change for theirs, with an as surance that it will be followed by another expedited in all it's forms by nine states so soon as they shall be assembled, which shall be delivered to them also:

day for the exchange of ratifications at their option and at the same time explaining (if they find it necessary for the preservation of our good faith) the differences of opinion which exist as to the compliance of seven states to this act or if it be more eligible to the other party that then they agree on a further day for the exchange of ratifications.

RESOLUTION ON DEFINITIVE TREATY.'

C. C.

[Jan. 14?, 1784]

Resolved that the sd ratification be immediately expedited in good and & due form under the seal the following form to wit [here insert the ratification] and be transmitted to our ministers plenipotentiary by whom the said treaty was negotiated and signed.

RATIFICATION OF DEFINITIVE TREATY.?

C. C.

[JANUARY 14, 1784]

The United States in Congress assembled to all persons to whom these presents shall come greeting:

Whereas definitive articles of peace and friendship between the United States of America and his Britannic majesty were concluded and signed at Paris on the third day of September 1783, by the Commissioners Plenipotentiaries of the said United States and of his said Britannic majesty duly and respectively author

1 This resolution, though offered in Congress, does not appear in its Journals. It was probably in lieu of that adopted Jan. 14, 1784, which was reported by a committee, of which Jefferson was chairman.

* The draft, in Jefferson's handwriting, was reported to Congress by a committee consisting of Jefferson, Gerry, Ellery, Read, and Hawkins, some time in December, but was not acted upon by Congress till the treaty was ratified Jan. 14, 1784. See Journals of Congress of that date.

ized for that purpose, which definitive articles are in these words following [here insert them]

Now know ye that we the United States in Congress assembled having seen and considered the definitive articles, aforesaid, have approved, ratified and confirmed and by these presents do approve ratify and confirm the said articles, and every part & clause thereof engaging and promising that we will sincerely & faithfully perform & observe the same and never suffer them to be violated by any one, or transgressed in any manner, as far as lies in our power. In testimony whereof we have caused the seal of the United States to be hereunto affixed.

Witness his Excellency Thomas Mifflin President this day of December, in the year of our Lord 1783 and of the sovereignty in the eighth year and independence of the United States the eighth fourteenth day of Jan' in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty four and in the eighth year of the sovereignty & independence of the United States of America.

DRAFT FOR PROCLAMATION ANNOUNCING RATIFICATION OF DEFINITIVE TREATY.'

C. C.

January 14, 1784.

By the United States of America in Congress Assembled A Proclamation.

Whereas Definitive articles of peace and friendship between these the United States of America of America and his Britannic majesty were concluded & signed at Paris on the third day of September 1783, by the Commissioners Plenipotentiaries of the said United States and of his said Britannic majesty duly and respectively authorized for that purpose which definitive articles are in the words following [here insert them].

And we the United States in Congress assembled having seen and duly considered the definitive articles aforesaid did by a certain act under the seal of the United States bearing date this 14 day of December Jan' 1784, approve ratify & confirm the

1 See Journals of Congress, Jan. 14, 1784. This proclamation was issued as a broadside with the headlines:

By the United States in / Congress assembled / January 14, 1784. / 4to.
Cf. Ford's Bibliography of the Continental Congress, No. 346.

same & every part & clause thereof engaging & promising that we would sincerely & faithfully perform & observe the same, and never suffer them to be violated by any one, or transgressed in any manner, as far as should lie in our power.

And being sincerely disposed to carry the said articles into execution honestly, truly honestly and with good faith according to the intent & meaning thereof we have thought proper by these presents to notify the premises to all the good citizens of these States, hereby requesting requiring and enjoining all persons and all bodies of magistracy Legislative Executive and Judiciary all persons bearing office civil or military of whatever rank, degree, or powers and all others the good citizens of these States of whatever-every vocation and condition that reverencing those stipulations entered into on & condition in obedience to these delegations their behalf under the authority of that federal moral political & legal whereby they are called bond by which their existence as an independant to the observance of stipulations duly & regularly people is bound up together, and is known and derived from their several laws & constitutions acknowledged by the nations of the world; and and with that good faith which is every honest with that good faith which is every man's best-comfort that within their man's surest guide, within their several offices, jurisdictions & vocations, they carry into effect the said Definitive articles, & every clause & sentence thereof sincerely strictly & completely.

Given under the seal of the United States. Witness his Excellency Thomas Mifflin, our President at Annapolis this 14th day of Deer Jan 1784 & of the sovereignty & independance of the United States of America the eighth.

TO MARTHA JEFFERSON.1

ANNAPOLIS, Jan. 15th, 1783.

MY DEAR MARTHA,-I am anxious to know what books you read, what tunes you play, and to receive

1 From S. N. Randolph's Domestic Life of T. Jefferson, 71, where it is printed with the above date. But either Jefferson misdated it, or it was wrongly inserted, for Jefferson being in Annapolis and his daughter being in Philadelphia makes it certain that the letter was written in 1784.

specimens of your drawing. With respect to your meeting M. Simitière' at Mr. Rittenhouse's, nothing could give me more pleasure than your being much with that worthy family, wherein you will see the best examples of rational life, and learn to esteem and copy them. But I should be very tender of intruding you on the family; as it might, perhaps, be not always convenient for you to be there at your hours of attending M. Simitière. I can only say, then, that if it has been desired by Mr. and Mrs. Rittenhouse, in such a matter as that Mrs. Hopkinson shall be satisfied that they will not think it inconvenient, I would have you thankfully accept it; and conduct yourself with so much attention to the family as that they may never feel themselves incommoded by it. I hope Mrs. Hopkinson will be as good as to act for you in this matter with that delicacy and prudence of which she is so capable. I have much at heart your learning to draw, and should be uneasy at your losing this opportunity, which probably is your last.

TO THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA.
(BENJAMIN HARRISON.)

V. S. A.

ANNAPOLIS Jan. 16 1784

SIR, The Southern post, which had not come in for three weeks past, surprised us by his arrival to day. Being to return in half an hour I could only, after perusal of my letters, hastily inclose to your Excellency a copy of the proclamation an

1 An artist.

nouncing the ratification of the peace, which we were enabled to expedite on the 14th inst. that being the first day on which nine states have attended during the present Congress. This irregularity in the post will account for your having received no letter from Mr. Hardy, the corresponding member for the month. An indisposition at present puts it out of his power to write, in which case, according to our arrangement, the duty devolves on the next member in the nomination. The right of individual correspondence however still remaining to us I take the liberty of communicating the occurrences of the time:

The important subjects now before Congress are : 1. authorizing our Foreign ministers to enter into treaties of alliance & commerce with the several nations who have desired it.

2. arranging the Domestic administration.

3. establishing Arsenals within the states, & posts on our Frontier.

4. Disposing of the Western territory.

5. treaties of peace and purchase with the Indians.

6. Money.

Your Excellency will perceive that these are questions of such difficulty as must produce differences of opinion, and of such importance as forbid a sacrifice of judgment to one another. We have but nine states present, seven of which are represented by only two members each. There are 14 gentlemen then, any one of which differing from the rest, stops our proceeding, for all these questions require the con