Dined with Mr. Laurens and Mr. Jay at
Mr. Hardeys,
Hotel de York.
We are to meet of Evenings at 6 O Clock, De Die, in Diem, at my House.
Mr. Hartley informed Us to day
that the Kings Council had not agreed to our Proposition, of putting Britons
upon the Footing of Americans in all American Ports, Rivers &c. and
Americans on the Footing of Britons in all British Ports, Rivers &c. He
says he is very sorry for this because he thinks it just and
politick And that he shall ever be in Parliament
for bringing Things to that point.
TUESDAY MAY 20.
Saw Philadelphia Papers to the 12 of April. The Corvette dispatched from
Cadiz by the Comte D'Estaing, carried the first News of the Preliminaries of
the 20 of January. Mr. Livingston wrote it to Carlton and
Digby, but they thought it, however respectable, not authentic for them. Soon
after the February Packet arrived, at
New York, from whence English News Papers were sent out and the
Provisional and Preliminary Treaties all published in the Philadelphia
Papers.
Visited Mr. Hartley. He said he thought the Dutch
Negotiation in a bad Way, and that there would be a civil Contest in
Holland; a Struggle between the Statholder and the States.
Page 5
Mr. Hartley said, that some Dutch Friends he had in
London, had told him there would be a civil dissention in
Holland, and he was now more convinced of it. He said the
K. of Prussia and the King of England would
take the Part of the Statholder. I answered they would do well to consider
whether in that Case,
France and the Emperor would not assist the Republicans, and
thus throw all
Europe into a Flame. I told him I thought the English Policy
towards the Republick, all wrong. They were wrong
to make themselves Partisans of the Statholder vs.
the Republicans. That they ought to be impartial. That they were interested in
the Conservation of the Liberties of that Country. If that Spot should be
annexed to the Empire or to
France it would be fatal to
Great Britain. That without its Liberty it could not maintain
its Independency. Human Life, in that Country, struggling against the Sea, and
in danger from so many Quarters, would be too painfull and discouraging without Liberty. That the
K. of England and the Statholder would make a fatal
Mistake, if they thought of making the lat [t] er Sovereign,
or of increasing his Power. The Country would not be worth the Governing. That
the Families of Orange and Brunswick owed their Grandeur to the Cause of
Liberty, and if they now engaged in a Conspiracy against it they must go to
Italy after the Stewarts.
I added that Sir Joseph York had been wrong to attach
himself so closely to the Court, and declare War so decidedly against the
Patriots. That he should have kept upon good Terms with the Capellens,
Vanberckel, Gyzelaer, Visher &c.
Page 6
I had reflected much upon this Subject. I had always been ready to
acknowledge that I could not distinctly foresee, what would be the Consequence
of our Independence in
Europe. It might depress
England too much and elevate the House of Bourbon too high. If
this should be the Case, neither
England nor
America could depend upon the Moderation of such absolute
Monarchies and such ambitious Nations.
America might find
France and
Spain demanding of her Things which she could not grant. So
might
England. Both might find it necessary to their Safety to join,
and in such a Case it would be of great Importance to both to have
Holland join them. Whereas the Policy of the British Court if
pursued would drive the Dutch into the Arms of
France and fix them there. That I hoped the Case put would never
happen, but
England would have a stronger reason than ever now, to cultivate
the Friendship of
Holland. That in my Opinion she ought to give up Negapatnam and
the Liberty of Navigation, give Satisfaction to the Duch, and carry an even
hand in future between the Court and the States. That the British Minister
ought to seek the Acquaintance and Friendship of the principal Patriots in all
the Provinces and give them the Assurances of his Court that nothing should be
attempted against their Constitution.
Mr. Hartley said he was of my Mind and had said as much to
Mr. Fox before he left
London. But the King would stand by the Statholder.
Page 7
1783 Tuesday May 20
The King, says he, will go wrong in
Holland and in
Ireland and
Scotland too, but it will all work against himself. There are
discontents in
Scotland, as well as
Ireland. We shall have Struggles, but I dont dread these. We
shall have settled with
America, and the American War was all that I dreaded.
WEDNESDAY. MAY 21.
What is it, in the Air, which burns? When We blow a Spark with the Bellows,
it spreads. We force a current of Air to the Fire, by this machine, and in this
Air, are inflammable Particles. Can it be in the same manner that Life is
continued by the Breath. Are there any Particles conveyed into the Blood of
Animals through the Lungs, which increase the heat of it, or is the Pulse
caused by rarifying the Blood or any Part of it, into Vapour, like the Experiment made with a with
Spirits of Wine in a Glass Tube, with a globule at each End. If one End, or
Globule, is placed in a Position a little Warmer, than another the
other, you see a Pulsation, caused by repeated rarefactions of the Spirits of
Wine into Vapour at one End, which flows to the other
and then reflows Again to its former Position where it is again rarified, and
protruded.
The external Air, drawn into the Lungs in Breathing, through the Mouth or
Nostrils, either Leaves some Particles behind, in the Lungs, or in the Blood,
or carries some Particles off with it. It may do both, i.e. carry in some
Particles that are salubrious, and carry out others which are noxious. The Air
once breathed is certainly altered.
Page 8
1783. Wednesday May 21.
It is unfit to be breathed again.
The Body is said to render unfit for Respiration a Gallon of Air in a Minute. 4
Persons in a Coach would render unfit, 4 Hogsheads of Air in an Hour, which is
more than the Coach would hold, which
shews the
Necessity of keeping the Windows open, and of frequently airing your dining
Rooms, keeping Rooms and Bed Chambers. I suspect that the Health of Mankind is
much injured by their Inattention to this Subject.
Mr. Hartley, Mr. Franklin, Mr.
Jay, Mr. Laurens, met me, at my House,
Hotel du Roi, Au Carrousel, this Evening, and We exchanged with
Mr. Hartley Full Powers, and entered into Conferences.
Mr. Hartley made Us the following Proposition in writing,
viz.
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
Page 9
1783 May 21
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 the Citizens of the
United States of America, shall be permitted to import into, and
export from any Part of his Britannick Majestys Dominions in American Ships,
any Goods, Wares and Merchandises, which have been so imported or exported by
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
Merchandize, 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 Britannick Majesty
shall be permitted to import and to export from any Part of the
Territories of the thirteen United States of America,
Page 10
1783 May 21. Wednesday
in British Ships, any Goods, Wares
and
Merchandizes, 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
Merchandizes 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. Hartley withdrew and We entered into Consultation, upon
his Proposition.
[illegible] We agreed to write a Line to Mr.
Hartley to enquire if he thought himself
authorized to sign that Agreement without further orders from St. James's. The
Gentlemen proposed that I [should write it] as first in the
Commission. I answered that in that Case I must have their Sanction to the
Letter. They desired me to draw one. I sat down to the Table and wrote
Page 11
Sir
The American Ministers have done me the Honour to
direct me, to present you their Compliments, and desire to be informed whether
you think yourself sufficiently authorized to agree and subscribe to the
Proposition you have made them this Evening, without further Instructions or
Information from your Court.
Dr. Franklin moved that the Secretary should sign and send
it, which was agreed, the Letter being approved in the foregoing Words.
The Gentlemen desired me to draw an Answer to Mr. Grands
Letter, and a Letter to the Bankers in
Amsterdam which I agreed to do and lay it before them at their
next Meeting.
MAY 22. THURSDAY.
This Morning I drew the following Letters to be laid before the Ministers
this Evening.
Paris May 22. 1783
Sir
We have received the Letter you did Us the Honour
to write Us on The day of this Month, containing a brief State of the
Affairs of the
United States in your hands. We see the Difficulties you are in,
and are sorry to say that it is not in our Power to afford you any Relief.
We have &c.
Mr. Grand
Page 12
1783 May 22. Thursday
Gentlemen
Mr. Grand has laid before Us, a State of the Affairs of the
United States, under his Care, and the Demands upon him for
Money to discharge the Bills drawn upon him, are such as to require some
Assistance from you, if the Demands upon you will admit of it.
If therefore, the State of the Cash in your Hands compared with the
Draughts made upon you, will allow of it, We advise
you to remit to Mr. Grand, on Account of the
United States, the Amount of five Millions of Livres Tournois,
and We doubt not that Congress and their Minister of Finances will approve of
it, although We have not in Strictness Authority to give orders for it.
We have &c.
Messrs. Wilhem and Jan Willink
Nicholas and Jacob Van Staphorst
and
Dela Lande and Fynje, Bankers of the
United States of America, at
Amsterdam.
This Morning I also drew the following to be laid before the Gentlemen this
Evening.
Articles
Agreed upon by and between David Hartley Esq., Minister
Plenipotentiary of his Britannic Majesty for
in behalf of his said Majesty, on the one part
Page 13
1783 May 22.
and J.A. B.F. J.J. and H.L. Ministers
Plenipotentiary of the
United States of America, for treating of Peace with the
Minister Plenipotentiary of his said Majesty, on their behalf on the other
Part
in Addition
to those agreed upon, on the 30th day of November 1782, by and between
Richard Oswald Esq., the Commissioner of his Britannic Majesty
for treating of Peace, with the Commissioners of the
United States of America, in behalf of his said Majesty, on the
one Part, and the said J.A. B.F. J.J. and H.L. Commissioners of the said States
for treating of Peace, with the Commissioner of his said Majesty, on their
Behalf, on the other Part.
Whereas it is expedient, that an Intercourse and Commerce should be opened,
between the People and Territories subject to the Crown of
Great Britain, and those of the
United States of America, and that this Intercourse and
Commerce, should be established, on the most enlarged Principles of reciprocal
Benefit to both Countries
1. It is agreed that Ministers shall be forthwith nominated and vested with
full Powers to treat, agree and conclude upon a permanent Treaty of Commerce,
between the two Powers and their respective Citizens, Subjects and
Countries.
2. For the Purpose of a temporary Regulation of such Intercourse and
Commerce it is agreed,
Page 14
May 22. Thursday.
It is agreed, that the Citizens of the
United States shall import into and export from, any part of the
Dominions subject to the Crown of
Great Britain, in American Ships, any Goods, Wares, and
Merchandises, which have been so imported or exported, by the Inhabitants of
the British American Colonies before the Commencement of the
late
War, paying only the same Duties and Charges, as the like Sort of Goods or
Merchandises, are now, or may be subject to, if imported by British Subjects in
British Ships, from any British Island or Plantation in America: And that the
Subjects of his Britannick Majesty, shall import to and export from any Part of
the Territories of the
United States of America, in British Ships, any Goods, Wares and
Merchandize, which might have been so imported
or exported, by the Subjects of his Britannick Majesty, before the Commencement
of the War, paying the same Duties and Charges, as the like Sort of Goods,
Wares and
Merchandizes, are now or may be
subject to, if imported in American Ships, by any of the Citizens of the said
United States.
This Agreement to continue in force for all Vessells which shall sail from any Port of either Party,
on or before the day of
and no longer.
Provided
Page 15
Provided Always that nothing in this Agreement shall at any time hereafter
be argued on either Side, in support of any Proposition which may be made, in
the future negotiation of a permanent Treaty of Commerce.
It was observed last Evening that all the Laws of
Great Britain, for the Regulation of the Plantation Trade, were
contrived solely for the Benefit of
Great Britain.
These Laws therefore ought not now to be the Regulation,
which ought now to be for the reciprocal Benefit of both. The new System of
Commerce, the permanent Treaty ought to be framed for the Benefit of the
United States, as much as for that of
G. Britain. Will not this temporary Revival of the old partial
System, encour [a] ge British Merchants and Statesmen to aim
at the perpetuation of it in the Treaty? Will not our making such a Convention,
be a temptation to the British Court to postpone the definitive Treaty? perhaps
to be indifferent about ever signing a definitive Treaty.
By this Project of Mr. Hartleys, American Manufactures are
excluded from the British Dominions, but British Manufactures are not excluded
from the United States. Americans are excluded from carrying the Productions of
other Countries to the British Dominions: But Britains
Page 16
1783 May 22
are not excluded, from carrying the
Productions of other Countries to America. -- Two Instances of Partiality, and
Inequality, which may be Seeds of discord. Mens Minds cannot be contented,
under Partiality, among Equals. They think it as it is Injustice. It is
humiliating. It is thought
disgracefull.
The Dutch will allow Americans to bring their Manufactures, and those of
other Countries to
Amsterdam, and this Attraction will draw our ships to that
Market. We may carry hatts, Sperma Coed Candles,
&c. from
America, Wines from
Portugal,
Spain or
France to
Holland, Sugars &c. from the
W. India Islands, to
Holland &c.
If other Nations allow Americans, to carry any Thing to them which Britain
forbids, this will allure them to foreign Ports, and drive them from those of
Britain.
At 10 this morning Mr. Hartley called upon me. Said he had
received our Note of last night, and had reflected upon our Question, reviewed
his Instructions and called upon the Duke of Manchester to
consult with him, and upon the whole he thought he must wait the Return of a
Courier which he should send off tomorrow.
I told him that his Court must be sensible, if the Trade was renewed upon
the old System, it must be upon that System entire, and even then it would be a
Reciprocity all on one Side, all in
favour of
Great Britain. That if they thought of excluding Us from the
West India Trade, they must think, it would obstruct our Agreement, and I was
afraid if he mentioned it, and thus
Page 17
1783 may 22. Thursday.
put it into the Heads of the
Council, they would embarrass him with some wrong orders about it. He said he
should support what was right as We wished it in his Dispatches, and so would
the Duke of Manchester, but they thought it most prudent
to send to
London for orders.
He then said he had heard a Story, in which the Marquis de la
Fayette was named, that the French Court had applied to the American
Ministers to know if they would come into the definitive Treaty, under the
Mediation of the two Imperial Courts. That We answered that such a Thing might
be very well, but We could not help observing, that those Courts had not
acknowledged our Independence as yet. The Reply was that accepting the
Mediation would be acknowledging our Independance. -- Whence came this Story? Secrets will
always be thus kept, while Negotiations are carried on by such circuitous
Messages.
At Eleven returned Visits to Mr. Fitch and Mr.
Boylstone, and then to the Baron de
Waltersdorf, Chamberlain of the King of
Denmark, who remarked to me, that he was
surprized that his Court had never been informed, that
Mr. Dana had Powers to treat with
Denmark. I told him that Mr. Dana had been
advised against communicating it. But that his Court might send a Full Power to
their Minister at Petersbourg, to treat and conclude with any Minister of the
United States vested with equal Powers. And the Conferences
might begin as soon as they please. He said that he hoped the Dutch would not
regain all their Trade but that the Northern Nations would retain some of it.
That he thought
St. Eustatia would be of no Value in future, as the King had
made
St. Thomas's a free Port. That
Vessells might lie in Safety at
St. Thomas's in the hurricane Months but not at
St. Eustatia.
Page 18
1783. May 22. Thursday.
He said that some Danish
Vessells had gone to
America loaded with
Linnens, Duck,
Sail Cloth, &c.
The following is a Copy of the order in Council of 14 May 1783, delivered to
Us last night by Mr. Hartley.
At the Court of St. James 14 May 1783
Present
The Kings 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 Majestys Dominions and the Inhabitants of the said
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 any Oil, or any unmanufactured
[Some of the lines of the original diary are preceded by what appear to be
quotation marks. Refer to the page image.]
Page 19
1783 May 22 Thursday
Goods or
Merchandizes, being the Growth or Production of any
of the Territories of the said United States of America, may
untill further order, be imported directly from thence into
any of the 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 such Goods or
Merchandizes shall and may be entered and
landed in any Port in this Kingdom, upon Payment of the same Duties as the like
Sort of Goods, 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 Goods or
Merchandizes, or the Ships in which the same
may be brought, may not be accompanied with the Certificates or Documents
heretofore required by Law. And it is hereby further ordered and directed that
there shall be the same Drawbacks, Exemptions and Bounties on
Merchandizes and Goods exported from
Great Britain into the Territories of the said
United States of America, or any of them, as are allowed upon
the Exportation of the like Goods or
Merchandizes, to any of the Islands, Plantations or
Colonies, belonging to the Crown of Great Britain in America; and it is hereby
farther ordered and directed, that all American Ships and
Vessells which shall have voluntarily come into any Port
of Great Britain since the 20th. of January 1783, shall be admitted to an Entry
and after such Entry made, shall be entitled together with the Goods and
Merchandizes on board the same Ships and
Vessells, to the full Benefit of this order. And the
Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of his Majestys Treasury and the
Page 20
1783 May 22. Thursday
Lords Commissioners of the
Admiralty, are to give the necessary Directions herein, as to them may
respectively appertain. Signed Wm. Fawkener.
Copy of Mr. Hartleys Full Power, exchanged with that of the
American Ministers 19 May 1783.
George R.
George the Third, by the Grace of God, King of Great
Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Duke of Brunswick and
Lunenbourgh, Arch Treasurer and Prince Elector of the Holy Roman Empire &c.
To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting.
Whereas for the perfecting and establishing the Peace, Friendship, and good
Understanding, so happily commenced by the Provisional Articles signed at
Paris the thirtieth Day of November last by the Commissioners of
Us and our good Friends, the
United States of America, vizt.,
New-Hampshire,
Massachusetts-Bay,
Rhode Island,
Connecticut,
New York,
New Jersey,
Pensylvania, the Three lower Counties on
Delaware,
Maryland,
Virginia,
North Carolina,
South Carolina and
Georgia, in
North America, and for opening, promoting and rendering
perpetual, the mutual Intercourse of Trade, and Commerce, between our Kingdoms
and the Dominions of the said
United States, We have thought proper to invest some fit Person
with full Powers, on our Part, to meet and
Page 21
1783 May 22
confer, with the Ministers of the said
United States now residing at
Paris, duly authorized for the accomplishing of such laudable
and salutary Purposes. Now know Ye, that We, reposing special Trust and
Confidence, in the Wisdom, Loyalty, Diligence and Circumspection of our Trusty
and Welbeloved, David Hartley Esquire (on whom We have
therefore conferred the Rank of our Minister Plenipotentiary), have nominated,
constituted and appointed, and by these Presents do nominate, constitute and
appoint our true, certain and undoubted Commissioner, Procurator and
Plenipotentiary; giving and granting to him all and all manner of Faculty,
Power and Authority, together with General as well as Special order (so as the
General do not derogate from the Special, nor the Contrary) for Us and in our
Name, to meet, confer, treat and conclude, with the Minister or Ministers
furnished with sufficient Powers, on the Part of our said Good Friends, the
United States of America, of and concerning all such Matters and
Things as may be requisite and necessary for accomplishing and
compleating the several Ends and Purposes, herein
before mentioned, and also for Us and in our Name to sign such Treaty or
Treaties, Convention or Conventions, or other Instruments whatsoever as may be
agreed upon in the
Premisses, and mutually to
deliver and receive the same in Exchange, and to do and perform all such other
Acts, matters and Things as may be any Ways proper and conducive to the
Purposes
Page 22
abovementioned, in as full and ample Form and manner, and
with the like Validity and Effect as We Ourself, if We were present, could do
and perform the same: Engaging and promising our Royal Word, that We will
accept, ratify and confirm in the most effectual manner, all such Acts, matter
and Things, as shall be so transacted and concluded by our aforesaid
Commissioner, Procurator and Plenipotentiary, and that We will never suffer any
Person to violate the same, in the whole or in Part, or to act contrary
hereto.
In Testimony and Confirmation of all which, We have caused our Great Seal of
Great Britain to be affixed to these Presents signed with our
Royal Hand. Given at our Palace at St. James's, the fourteenth Day of May in
the Year of our Lord one Thousand seven hundred and Eighty three and in the
Twenty third Year of our Reign.
I David Hartley the Minister above named certify the
foregoing to be a true Copy, from my original Commission; delivered to the
American Ministers this 19 Day of May 1783. Signed D. Hartley.
Mr. Hartleys Observations and Propositions left with the
American Ministers the 21. May 1783.
A Proposition having been offered by the American Ministers for the
Consideration of his Britannick
Page 23
Britannick Majestys Ministers,
[illegible] and of the British Nation, for an entire and reciprocal
Freedom of Intercourse and Commerce between
Great Britain and the
American United States, in the following Words, viz.
"That all Rivers, Harbours, Lakes, Ports and
Places belonging to the
United States or any of them, shall be open and free to the
Merchants and other Subjects of the Crown of
Great Britain, and their trading Vessells, who shall be received, treated and protected,
like the Merchants and trading Vessells of the State
in which they may be, and be liable to no other Charges or Duties. -- And
reciprocally, that all Rivers, Harbours, Lakes,
Ports and Places under the Dominion of his Britannic Majesty, shall be open and
free to the Merchants and trading Vessells of the
said
United States, and of each and every of them, who shall be
received, treated and protected, like the Merchants and trading
Vessells of
Great Britain, and be liable to no other Charges and Duties,
saving always to the Chartered Trading Companies of
Great Britain, such exclusive Use and Trade of their respective
Ports and Establishments, as neither the other Subjects of
Great Britain, or any the most Favoured Nation participate in."
It is to be observed that this Proposition implies a more ample
Participation of British Commerce than the American States possessed, even
under their former Connection of dependence upon
Great Britain, so as to amount to an entire Abolition of the
British Act of Navigation, in respect of the thirteen
United States of America; and although Proceeding on their Part,
from the most conciliatory and liberal Principles of Amity and Reciprocity,
nevertheless, it comes from them as newly established States and who in
Consequence of their former Condition of Dependence, have never yet had any
established System of national Commercial Laws, or of commercial Connections by
Treaties with other nations, free and unembarrassed of many weighty
Considerations which require the most scrupulous Attention and Investigation on
the Part of
Great Britain, whose
antient System
of national and commercial Policy, is thus suddenly called upon to take a new
Principle for its Foundation, and whose Commercial Engagements with other
ancient States may be most materially affected thereby. For the Purpose
therefore of giving sufficient Time, for the Consideration and discussion of so
important a Proposition, respecting the present established System of the
commercial Policy and Laws of
Great Britain, and their subsisting commercial Engagements with
foreign Powers, it is proposed that a temporary Intercourse of Commerce shall
be established between
Great Britain and the American States, previously to the
Conclusion
Page 24
of any final and perpetual Compact. In this intervening
Period, as the strict Line and Measure of Reciprocity from various
Circumstances, cannot be absolutely and
compleatly adhered to, it may be agreed, that the
Commerce between the two Countries shall revive, as nearly as can be, upon the
same Footing and 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 Majestys 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 Advantages 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, least foreign Ships
should make Use of the American Flagg 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 Merchandize 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.
