I have the honor to be, &c.
HENRY LAURENS.
P. S. I have conversed with Mr Fox, from whom the body of merchants by deputation had just retired. Their errand, as I learned, was on the business of opening the communication between Great Britain and the United States. There is a general and pressing eagerness to that point. I repeated the propriety and necessity of withdrawing the troops, and of restoring to New York their city and port. Mr Fox in return gave the strongest assurances, that this should be done with the utmost despatch, and promised to send to the Ministers at Paris a copy of the orders to be given for that purpose; he further informed me, that he intended to introduce into the new bill the clause on page 4, in the bill No. 2, here enclosed, to which I made only a general reply, that when their plan was completed the American Ministers at Paris would give it due consideration, and that on our part every facility would also be given to reasonable propositions, consistent with our instructions. That in the present moment, I could not speak in positive terms to particular points.
H. L.
P. S. April 16th. Just arrived at Paris. Mr Hartley is expected the 19th. From the latest words with that gentleman, which happened subsequently to closing the above, I entertain apprehensions that his principal errand will be to open a trade between the two countries, with assurances that the troops shall be removed “as speedily as possible,” and to take up the definitive treaty at more leisure. I afforded him no encouragement to hope for success in the former point singly.
ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON TO HENRY LAURENS.
Philadelphia, May 8th, 1783.
Sir,
Congress have been pleased, in compliance with your request, to pass the enclosed resolution, giving you permission to return to America. I sincerely wish that your native air may confirm your health, which I hope has by this time amended by your residence at Bath, where I presume you have been, though I have had no advice of it. The provisional treaty has been very well received, here, and has been ratified. The ratifications are sent to you and our other Ministers at Paris.