From Henry Laurens (unpublished)
No. 32. Norfolk Street London 18th April 1784
Dear Sir.

I beg leave to refer to my Letter of the 7th Inst. by the hands of Mr. Bourdieu.

Mr. Hartley called upon me the 13th. at Bath and return’d a verbal answer. “The King had ordered him immediately to Paris for exchanging the Ratifications.” And he accordingly goes and will do me the honor of delivering this.

Nothing further done by Administration respecting American Intercourse and Commerce, but ’tis said they are doing. A judicios intelligent friend who has been much consulted called upon me last Night, and assured me “nothing liberal or to good effect would be done, or he very much feared so, that he was tired and would be done with them. Mr. Pitt is well disposed having been well advised but the weight of the Council is against him,” I feel no regret on this account, difficulties will have an excellent effect on our side, I think my Countrymen appear to most advantage when they have a Rule to encounter and they seem to be at this moment taking measures which should have been adopted upon the first appearance of the Proclamation of 2d July ’83. The West India Merchants and Planters, every sensible Man in Trade with whom I converse, every unemployed Manufacturer and many who dread loss of future orders are uneasy. And all will come right when we determine to act right. I am come to London tho’ in poor health to provide for embarkation and hope to get away about the 15th. or 20th. May. I have the honor to be With the highest Esteem and Respect Dear Sir Your Obedient humble servant

Henry Laurens

This will be accompanied by two of the latest News Papers.
His Excellency. B. Franklin Esquire &c &c
I see last Night’s Gazette contains a proclamation or enlargement of the term for American intercourse to the 20th June. but this I count Nothing probably Parliament are to be consulted. If I can get one of the Gazettes in time it shall go with this but no doubt Mr Hartley will have a Copy.
641120 = 041-u525.html