Conference with the Grand Pensionary on the plan of a treaty of commerce.—Mr Adams proposes the sending to the United States an Ambassador and Consuls on the part of Holland.

Recommends great precision in the terms of the treaty with Holland.—Importance of securing the West India trade.—Securities of a loan to the United States.—Value of American commerce.

Desires the ratification by Congress of his contract for a loan.—Terms of the loan.

Address of the merchants of Schiedam to Congress.

Impolitic for the three American Ministers to appear together at Paris, unless to meet an English Minister with full powers to treat with the United States as an independent nation.

M. Brantzen appointed Minister of Holland to negotiate a treaty of peace.—The States of Holland and West Friesland approve the project of a treaty of commerce.—Instructions of the States-General to their Ministers for negotiating a peace at Paris.

The States-General have received their instructions relative to the treaty of commerce from all the Provinces.

Complains of the infrequency and delay of despatches from Mr Adams.—Importance of the trade to the West Indies.—Evacuation of Charleston.

Sketches of the prominent characters in Holland.—The Duc de la Vauguyon.—Sketches of the foreign Ministers at the Hague.

State of the connexion between France and Holland.—Policy of France toward the United States. Influence of the memorial of Mr Adams to the States-General.—The Count de Vergennes opposes the proposition of the triple alliance.—The American Ministers in Europe ought not to be subject to the control of the French Court.

Enclosing his accounts.

Enclosing certain financial resolutions of Congress.—Recommends the use of English language by the American Ministers.—M. Dumas.

Conference with the Secretary of the States-General for correcting the treaty of commerce.—Conversation with the French Ambassador on the Dutch naval forces.

Authorising the Deputies for Foreign Affairs to conclude and sign the treaty of commerce, and the convention on the subject of recaptures, with Mr Adams.

Probability of the continuance of the armed neutrality.—The acknowledgment of American Independence is not a violation of its principles.—Jealousies of some powers against the House of Bourbon.

Conversation with the Spanish Minister.—English, Dutch, Spanish, and American Ministers at Paris, without any appearance of a sincere desire to treat on the part of England.—Visit to the Duc de la Vauguyon.—The Duke instructed to propose the concert of the Dutch naval forces with the French, in intercepting the English West India fleet.

Giving an account of its funds, mode of transacting business, &c. Note on the above, correcting a statement.

State of American affairs in Holland.—Conduct of the different foreign Ministers towards Mr Adams.

Causes which delay his going to Paris.

The treaty of commerce, and the convention concerning recaptures executed.—Remarks on some of the clauses, and some rejected articles.

Preparing to set out for Paris.

Arrival in Paris.—Conference with Mr Jay.—Difference of opinion as to the true sense of the instructions to the Ministers, requiring them to act only with the consent of the French Ministry.—Contested points.—Visits the Dutch Minister, who informs him that little progress has been made in the negotiations between Holland and England.—M. Rayneval's visit to England.

Mr Jay and Mr Adams have declined treating without a previous acknowledgment of independence.—Information from Holland reaches America by the way of France, before it can be transmitted directly.—The affairs of the Foreign Department ought to be kept secret from France.—Character of the English agents for negotiating the peace.—Real disposition of Lord Shelburne.—Have agreed on boundaries, and the payment of British debts due before the war.—Indemnification of tories and Eastern boundary, points of dispute.—Secret influence of France.—Negotiations at Versailles secret.—The Dutch Ambassador suspects the sincerity of the English.—Mr Oswald proposes that the British army should be allowed to evacuate New York unmolested.