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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --ANNAPOLIS, JANUARY 5, 1784.
The committee, consisting of Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [George] Partridge and Mr. [Arthur] Lee, appointed to prepare a letter to the Ministers of the United States in Paris, reported a draught, which was agreed to as follows:
I am directed to inform you that the definitive Treaty after a very long passage arrived during an adjournment of Congress from Princeton to this place. No more than seven States are yet assembled; these are unanimously desirous to ratify the Treaty, and the measure will be taken up as soon as nine States are assembled. In the mean while as the weather is severe and travelling extremely difficult from a heavy fall of snow, it is to be feared the ratification may not arrive in the time limited for the exchange To obviate any inconvenience that may arise from such accident I am to request you will attempt to negotiate an extension of the time fixed for the exchange of ratifications by the addition of two months [and that inconveniences may arise unless the time for exchanging the ratification should be extended.]1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Hugh Williamson, except the part in brackets, which is in the writing of Elbridge Gerry, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, II, folio 325. It was entered only in Secret Journal No. 4 (p. 230) and in Secret Journal No. 6, Vol. III (p. 209). The words lined out so appear in the report but were not entered on the Journal.]
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