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whole or in part, or to act contrary thereto. In testimony and confirmation of all which, we have caused our great feal of Great Britain to be affixed to thefe prefents, figned with our Royal hand. Given at our palace at St. James's, the fourteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thoufand feven hundred and eighty-three, and in the twenty-third year of our reign.

Full Power of the United States of America.

THE United States of America, in Congress affembled, to all to whom these prefents fhall come, fend greeting. Whereas thefe United States, from a fincere defire of putting an end to the hoftilities between his most Christian Majefty and these United States on the one part, and his Britannic Majefty on the other, and of terminating the fame by a peace, founded on fuch folid and equitable principles as reasonably to promife a permanency of the bleffings of tranquillity, did heretofore appoint the honourable John Adams, late a commiffioner of the United States of America at the court of Versailles, late delegate in Congrefs from the ftate of Maffachusets, and chief justice of the said state, their minifter plenipotentiary, with full powers, general and fpecial, to act in that quality, to confer, treat, agree, and conclude with the ambassadors or plenipotentiaries of his moft Christian Majesty, and of his Britannic Majefty, and those of any other princes or ftates whom it might concern, relating to the re-establishment of peace and friendship: and whereas the flames of war have fince that time been extended, and other nations and states are involved therein: Now know ye, that we still continuing earnestly defirous, as far as depends upon us, to put a stop to the effufion of blood, and to convince the Powers of Europe, that we wish for nothing more ardently, than to terminate the war by a fafe and honourable peace, have thought proper to renew the powers formerly given to the faid John Adams, and to join four other perfons in commiffion with him; and having full confidence in the integrity, prudence,

and

and ability of the honourable Benjamin Franklin, our minifter plenipotentiary at the court of Versailles, and the honourable John Jay, late prefident of Congress, and chief justice of the state of New York, and our minister plenipotentiary at the court of Madrid; and the honourable Henry Laurens, formerly president of Congress, and commiffionated and fent as our agent to the United Provinces of the Low Countries; and the honourable Thomas Jefferfon, governor of the commonwealth of Virginia; have nominated, conftituted, and appointed, and by thefe prefents do nominate, conftitute, and appoint, the faid Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, Henry Laurens, and Thomas Jefferfon, in addition to the faid John Adams, giving and granting to them the faid John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, Henry Laurens, and Thomas Jefferfon, or the majority of them, or of fuch of them as may affemble; or, in cafe of the death, abfence, indifpofition, or other impediment of the others, to any one of them, full power and authority, general and special, conjunctly and feparately, and general and fpecial command, to repair to fuch place as may be fixed upon for opening negotiations for peace; and there for us, and in our name, to confer, treat, agree, and conclude with the ambaffadors, commiffioners, and plenipotentiaries of the Princes and ftates whom it may concern, vefted with equal powers, relating to the establishment of peace; and whatsoever shall be agreed and concluded, for us, and in our name, to fign, and thereupon make a treaty or treaties; and to tranfact every thing that may be neceffary for completing, fecuring, and ftrengthening the great work of pacification, in as ample form, and with the fame effect, as if we were perfonally prefent, and acted therein; hereby promifing, in good faith, that we will accept, ratify, fulfil, and execute whatever fhall be agreed, concluded, and figned by our faid minifters plenipotentiary, or a majority of them, or of fuch of them as may affemble; or, in cafe of the death, abfence, indifpofition, or other impediment

of

of the others, by any one of them; and that we will never act, nor suffer any person to act, contrary to the fame, in whole, or in any part. In witness whereof, we have caused these presents to be figned by our prefident, and fealed with his feal.

Done at Philadelphia, the fifteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand feven hundred and eighty-one, and in the fifth year of our independence, by the United States in Congress affembled.

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