The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 10

United States -- Foreign relations -- 1775-1783; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Sources

SAMUEL HUNTINGTON, _President_.

                  *       *       *       *       *

          COMMISSION TO ACCEPT THE MEDIATION OF THE EMPRESS
                OF RUSSIA AND THE EMPEROR OF GERMANY.

The United States of America to all to whom these presents shall come,
send Greeting.

Whereas his Most Christian Majesty, our great and beloved friend and
ally, has informed us by his Minister Plenipotentiary, whom he has
appointed to reside near us, that their Imperial Majesties the Empress
of Russia and the Emperor of Germany, actuated by sentiments of
humanity, and a desire to put a stop to the calamities of war, have
offered their mediation to the belligerent powers, in order to promote
peace; now know ye, that we, desirous as far as depends upon us, to
put a stop to the effusion of blood, and convince all the powers of
Europe that we wish for nothing more ardently than to terminate this
war by a safe and honorable peace; relying on the justice of our
cause, and persuaded of the wisdom and equity of their Imperial
Majesties, who have so generously interposed their good offices for
promoting so salutary a measure; have appointed and constituted, and
by these presents do constitute and appoint, our trusty and well
beloved John Adams, late delegate in Congress, from the State of
Massachusetts, and Benjamin Franklin, our Minister at the Court of
France, John Jay, late President of Congress, and now our Minister at
the Court of Madrid, Henry Laurens, formerly President of Congress,
and commissioned and sent as our agent to the United Provinces of the
Netherlands, and Thomas Jefferson, Governor of the Commonwealth of
Virginia, our Ministers Plenipotentiary, giving and granting to them,
or such of them as shall assemble, or in case of death, absence,
indisposition, or other impediment, of the others, to any one of them,
full power and authority in our name, and on our behalf, in
concurrence with his Most Christian Majesty, to accept in due form,
the mediation of their Imperial Majesties the Empress of Russia and
the Emperor of Germany.

In testimony whereof, we have caused these presents to be signed by
our President, and sealed with his seal.

Done at Philadelphia this fifteenth day of June, in the year of our
Lord one thousand seven hundred and eightyone, and in the fifth year
of our independence.

By the United States in Congress assembled.

                                       SAMUEL HUNTINGTON, _President_.

                  *       *       *       *       *

             INSTRUCTIONS TO THE COMMISSIONERS FOR PEACE.

                                         In Congress, June 15th, 1781.

  To the Honorable John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, Henry
  Laurens, and Thomas Jefferson, Ministers Plenipotentiary in behalf
  of the United States, to negotiate a treaty of peace.

  Gentlemen,

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

History

The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 10

United States -- Foreign relations -- 1775-1783; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Sources

SAMUEL HUNTINGTON, _President_.

                  *       *       *       *       *

          COMMISSION TO ACCEPT THE MEDIATION OF THE EMPRESS
                OF RUSSIA AND THE EMPEROR OF GERMANY.

The United States of America to all to whom these presents shall come,
send Greeting.

Whereas his Most Christian Majesty, our great and beloved friend and
ally, has informed us by his Minister Plenipotentiary, whom he has
appointed to reside near us, that their Imperial Majesties the Empress
of Russia and the Emperor of Germany, actuated by sentiments of
humanity, and a desire to put a stop to the calamities of war, have
offered their mediation to the belligerent powers, in order to promote
peace; now know ye, that we, desirous as far as depends upon us, to
put a stop to the effusion of blood, and convince all the powers of
Europe that we wish for nothing more ardently than to terminate this
war by a safe and honorable peace; relying on the justice of our
cause, and persuaded of the wisdom and equity of their Imperial
Majesties, who have so generously interposed their good offices for
promoting so salutary a measure; have appointed and constituted, and
by these presents do constitute and appoint, our trusty and well
beloved John Adams, late delegate in Congress, from the State of
Massachusetts, and Benjamin Franklin, our Minister at the Court of
France, John Jay, late President of Congress, and now our Minister at
the Court of Madrid, Henry Laurens, formerly President of Congress,
and commissioned and sent as our agent to the United Provinces of the
Netherlands, and Thomas Jefferson, Governor of the Commonwealth of
Virginia, our Ministers Plenipotentiary, giving and granting to them,
or such of them as shall assemble, or in case of death, absence,
indisposition, or other impediment, of the others, to any one of them,
full power and authority in our name, and on our behalf, in
concurrence with his Most Christian Majesty, to accept in due form,
the mediation of their Imperial Majesties the Empress of Russia and
the Emperor of Germany.

In testimony whereof, we have caused these presents to be signed by
our President, and sealed with his seal.

Done at Philadelphia this fifteenth day of June, in the year of our
Lord one thousand seven hundred and eightyone, and in the fifth year
of our independence.

By the United States in Congress assembled.

                                       SAMUEL HUNTINGTON, _President_.

                  *       *       *       *       *

             INSTRUCTIONS TO THE COMMISSIONERS FOR PEACE.

                                         In Congress, June 15th, 1781.

  To the Honorable John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, Henry
  Laurens, and Thomas Jefferson, Ministers Plenipotentiary in behalf
  of the United States, to negotiate a treaty of peace.

  Gentlemen,

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 10

The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 10

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