As many members of the opposition were absent, even sir George Saville, Mr. Wilkes, and others, they are determined to bring them on again.

No. IV.

IMMEDIATELY after the death of lord Rockingham, the king said to lord Shelburne, "I will be plain with you, "the point next my heart, and which I am determined, be the consequence what it may, never to relinquish, but with my crown and life, is to prevent a total unequivocal recognition of the independence of America. Promise to support me on this ground, and I will leave you unmolested on every other ground, and with full power as the prime minister of this kingdom." The bargain was struck.

The Hague,

1782.

To M. Dumas.

DEAR SIR,

Passy, September 12, 1782.

MY grandfather has been for these three weeks past, much indisposed with the gravel, and an attendant severe pain in his thigh. This has prevented, and prevents his answering several of your late letters. He directs me to acknowlege the receipt of your last, dated the 4th instant, and to inform you that the dispatch it enclosed shall be duly forwarded, as were the preceding ones you sent him. For your satisfaction, sir, and as a proof of the high sense my grandfather has of your merit, I enclose to you an extract from one of his late letters to our secretary for foreign affairs, which relates to you: That you may soon experience the effect of it, is the sincere wish of your affectionate, And very humble Servant,

W. T. FRANKLIN.

We have no news of any importance, or I should communicate it. Please to make my respectful compliments to Mr. Adams.

DEAR SIR,

To M. Dumas.

Passy, February 17, 1783.

It is a long time since I have had the pleasure of hearing I hope however that you and yours continue

from you. well.

The bearers, Mr. President Wheelock and his brother, go to Holland on a public spirited design, which you will find recommended by many eminent persons in America.

I beg leave to request for these gentlemen, your civilities and best counsels, as they will be entire strangers in your country.

With great esteem, &c.

B. FRANKLIN.

Copy of the Commission of the United States of America, to John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, Henry Laurens, and Thomas Jefferson, Esquires, dated June 15, 1781.

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED. To all to whom these presents shall come,

SEND GREETING:

WHEREAS these United States, from a sincere desire of 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, and of terminating the same by a peace founded on such solid and equitable principles, as reasonably to promise a permanency of the blessings of tranquillity, did heretofore appoint the honorable John Adams, late a commissioner of the United States of America at the court of Versailles, late a delegate in congress from the state of Massachusetts, and chief justice of the said state, their minister plenipotentiary, with full powers, 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 might concern, relating to the re-establishment of peace and friendship: And whereas the flames of war have since that time been extended, and other nations and states

Tt

are involved therein: Now know ye, that we, still continuing earnestly desirous, so far as depends upon us, to put a stop to the effusion of blood, and to convince the powers of Europe, that we wish for nothing more ardently than to terminate the war by a safe and honorable peace, have thought proper to renew the powers formerly given to the said John Adams, and to join four other persons in commission with him; and having full confidence in the integrity, prudence, and ability of the honorable Benjamin Franklin, our minister plenipotentiary at the court of Versailles; and the honorable John Jay, late president of congress, and chief justice of the state of New York, and our minister plenipotentiary at the court of Madrid; and the honorable Henry Laurens, formerly president of congress, and commissioned and sent as our agent to the United Provinces of the Low Countries; and the honorable Thomas Jefferson, governor of the commonwealth of Virginia; have nominated, constituted, and appointed, and by these presents do nominate, constitute, and appoint the said Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, Henry Laurens, and Thomas Jefferson, in addition to the said John Adams, giving and granting to them, the said John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, Henry Laurens, Thomas Jefferson, or the majority of them, or such of them as may assemble; or, in case of the death, absence, indisposition, or other impediment of the others, to any one of them, full power and authority, general and special, conjunctly and separately, and general and special command, to repair to such place as may be fixed upon for opening negociations for peace, and there for us, and in our name, to confer, treat, agree, and conclude, with the ambassadors, commissioners and plenipotentiaries of the princes and states whom it may concern, vested with equal powers relating to the establishment of peace: And whatsoever shall be 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 completing, 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, fulfil, and execute whatever shall be agreed, concluded, and signed by our said ministers plenipotentiary, or a majority of them, or of such of them as may assemble, or in case of the death, absence, indisposition, or other impediment of the others, by any one of them, and that we will never act, nor suffer any person to act, contrary to the same, in whole, or in any part.

In witness whereof we have caused these presents to be signed by our president, and sealed with his seal. Done at Philadelphia the 15th day of June, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eightyone, and in the fifth year of our independence.

By the United States in Congress assembled.

SAM. (L. S.) HUNTINGDON, President. Attest. CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.

By the Ministers Plenipotentiary of the United States of America for making peace with Great Britain.

A DECLARATION

Of the cessation of arms, as well by sea as land, agreed upon between his Majesty the King of Great Britain, and the United States of America.

WHEREAS preliminary articles were signed at Paris, on the thirtieth day of November last, between the plenipotentiaries of his said majesty, the king of Great Britain, and of the said states, to be inserted in, and to constitute the treaty of peace, to be concluded between his said majesty and the said United States, when terms of peace should be agreed upon between his said majesty and his most Christian majesty: And whereas preliminaries for restoring peace between his said majesty the king of Great Britain and his most Christian majesty were signed at Versailles, on the twentieth day of January last, by the respective ministers of their said majesties: And whereas preliminaries for restoring peace between his said majesty the king of Great Britain and his majesty the king of Spain were also signed at

Versailles on the twentieth day of January last, by their respective ministers: And whereas, for putting an end to the calamity of war, as soon and as far as possible, it hath been agreed between the king of Great Britain, his most Christian majesty, the king of Spain, the States General of the United Provinces, and the United States of America, as follow, that is to say: That such vessels and effects, as should be taken in the Channel and in the North Seas, after the space of twelve days, to be computed from the ratification of the said preliminary articles, should be restored on all sides; that the term should be one month from the Channel and the North Seas as far as the Canary islands inclusively, whether in the ocean or the Mediterranean; two months from the said Canary islands, as far as the equinoctial line or equator, and lastly five months in all parts of the world, without any exception, or any other more particular description of time or place.

And whereas the ratifications of the said preliminary articles between his said majesty the king of Great Britain, and his most Christian majesty, in due form, were exchanged by their ministers on the third day of this instant February, from which day the several terms above mentioned, of twelve days, of one month, of two months, and of five months, are to be computed, relative to all British and American vessels and effects.

Now, therefore, we, the ministers plenipotentiary from the United States of America for making peace with Great Britain, do notify to the people and citizens of the said United States of America, that hostilities on their part against his Britannic majesty, both by sea and land, are to cease, at the expiration of the terms herein before specified therefor, and which terms are to be computed from the third day of February instant: And we do, in the name and by the authority of the said United States, accordingly warn and enjoin all their officers and citizens to forbear all acts of hostility whatever, either by land or by sea, against his said majesty, the king of Great Britain, or his subjects,