g that you communicate with freedom to each
other. Mr Jefferson will afford, I dare say, a very acceptable aid to
your commission; I have not yet learned from him whether he will take
the duties upon him.[9]

Mr Barlow, a poet of New England, has requested me to transmit you his
proposals for printing, by subscription, a poem of which he is the
author. I can give no character of the work, but what you will get
from the specimen enclosed, which is all I have seen of it. The
enclosed resolution informs you of Mr Boudinot's advancement to the
Presidentship. For other intelligence I refer you to my letter to Dr
Franklin, and the papers that accompany this.

I am, Dear Sir, &c.

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

FOOTNOTES:

[8] See Franklin's Correspondence. Vol. IV. p. 34.

[9] Mr Jefferson did not join the Commissioners for Peace.

* * * * *

TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

Paris, December 12th, 1782.

Dear Sir,

I have already written a long letter to you by this vessel, and should
have continued the details of our subsequent proceedings, had my
health admitted of the necessary application.

You will receive from us a joint letter with a copy of the
preliminaries. I shall therefore omit making any remarks on them.

Before I left Spain, and by letters since my arrival here, I desired
Mr Carmichael to make out and transmit the public accounts. Our
negotiations with that Court are at a stand. The Count d'Aranda either
has not, or does not choose to show me a commission to treat. He is
exceedingly civil, and frequent visits pass between us.

It gives me pleasure to inform you, that perfect unanimity has
hitherto prevailed among your Commissioners here; and I do not
recollect, that since we began to negotiate with Mr Oswald, there has
been the least division or opposition between us. Mr Adams was
particularly useful respecting the eastern boundary, and Dr Franklin's
firmness and exertions on the subject of the tories did us much
service. I enclose herewith a copy of a letter he wrote about that
matter to Mr Oswald.[10] It had much weight, and is written with a
degree of acuteness and spirit seldom to be met with in persons of his
age.

I have the honor to be, with great regard and esteem, Dear Sir, &c.

JOHN JAY.