With sincere and great esteem, I am ever, my dear friend, yours, most affectionately, B. FRANKLIN.

To John Jay, Esq., Minister for Foreign Affairs.

SIR,

Philadelphia, Sept. 19, 1785.

I HAVE the honor to acquaint you, that I left Paris the 12th of July, and agreeably to the permission of congress am returned to my country. Mr. Jefferson had recovered his health, and was much esteemed and respected there. Our joint letters have already informed you of our late proceedings, to which I have nothing to add, except, that the last act I did, as minister plenipotentiary for making treaties, was to sign with him, two days before I came away, the treaty of friendship and commerce that had been agreed on with Prussia, and which was to be carried to the Hague by Mr. Short, there to be signed by baron Thulemeyer, on the part of the king, who without the least hesitation had approved and conceded to the new humane articles proposed by congress, which articles are considered as doing that body great honor. Mr. Short was also to go to London with the treaty, for the signature of Mr. Adams, who I learnt, when at Southampton, is well received at the British court. The captain Lamb, who in a letter of yours to Mr. Adams, was said to be coming to us with instructions respecting Morocco, had not appeared, nor had we heard any thing of him; so nothing has been done by us in that treaty. I left the court of France, in the same friendly disposition towards the United States, that we have all along experienced, though concerned to find our credit is not better supported in the payment of the interest money due on our loans, which in case of another war must be, they think, extremely prejudicial to us, and indeed may contribute to draw on a war the sooner, by affording our enemies the encouraging confidence, that a people who take so little care to pay, will not again find it easy to borrow. I received from the king, at my departure, the present of his picture set

1

round with diamonds, usually given to ministers plenipotentiary who have signed any treaties with that court, and it is

at the disposition of congress; to whom, be pleased to present my dutiful respects.

I am, sir, with great esteem, your most obedient and most humble servant, B. FRANKLIN.

PS. Not caring to trust them to a common conveyance, I send by my late secretary, W. T. Franklin, who will have the honor of delivering them to you, all the original treaties I have been concerned in negotiating, that were completed. Those with Portugal and Denmark continue in suspense.

SIR,

To ****.

Philadelphia, Jan. 19, 1790.

I RECEIVED the letter you did me the honor of writing to me respecting the construction of the eleventh article of the treaty of commerce between France and the United States. I was indeed one of the commissioners for making that treaty, but the commissioners have no right to explain the treaty. Its explanation is to be sought for in its own words, and in case it cannot be clearly found there, then by application to the contracting powers.

I certainly conceived that when the droit d'aubaine was relinquished in favor of the citizens of the United States, the relinquishing clause was meant to extend to all the dominions of his most christian majesty, and I am of opinion that this would not be denied if an explanation were requested of the court of France, and it ought to be done, if any difficulties arise on this subject in the French islands, which their courts do not determine in our favor. But before congress is petitioned to make such request, I imagine it would be proper to have the case tried in some of the West India islands, and the petition made in consequence of a determination against I have the honor to be, &c.

us.

B. FRANKLIN.

Copy of the last Letter written by Dr. Franklin.

SIR, Philadelphia, April 8, 1790. I RECEIVED your letter of the 31st of last past, relating to encroachments made on the eastern limits of the United States, by settlers under the British government, pretending that it is the western, and not the eastern river of the bay of Passamaquoddy, which was designated by the name of St. Croix, in the treaty of peace with that nation; and requesting of me to communicate any facts which my memory or papers, may enable me to recollect, and which may indicate the true river which the commissioners on both sides had in their view to establish, as the boundary between the two nations.

Your letter found me under a severe fit of my malady, which prevented my answering it sooner, or attending, indeed, to any kind of business. I now can assure you, that I am perfectly clear in the remembrance, that the map we used in tracing the boundary was brought to the treaty by the commissioners from England, and that it was the same that was published by Mitchell above twenty years before. Having a copy of that map by me in loose sheets, I send you that sheet which contains the bay of Passamaquoddy, where you will see that part of the boundary traced. I remember too, that in that part of the boundary, we relied much on the opinion of Mr. Adams, who had been concerned in some former disputes concerning those territories. I think therefore that you may obtain still farther light from him.

That the map we used was Mitchell's map, congress were acquainted at the time, by letter to their secretary for foreign affairs, which I suppose may be found upon their files.

I have the honor to be, with the greatest esteem and respect, sir, your most obedient and most humble servant, B. FRANKLIN.

To Thomas Jefferson,

Secretary of State of the United States.

END OF VOL. VI.