They had before been suggested by Doctor Franklin, in some
of his papers in possession of the public, and had I think, been
recommended in some letter of his to Congress I happen only to have
been the inserter of them in the first public act which gave the formal
sanction of a public authority. We accordingly proposed our treaties,
containing these stipulations, to the principal governments of Europe.
But we were then just emerged from a subordinate condition; the
nations had as yet known nothing of us and had not yet reflected on the
relations which it might be their interest to establish with us. Most of
them, therefore, listened to our propositions with coyness and reserve;
old Frederic alone closing with us without hesitation. The negotiator of
Portugal, indeed, signed a treaty with us, which his government did
not ratify, and Tuscany was near a final agreement. Becoming sensible,
however, ourselves, that we should do nothing with the greater powers,
we thought it better not to hamper our country with engagements to those
of less significance, and suffered our powers to expire without closing
any other negotiation. Austria soon after became desirous of a treaty
with us, and her ambassador pressed it often on me; but our commerce
with her being no object, I evaded her repeated invitations. Had these
governments been then apprized of the station we should so soon occupy
among nations, all, I believe, would have met us promptly and with
frankness.
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