Amsterdam, and that he intends afterwards to go to Paris to wait upon you. I understand the occasion to have arisen, by some mention having been made in Parliament, by General Conway, of persons not far off having authority to treat of peace, which was supposed to allude to Mr. Adams, and some friends of his in London. The ministry were therefore induced to make some inquiries themselves. This is what I am informed of the matter.

When the proposal was made to Mr. Digges, he consulted me, I believe from motives of caution, that he might know what ground he had to stand upon; but not in the least apprized, that I had been, in any degree, in course of corresponding with you on the subject of negotiation. As I had informed the ministry from you, that other persons besides yourself were invested with powers of treating, I have nothing to say against their consulting the several respective parties. That is their own concern. I shall at all times content myself with observing the duties of my own conduct, attending to all circumstances with circumspection, and then leaving the conduct of others to their own reasons. I presume the ministry have only done what others would have done in their situation, to procure the most ample information, that the case will admit. I rest contented to act in my own sphere; and, if my exertions can be applied to any public good, I shall always be ready to take my part with sincerity and zeal. I am, my dear friend, your ever affectionate D. HARTLEY.

FROM DAVID HARTLEY TO B. FRANKLIN.

British Ministry.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

London, 12 March, 1782.

*

Enclosed with this I transmit to you the public Parliamentary proceedings respecting the American war. If you will compare these proceedings with some others in several of the counties of this kingdom about two years ago, you will at once see the reason why many persons, who from principles of general and enlarged philanthropy do most certainly wish universal peace to mankind, yet seem restrained in their mode of endeavouring to obtain that object. We must accommodate our endeavours to practicabilities, in the strong hope, that, if the work of peace was once begun, it would soon become general. Parliament having declared their sentiments by their public proceedings, a general bill will soon pass to enable administration to treat with America, and to conclude.

As to the sincerity of the ministry, that will be judged of by their conduct in any treaty. The first object is to procure a meeting of qualified and authorized persons. You have told me, that four persons are empowered by a special commission to treat of peace. Are we to understand, that each separately has power to conclude, or in what manner? The four persons whom you have mentioned are in four different parts of the world, viz. three of them in hostile States, and the fourth under circumstances very peculiar for a negotiator. When I told Mr. Laurens, that his name was

See the proceedings of Parliament on General Conway's "Motion for putting an end to offensive war with America"; February 27th, 1782. — Debrett's Parliamentary Register, Vol. VI. pp. 310–341.

VOL. IX.

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in the commission, I found him entirely ignorant of every circumstance relating to it. I understand, that the ministry will be ready to proceed towards opening a negotiation as soon as the bill shall pass, and therefore it is necessary to consult time, and place, and manner, and persons, on each side. The negotiation itself will speak the rest.

I have been informed, that some gentlemen in this country (not in administration) have lately entered into a correspondence with Mr. Adams relating to his commission of treating for peace, and that, their previous inquiries having been spoken of in public, the ministry have been induced to make some inquiry themselves from Mr. Adams on that subject. In whatever way a fair treaty may be opened, by whomsoever or with whomsoever, I shall heartily wish good success to it for the common good and peace of mankind. I know these to be your sentiments, and I am confident that they will ever remain so, and hope that you will believe the same of me. I am ever your most affectionate

D. HARTLEY.

TO JOHN JAY.

Passy, 16 March, 1782.

DEAR SIR,

favors of January 30th, and propose to write

I have received your several February 11th, and March 1st, fully to you by the next post. In the mean time this line may serve to acquaint you, that I paid duly all your former bills drawn in favor of M. Cabarrus, and that, having obtained a promise of six millions for this year, to be paid me quarterly, I now see, that I shall be able to pay your drafts for discharging the sums you may be obliged to borrow for paying those upon

you; in which, however, I wish you to give me as much time as you can, dividing them so that they may not come upon me at once. Interest should be allowed your friends who advance for you. Please to send me a complete list of all the bills you have accepted, their numbers and dates, marking which are paid, and what are still to pay.

I congratulate you upon the change of sentiments in the British nation. It has been intimated to me from thence, that they are willing to make a separate peace with us, exclusive of France, Spain, and Holland, which, so far as relates to France, is impossible; and I believe they will be content that we leave them the other two; but Holland is stepping towards us, and I am not without hopes of a second loan there. And, since Spain does not think our friendship worth cultivating, I wish you would inform me of the whole sum we owe her, that we may think of some means of paying it off speedily. With sincerest regard, I am, &c. B. FRANKLIN.

FROM DAVID HARTLEY TO B. FRANKLIN.

Change of Ministry. - Peace desired in England.

London, 21 March, 1782.

MY DEAR FRIEND, You will have heard before this can reach you, that Lord North declared yesterday in the House of Commons, that his Majesty intended to change his ministers. The House is adjourned for a few days to give time for the formation of a new ministry. Upon this occasion, therefore, I must apply to you, to know whether you would wish me to transfer the late negotiation to the successors of the late ministry; in these

terms, (vide yours to me of January 15th, 1782,) viz. "that you are empowered by a special commission to treat of peace, whenever a negotiation for that purpose shall be opened; that it must be always understood, that it is to be in conjunction with your allies, conformable to the solemn treaties made with them; that the formal acknowledgment of the independence of America is not made necessary." And may I add, that upon these terms you are disposed to enter into a negotiation? It is not known who will succeed the late ministry; but, from the circumstances which preceded its dissolution, we are to hope that they will be disposed to enter into a negotiation of peace upon fair and honorable terms. I have no doubt, that there were some persons in the late ministry of that dispo

sition.

I told you in my last letters to you, of the 11th and 12th instant, that I had received information, whilst I was in the course of correspondence with the ministry myself, on the subject of peace, that some part of the ministry were transmitting some communications or inquiries upon that subject to Mr. Adams, unknown to me. I had informed the ministry, from you, of the names of the four persons empowered to treat. I saw the minister upon the occasion. (I should now call him the late minister.) I took the liberty of giving him my opinion upon the matter itself. So far as it related personally to me, I expressed myself fully to him, that there was no occasion that such a step should have been taken unknown to me, for that I was very free to confess, that, if they thought my partiality towards peace was so strong, that they could drive a better bargain through another channel, I could not have any right of exclusion upon them.

I relate this to you, because I would wish to have