American Peace Commissioners to David Hartley, July 17, 1783

Passy, July 17th. 1783.

Sir,

We have the honour to inform you that we have just received from Congress their
Ratification in due Form of the Provisional Articles of the 30th. of November 1782, 5 and we are ready to exchange Ratifications
with his Britannic Majesty’s Ministers as soon as may be.

By the same Articles it is stipulated, that his Britannic Majesty shall with all
convenient Speed, and without causing any Destruction or carrying away Negroes or other
Property of the American Inhabitants, withdraw all his Armies, Garrisons and Fleets from
the United States and from every Port, Place & Harbour within the
same. 6 But, by Intelligence lately
received from America, and by the inclosed Copies of Letters and Conferences between
General Washington and Sir Guy Carleton, 7 it appears that a considerable Number of Negroes belonging to the Citizens of the United
States, have been carried off from New-York contrary to the express Stipulation
contained in the said Article. 8 We have
received from Congress their Instructions to represent this Matter to you, and to
request that speedy and effectual Measures be taken to render that Justice to the
Parties interested which the true Intent and Meaning of the Article in Question plainly
dictates.

We are also instructed to represent to you, 9 that many of the British Debtors in America have
in the Course of the War sustained such considerable and heavy Losses by the Operation
of the British Arms in that Country, that a great Number of them have been rendered
incapable of immediately satisfying those Debts: we refer it to the Justice and Equity
of Great Britain, so far to amend the Article on this Subject, as that no Execution shall be issued on a Judgment to be obtained in any
such Case but after the Expiration of three Years from the Date of the definitive Treaty
of Peace. Congress also think it reasonable that such Part of the Interest which may
have accrued on such Debts during the War shall not be payable, because all Intercourse
between the two Countries, had, during that Period, become impracticable as well as
improper, it does not appear just that Individuals in America should pay for Delays in
payment which were occasioned by the civil and military Measures of Great Britain. In
our Opinion the Interest of the Creditors as well as the Debitors requires that some
Tenderness be shewn to the Latter, and that they should be allowed a little Time to
acquire the Means of discharging Debts which in many Instances exceed the whole Amount
of their Property.

As it is necessary to ascertain an Epocha, for the Restitutions and Evacuations to be
made, we propose that it be agreed, that his Britannic Majesty, shall cause to be
evacuated the Posts of New-York, Penobscot and their Dependences, with all other Posts
and Places in Possession of his Majesty’s Arms, within the United States, in the Space
of three Months after the Signature of this definitive Treaty, or sooner if possible,
excepting those Posts contiguous to the Water Line, mentioned in the fourth
Proposition, 1 and these shall be
evacuated, when Congress shall give the Notice therein mentioned.

We do ourselves the honour of making these Communications to you, Sir, that you may
transmit them and the Papers accompanying them to your Court, and inform us of their
Answer.

We have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient and most humble Servants

John Adams. B Franklin John Jay

Dd. Hartley Esqr.