David Hartley to American Peace Commissioners, June 1, 1783

June. 1st: 1783.

The proposition which has been made for an universal & unlimited reciprocity of
Intercourse & Commerce, between Great-Britain and the American United-States, 7 requires a very serious Consideration on
the part of Great-Britain, for the reasons already stated in a Memorial, dated 19th:
May. 1783, and for many other reasons, which, in the future discussion of the
proposition, will appear. To the American States, likewise, it is a matter of the
deepest importance, not only as a proposition of Commercial Intercourse, which is the
least part, but most principally as a political basis & Guarantee for their newly
established Constitutions. The introduction of British Interests, into a communion of
Intercourse, will bring forward an universal Guarantee on the part of Great-Britain, in
the future progress of political events, which may affect the United-States of America
in their national Capacity. The Proposition is fertile in future prospects to
Great-Britain, & America may also wisely see in it a solid foundation for
herself.

All Circumstances are most fortunately disposed, between Great-Britain & the
American States, to render them usefull friends & Allies to each other, with a
higher degree of suitableness between themselves than any other
nations can pretend to. France cannot interchange Reciprocities with the American
States, by reason of numberless impediments in her System of Government, in her
Monopolies, & in her system of Commerce. France has the great dis-ability of
difference in Language to contend with, and the institution of the present French
Manufactures has never, at any time heretofore, been trained or adapted to American
Commerce. The only particular & specific facility, which France ever possessed for
American Intercourse, has for many years been transferred into the British Scale, by the
Cession of Canada to Great-Britain. The future Commerce between France & America
will chiefly be regulated by such Conveniences as France can draw to herself from
America, without much aptitude, on the part of France, to accommodate her manufactures
& Commerce to American Demands. In short, an Interchange of reciprocities between
France & America, would run against the stream on both sides, and all established
habits manners, language, together with the principles of Government and Commerce, would
militate against such a System.— 8

Conformably to this Reasoning it appears that France has not, at any time, entertained
any systematical design of forming any union or consolidation of Interests with America.
She took up the American Cause as instrumental to her political views in Europe. America
likewise accepted the Alliance with France for her seperate views, vizt. for the
establishment of her Independance. The Alliance therefore is completed & terminated
without leaving behind it any political principle of future, permanent Connection
between them. Occasional Circumstances produced a temporary alliance. Similar
Circumstances may, on any future occasion, produce a similar event of a temporary
Compact. Dissimilar Circumstances, arising from any future political views of the Court of France in Europe, may, without any inconsistence of
principle, throw the power of that Kingdom into a scale adverse to the future Interests
of the American States. In such Case, therefore, where there cannot exist any permanent
political Connection, between France & America, and where the commercial Attachments
can be but feeble, it would be in vain to expect in the French nation any such Ally as
newly established States ought to look out for, to give maturity and firmness to their
Constitutions.—

As to Spain, every argument which has been stated, respecting diversity of language,
manners, government, system of Commerce & monopolies, from those which prevail in
the United-States of America, obtains in a superior degree: And much more to add
besides, for Spain is not only incompetent to interchange reciprocities with the
American States, but likewise her own situation in America will, at all times, render
her extremely jealous of her neighbors. The only activity which Spain has exerted in the
war, has been to procure a barrier against the American States, by annexing West-Florida
to her former acquisition of New-Orleans; thereby embracing the mouth of the
Mississippi, &, by means of that river, jointly with her landed possessions,
establishing a strong & jealous boundary against any future progress of the American
States in those parts.— Spain therefore cannot be looked upon by the American States as
a suitable object of their election, to become a permanent Ally & friend to them.
Portugal likewise labours under all the disabilities of language, manners, monopolies,
Government & System of Commerce. Her national Power & Importance would be
likewise insufficient to constitute a strong and permanent Ally to the American States.
All these Nations will undoubtedly be found to have many commodious Qualities for
participation in Commerce; but the pre-eminent faculties, necessary to constitute a firm
& permanent Ally to the American States, will be found deficient in them.— As to the
Italian States, or any other Powers in the Mediterranean, they are certainly not
adequate to any Competition of political Alliance with the rising States of America.
They will also constitute very commodious links & Connections in the general Circuit
of Commerce; but, beyond these Considerations, they have no share in the present
Question. The several States in the Germanic Body are in the
same predicament.—

As to the Northern Powers, vizt: those in the Baltic, they are not favoured, 9 either by vicinity or Climate, for a frequent or
facile Intercourse of Commerce with America: and even, respecting several material
Articles of Commerce, jealousies & Competitions might arise. As to political
Alliances there are no such in prospect from them towards the American States. Even if
there were any superfluity of force in any of them, beyond the necessities of their
respective domestic situations, the extreme distance would be conclusive against any
possible application of such power, as a political Alliance, favorable to the
establishment & confirmation of the American States.—

The only maritime State on the Continent of Europe, remaining to be discussed, as a
competent Candidate for Commerce or Connection with America is the Republic of the
United-Netherlands, commonly called Holland. In respect to American Commerce, the Dutch
have among themselves every facility, combined, which the seperate States of Europe
possess distinctively, in their own Concerns, or nearly. Their Industry, frugality &
habits of Commerce may even carry them so far as to make them rivals to the Americans
themselves, in the transportation of European Merchandize to America— These faculties of
Commerce would have been of infinite Importance to the American States, if the war had
continued between Great-Britain & them: But upon the event of Peace it becomes a
matter of the most perfect Indifference to America, whether each European State
navigates its own Commerce into the Ports of America, which will be open to all, or
whether the commercial faculties of Holland ennable her to exceed in rivalship her
European Neighbours, & thereby to navigate European Goods to America, beyond the
proportion of her national share. The faculties of a nation of Carriers may be fortunate
for the Marine of that nation, but, considered in themselves & with respect to other
nations, they are but secondaries in Commerce. They give no ground of
reciprocity or participation. That one nation should say to another, you shall navigate
all our rivers, harbors, Lakes, ports & places, if we may do the same in yours 1 is a proposition of reciprocity: but that
Holland should say to America, we will bring European Goods to you, or you may be your
own Carriers, is neither Concession or Reciprocity. Holland is not a nation of Rivers,
Harbors, Lakes, Ports & Places for the distribution of Goods & manufactures for
internal Consumption, and therefore her reciprocities must be very scanty. Holland is
the market-place of Europe & the Dutch Seaman are the Carriers, appertaining to that
Market-Place. The admission of American Ships to that market-place, freely to import
& export, is an act of reciprocity undoubtedly, on the part of Holland, as far as it
goes, but in no degree adequate to the unlimited participation of the Commerce of
America, thro’out all the Rivers, Harbours, Lakes, Ports & Places of that vast
Continent. The Commercial Reciprocities of Holland, therefore, being inferior on her
part towards America, the next point of view, in which Holland is to be considered, as
relevant to this Question, is, as a nation of Power capable of becoming an effectual
& permanent Ally & Guarantee to the American States; for that is the great
Object, which America, as a wise nation, recently arisen into Independence, ought to
keep in view. Holland has undoubtedly been a nation of great & celebrated naval
force. She remains so still, but having, for many years, suspended her exertions of
force & having directed the faculties of her people into the commercial line, she
seems not to have any superfluity of force, beyond the necessity of providing for her
own Security, & certainly no such redundance of power, as to extend to the
protection of distant nations, as Allies or Guarantees. It appears therefore, upon the
whole of this argument, that Holland, tho’ a commercial nation, cannot even interchange
commercial reciprocities with America, upon an equal footing, and that her faculties of
force are inadequate to those, which America ought to expect in the permanent Allies
& Guarantees of her Country.—

The Independence of the American States, being established, their first Consideration ought to be, to determine with what friendships and
Alliances they will enter into the new world of nations. They will look round them &
cast about for some natural, permanent & powerfull Ally, with whom they may
interchange all cementing reciprocities, both commercial & political. If such an
Ally is to be found anywhere for them, it is still in Great-Britain—at least it is
certain, that, in looking round Europe, no other is to be found. There is no inherent
impossibility to prevent such a Connection from taking place—it must depend upon the
free will & common Interest of the parties. There are all possible faculties, on
both sides, to give & to receive all adequate & beneficial reciprocities, which
are practicable & more likely to be permanent, between Independant parties, than
between two parties, where one is dependant upon the other. Great-Britain is undoubtedly
the first of European nations in riches, credit, faculties, Industry, Commerce,
manufactures, internal Consumption & foreign export, together with civil liberty,
which is the source of all, and naval Power, which is the support of all. The Dominions
appertaining to the Crown of Great-Britain are large & fertile—its Colonies still
extensive, & in close vicinity to the American States—Great-Britain herself, being
an American, as well as an European power, and all her Empire connected by her naval
force— The Territories of the American States, from the Atlantic Ocean to the
Missisippi, contain an inexhaustible source of riches, industry & future power—
These will be the foundation of great events in the new page of life. Infinite good or
infinite evil may arise, according to the principles, upon which this Intercourse
between Great-Britain & America shall be arranged in its foundation. Great-Britain
& America must be still inseperable, either as friends or Foes. 2 This is an awfull & important truth—these
are Considerations not to be thought of slightly, not to be prejudged in passion, nor
the arrangements of them to be hastily foreclosed. Time given for Consideration may have
excellent effects on both sides. The pause of peace, with
friendly intercourse, returning affection & dispassionate enquiry can alone decide
these important events, or do justice to the anxious expectations of Great-Britain &
America.