only, has been made the subject of deliberation of the government of Denmark and their faculty of theology, which makes it necessary for me to transmit it to congress. I am happy to find the decision so liberal.

I have the honor to be, &c.

JOHN ADAMS.

(Inclosed.)

M. DE ST. SAPHORIN TO JOHN ADAMS.

(Translation.)

The Hague, 21 April, 1784.

M. de St. Saphorin has the honor to communicate to Mr. Adams the answer he has received from his Excellency, the Count de Rosencrone, Privy Counsellor and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of his Danish Majesty, relative to what Mr. Adams desired to know. He will be happy, should this answer be agreeable to him, as well as to his superiors, and useful to his fellow-citizens. He has the honor to assure him of his respect. de ST. SAPHORIN.

(Extract Inclosed.)

SIR, "The opinion of the theological faculty having been taken on the question made to your Excellency by Mr. Adams: If the American ministers of the church of England can be consecrated here by a bishop of the Danish church? I am ordered by the King to authorize you to answer, that such an act can take place according to the Danish rites; but, for the convenience of the Americans, who are supposed not to know the Danish language, the Latin language will be made use of on the occasion. For the rest, nothing will be exacted from the candidates, but a profession conformable to the articles of the English church; omitting the oath called test, which prevents their being ordained by the English bishops."

TO BARON DE ST. SAPHORIN.

Mr. Adams has the honor to present his compliments to the Baron de St. Saphorin, and his sincere thanks for his note of yesterday's date, and for the copy of the despatch of his Excellency, the Count de Rosencrone, Minister of the Council of State, and Secretary of State for the Department of Foreign Affairs, of his Majesty the King of Denmark. Mr. Adams will have the honor of transmitting these papers to congress by the first opportunity, and they cannot fail to be considered in a very friendly and favorable light by a considerable number of respectable people in each of the thirteen States, who are materially interested in them. He begs M. de St. Saphorin to accept the assurances of the great respect with which he has the honor to be, &c.

JOHN ADAMS.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN AND JOHN JAY TO JOHN ADAMS.

Passy, 29 April, 1784.

SIR, We received the letter you did us the honor of writing to us the 10th instant, with the project of a treaty that had been transmitted to you by the Baron de Thulemeier, which we have examined, and return herewith, having made a few small additions or changes of words to be proposed, such as citoyens for sujets, and the like, and intimated some explanations as wanted in particular paragraphs. The sooner a copy, with such of these changes as shall be agreed to by your Excellency and the Prussian minister, is forwarded to congress for their approbation, the better. With regard to the language of treaties, we are of opinion, that if the ministers of the nation we treat with insist on having the treaty in their own language, we should then insist on having it also in ours, both to be signed at the same time. This was done in our treaties with France; but if both parties agree to use a language that is particular to neither, but common to both, as the Latin or the French, as

was done in our treaty with Sweden, we then think it not necessary to have it also signed in English.

With great respect, &c.

B. FRANKLIN,

JOHN JAY.

то BARON DE THULEMEIER.

The Hague, 5 May, 1784.

MONSIEUR LE BARON, I have the honor to inclose your project of a treaty with a few corrections and proposals of explanations made by my colleagues, Messrs. Franklin and Jay, which I have the honor to agree with them in submitting to your consideration. The alterations are soon made, and are so inconsiderable, that if you and I can arrange them, which may be done in half an hour, I will transmit the whole to congress by the earliest opportunity, as a plan approved by the ministers on both sides. With great respect, &c.

JOHN ADAMS.

TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

The Hague, 13 May, 1784.

SIR, Since my last arrival in Holland, I have not transmitted to congress the details of the politics of this Court and nation, nor of the neighboring Courts which are exciting disputes with it. Mr. Dumas has been in the habit and train of that history, and I have not thought fit to interrupt him; but, if I should reside here regularly, the whole business of the mission will of course go through my hands. I therefore wish to know in what light I am to consider this gentleman, and what relation he is to stand in to me. I wish it for the government of my own conduct, and still more from regard to him, whom I esteem as a very worthy man, and one who has, for a course of years, been indefatigable in the service of the United States, and who is not adequately rewarded or supported by the pittance which is allowed him. But what is more disagreeable, he has never had any character or commission from congress,

and one knows not what to call him, whether secretary or agent. I cannot ask him to act as my private secretary, which is really much beneath him, although he is ever ready to assist me in all things. I should be happy to know the pleasure of congress in this respect, and to receive their instructions from time to time in all things which relate to the United Netherlands, which I shall endeavor to execute to the best of my power.

Inclosed is another copy of the project of a treaty with Prussia, which I transmitted to Paris, to Messrs. Franklin and Jay, and have received back again from them, with their approbation, excepting the few corrections and inquiries marked upon it by those ministers. The King will send a full power, probably, to M. de Thulemeier, and I should be happy to know the pleasure of congress. With great respect, &c.

JOHN ADAMS.

SIR,

TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

The Hague, 7 June, 1784.

Some weeks ago the Baron de Thulemeier called upon me and delivered me the paper, a copy of which is inclosed, marked 1. It is a letter written by the Envoy to the King.

Last evening the Baron called upon me again, and delivered me the answer of the King contained in the which is inclosed, marked 2.

paper, a copy of

I have heretofore transmitted to congress, by different opportunities, copies of the project of a treaty, and the papers herein. transmitted complete the negotiation, and the treaty is ready for signature, unless congress have other alterations to propose.

As his Majesty seems to choose that this business should be conducted by his envoy here, who is also desirous of finishing it, perhaps congress may not judge it too much complaisance, in framing their commission, to give authority to any one to conclude this treaty, in case they should name more than one, as it would be impossible for M. Thulemeier to go to Paris. It is not every ambassador, however high his rank, or numerous his titles, or magnificent his appointments, who arrives at the honor of concluding any treaty. It is a distinction which is made an object of ambition, and is much desired, so that the

Baron's inclinations, I suppose, will not be thought inexcusable.

I should hope that congress might despatch their instructions and authority to some one or more, to conclude this affair with as little delay as possible. With great respect, &c.

OBSERVATIONS.

JOHN ADAMS.

(Translation.)

1st. Instead of expressing through the course of the treaty the denomination of the United States of North America, simply the United States of America.

2d. Instead of respective subjects, so far as regards the United States of America, the word citizens.

3d. ARTICLE III. In like manner, to the merchandises of America, add productions, manufactures, and merchandises.

4th. ARTICLE VII. And no one shall be molested on account of his religion, provided he submit to the public demonstrations enjoined by the laws of the country. On this head a more explicit article is desirable, such as the fourth of the treaty concluded between the United States of America and the Republic of the United Provinces. "Entire and perfect liberty of conscience shall be granted to the subjects and inhabitants of each party and their families, and no one shall be molested on account of his religion, provided he submit, as regards the public demonstrations thereof, to the laws of the country. Liberty shall, moreover, be granted, on the death of the subjects or inhabitants of either party in the territory of the other, to inter them in the usual burial grounds, or in decent or suitable places appointed for the purpose; and the bodies of the interred shall in no wise be molested, and the two contracting powers shall provide, each within its respective jurisdiction, that the respective subjects and inhabitants may hereafter obtain the requisite certificates in case of death, when they may be interested therein."

5th. ARTICLE XV. Until the cargo has been landed in the presence of officers appointed for the purpose, and that the opening has been made.

N. B. Instead of opening, inventory.