I presume you have by this time made some progress in, if not entirely concluded the definitive treaty, in which I dare say you have taken care to fix the day which is to deliver us from our troublesome guests, who cause great uneasiness to the unhappy people they keep out of their possessions. At present, we are quite at a loss to determine when this will be. We have returned them their prisoners, who amount to about six thousand effective men, so that you see we are not disposed to discover any distrust of the sincerity of our new friends, with whom we at present communicate on the former footing.
As I am uncertain whether this letter will reach you before you sail for America, I do not choose to enlarge or enter into any of those particulars relative to your late negotiations, on which however I have some inquiries to make, which I could wish to have answered by you. I wish you before you leave France to settle with Doctor Franklin, and to receive from him the amount of the bills remitted on your account, so that I may close my accounts.
I am, Sir,
ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
TO THE SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
London, June 17th, 1783.
Sir,
My last address is dated London, 10th of April, forwarded by the hands of Mr Darby, copy of the same with a postscript on the 16th, conveyed from Paris by Doctor Franklin. Permit me to refer to the several contents, and also to a despatch of the 6th of that month by Mr Hodge. Duplicate by Mr Darby, triplicate from Paris.
In order to meet the question of Mr Secretary Fox, “Whether the American Ministers were authorised and disposed to open an intercourse and commerce upon terms of reciprocity without delay,” the Ministers of the United States, on the 29th of April, proposed to Mr Hartley the enclosed articles, marked A, which they were ready to confirm. Mr Hartley signified his approbation, but could not agree without consulting his Court. Indeed he had omitted to take with him his commission and full powers. A messenger was despatched to London, and upwards of three weeks were wasted in waiting for a return; the articles were not acceptable.