8569. TREATIES OF COMMERCE, Efforts to negotiate.—
Without urging, we
[Franklin, Adams and Jefferson] sounded the
ministers of the several European nations at
the Court of Versailles, on their dispositions
towards mutual commerce, and the expediency
of encouraging it by the protection of a treaty.
Old Frederick of Prussia met us cordially and
without hesitation, and appointing the Baron de
Thulemeyer, his Minister at The Hague, to
negotiate with us, we communicated to him our
project, which, with little alteration by the King,
was soon concluded. Denmark and Tuscany
entered also into negotiations with us. Other
powers appearing indifferent we did not think
it proper to press them. * * * The negotiations,
therefore, begun with Denmark and Tuscany
we protracted designedly until our powers had
expired; and abstained from making new propositions
to others having no colonies; because
our commerce being an exchange of raw for
wrought materials, is a competent price for admission
into the colonies of those possessing
them: but were we to give it, without price, to
others, all would claim it without price on the
ordinary ground of gentis amicissimæ.—
Autobiography. Washington ed. i, 62.
Ford ed., i, 87.
(1821)
