and two Acts of Congress, of the fourth and fifteenth of October.
Peace is an Object of such vast importance; the Interests to be adjusted, in
the Negotiations to obtain it, are so complicated and so delicate; and the
difficulty of giving even general Satisfaction is so great: that I feel myself
more distressed at the prospect of executing the Trust, than at the Thoughts of
leaving my family and Country; and again encountering the dangers of the Seas
and of Enemies.
Yet when I reflect on the general Voice in my favour; and the high honour that is
done me by this Appointment: I feel the warmest Sentiments of Gratitude to
Congress; shall make no hesitation to accept it; and devote my self without reserve or loss of time, to the discharge
of it.
My Success however, may depend in a very great degree, on Intelligence and
Advices that I may receive from Congress; and on the punctuality with which
several Articles in my Instructions may be kept secret. It shall be my most
earnest endeavour to transmit to Congress, the most
constant and exact information in my power, of whatever may occur; and to
conceal those Instructions which depend, in any measure, on my judgment.
I hope I need not suggest to Congress the necessity of communicating to me
from time to time as early as possible, their Commands; and of keeping all the
discretionary Articles an impenetrable Secret: a Suggestion, however, that the
Constitution of that Sovereignty, which I have the honor to represent, might
excuse.
As the Frigate has been sometime waiting, I shall embark in Eight or ten
days, at farthest. . . . Your Excellency will be pleased to present my most
dutifull respects to Congress; and accept my Thanks
for the polite and obliging manner, in which you have communicated their
commands. I have the Honour to be, with great Esteem
and respect, your Excellencies most obedient humble Servant
John Adams.
His Excellency Samuel Huntington
Esqr. President of
Congress.
The Commissions acknowledged in the foregoing Letter to have been received
were two; one for Peace and the other for Commerce, exact Copies of both here
follow.
1. For Peace.
The Delegates of the
United States, of
New Hampshire,
Massachusetts Bay,
Rhode Island and
Providence Plantations,
Connecticut,
New York,
New Jersey,
Pennsylvania,
Delaware,
Maryland,
Virginia,
North Carolina,
South Carolina, and
Georgia
To all who shall see these Presents, send Greeting
It being probable, that a Negotiation will soon be commenced, for 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 Part, and it being the sincere desire of the United States, that they may be terminated, by a Peace, founded on such solid and equitable Principles, as reasonably to promise a Permanency of the Blessings of Tranquility, Know Ye, therefore, that We, confiding in the Integrity, Prudence and Ability of The Honourable John Adams Esquire, late Commissioner of the United States of America at the Court of Versailles, late Delegate in Congress, from the State of Massachusetts Bay, and Chief justice of the said State, Have nominated and constituted, and by these Presents Do nominate and constitute him the said John Adams, our Minister Plenipotentiary, giving him full Power 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 may concern, vested with equal Powers, relating to the Reestablishment of Peace and Friendship, and whatever shall be so agreed and concluded, for Us, and in our Name to sign, and thereupon make a Treaty or Treaties, and to transact every Thing that may be necessary for compleating, 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, fulfill and execute, whatever shall be agreed, concluded and signed by our said Minister Plenipotentiary, and that We will never Act nor suffer any Person to Act, contrary to the same, in the whole or in any part. In Witness whereof We have caused these Presents to be given in Congress at
Majesty, on the other Part, and it being the sincere desire of the United States, that they may be terminated, by a Peace, founded on such solid and equitable Principles, as reasonably to promise a Permanency of the Blessings of Tranquility, Know Ye, therefore, that We, confiding in the Integrity, Prudence and Ability of The Honourable John Adams Esquire, late Commissioner of the United States of America at the Court of Versailles, late Delegate in Congress, from the State of Massachusetts Bay, and Chief justice of the said State, Have nominated and constituted, and by these Presents Do nominate and constitute him the said John Adams, our Minister Plenipotentiary, giving him full Power 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 may concern, vested with equal Powers, relating to the Reestablishment of Peace and Friendship, and whatever shall be so agreed and concluded, for Us, and in our Name to sign, and thereupon make a Treaty or Treaties, and to transact every Thing that may be necessary for compleating, 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, fulfill and execute, whatever shall be agreed, concluded and signed by our said Minister Plenipotentiary, and that We will never Act nor suffer any Person to Act, contrary to the same, in the whole or in any part. In Witness whereof We have caused these Presents to be given in Congress at
Philadelphia,
the twenty Ninth day of September in the Year of our
Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and Seventy Nine
, and in the
fourth Year of the Independence of The
United States of America.Signed by the President and sealed with his Seal.
Samuel Huntington President, And a
Seal.
Attest Cha Thomson
Secy.
2. The Commission for making a Treaty of Commerce with
Great Britain was in these Words
The Delegates of the
United States of
New Hampshire,
Massachusetts Bay,
Rhode Island and
Providence Plantations,
Connecticutt,
New York,
New Jersey,
Pennsylvania,
Delaware,
Maryland,
Virginia,
North Carolina,
South Carolina and
Georgia, in Congress assembled,
To all who shall see these Presents send Greeting
It being the desire of the
United States, that the Peace which may be established between
them and his Britannic Majesty, may be permanent and accompanied with the
mutual Benefits derived from Commerce, Know Ye therefore, that We, confiding in
the Integrity, Prudence and Ability of Honble. John Adams
esqr., late Commissioner of The
United States of America at the Court of
Versailles, late Delegate in Congress from the State of
Massachusetts Bay and Chief justice of said State, Have
nominated and constituted, and by these Presents Do nominate and constitute him
the said John Adams, our Minister Plenipotentiary,
giving him full Power general and special to Act in that quality to confer,
agree, and conclude with the Ambassador, or Plenipotentiary of his Britannic
Majesty, vested with equal Powers, of and concerning a Treaty of Commerce, and
whatever shall be so agreed and concluded, for Us and in our Name to sign and
thereupon make a Treaty of Commerce, and to transact every Thing that may be necessary for
compleating, securing and strengthening the same,
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,
fulfill and execute whatever shall be agreed, concluded, and signed by our said
Minister Plenipotentiary and that We will never Act, nor suffer any Person to
act, contrary to the same, in the whole nor in any Part. In Witness whereof, We
have caused these Presents to be given in Congress at
Philadelphia
the twenty ninth day of September in the Year of our
Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and Seventy nine
, and in the
fourth Year of the Independence of the
United States of America.Signed by the President and sealed with his Seal
Samuel Huntington President And a
Seal.
Attest Cha Thomson
Secy.
With these Commissions, I received the following Instructions respecting
Peace.
16 October 1779
Sir
You will herewith receive a Commission giving you full Power, to negotiate a
Treaty of Peace with
Great Britain, in doing which you will conform to the following
Information and Instructions.
First. The
United States are sincerely desirous of Peace and wish, by every
means consistent with their Dignity and Safety, to spare the further Effusion
of Blood. They have therefore, by your Commission and these Instructions
laboured to remove the Obstacles to that Event,
before
The Enemy have evidenced their Disposition for it. . . . But as the great Object of the present defensive War on the part of the Allies is to establish the Independence of the United States, and as any Treaty, whereby this End cannot be obtained, must be only ostensible and illusory, You are therefore to make it a preliminary Article, to any proposition, that Great Britain shall agree to treat with the United States as sovereign, free And independent.
The Enemy have evidenced their Disposition for it. . . . But as the great Object of the present defensive War on the part of the Allies is to establish the Independence of the United States, and as any Treaty, whereby this End cannot be obtained, must be only ostensible and illusory, You are therefore to make it a preliminary Article, to any proposition, that Great Britain shall agree to treat with the United States as sovereign, free And independent.
Secondly. You shall take especial Care also, that the Independence of the
said States be effectually assured and confirmed by the Treaty or Treaties of
Peace, according to the form and Effect of the Treaty of Alliance with his Most
Christian Majesty; and You shall not agree to such Treaty or Treaties, unless
the same be thereby so assured and confirmed.
Thirdly. The Boundaries of these States are as follow, vizt. These States
are bounded North, by a line to be drawn from the Northwest Angle of
Nova Scotia, along the highlands, which divide those Rivers
which empty themselves into
the River St. Lawrence, from those which fall into
the Atlantic Ocean, to the Northwestermost head of
Connecticut River, thence down along the middle of that River to
the forty fifth degree of North Latitude, thence due West, in the Latitude of
Forty five degrees North from the Equator, to the Northwestermost Side of
the River St. Lawrence or
Cadaraqui, thence straight to the South end of
Lake Nipissing and thence straight to the Source of
the River Mississippi: West, by a Line to be drawn along the
middle of
the River Mississippi, from its Source to where the said Line
shall intersect the thirty first degree of North Latitude: South, by a Line to
be drawn due East from the Termination of the Line last mentioned in the
Latitude of Thirty one degrees North from the Equator, to the Middle of
the River Appalachicola, or
Catahouchi, thence along the Middle thereof, to its junction
with
the Flint River, thence straight to the head of
St. Mary's River, and thence down along the Middle of
St. Mary's River to
the Atlantic Ocean: And East by a Line to be drawn along the
Middle of
St. Johns River, from its Source to its Mouth in
the Bay of Fundy, comprehending all Islands within twenty
Leagues of any part of the Shores of the
United States and lying between Lines to be drawn due East, from
the Points where the aforesaid Boundaries between
Nova Scotia on the one Part