The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution

THE

م کا شما

DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE

OF THE

AMERICAN REVOLUTION:

BEING

THE LETTERS OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, SILAS DEANE, JOHN ADAMS, JOHN JAY,
ARTHUR LEE, WILLIAM LEE, RALPH IZARD, FRANCIS DANA, WILLIAM
CARMICHAEL, HENRY LAURENS, JOHN LAURENS, M. DUMAS, AND
OTHERS, CONCERNING THE FOREIGN RELATIONS OF THE
UNITED STATES DURING THE WHOLE REVOLUTION;

TOGETHER WITH

THE LETTERS IN REPLY FROM THE SECRET COMMITTEE OF CONGRESS, AND THE SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

ALSO,

THE ENTIRE CORRESPONDENCE OF THE FRENCH MINISTERS, GERARD AND LUZERNE, WITH CONGRESS.

Published under the direction of the President of the United States, from the original Manuscripts in the Department of State, conformably to a Resolution of Congress, of March 27th, 1818.

EDITED BY JARED SPARKS.

VOL. III.

NEW EDITION: WASHINGTON:
PUBLISHED BY JOHN C. RIVES.

1857.

Resolution of Congress of March 27th, 1818.

Resolution directing the Publication and Distribution of the Journal and Proceedings of the Convention which formed the present Constitution of the United States.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Journal of the Convention which formed the present Constitution of the United States, now remaining in the office of the Secretary of State, and all Acts and Proceedings of that Convention which are in possession of the Government of the United States, be published under the direction of the President of the United States, together with the Secret Journals of the Acts and Proceedings, and the Foreign Correspondence of the Congress of the United States, from the first meeting thereof down to the date of the ratification of the definitive treaty of peace between Great Britain and the United States, in the year seventeen hundred and eighty-three, except such parts of the said Foreign Correspondence as the President of the United States may deem it improper at this time to publish. And that one thousand copies thereof be printed, of which one copy shall be furnished to each member of the present Congress; and the residue shall remain subject to the future disposition of Congress.

APPROVED, March 27th, 1818.

COMPLETE IN SIX VOLUMES.

STEREOTYPED.

Jackson Hall, Washington.

CONTENTS

OF THE

THIRD VOLUME.

JOHN ADAMS'S CORRESPONDENCE CONTINUED.

To the President of Congress. Paris, April 17th, 1780.........3

Probable effects of the armed neutrality. Critical situation of England. The

Opposition carry the resolution that the influence of the Crown is increasing,

and ought to be diminished.

To the President of Congress. Paris, April 18th, 1780.........5

Encloses a letter written from England on the subject of peace with America

Exposes the errors of the writer; on the confederacy with France and

Spain; on the probability of America violating her treaty with France; on

the notion that the policy of France has been to expose the States in order

to exhaust them; on the plan of a reconciliation and reunion of America

with Great Britain.

To the President of Congress. Paris, April 24th, 1780........10

Proceedings of Russia in regard to the armed neutrality. Proceedings in

Holland in relation to the same subject.

To the Count de Vergennes. Paris, April 25th, 1780.....

Enclosing papers from America.

To the President of Congress.

State of Ireland.

Paris, April 25th, 1780........14

To the President of Congress. Paris, April 26th, 1780........18

Debate in the House of Lords on the declaration of Russia; Lord Camden

expresses his astonishment at the doctrine of free ships and free goods;

Lord Shelburne's remarks on the critical state of England. Anti-English

policy of Russia.

To the President of Congress. Paris, April 28th, 1780........20

Declaration of the English Council placing the subjects of the United Provinces

on the footing of neutral Powers not privileged by treaties. Address of the

States of Groningen to the States-General recommending the protection of

commerce by convoys. Second address of the States of the same Province,

iii

proposing answers to the memorials of Sir J. Yorke. The Province of
Holland recommends the acceptance of the invitation of Russia to accede to
the armed neutrality.

To the President of Congress.

Paris, April 29th, 1780.......27

English naval expeditions.

To the President of Congress. Paris, April 29th, 1780.
1780.......28

Mutiny in the English fleet. County meetings adopt resolutions censuring the

war.

To the President of Congress. Paris, May 2d, 1780.......

Memorial of the French Ambassador to the States-General announcing the

abolition of the duty of fifteen per cent. on Dutch merchandize entering

France. Decree of the French Council on the same subject. The Seven

Provinces have resolved to refuse the succors demanded by Great Britain; to

grant convoys; and to accept the invitation of Russia. Instructions of the