Note 17 — THE CORRESPONDENCE OF THE COMMISSIONERS FOR NEGOTIATING A PEACE WITH GREAT BRITAIN. (continued 3)
Reading edition
In Congress, May 1st, 1783. On the report of a committee to whom was referred a letter of February 5th, from the honorable John Adams,
"Ordered, That a commission be prepared to Messrs John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and John Jay, authorising them, or either of them in the absence of the others, to enter into a treaty of commerce between the United States of America and Great Britain, subject to the revisal of the contracting parties, previous to its final conclusion, and in the meantime to enter into a commercial convention, to continue in force one year.
"That the Secretary of Foreign Affairs lay before Congress, without delay, a plan of a treaty of commerce, and instructions relative to the same, to be transmitted to the said commissioners."