HUR LEE,
JOHN ADAMS.

* * * * *

DRAFT OF A PROPOSED LETTER FROM THE COMMISSIONERS TO THE GRAND
PENTIONARY.

Sir,

We have the honor of acquainting your Excellency, that the United
States of North America, being now an independent power, and
acknowledged as such by this Court, a treaty of amity and commerce is
completed between France and the said United States, of which we shall
speedily send your Excellency a copy, to be communicated, if you think
proper, to their High Mightinesses, for whom the United States have
the greatest respect, and the strongest desire that a good
understanding may be cultivated, and a mutually beneficial commerce
established between the people of the two nations, which, as will be
seen, there is nothing in the above mentioned treaty to prevent or
impede.

We have the honor to be, with great respect, your Excellency's, &c.

* * * * *

TO M. DUMAS.

Passy, April 10th, 1778.

Sir,

We received your despatch of the 3d instant, and approve very much the
care and pains you constantly take in sending us the best intelligence
of foreign affairs. We have now the pleasure of acquainting you, that
Mr John Adams, a member of Congress, appointed to succeed Mr Deane in
this commission, is safely arrived here. He came over in the Boston, a
frigate of 30 guns, belonging to the United States. In the passage
they met and made prize of a large English letter of marque ship of 14
guns, the Martha, bound to New York, on whose cargo L70,000 sterling
were insured in London. It contains abundance of necessaries for
America, whither she is despatched, and we hope she will get well into
one of our ports.

Mr Adams acquaints us, that it had been moved in Congress to send a
minister to Holland, but that although there was the best disposition
towards that country, and desire to have and maintain a good
understanding with their High Mightinesses, and a free commerce with
their subjects, the measure was respectfully postponed for the
present, till their sentiments on it could be known, from an
apprehension, that possibly their connexions with England might make
the receiving an American minister as yet inconvenient, and (if
Holland should have the same good will towards us) a lit