The Works of Benjamin Franklin

From Henry Laurens to B. Franklin. 7 April, 1782.
Introducing Mr. Oswald.

To Count de Vergennes. 16 April.

Mission of Mr. Oswald, and Conversation with him.

To the Earl of Shelburne. 18 April.

Notes for Conversation with Mr. Oswald.

To John Adams. 20 April.

Account of introducing Mr. Oswald to Count de Vergennes,
and Conversation with that Minister.

To Henry Laurens. 20 April.

Details Mr. Oswald's Proceedings.

Account of Proceedings with Mr. Oswald.-Desires the

Presence of Mr. Adams and Mr. Laurens to assist in ne-

gotiating a Treaty.

From John Adams to B. Franklin. 16 April.

Interview with Mr. Laurens. - Suggestions respecting

Terms of Peace.

From Henry Laurens to B. Franklin. 20 April.

The Act of Parliament for the Exchange of American

Prisoners as Prisoners of War, a tacit Acknowledgment

of Independence.--Circumstances in Holland favorable for

obtaining a Loan. ́

From Count de Vergennes to B. Franklin. 5 May.
Appointing an Interview.

To John Adams. 8 May.

Plan of a triple or quadruple Alliance.-Difficulty of ob-
taining a Loan in Holland.

Mr. Oswald brings Information that it has been agreed in

Council to treat at Paris of a general Peace.

241

Mr. Oswald intimates, that the Ministry will acknowledge

the Independence of America, on condition that Britain is

left in the same Condition as at the Peace of 1763.

Requesting the Discharge of Lord Cornwallis in Return
for his own Enlargement.-Disposition in England favor-
able to the Acknowledgment of Independence, and to a
general Peace.

From the Earl of Shelburne to B. Franklin. 20 April. 265

Mr. Oswald is sent back to settle the Time and Place of

Treating.

To the Count de Vergennes. 4 May.

From Charles J. Fox to B. Franklin. 1 May, 1782.

To Charles J. Fox. 10 May.

Expresses his Wishes for a Reconciliation. Mr. Grenville

is acquainted with his sentiments.-Journal continued; Mr.

Grenville represents England as ready to treat with all the

Powers.-Dr. Franklin accompanies him on an Interview

with the Count de Vergennes.-They maintain that Eng-

land should expect no Concessions in Return for the Ac-

knowledgment of Independence, which was already con-

quered by America.-Dr. Franklin sees Lafayette, who

expresses a wish to be sent to England.

To the Earl of Shelburne. 10 May.

To the Earl of Shelburne. 13 May.

Time of treating not yet settled.—Discharge of American

Prisoners.

From David Hartley to B. Franklin. 3 May.

Favorable Prospect of Reconciliation.

To David Hartley. 13 May.

Desires that Mr. Oswald may be sent to treat.-Journal

continued.-Conversation with Mr. Grenville relative to

the Obligations of America to France.

From Henry Laurens to B. Franklin. 17 May.

The Release of the American Prisoners will tend to pro-

mote a Reconciliation.-Journal continued; Ministers of

the European Powers determined not to return the Visits

of the American Ministers.-Anecdote of the Russian

Minister and the Count du Nord.

To Henry Laurens. 25 May.

. 271

Declines engaging in the Negotiations.-His Opinions

coincide with those of Dr. Franklin.-Lord Cornwallis de-

sires to be discharged.

From David Hartley to B. Franklin. 13 May.

Nations are never satisfied with the Terms of a Peace.-

Discharge of Lord Cornwallis.

From David Hartley to B. Franklin.

Exchange of Prisoners.-Reconciliation.

From the Earl of Shelburne to B. Franklin. 21 May.

Relative to his Proceedings with the new Ministry.-Pro-

poses Preliminaries.—Journal continued; Mr. Grenville

states that he has received full Powers to treat with

France and her Allies. The Power relates only to

302

From the Earl of Shelburne to B. Franklin. 25 May, 1782. 304
Mr. Oswald has received Orders to return to Paris, with
the necessary Instructions.-Journal continued; Mr. Gren-
ville explains the Omission of America in the Power.-
His Instructions are full, empowering him to acknowledge
the Independence of America.-Conversation on the Res-
olution of the Americans not to treat without the Allies.

Suspicions as to the Omission of America in Mr. Gren-

ville's Power.-Journal continued; Mr. Oswald states that

Peace is absolutely necessary; that no more Money can

be raised.

To Richard Oswald. 6 June.

From W. H. Hartley to B. Franklin. 24 May.

From Richard Oswald to B. Franklin.

5 June.

Proposed Exchange of Lord Cornwallis for President Lau-

rens.

To Richard Oswald. 11 June.

From the Earl of Shelburne to Richard Oswald. 21 May. 313
Relative to Mr. Walpole's Appointment to negotiate.-
Journal continued; Memorandums of Lord Shelburne.-
that Commissioners be appointed, or any character given
to Mr. Oswald, which he and Dr. Franklin think proper
for Treating; that Compensation be made to the Loyalists.
-Conversation with Mr. Oswald on those Points.-Rus-
sian Offer of Mediation to Holland.

Journal continued; Release of Lord Cornwallis.-Errone-

ous Statements in the English Newspapers respecting the

Negotiations.-Letter from Mr. Dana at St. Petersburg.

-Conversation with the Marquis de Lafayette.

308

Discharge of Lord Cornwallis.-Journal continued; Con-

versation with the Count de Vergennes relative to the

Attempts to separate France and America; suggests the

Propriety of a Treaty between the Allies, to support each

other in Case of a subsequent War by England against any

one of them.-Mr. Ross accepts Lord Cornwallis's condi

tional Discharge.-M. Boeris informs, that Holland will de-

cline the Mediation of Russia for a separate Treaty.—Mr.

Grenville receives full Powers,authorizing him to treat with

any other Prince or State.-Empowered to acknowledge

the Independence of America previous to the Treaty, and

309

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors]

to propose the Peace of 1763 as a Basis.-Suggests a
doubt, whether Great Britain will allow America to be
designated by the expression, State.-Comparison of Mr.
Fox and Lord Shelburne; of Mr. Oswald and Mr. Grenville.

From M. de Lafayette to B. Franklin. 20 June, 1782.

Count de Vergennes proposes to meet Mr. Grenville, and

adopt Measures for an official Communication to the Allies.

-Journal continued; Arrival of Mr. Jay.-Visit to the

Count de Vergennes, who expresses a Doubt of the Sin-

cerity of the British Court.

To Robert R. Livingston. 25 June.

New Loan in France.-Progress of the Negotiation of
Peace. Exchange of Prisoners in England. - Sweden
proposes to treat with the United States.

Expresses a Wish that he should be employed to treat.-
Doubts whether the word State in Mr. Grenville's Powers
would apply to America, the Enabling Act not having
then been passed.-Journal continued; British Agents in
America for proposing a Reunion with Great Britain.

To Robert R. Livingston. 2 June.

To Samuel Cooper. 28 June.

Progress of the Negotiation.-Divisions in the British

Cabinet.

CORRESPONDENCE CONTINUED.

To Henry Laurens. 2 July.

Journal continued:-Visit to the Spanish Ambassador.-

His Remarks on the Subject of the Treaty.-End of the

Journal.