam nimis diu diversis orbis terrarum partibus flagrante, in id quam maxime incumbamus, ut tranquillitas publica, tot litibus controversiisque rite compositis, reduci et stabiliri possit; Cumque eâ de causâ virum quemdam tanto negotio parem, ad bonum fratrem nostrum Regem Christianissimum mittere decrevimus; sciatis igitur, quod nos, fide, industriâ, ingenio, perspicaciâ, et rerum usu fidelis et dilecti nobis Alleini Fitz Herbert, armigeri, plurimum confisi, eundem nominavimus, fecimus et constituimus, sicut per præ→ sentes nominamus, facimus et constituimus, nostrum verum, certum et indubitatum commissarium, procuratorem, et plenipotentiarium, dantes et concedentes eidem omnem et omnimodam potestatem, facultatem authoritatemque, necnon mandatum, generale pariter ac speciale (ita tamen ut generale speciali non deroget nec è contra), pro nobis et nostro nomine, unà cum ministro ministrisve prædicti boni fratris nostri Regis Christianissimi, sufficienti authoritate instructo vel instructis, cumque legatis, commissariis, deputatis, et plenipotentiariis aliorum principum et statuum quorum interesse poterit, sufficienti itidem authoritate instructis, tam singulatim ac diversim, quam aggregatim ac conjunctim, congrediendi et colloquendi, atque cum ipsis de pace firma et stabili, sincerâque amicitiâ et concordiâ quantotius restituendis, conveniendi, tractandi, consulendi et concludendi, eaque omnia quæ ita conventa et conclusa fuerint pro nobis et nostro nomine, subsignandi, superque conclusis tractatum tractatusve, vel alia instrumenta quotquot et qualia necessaria fuerint, conficiendi mutuoque tradendi, recipiendique, omniaque alia quæ ad opus supra dictum feliciter exequendum pertinent transigendi, tam amplis modo et formâ, ac vi effectuque pari, ac nos, si interessemus, facere et præstare possemus; spondentes et in verbo regio promittentes, nos omnia quæcumque à dicto nostro plenipotentiario transigi et concludi contigerint, grata, rata et accepta omni meliori modo habituros, neque passuros unquam ut in toto vel in parte à quopiam violentur, aut ut iis in contrarium eatur. In quorum omnium majorem fidem et robur, præsentibus manu nostrâ regiâ signatis, magnum nostrum Magnæ Britanniæ sigillum appendi fecimus. Quæ dabantur in palatio nostro Divi Jacobi, die vicesimo quarto mensis Julii, anno Domini 1 millesimo septingentesimo octogesimo sécundo, regnique nostro vicesimo secundo. A true copy, examined by (Signed) ALLEYNE FITZHERBERT. Translation of the Declaration, originally written in French, and signed by the American plenipotentiaries. We the underwritten ministers plenipotentiary of the United States of North America, having received from Mr. Fitzherbert, minister plenipotentiary of his Britannic majesty, a declaration relative to a suspension of arms, to be established between his said majesty and the said states, of which the following is a copy, viz. "Whereas the preliminary articles agreed to and signed this day between his majesty the king of Great Britain, and his most Christian majesty on the one part, and also between his said Britannic majesty and his Catholic majesty on the other part, stipulate a cessation of hostilities between those three powers, which is to commence upon the exchange of the ratifications of the said preliminary articles; and whereas by the provisional treaty signed the thirtieth of November last between his Britannic majesty and the United States of North America, it was stipulated that the said treaty should have its effect as soon as a peace between the said crowns should be established; the underwritten minister plenipotentiary of his Britannic majesty declares in the name, and by the express order of the king his master, that the said United States of North America, their subjects and their possessions, shall be comprised in the suspension of arms above mentioned, and that they shall consequently enjoy the benefit of the cessation of hostilities at the same periods and in the same manner as the three crowns aforesaid, and their subjects and possessions respectively; on condition, however, that on the part and in the name of the said United States of North America, there shall be delivered a similar declaration expressing their assent to the present suspension of arms, and containing an assurance of the most perfect reciprocity on their part. “In faith whereof, we, the minister plenipotentiary of his Britannic majesty, have signed the present declaration, and have thereto caused the seal of our arms to be affixed, at Versailles, this twentieth day of January, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three." (Signed) ALLEYNE FITZHERBERT. (L. S.) We have, in the name of the said United States of North America, and in virtue of the powers we are vested with, received the above declaration, and do accept the same by these presents, and we do reciprocally declare that the said states shall cause to cease all hostilities against his Britannic majesty, his subjects, and possessions, at the terms or periods agreed to between his majesty the king of Great Britain, his majesty the king of France, and his majesty the king of Spain, in the same manner as stipulated between these three crowns, and to have the same effect. In faith whereof, we, ministers plenipotentiary from the United States of America, have signed the present declaration, and have hereunto affixed the seals of our arms, At Versailles, the twentieth of January, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three. (Signed) JOHN ADAMS, (L.S.) |