HENRY LAURENS, ESQ. TO THE AMERICAN MINISTERS PLENIPOTENTIARY. GENTLEMEN, London, June 17, 1783. I had the honor of addressing you the 10th, immediately after my landing at Dover. As early as possible after my arrival here I obtained an interview with Mr. Secre tary Fox, who was pleased to read to me part of his latest dispatches to Mr. Hartley, which he supposed would reach Paris on the 14th; 'tis probable, therefore, that before this time as much of the contents as is proper for your knowledge has been communicated. "Reciprocity" since the 10th of April has undergone a certain degree of refinement; the definition of that term appears now to be possession of advantages on one side, and restrictions on the other. The Navigation Act is the vital of Great Britain "too delicate to bear a touch." The sudden and unexpected, perhaps illicit arrival of ships and cargoes from America, may have caused this change of tone. But you have heard in detail, and are more competent to judge. From a desire of forming an opinion, I asked Mr. Fox whether he thought I might venture for a few days to take the benefit of Bath, and yet be in time enough at Paris for the intended commercial agreement? He replied, "I rather think.. you may." One need not be a conjurer to draw an inference; you will either have finished the business before I could travel to Paris, or without being missed there, I may go to Bath and repair my nerves. In this state of uncertainty, when 'tis easy to perceive affections are not as we could wish them, nor quite so warm as we had been taught to believe, it would not be wise to commit the United States, wherefore I shall rest the business till I hear from you, or until a more favorable prospect, flattering my self with hopes of your surmounting the late seeming difficulties; an inconvenience on your side is preferable to the hazard of a disgrace. I am with great regard and respect, &c. HENRY LAURENS, ESQ. TO THE AMERICAN MINIS GENTLEMEN, TERS. London, June 20, 1783. Permit me to refer to what I had the honor of writing to you the 17th. You will recollect my suggestions, as soon as we perceived the falling off from those warm assurances which had been pressed in March and April-they were not ill founded; I delayed a week in hopes of intelligence, and left you with reluctance; the temper of the times forbids even an essay. What a happy country is this, where every thing pertaining to the public, is rendered to them in public newspapers! see the enclosed, containing nearly as accurate an account of certain recent occurrences, as if it had been penned by one of the parties. It might indeed have been made a little stronger. Modest men are sometimes restrained from attempting a public good, from a dread of the effects of envy, of being held up in an invidious light. It would be cruel to disturb them. I have learned nothing from America, save what you may have read in the prints. Tomorrow I shall proceed to Bath, and be waiting for intelligence as well from yourselves as from Congress. Some consolation arises from reflecting that while I am endeavoring to mend my health, you suffer no inconvenience from my absence. With sincere regard and respect, I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, your obedient and most humble servant, HENRY LAURENS. Mr. Hartley's Six Propositions. 1. That lands belonging to persons of any description which have not actually been sold, shall be restored to the old possessors without price. 2. That' an equal and free participation of the different carrying places, and the navigation of all the lakes and rivers of that country, through which the water line of division passes between Canada and the United States, shall be enjoyed fully and uninterruptedly by both parties. 3. That in any such places within the boundaries assigned generally to the American States, as are adjoining to the water line of division, and which are not specifically under the dominion of any one State, all persons at present resident, or having possessions or occupations as merchants or otherwise, may remain in peaceable enjoyment of all civil rights and in pursuit of their respective occupations. 4. That in all such places adjoining to the water live of division, as may be under the specific dominion of any particular State, all persons at present resident or having possessions or occupations as merchants or otherwise, may remain in the peaceable enjoyment of all civil rights, and in pursuit of their occupations, until they shall receive notice of removal from the state to which any such place may appertain, and that upon any such notice of renjoval, a term of three years shall be allowed for selling or withdrawing their valuable effects, and for settling their affairs. 5. That his Britannie Majesty's forces' not exceedings. in number may continue in the ports now occupied by them contiguous to the water line, for the term of three years, for the purpose of securing the lives, property and peace of any persons settled in that country, against the invasion or ravages of the neighbouring Indian nations who may be suspected of retaining resentments in consequence of the late war. 6. That no tax or impost whatsoever shall be laid on any articles of commerce passing or repassing through the country, but that the trade may be left entirely open for the benefit of all parties interested therein. ANSWERS TO MR. HARTLEY's six Propositions for the definitive Treaty. . To the 1st. This matter has been already regulated in the 5th and 6th articles of the provisional treaty to the utmost extent of our powers: the rest must be left to the several States, 2. All the lakes, rivers and waters divided by the boundary line or lines, between the United States and his Britannic Majesty's territories, shall be freely used and navigated by both parties during the whole extent of such division. Regulations concerning roads, carrying places and any land communications between said waters, whether within the line of the United States or that of his Majesty, together with the navigation of all waters and rivers in America belonging to either party, may be made in a negociation of a treaty of commerce. 3. That in all places belonging to the United States in the country, adjoining to the water line of division, and which during the war were in his Majesty's possession, all persons at present resident, or having possessions or occupations, as merchants or otherwise, may remain in the peaceable enjoyment of all civil rights, and in pursuit of their occupations until they shall receive notice of removal from Congress, or the state to which any such place may appertain, and that upon any such notice of removal, a term of two years shall VOL. II. 2 A be allowed for selling or withdrawing their effects and for settling their affairs. 4. That his Britannic Majesty's forces not exceeding in number, may continue in the posts now oc cupied by them, contiguous to the water line, until Congress shall give notice to evacuate the said posts; and garrisons of their own shall arrive at said posts for the purpose of securing the lives, property and peace of any persons settled in that country, against the invasion or ravages of the neighbouring Indian nations, who may be suspected of retaining resentments in consequence of the late war. 5. The consideration of this proposition may be left to the treaty of commerce. DEAR SIR, TO HENRY LAURENS, Esq. Passy, July 6, 1783. We have been honored with several of your letters, and we have talked of writing to you, but it has been delayed. I will therefore write a few lines in my private capacity. Our negociations go on slowly, every proposition being sent to England, and answers not returning very speedily. Captain Barney arrived here last Wednesday, and brought dispatches for us as late as the first of June. The preliminary articles are ratified. But General Carleton, in violation of those articles, has sent away a great number of negroes, alledging that freedom having been promised them by a proclamation, the honor of the nation was concerned, &c. Probably another reason may be, that if they had been restored to their masters, Britain could not have hoped any thing from such another proclamation hereafter. Mr. Hartley called yesterday to tell us, that he had received a letter from. Mr. Fox, assuring him that our suspicions of affected delays or change of system on their side were ground |