terms as formerly subsisted between them; provided always, that no concession on either side, in the proposed temporary convention, shall be argued hereafter in support of any future demand or claim. In the mean time the proposition above stated may be transmitted to London, requesting (with his majesty's consent) that it may be laid before parliament for

their consideration.

It is proposed therefore, that the unmanufactured produce of the United States should be admitted into Great Britain without any other duties (those imposed during the war excepted) than those to which they were formerly liable. And it is expected in return that the produce and manufactures of Great Britain should be admitted into the United States in like manner.

If there should appear any want of reciprocity in this proposal, upon the grounds of asking admission for British manufactures into America, while no such indulgence is given to American manufactures in Great Britain; the answer is obvious, that the admission of British manufactures into America is an object of great importance, and equally productive of advantage to both countries; while, on the other hand, the introduction of American manufactures into Great Britain can be of no service to either, and may be productive of innumerable frauds, by enabling persons so disposed, to pass foreign European goods, either prohibited or liable to great duties by the British laws, for American manufactures.

With regard to the West Indies, there is no objection to the most free intercourse between them and the United States. The only restriction proposed to be laid upon that intercourse, is prohibiting American ships carrying to those colonies any other merchandize than the produce of their own country. The same observation may be made upon this restriction as upon the former. It is not meant to affect the

interest of the United States; but it is highly necessary, lest foreign ships should make use of the American flag to carry on a trade with the British West Indian Islands.

It is also proposed upon the same principle to restrain the ships that may trade to Great Britain from America, from bringing foreign merchandise into Great Britain: the necessity of this restriction is likewise evident, unless Great Britain meant to give up her whole navigation act. There is no necessity of any similar restrictions on the part of the American States, those states not having as yet any Acts of Navigation.

Proposed Agreement.

Whereas it is highly necessary that an intercourse of trade and commerce should be opened between the people and territories belonging to the crown of Great Britain and the people and territories of the United States of America: And whereas it is highly expedient that the intercourse between Great Britain and the said United States should be established on the most enlarged principles of reciprocal benefit to both countries; but, from the distance between Great Britain and America, it must be a considerable time before any convention or treaty for establishing and regulating the trade and intercourse between Great Britain and the said United States of America, upon a permanent foundation, can be concluded: Now, for the purpose of making a temporary regulation of the commerce and intercourse between Great Britain and the said United States of America, it is agreed that all citizens of the United States of America shall be permitted to import into, and export from any part of his Britannic Majesty's dominions, in American ships, any goods, wares, and merchandise, which have been so imported or exby the inhabitants of the British American colonies, before

the commencement of the war, upon payment of the same duties and charges, as the like sort of goods or merchandise are now or may be subject and liable to, if imported by British subjects, in British ships, from any British island or plantation in America; and that all the subjects of his Britannic Majesty shall be permitted to import from any part of the territories of the thirteen United States of America, in British ships, any goods, wares and merchandise which might have been so imported or exported by the subjects of his Britannic Majesty, before the commencement of the war, upon payment of the same duties and charges, as the like sort of goods, wares, and merchandises are now, or may be subject and liable to, if imported in American ships by any of the citizens of the United States of America...

This agreement to continue in force until

Provided always, that nothing contained in this agreement shall at any time hereafter be argued on either side in support of any future demand or claim.

MR. TEMPLE FRANKLIN TO D. HARTLEY, Esq.

SIR,

1

Paris, May 21, 1783.

The American ministers direct me to present you their compliments, and to desire to be informed, whether the proposition you made them this evening is such as you can agree to and subscribe, without further instructions or information from your court? I have the honor to be, &c. W. T. FRANKLIN.

This was verbally answered in the negative. See Letter of the American Commissioners to the President of Congress of Sept. 10, 1783, p. 398.

t

TO THE COMMISSIONERS PLENIPOTENTIARY OF THE UNITED STATES, &c.

GENTLEMEN,

Dover, Tuesday morning, 4 o'clock, 10th June, 1783.

This moment landed;-as a boat is going over

to Calais, the inclosed proclamation may possibly arrive new to you. vou To me it wears the aspect of one part of a commercial treaty. I shall not wonder should I see our friend D. Hartley in London this week. I purpose lodging there to-night. There and everywhere I shall be, as I am, your faithful however feeble aid, and obedient servant,

HENRY LAURENS.

At the Court at St. James's, the 6th of June, 1783. Present—the King's most Excellent Majesty in Council.

Whereas by an Act of Parliament passed this Session, intituled, "An Act for preventing certain instruments from being required from ships belonging to the United States of America, and to give to his Majesty, for a limited time, certain powers for the better carrying on trade and commerce between the subjects of his Majesty's dominions and the inhabitants of the said United States," it is, among other things, enacted, that during the continuance of the said Act, it shall and may be lawful for his Majesty in Council, by order or orders to be issued and published from time to time, to give such directions and to make such regulations with respect to duties, drawbacks, or otherwise, for carrying on the trade and commerce between the people and territories belonging to the crown of Great Britain, and the people and territories of the said United States, as to his

Majesty in Council shall appear most expedient and salutary, any law, usage, or custom, to the contrary notwithstanding : His Majesty doth therefore, by and with the advice of his privy council, hereby order and direct, that pitch, tar, turpentine, indigo, masts, yards, and bowsprits, being the growth or production of any of the United States of America, may (until further order) be imported directly from thence into any ports of this kingdom, either in British or American ships, by British subjects, or by any of the people inhabiting in and belonging to the said United States, or any of them; and that the articles above recited shall and may be entered and landed in any port of this kingdom upon payment of the same duties, as the same are or may be subject and liable to, if imported by British subjects in British ships from any British island or plantation in America, and no other, notwithstanding such pitch, tar, turpentine, indigo, masts, yards, and bowsprits, or the ships in which the same may be brought, may not be accompanied with the certificates or other documents heretofore required by law; and his Majesty is hereby further pleased, by and with the advice aforesaid, to order and direct that any tobacco, being the growth or production of any of the territories of the said United States of America, may likewise (until further order) be imported directly from thence, in manner above-mentioned, and may be landed in this kingdom, and, upon the importer paying down in ready money the duty commonly called the Old Subsidy, such tobacco may be warehoused under his Majesty's locks, upon the importer's own bond, for payment of all the farther duties due for such tobacco, within the time limited by law, according to the net weight and quantity of such tobacco, at the time it shall be so landed, with the same allowances for the payment, or such farther duties, and under the like restrictions and regulations in all other respects,

&