neighbors, let us be good ones, and live peaceably by each other as we used to do.' If B. is so easily satisfied, and lays aside his stick, the rest of the neighbors as well as A. will laugh at him. This is the light in which I stated it. Enclosed I send you a copy of the proposition.

I see by the newspapers that the Spaniards having taken a little post called St. Joseph, pretend to have made a conquest of the Illinois country. In what light does this proceeding appear to congress? While they decline our offered friendship, are they to be suffered to encroach on our bounds, and shut us up within the Apalachian mountains? I begin to fear they have some such project.

With great esteem, I have the honor to be, Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

SIR,

B. FRANKLIN.

TO THE HON. HENRY LAURENS, ESQ.

Passy, April 12, 1782.

Your enlargement gave me great pleasure; and I hope that the terms exacted by the late ministry will now be relaxed; especially when they are informed that you are one of the commissioners appointed to treat of peace. Herewith I send you a copy of the commission,* the purport of which you can communicate to the ministers, if you find it proper. If they are disposed to make peace with us and our allies at the same time, I will on notice from you send to Mr. Jay, to prepare for meeting at such time and place as shall be agreed on. As to our treating separately and quitting our present alliance,

Addressed to Messrs. Adams, Franklin, Jay, Laurens, and Jefferson, as commissioners for negotiating the peace.

VOL. II.

G

which the late ministry seemed to desire, it is impossible. Our treaties, and our instructions, as well as the honor and interest of our country, forbid it. I will communicate those instructions to you as soon as I have the pleasure of seeing you. If you have occasion for money, please to acquaint me with the sum you desire, and I will endeavor to supply you. With very great esteem and respect, I have the honor to be, Sir, &c. B. FRANKLIN.

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COURT OF FRANCE TO DR. FRANKLIN, ON THE OVERTURES FOR A SEPARATE TREATY.

A Versailles, le 12 Avril, 1782.

J'ai mis sous les yeux de M. le Comte de Vergennes, Monsieur, les différentes lettres que M. Hartley vous a écrites, ainsi que votre projet de réponse; ce ministre a donné une entière approbation à la manière dont vous vous exprimez. Je joins ici un post-scriptum concernant M. Forth. M. le Comte de Vergennes, qui en a pris lecture, trouve que vous pouvez sans inconvénient le transmettre à votre correspondant.

J'ai l'honneur d'être avec un très sincère attachement, Monsieur, votre très humble et très obéissant serviteur, DE RAYNEVAL.

(signé)

P. S. Depuis ma lettre écrite, Monsieur, j'ai pesé de nouveau les différentes ouvertures qu'elle renferme. Selon vous l'ancien ministère Anglois désiroit sincèrement une réconciliation avec nous, et il nous proposoit dans cette vue une paix séparée. Tandis que vous me transmettiez ce vœu du Lord North, cet ex-ministre avoit ici un émissaire chargé de sonder

le ministère François sur ses dispositions pacifiques, et de lui faire des propositions fort avantageuses. Vous pouvez juger par-là, Monsieur, de l'opinion que je dois avoir des intentions du Lord North et de ses collégues. Pour vous convaincre de la vérité de la notion que je vous transmets, je vous confierai que l'émissaire étoit un M. Forth, et qu'on l'a chargé ici de répondre aux ministres Anglois, que le Roi de France désiroit la paix autant que le Roi d'Angleterre; qu'il s'y prêteroit dès qu'il le pourroit avec dignité et sureté; mais qu'il importoit avant tout à S. M. T. C. de savoir si la cour de Londres étoit disposée à traiter également avec les Alliés de la France. M. Forth est parti avec cette réponse pour Londres; mais il y a apparence qu'il ne sera arrivé qu'après la retraite des ministres qui l'avoient envoyé. Vous pourrez, Monsieur, sans aucun inconvénient faire usage de ces détails, si vous le jugez à propos : ils feront connoître au ministère actuel les principes de la cour de France, et ils le convaincront, j'espère, que le projet de nous désunir seroit aussi illusoire qu'il nous seroit injurieux. Quant au problême remis à M. Forth, je ne saurois prévoir (si les nouveaux ministres en sont instruits) de quelle manière ils croiront devoir le résoudre; s'ils aiment la paix, comme ils l'ont persuadé à la nation Angloise et à toute l'Europe, ils ne doivent pas être embarrassés: la France leur a ouvert une voie qu'ils peuvent, selon moi, suivre sans blesser la dignité de leur maître; s'ils ne la suivent pas, ils se flattent sans doute que le sort des armes procurera à l'Angleterre des succès qu'il leur a refusé jusqu'à présent; ce sera à la Providence à couronner ou à frustrer leurs espérances.

162071

DEAR SIR,

TO DAVID HARTLEY, ESQ. M.P.

Passy, April 13, 1782.

Since mine of the 5th I have thought farther of

You were of opinion, sincerely a reconcilia

the subject of our late letters. that the late minister desired tion with America, and with that view a separate peace with us was proposed. It happened that at the same time Lord North had an emissary here to sound the French ministers with regard to peace, and to make them very advantageous propositions in case they would abandon America. You may hence judge, my dear friend, what opinion I must have formed of the intentions of your ministers. To convince you of the truth of this, I may acquaint you that the emissary was a Mr. Forth; and that the answer given him to carry back to the English ministers was, que le roi de France désiroit la paix autant que le roi d'Angleterre ; qu'il s'y préteroit dès qu'il le pourroit avec dignité et sureté; mais qu'il importoit avant tout à S. M. T. C. de savoir si la cour de Londres étoit disposée à traiter également avec les alliés de la France. Mr. Forth went off with this answer for London, but probably did not arrive till after the dismission of the ministers that sent him. You may make any use of this information as you judge proper. The new ministry may see by it the principles that govern this court; and it will convince them, I hope, that the project of dividing us is as vain as it would be to us injurious. I cannot judge what they will think or do in consequence of the answer sent by Mr. Forth (if they have seen it). If they love peace, as they have persuaded the English nation and all Europe to believe, they can be under

no difficulty. France has opened a path which in my opinion they may use, without hurting the dignity of their master, or the honor of the nation. If they do not choose it, they doubtless flatter themselves that war may still produce successes in favor of England that have hitherto been withheld. The crowning or frustrating such hopes belongs to Divine Providence may God send us all more wisdom! I am ever, my dear friend, yours most affectionately, B. FRANKLIN.

SIR,

TO HIS EXCELLENCY JOHN ADAMS, ESQ.
Passy, April 13, 1782.

Enclosed with this I send to your Excellency the packet of correspondence between Mr. Hartley and me, which I promised in my last. You will see that we held nearly the same language, which gives me pleasure.

While Mr. Hartley was making propositions to me, with the approbation or privity of Lord North to treat separately from France, that minister had an emissary here, a Mr. Forth, formerly a secretary of Lord Stormont's, making proposals to induce this court to treat without us. I understand that several sacrifices were offered to be made, and among the rest Canada to be given up to France. The substance of the answer appears in my last letter to Mr. Hartley. But there is a sentence omitted in that letter which I much liked, viz. "that whenever the two crowns should come to treat, his Most Christian Majesty would show how much the engagements he might enter into were to be relied on, by his exact observance of those he already had with his present allies."