[279] Art. VI. of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce with the Netherlands, executed by Mr. Adams at the Hague, October 8, 1782. Journals, VIII. 96.
[280] Ibid., Art. II., III.
[281] April 3, 1783. Journals, VIII. 386-398.
[282] Mr. Pitt's bill was brought in in March, 1783, and he went out of office immediately afterwards.
[283] April, 1783.
[284] July, 1783. Their idea was, that, if the American States should choose to send consuls, they should be received, and consuls sent to them in return that each State would soon enter into all necessary regulations with the consul, and that nothing more was necessary. See Lord Sheffield's Observations on American Commerce.
[285] April 30, 1784.
[286] February 14, 1785. Journals, X. 53.
[287] By an act passed June 22-23, 1785; laid before Congress October 10, 1785. Ibid. 353.
[288] The commission consisted of Mr. John Adams, then at the Hague, Dr. Franklin, then in France, and Mr. Jefferson, then in Congress. Mr. Jefferson sailed from Boston on the 5th of July, and arrived in Paris on the 6th of August, 1784. (Works, I. 49.) The powers with whom they were to negotiate commercial treaties were Russia, Austria, Prussia, Denmark, Saxony, Hamburg, Great Britain, Spain, Portugal, Genoa, Tuscany, Rome, Naples, Venice, Sardinia, and the Ottoman Porte. Secret Journals, III. 484-489. May 7, 1784.