CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

PRELIMINARY REMARKS. CONFEDERATION, &c.

Powers of First Congress as to Foreign Relations defec-

tive-Adoption of Confederation-Powers of Constitution of

'89-Powers of House of Representatives as to Treaties-

Foreign business first done by Secret Committees, very labo-

rious-Department for Foreign Affairs established-Address

of letters-First Secretary-Salary-Department under the

Constitution-One of the Cabinet-Right of President to re-

move-United States never sent or received an "Ambassador"

-Rules for reception-Diplomatic Agents of the Confedera-

tion-Expenses of the Diplomatic Corps under the Confedera-

tion-Salaries, &c. under the Constitution-Private instruc-

tions to Ministers-Gold Medal for Foreign Ministers-Cere-

monial of first Minister very difficult to arrange-Somewhat

ludicrous--Extract from Secret Journals-Present mode of

accrediting,

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CHAPTER II.

TREATIES OF AMITY AND COMMERCE, AND OF AL-

LIANCE OF 1778, WITH FRANCE.

Confederation little hopes, or means, of obtaining foreign

assistance-Deane sent to France in '76 to obtain supplies-

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Remarkable letter of Vergennes-Franklin, Deane and Jeffer-

son elected Commissioners in '76-Jefferson excused from

going-Private aid early from France-Lee chosen in his

place--Not officially received-Alarming situation-Private

account of affairs at French Court-France disposed to with-

draw all succour-Commissioners had secret Correspondence

in London-News of Burgoyne's Surrender-Treaties signed

-Account of Negotiation-Difficulty respecting Molasses-

Commissioners presented at Court-Treaty of alliance dan-

gerous-Great attention to Franklin-Anecdotes of him-

Gerard appointed Minister to America-Sails in d'Estaing's

Flag Ship-Presented to Congress-Ceremonial-Franklin

elected to Versailles-Franklin complains of number of Minis-

ters-Complimentary Letter to Luzerne-Misunderstanding

between Adams and Vergennes-Franklin's request to return

-Medal to Luzerne-Returns to America-Succeeded by Jef-

ferson-De la Luzerne succeeds Gerard-Jefferson buys

Deane's papers,

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CHAPTER III.

TREATY OF 1782 WITH THE NETHERLANDS.

Second power to make a Treaty with United States-War

between United Provinces and England-Causes-Lee, failing

at Berlin, enters secretly into a correspondence with the Re-

gency of Amsterdam-not suspected by Sir Joseph Yorke―

Early correspondence between Van Berckel and commission-

ers-Lee agrees, at Frankfort, on a Treaty with Neufville-

Secret discovered by capture of Laurens-Amsterdam richest

City in Europe-Laurens's letters from Tower of London-

Laurens chosen to Holland-Subsequently Adams-His letters

from Holland-States General very dilatory in recognising In-

dependence-Three classes of Treaties-Remarks on Na-

tional Law-Neutral Rights badly defined-United States first

commercial rival of England-Other nations rivals in war-

Mr. Adams concludes a Treaty, and makes Loans-Van Berc-

kel appointed Minister to United States,

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CHAPTER IV.

TREATY OF 1783 WITH GREAT BRITAIN.

Lord North attempts a Peace-America early conquered

every thing she sought-Members of Parliament see Franklin

privately-Ministry, as well as Opposition against acknowledg-

ment of Independence-Lord Chatham speaks against it—

Mediation of European courts-Unsuccessful-Adams' cor-

respondence with Vergennes respecting official character-

Austria and Russia not in favour of Independence-General

Conway's resolution-Decides the question of War-New

Ministry-Oswald and Grenville sent to Paris-Not officially

-Failed-Lord Cholmondelly visits Franklin-Shelburne's

Administration-Franklin's correspondence-Oswald instructed

to acknowledge the Independence-Account of Negotiation.

from secret journals-Adams, Franklin, Jay, Laurens and Jef-

ferson authorized to treat-Meet at Paris-Jay's firmness in

declining to treat-Opposed to Vergennes and Franklin-Gets

Oswald's commission altered-Difficulty as to loyalists-Make

a compromise through violation of instructions-Anecdote of

Jay-Conclude, a Treaty-Boundaries-Fisheries-Agreed to

Treaty without consulting France-Violation of Instructions-

Explained-Michel's Map-France and Spain desirous of Fish-

eries and Western Country-De Rayneval's opinion of boun-

daries-Treaty honourable and favourable to America-Un-

popular in England-Ministry in minority on first division-

Necessary sacrifice,

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Fourth power in Europe to conclude a Treaty-Lee ap-

pointed in '77 to Berlin and Vienna-Not received by either

court-Remarks on Austria-His full powers stolen at Berlin

-His account of that business-Hessians made to pay same

toll as cattle-Carmichael's letter--Letter from King to Lee

-Letters from Prussian Minister--Adams respecting Eliot-

Prince Henry-Treaty of '85-Peculiar provisions-Private

war abolished-Treaty of '99-Last mission to Prussia politi-

cal-Dangerous policy,

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CHAPTER VI.

TREATY OF 1794 WITH GREAT BRITAIN.

Confederation no power over Commerce-Commercial con-

ventions with France, Holland, Prussia and Sweden-No trade

-Trade to England only important one-Depended on an

annual act of Parliament-Policy at variance with Europe-

Mr. Adams chosen to St. James-First envoy-Adams' address

to King and the answer-Well received-Notes with Lord

Caermarthen-Presentation-England refused to make a trea-

ty-Account of violations of treaty of '83-Debts-Interest-

Remarks on Navy and Commerce-Symptoms of war in Eu-

rope-Pass off-Inscription on gate at Cherson-Confederacy

dissolved-Randolph's letter on state of Parties-Hammond,

first envoy to this country-Morris-Pinckney-Origin of op-

pressive acts by belligerents--War between France and Eng-

land-Provisions contraband-Rules of neutrality-Danger of

a war-Executive appoints Mr. Jay to London-Jay's instruc-

tions-Decides question of neutrality-Concludes a treaty-

Unpopular-Disturbances on account of treaty-Eventually

favourable to the United States,

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CHAPTER VII.

TREATY OF 1795 WITH SPAIN.,

Spain powerful at time of Revolution-Family Compact-

Great American possessions-Franklin appointed minister in

'77 to Madrid-Important letter-A. Lee goes to Bilboa-Let-

ter of Grimaldi-Europe secretly hostile to England-Spain

avoids the coalition-Strives to reconcile France and England

-Fails-Declares war against England in '79-Jay sent to

. Spain-Received-Details of his proceedings-Makes no trea-

ty-English government sent Cumberland to Madrid-Fails-

Important instructions-De Florida Blanca's mistake respect-

ing invitation to Jay-Carmichael, Chargé-Presented at

Court-Letter concerning la Fayette-Gardoqui, Spanish

Charge-Treats respecting boundaries-Nothing done-South

and North divide on the navigation of the Mississippi-South

in minority-Short and Carmichael, commissioners to Spain-

Remarks on Mississippi-Important instructions-Spain, hav-

ing entered the coalition of '93, unwilling to treat-Indians-

Acts of hostility in Kentucky-Short-Viar-Jaudenes-Peace

of Basle-Godoy-Pinckney sent to Madrid-Treaty of San

Lorenzo el Real with Prince of Peace-Right of deposite at

New Orleans suspended-Eastern and Western boundaries of

Louisiana-France opposes claims of United States-Govern-

ment take possession of W. Florida-Folch-Kemper-Spoli-

ations-Settled by transfer of E. Florida-Humphreys-Yrujo

-Bowdoin-Intercourse renewed in 1814-Erving,

CHAPTER VIII.

CONVENTION OF 1800 WITH FRANCE.

Jefferson elected again to France-Jefferson's letters on

French Revolution-Permission to return-Jay's letter on

Federal Government-De la Luzerne is succeeded by De

Moustier-Morris succeeds Jefferson and Ternan de Moustier

-Washington's illness-French Revolution embarrassing to

Government-Perplexing question whether a Minister should

be received from the French Republic-M. Genet-Death of

the King-Excellent remark of Morris-Less enthusiasm for

the Revolution-Proclamation of neutrality-Remarks on that

subject-Very difficult negotiation with Genet-His demands

examined-Monroe goes to France-Government solicit the

recall of Genet-His unsuitable language-Dismissed—Is suc-

ceeded by Fauchet-More temperate-Adet succeeds Fauchet

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