AMERICAN REVOLUTION]. HARTLEY, David (1731-1813), Diplomat, British plenipotentiary at Treaty of Paris . Autograph letter signed ("D. Hartley"), TO HENRY LAURENS, London, 13 May 1782. 1 page, bifolium .
AMERICAN REVOLUTION]. HARTLEY, David (1731-1813), Diplomat, British plenipotentiary at Treaty of Paris . Autograph letter signed ("D. Hartley"), TO HENRY LAURENS, London, 13 May 1782. 1 page, bifolium . "I SHALL...BE HAPPY TO CONTRIBUTE EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TOWARDS THE WORK OF PEACE" "I HEARTILY WISH YOU HEALTH AND HAPPINESS--AND PEACE TO US ALL." A dramatic letter written on the eve of the Anglo-American peace talks, mentioning Franklin, Adams, and the emergence of a new British ministry eager for peace. "Having heard from Mr Bridges that a letter may still overtake you," Hartley writes, "I take the opportunity thro this means of transmitting this and the enclosed to you [not included]. The enclosed is only a sort of postscript to my former to Dr. F[ranklin] just to inform him of the precise situation in w c h I left my negotiation with the late ministry, Breviate &c, and, that since the accession of the new ministry I had delivered the whole over to them, Breviate and all." The "breviate" was Hartley's memorandum outlining possible lines of negotiations with the Americans, encompassing either a general treaty with all belligerents, or a separate treaty with the Americans. The Secretary of State for the Colonies in the new Rockingham administration, Lord Shelbourne, wanted to strike a peace deal with the Americans. "I heartily wish success to the new negotiation," Hartley continues. "You know my sentiments so well (having myself had the pleasure of communicating so lately with you)...I shall at all times be happy to contribute everything in my power towards the work of peace, if my services at any time hereafter may be rendered useful to that object. I beg of you to present my best Compliments to Mr. Adams, & to express the same sentiments from me to him. I heartily wish you health and happiness--and Peace to us all..." In a postscript written four days later, Hartley writes: "Since writing the above, I have left a copy of the enclosed preliminaries with Lord Shelbourne." Hartley drafted his memorandum with the hope of being named the ministry's emissary to negotiate with Franklin (Franklin and Hartley dealt with each other previously over the prisoner cartel). But Shelbourne chose Richard Oswald instead. However, when the Fox-North coalition came into power in March 1783, Hartley became the British plenipotentiary who negotiated and signed the definitive treaty of peace in Paris on 3 September 1783.
AMERICAN REVOLUTION]. HARTLEY, David (1731-1813), Diplomat, British plenipotentiary at Treaty of Paris . Autograph letter signed ("D. Hartley"), TO HENRY LAURENS, London, 13 May 1782. 1 page, bifolium .
AMERICAN REVOLUTION]. HARTLEY, David (1731-1813), Diplomat, British plenipotentiary at Treaty of Paris . Autograph letter signed ("D. Hartley"), TO HENRY LAURENS, London, 13 May 1782. 1 page, bifolium . "I SHALL...BE HAPPY TO CONTRIBUTE EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TOWARDS THE WORK OF PEACE" "I HEARTILY WISH YOU HEALTH AND HAPPINESS--AND PEACE TO US ALL." A dramatic letter written on the eve of the Anglo-American peace talks, mentioning Franklin, Adams, and the emergence of a new British ministry eager for peace. "Having heard from Mr Bridges that a letter may still overtake you," Hartley writes, "I take the opportunity thro this means of transmitting this and the enclosed to you [not included]. The enclosed is only a sort of postscript to my former to Dr. F[ranklin] just to inform him of the precise situation in w c h I left my negotiation with the late ministry, Breviate &c, and, that since the accession of the new ministry I had delivered the whole over to them, Breviate and all." The "breviate" was Hartley's memorandum outlining possible lines of negotiations with the Americans, encompassing either a general treaty with all belligerents, or a separate treaty with the Americans. The Secretary of State for the Colonies in the new Rockingham administration, Lord Shelbourne, wanted to strike a peace deal with the Americans. "I heartily wish success to the new negotiation," Hartley continues. "You know my sentiments so well (having myself had the pleasure of communicating so lately with you)...I shall at all times be happy to contribute everything in my power towards the work of peace, if my services at any time hereafter may be rendered useful to that object. I beg of you to present my best Compliments to Mr. Adams, & to express the same sentiments from me to him. I heartily wish you health and happiness--and Peace to us all..." In a postscript written four days later, Hartley writes: "Since writing the above, I have left a copy of the enclosed preliminaries with Lord Shelbourne." Hartley drafted his memorandum with the hope of being named the ministry's emissary to negotiate with Franklin (Franklin and Hartley dealt with each other previously over the prisoner cartel). But Shelbourne chose Richard Oswald instead. However, when the Fox-North coalition came into power in March 1783, Hartley became the British plenipotentiary who negotiated and signed the definitive treaty of peace in Paris on 3 September 1783.
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