The Committee having further reported as follows:

Whereas it appears that in those despatches, and particularly in Mr. Adams's letter of the 18th July, a sentiment is earnestly inculcated, which is indeed obvious in itself, that the Union requires 'additional support from its members; and that if the United States 'become respectable, it must be by means of more energy in govern'ment; for, as some of the nations of Europe do not yet perceive 'this important truth, that the sphere of their own commerce will be 'eventually enlarged by the growth of America; but, on the contrary, 'manifest a jealousy of our future prosperity, it becomes the United 'States seriously to consider their own interests, and to devise such 'general systems and arrangements, commercial or political, as our 'own peculiar circumstances may, from time to time, require.'

Thereupon,

Resolved, That a special committee be appointed to take this important subject under deliberation, and report the result to Congress.

The Committee having further reported,

And whereas, it appears from Mr. Adams's despatches of

and Dr. Franklin's of the 22d July, that propositions for entering into treaties of amity and commerce with these United States, have been made to our Ministers by the King of Denmark, the Court of Portugal, the Emperor of Germany, the King of Prussia, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, and the Court of Spain; and that many of the other Powers of Europe discover a like disposition: Thereupon,

Resolved, That a committee be appointed to consider this subject; and whether the transmission of general outlines of treaties with those several Powers, or instructions to our Ministers, as to the principles of such treaties, be most expedient; and to devise and report such outlines or instructions accordingly.

The Committee further reported, that instructions be transmitted to the Ministers, whom it concerns, immediately to stop all further loans in Europe.

That representations be made to the Court of Denmark for obtaining compensation for prizes sent into Bergen by the Alliance frigate. That enquiry be made why the expedition of the Alliance and Bon Homme Richard, &c., was carried on at the expense and on account of the Court of France, and whether any part of the profit arising therefrom accrued to the United States; or any of the expense

thereof placed to their account; and whether the proceeds of any of the prizes taken in that expedition, and which is due to the American officers and seamen employed therein, is deposited in Europe, in whose hands, and to what amount.

That the Minister of the United States be instructed to encourage overtures for treaties of amity and commerce from the respectable and commercial Powers of Europe, upon terms of the most perfect reciprocity, and subject to the revisal of Congress previous to their ratification. Whereupon,

Resolved, That these several subjects be referred to a special Committee, to report thereon proper instructions to the Ministers of these United States."

October 1st, 1783.

"Congress resumed the consideration of the before-mentioned report: And, thereupon,

Resolved, That Mr. Jay be authorized to direct Mr. Carmichael to repair to Paris, should Mr. Jay be of opinion that the interest of the United States at the Court of Madrid may not be injured by Mr. Carmichael's absence; and that he bring with him the books and vouchers necessary to make a final and complete settlement of the accounts of public money which have passed through the hands of Mr. Jay and himself; and that Mr. Barclay attend Mr. Jay and Mr. Carmichael to adjust these accounts.

Resolved, That Mr. Jay have leave to go to Bath, should he find it necessary for the benefit of his health."

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to prepare instructions to the Ministers of the United States, prepare drafts of letters to the several Ministers, to be signed by the President, on the respective subjects before-mentioned."

FROM ELIAS BOUDINOT, PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, TO THE MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY OF FRANCE.

Sir,

Princeton, 27th October, 1783.

I am honored by the commands of Congress to make known to

you the pleasure they received from your communications of the 18th of September. I cannot do this so well as by enclosing their act of the 24th instant for this purpose.

Be assured, sir, that every instance of the affection of our good ally gives me great pleasure, and I feel equally interested in the due acknowledgment of the many proofs we have received of this happy effect from the union of our two nations. Nothing can cement this alliance more perfectly than reciprocity and liberality in commercial regulations, which, I doubt not, are principles that will ever temper the wise councils of so great a monarch as your illustrious master. I have the honor to be, &c.,

E. B.

Extract from the Secret Journal, October 24th, 1783.

"Resolved, That the Minister Plenipotentiary of France be informed that Congress receive much pleasure from his communication of the resolution of the belligerent parties not to sign a definitive treaty of peace with Great Britain but in concert with the United States. That it gives them equal satisfaction to learn that his most Christian Majesty had in view the commerce of the United States, and that it is their earnest wish that such a spirit of liberality may pervade commercial regulations on both sides as will extend the intercourse and mutual interests of the two nations, and preserve and increase the reciprocal confidence and affection which have so eminently distinguished their alliance."

FROM ELIAS BOUDINOT, PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, TO THE MINISTERS PLENIPOTENTIARY OF THE UNITED STATES, PARIS.

Gentlemen,

Princeton, November 1, 1783.

I am honored by the commands of Congress to transmit you a set of instructions, in consequence of your joint and separate letters of the months of June and July last, by Captain Barney, which I do myself the honor to enclose. These were not finished till the 29th

*Missing.

ult., after having undergone the most mature deliberation and fullest discussion in Congress.

Yesterday we received, from Colonel Ogden, the news of the signature of the definitive treaty on the 3d of September, and that Mr. Thaxter was on the way with the official news. We long for his arrival, though we have no doubt of the fact, which is also announced by the post this day from Boston.

I do most sincerely congratulate you, gentlemen, on this most important and happy event, which has diffused the sincerest joy throughout these States, and the terms of which must necessarily hand down the names of its American negotiators to posterity with the highest possible honor. May the gratitude of your country ever be the fair reward of all your labors.

New York is not yet evacuated, but Sir Guy Carleton has informed our Commander-in-Chief, that he shall get clear of it, in all this month, though I think they will not dare to stay much beyond the 15th instant.

Yours, &c.,

E. B.

Instructions. Wednesday, October 29, 1783.

"On the report of the Committee, consisting of Mr. S. Huntington, Mr. A. Lee, and Mr. Duane, to whom were referred sundry resolutions, passed on the 29th of September and 1st October instant.

By the United States in Congress assembled:

To the Ministers Plenipotentiary of the United States of America, at the Court of Versailles, empowered to negotiate a peace, or to any one or more of them,

First. You are instructed and authorized to announce to his Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Germany, or to his Ministers, the high sense which the United States in Congress assembled, entertain of his exalted character and eminent virtues, and their earnest desire to cultivate his friendship, and to enter into a treaty of amity and commerce for the mutual advantage of the subjects of his Imperial Majesty and the citizens of these United States.

Secondly. You are instructed to meet the advances and encourage the disposition of the other commercial powers of Europe, for entering into treaties of amity and commerce with these United States.

In negotiations on this subject, you will lay it down as a principle in no case to be deviated from, that they shall respectively have for their basis, the mutual advantage of the contracting parties, on terms of the most perfect equality and reciprocity, and not to be repugnant to any of the treaties already entered into by the United States with France and other foreign Powers. That such treaties shall, in the first instance, be proposed for a term not exceeding fifteen years, and shall not be finally conclusive until they shall respectively have been transmitted to the United States in Congress assembled, for their examination and final direction, and that with the draughts or propositions for such treaties shall be transmitted all the information which shall come within the knowledge of the said Ministers respecting the same, and their observations, after the most mature inquiry on the probable advantages or disadvantages and effects of such treaties respectively.

Thirdly. You are instructed to continue to press upon the Ministers of his Danish Majesty the justice of causing satisfaction to be made for the value of the ships and goods captured by the Alliance frigate and sent into Bergen, and how essentially it concerns the honor of the United States that their gallant citizens should not be deprived of any part of those prizes which they had so justly acquired by their valor. That, as far as Congress have been informed, the estimate of those prizes at fifty thousand pounds sterling is not immoderate; that no more, however, is desired, than their true value, after every deduction which shall be thought equitable. That Congress have a sincere disposition to cultivate the friendship of his Danish Majesty, and to promote a commercial intercourse between his subjects and the citizens of the United States, on terms which shall promise mutual advantage to both nations.

That it is, therefore, the wish of Congress that this claim should still be referred to the equitable disposition of his Danish Majesty, in full confidence that the reasonable expectations of the parties interested will be fully answered. Accordingly, you are fully authorized and directed, after exerting your best endeavors to enforce the said claim, to the extent it shall appear to you to be well founded, to make