Mifflin, Thomas (1744-1800) to John Dickinson re: announcing treaty and calling for ratification
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05578 Author/Creator: Mifflin, Thomas (1744-1800) Place Written: Philadelphia Type: Letter signed Date: 23 November 1783 Pagination: 1 p. + FF 33.5 x 21.3 cm Order a Copy
Signed as President of Congress. Docketed on free frank.
Signer of the U.S. Constitution.
Notes: The Treaty of Paris, signed 3 September 1783, ended the American Revolution.
Philadelphia, November 23, 1783
Sir
I have the honor to inform you, that Mr. Thaxter, the private Secretary to Mr. Adams, arrived here from France last evening; being dispatched, by our ministers at Paris, with a copy of the definitive treaty of peace between the United States of America and Great Britain; which was signed on the 3rd of September last.
As I find by the last article of the treaty; it is stipulated that "the ratifications thereof, expedited in good & due form, shall be exchanged between the contracting parties in the space of six months or sooner if possible;" to be computed from the day of the signature; and as much of that time is elapsed, I think it proper to give your Excellency this information, to the end that the delegates of your State may be impressed with the necessity of their attending in Congress as soon as possible.
I am with the greatest respect & Esteem
Your Excellency's h[um]ble Serv[an]t
Thomas Mifflin
His Excellency
The Governor of Delaware State
[John Dickinson]
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