tive treaty of peace, signed at Paris, on the third day of September, one thousand seven hundred and eightythree, it was stipulated, that his Britannic Majesty should, with all convenient speed, and without causing any destruction, or carrying away any negroes, or other property of the American inhabitants, withdraw all his armies, garrisons, and fleets from the said United States, and from every port, place and harbor within the same, leaving in all fortifications the American artillery, that may be therein.

That, although a period of three years has elapsed, since the signature of the preliminary treaty, and of more than two years since that of the definitive treaty, the posts of Oswegatchy, Oswego, Niagara, Presque Isle, Sandusky, Detroit, Michillimachinac, with others not necessary to be particularly enumerated, and a considerable territory around each of them, all within the incontestible limits of the said United States, are still held by British garrisons, to the loss and injury of the said United States.

The subscriber, therefore, in the name and behalf of the said United States, and in obedience to their express commands, has the honor to require of his Britannic Majesty's Ministry, that all his Majesty's armies and garrisons be forthwith withdrawn from the said United States, from all and every of the posts and fortresses herein before enumerated, and from every other port, place, and harbor within the territory, of the said United States, according to the true intention of the treaties aforesaid.

Done at Westminster, this thirtieth day of November, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-five.

JOHN ADAMS.

FROM JOHN ADAMS TO JOHN JAY.

Grosvenor Square, Westminster, December 9, 1785. Dear Sir,

I went to Court yesterday morning, if not in despair, with very faint hopes of ever receiving an answer to any letter or memorial of mine to the British ministry. I went early, but found three of the foreign Ministers before me. The rule is to admit them to his Lordship in the order in which they arrive. In my turn I was shewn into his Lordship's apartment, received very politely as usual, and very much surprized to be accosted by him with "Mr. Adams, I am about to write you officially. I have received a letter from Lord Howe relative to your communication concerning the behavior of a captain of a man of war, at Boston. The admiralty letter is very long, and I shall send you a copy of it. I am also to answer your memorial concerning the seaThe ship is ordered and expected home from the East Indies, and when she arrives, the man you applied for will be discharged." "And orders are gone to Portsmouth to discharge the other sailor whom you mentioned." This last requires some explanation, as I have not mentioned it before to you. Some time ago I received a letter from a man at Portsmouth, who called himself an American, and desiring me to apply for his discharge. But as I had no orders from Congress concerning him, nor any other information than his own letter, I thought it not safe to apply officially in his behalf. When I delivered my memorial demanding the discharge of the sailors in general, I shewed this man's letter to his Lordship, and left it with him, and it has had, it seems a

men.

better fortune than I expected. I replied to his Lordship that I was very happy to hear that I was soon to have an official answer, for, that whenever we could come to communicate officially and freely, I hoped we might gradually remove all difficulties. We fell then into some conversation upon the other points. the other points. But as nothing new was said on either side, and I could learn nothing new from him, it would be fatiguing you to no purpose to repeat it. One thing, however, his Lordship said, in the course of conversation, viz: "That he could not yet give me any satisfaction upon any other points, because nothing was yet determined. Mr. Pitt had all my papers under consideration, and had not yet determined any thing."

At length, I presented to his Lordship the memorial of the 30th November, copy of which is here enclosed. I do not expect an answer, till next summer. But I thought it safest for the United States to have it represented, because without it some excuses or pretences might have been set up, that the evacuations, had not yet been formally demanded.

With great esteem, &c.

JOHN ADAMS.

FROM JOHN ADAMS TO JOHN JAY.

Dear Sir,

Grosvenor Square, December 12, 1785.

I have at length an official answer from the Marquis of Carmarthen, in his letter to me of the 9th of this month, a copy of which is enclosed, together with a copy

of a copy of a letter from the Lords of the Admiralty of the 7th, to his Lordship. I wish I might expect as seasonable an answer to my memorials of the 30th November, and all other letters, proposals and memorials. Their answer concerning the sailors is more favorable than I expected, and that respecting captain Stanhope is as much so, all the foreign Ministers here complain, that they cannot get any answers from the ministry respecting seamen, without great difficulty. The Count de Kageneck, the Imperial Minister, told me lately that he had memorialized for a sailor, three years ago, and had often solicited an answer, but could not obtain it to this day.

With great respect, &c.

JOHN ADAMS.

FROM LORD CARMARTHEN TO JOHN ADAMS.

St. James, December 9, 1785.

Sir,

I did not fail to lay before the King, the letter you did me the honor to write to me relative to the conduct of captain Stanhope, of his Majesty's ship the Mercury, at Boston, with the resolutions of the Congress of the United States enclosed therein, as well as your memorial claiming the release of such American seamen as are detained in his Majesty's service; and his Majesty having directed me to transmit these papers to the Lords of the Admiralty for their consideration and opinion, as to what orders it might be proper to give thereupon. I send you, enclosed, a copy of the letter I have received VOL. IV.-58

from their Lordships on these subjects, which I hope will convince you that every possible attention has been paid to your representation upon these points.

I have the honor to be, &c.

· CARMARTHEN.

FROM THE LORDS OF ADMIRALTY TO LORD CARMARTHEN.

My Lord,

Admiralty Office, December 7, 1785.

Your Lordship having transmitted to us in your letter of the 1st ult., a copy of a letter which you have received from Mr. Adams, Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States of America, together with the resolution of the United States in Congress relative to the conduct of Captain Stanhope of his Majesty's ship, the Mercury, at Boston, in the month of August last, and your Lordship having signified his Majesty's pleasure that we should take the same into our consideration, and that as Captain Stanhope in his correspondence with Mr. Bowdoin has made use of expressions, which appear to be highly improper and unbecoming, we should acquaint your Lordship, for his Majesty's information, with our opinion thereupon, and transmit you a copy of such orders as may be judged proper to be sent to Captain Stanhope, that you may lay the same before the King, and receive his Majesty's commands as to the answer to be returned to the American Minister's letter, and your Lordship having also transmitted to us in your said letter á copy of a memorial which you have received from the American Minister, requiring the discharge of American