CORRESPONDENCE OF JOHN ADAMS, B. FRANKLIN, AND THOS. JEFFERSON, JOINT COMMISSIONERS AND MINISTERS PLENIPOTENTIARY FOR THE FORMATION OF TREATIES OF AMITY AND COMMERCE WITH FOREIGN POWERS. 499 CORRESPONDENCE. On the 3d day of June, 1784, Congress issued a joint commission to John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson, granting to them, or a majority of them, plenary power to negotiate and conclude a supplementary treaty with Sweden, for the purpose of perfecting the commercial intercourse already entered into between the two nations. A joint commission had been issued to John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson, on the 12th day of May, 1784, empowering said Commissioners, or a majority of them, to treat with Russia respecting a treaty of amity and commerce. Commissions of the same tenor and date were issued for treating with the Courts hereafter specified, except that the expressions thereunto severally annexed were substituted for those marked in the preceding commission. Germany-His Imperial Majesty. Prussia-His Prussian Majesty. Denmark-His Majesty the King of Denmark. Saxony-The citizens of the United States and the subjects of the most serene Elector of Saxony. Hamburg-The citizens of the United States of America and the Imperial City of Hamburg. England-His Britannic Majesty. Spain-His Catholic Majesty. Portugal-Their most Faithful Majesties. Naples-His Majesty the King of the Two Sicilies. The Pope-The United States of America and the dominions of his Holiness the Pope. Venice-The United States of America and the most serene Republic of Venice. Genoa-The United States of America and the most serene Republic of Genoa. Tuscany The citizens of the United States of America and the subjects and people of the most serene Grand Duke of Tuscany. The Porte-The Sublime Porte. Morocco-The high, glorious, mighty, and most noble Prince, King, and Emperor of the Kingdom of Fez, Morocco, Taffilete, Sus, and the whole Algasbe and the territories thereof; a treaty of amity, or of amity and commerce. Algiers The citizens of the United States of America and the subjects of the Dey and Government of Algiers; a treaty of amity, or of amity and commerce. Tripoli-The citizens of the United States of America and the city and kingdom of Tripoli; the most illustrious Lords and Governors of the City and Kingdom of Tripoli; a treaty of amity, or of amity and commerce. Tunis-The citizens of the United States of America and the people of the State and Kingdom of Tunis, the Regency or Government of Tunis; a treaty of amity, or of amity and commerce. Appointment of Secretary by the United States in Congress assem bled, May 12, 1784. Congress proceeded to the election of a Secretary to the Commission for negotiating treaties of commerce with foreign Powers, and the ballots being taken, Mr. David Humphreys was elected. CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary. May 7, 1784.-Resolutions were adopted by Congress, instruct ing their Commissioners in Europe with regard to the formation of treaties. [See p. 80.] On the 11th May, 1784, further instructions were issued by Congress in the shape of resolutions, having reference to instructions of a former date, May 30, 1783, "the objects of which they are directed to urge with perseverance."-[See p. 83.] June 3, 1784.-Instructions relative to the navigation of the Mississippi. Minutes of the Proceedings of the Ministers Plenipotentiary of the United States of America for forming Treaties of Amity and Commerce with Foreign Powers. Passy, August 30, 1784. Present, Mr. ADAMS, Mr. FRANKLIN, Mr. JEFFERSON, MinistersD. HUMPHREYS, Secretary. After having read the instructions, paragraph by paragraph, noted their contents, and agreed to meet every day at this place until the objects of the commissions should be properly arranged, and put as far as may be into the best train of execution: Resolved, That it is the opinion of the Ministers Plenipotentiary that Captain John Paul Jones (who is authorized by Congress to receive all the prize moneys which may be due in Europe) should apply to the Court of Denmark for the recovery of an adequate compensation for the prizes which were captured by the Alliance frigate, carried into Bergen, and delivered by the orders of that Court to the British, that it would be well for him to obtain the patronage of the Court of Versailles in this application if practicable; and that he be informed he may expect to receive any assistance which the Plenipotentiaries may be able to afford, in case he should have occasion for it. Passy, August 31, 1784. It was agreed by the American Plenipotentiaries to announce officially to the Court of Versailles the object of their mission as early as possible; they also gave information to Mr. David Hartley, Minister Plenipotentiary from his Britannic Majesty, that they had received a commission for negotiating a treaty of amity and commerce |