Before the peace was known in America, and while Mr Morris had hopes of obtaining the five per cent duty and a larger loan from his Majesty, the immediate urgent necessities of the army obliged him to draw bills, and sell them to the merchants, to raise money for the purchase of provisions, to prevent their starving or disbanding. The merchants have thereupon formed their plans of business, and remitted those bills to their correspondents here, to pay debts, and purchase goods in this kingdom, to be carried home in the ships, that are come, or coming to France, thus to open a larger commerce with this nation. If those bills cannot be paid, the creditors of America will be disappointed and greatly hurt, and the commerce will be deranged and discouraged in its first operations, of which the numerous ill consequences are more easily imagined than described. Our loan in Holland is going on, and with such prospect of success, that the bankers, who have the care of it, have lately sent by express to Mr Adams all the blank obligations, necessary to complete it, for him to sign, that they might have them ready to deliver, as demanded, his return thither being delayed. This loan will, therefore, probably answer the bills Mr Morris has drawn on those bankers. But the protesting any of his bills here would occasion such an alarm there, as must probably entirely stop any further progress of that loan, and thereby increase the mischief. The government of the Congress would also be enfeebled by it. We apprehend, too, that, in the present unsettled situation of our affairs with England, such a failure might have very ill effects, with respect to our negotiations. We therefore request your counsel, hoping your wisdom, which has so often befriended our nation, may point out some way, by which we may be extricated from this distress. And as the King has hitherto so generously assisted us, we hope that, if it is any way practicable, his Majesty will crown the glorious work, by affording us this help, at the different periods when it will be wanted, and which is absolutely the last that will be asked. We are, with sincere and great respect, &c. B. FRANKLIN, JOHN JAY. FOOTNOTE: [15] See Mr Grand's letter above, p. 139. * * * * * PROPOSITIONS MADE BY THE COMMISSIONERS TO DAVID HARTLEY FOR THE DEFINITIVE TREATY. ARTICLE I. To omit in the definitive treaty the exception, at the end of the second Article of the provisional treaty, viz. these words, "excepting such islands as now are, or heretofore have been within the limits of the said Province of Nova Scotia."