Commission to W.T.F. to act as secretary to Peace Commissioners Oct 1, 1782

To All To Whom these Presents shall come, Benjamin Franklin and John Jay send Greeting.

Whereas the United States of America in Congress assembled did on the 15th. June in the Year of our Lord 1781 appoint and constitute the said Benjamin Franklin and John Jay, and John Adams, Henry Lawrens and Thomas Jefferson Esquires, and the majority of them, and such of them as should assemble for the Purpose, their Commissioners and Plenipotentiaries to treat of and conclude Peace in their Behalf. And Whereas the said United States in Congress assembled, did on the 26th. June in the Year of our Lord 1781 appoint Mr. Francis Dana, untill he could proceed to the Court of Petersburgh, either in a Public or Private Capacity to be Secretary to the said Plenipotentiaries for negociating a Peace with Great Britain, And in Case Mr. Dana should have proceeded or hereafter proceed to Petersburgh or to any Part of the Dominions of the Empress of Russia, the Ministers appointed by the said Act of Congress of the 15th. June 1781. or a Majority of such of them as should assemble, should be and hereby were authoris'd to appoint a Secretary to their Commission, and that he be entitled to receive in Proportion to his Time of Service the Salary of one thousand Pounds Sterling per Annum allowed to Mr. Dana. And whereas his Britannic Majesty hath issued a Commission dated the 21 Sept. 1782 to Richard Oswald Esquire to treat of and conclude Peace with any Commissioners or Persons vested with equal Powers by and on the Part of the thirteen United States of America. And whereas the said Richard Oswald is at Paris ready to execute his said Commission, and hath exchanged with the said Benjamin Franklin and John Jay Copies of their respective Commissions, and entered on the Business of the same, Whereby the appointment of a Secretary to the American Commission hath become necessary. And the said Mr. Dana now being at Petersburgh the Right of appointing such Secretary hath in pursuance of the afore recited Act of Congress desolved on the said Commissioners and on the Majority of them and of such of them as have assembled of the Purpose of executing their said Commission. And whereas Mr. Jefferson one of the said Commissioners hath not come to Europe, and Mr. Laurens, another of them, hath declined to accept the said office, and Mr. Adams another of them is at the Hague, so that, the said Benjamin Franklin and John Jay are the only Commissioners now assembled to execute the said Commission.

Now Know Ye that they reposing special Trust and Confidence in the ability and Integrity of Mr. W. T. Franklin Esquire to perform and fulfil the Duties of Secretary to their said Commission have appointed and constituted the said William T. Franklin, Secretary, to the said Commission. In Witness whereof the said Benjamin Franklin and John Jay have hereunto set their Hands and Seals this first Day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty two and in the seventh year of the Independence of the said United States.