fied, will, I hope, be excused on account of the
singular and unforeseen circumstances which occasioned it.

Let me again recommend secrecy, and believe me to be, Dear Sir, &c.

JOHN JAY.

_P. S._ I have neither seen nor heard anything of Mr Laurens, nor of
the cypher you mention to have sent by him.

FOOTNOTES:

[3] Afterwards Sir William Jones.

[4] See this warrant in the Correspondence of the Commissioners for
making Peace, under the date here mentioned.

[5] When the Treaty was made with France, M. Gerard, who negotiated it
on the part of the French Court, did not show his commission to treat
till the Commissioners met him for the last time, and just before the
signing of the Treaty. Mr Jay was more particular, however, on this
point, and seemed disinclined to commence the negotiation in any form,
till the powers had been exchanged.

[6] See these articles in the Correspondence of the Commissioners for
Peace.

* * * * *

_Observations on the above Letter by the Editor._

Although in the present work I have carefully refrained from
expressing any opinions on the contents of the letters, or views of
the writers, not feeling authorised by the resolution of Congress,
under which these papers are published, to assume the task of a
commentator or critic, yet in regard to the preceding letter I cannot
hesitate to make an exception to this rule, and for reasons which I
trust will appear obvious and satisfactory.

On the main topics of the above letter, I have read in the office of
Foreign Affairs in London the confidential correspondence of the
British Ministers with their Commissioners for negotiating peace in
Paris. I have also read in the French office of Foreign Affairs the
entire correspondence of the Count de Vergennes, during the whole war,
with the French Ministers in this country, developing the policy and
designs of the French Court in regard to the war, and the objects to
be attained by the peace. I have moreover read the instructions of the
Count de Vergennes to M. de Rayneval, when he went to London, and the
correspondence which passed between them while he remained there,
containing notes of conversations with Lord Shelburne on one part, and
Count de Vergennes' opinions on the other. After examining the subject
with all the care and accuracy, which these means of information have
enabled me t