It is a piece of justice, therefore, which I owe
to Mr. Adams, to declare that the proposition went first from me to him.
I take the liberty of enclosing you a copy of my letter to Mr. Adams,
of September the 24th, 1785, in which that proposition was made. It
expresses the motives operating on my mind in that moment, as well as
the cautions I thought it necessary to take. To these must be added the
difficulty of finding an American in Europe fit for the business, and
willing to undertake it. I knew afterwards, that Dr. Bancroft (who is
named in the letter) could not, on account of his own affairs, have
accepted even a primary appointment. I think it evident, that no
appointment could have succeeded without a much greater sum of money.
I am happy to find that Mr. Barclay's mission has been attended with
complete success. For this we are indebted, unquestionably, to the
influence and good offices of the court of Madrid. Colonel Franks, the
bearer of this, will have the honor to put into your hands the original
of the treaty, with other papers accompanying it. It will appear
by these, that Mr.
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