The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution

To Thomas McKean, President of Congress. Passy, November
5th, 1781....

.....176

State of American prisoners in England. Difficulties in effecting exchanges.
England refuses the mediation of the Powers; will treat with the United
States only as subjects. Proceedings of Colonel Laurens in Holland. Con-
fusion in shipping the supplies.

Robert R. Livingston to B. Franklin. Philadelphia, November

24th, 1781.....
....180

Recommending certain French officers in the American service.

Robert R. Livingston to B. Franklin. Philadelphia, November

26th, 1781...

....181

Financial difficulties of America. Importance of a French naval force in the

American waters. The commission for negociating a commercial treaty with

Great Britain discharged. Preparations for a new campaign. Supposed

letters of Mr. Deane.

William Alexander to B. Franklin. Paris, December 15th, 1781, 185

Requesting information concerning the disposition of France and America to

treat with Great Britain.

To William Alexander. Passy, December 15th, 1781........186

To David Hartley. Passy, December 15th, 1781
1781.....
........186

Concerning Mr. Hartley's plan for securing the lives of the spectators at public

spectacles in case of fire.

Robert R. Livingston to B. Franklin. Philadelphia, December

16th, 1781....
...187

Military operations. Enclosing a resolution of Congress for raising a pillar at

Yorktown; also an ordinance ascertaining what captures on the waters are

lawful, with other American State papers.

David Hartley to B. Franklin. London, January 2d, 1782....188

History of his proceedings for promoting negociations for peace. Conciliatory

bill of 1780 proposed as a basis; the question of independence to be waived;

a separate treaty with America to be negociated. Communicates these prop-

ositions to Lord North as general grounds of negociation towards peace.

Lord North wishes to know if any person is authorised to treat on the part

of America. Urges the making of overtures for a separate negociation.

Remarks on the Conciliatory Bill.....

Enclosed in the preceding.

.193

Robert R. Livingston to B. Franklin. Philadelphia, January 7th,
1782.....

...194

Suggesting the objects of most importance to be negociated; the limits of the
United States; extend to the Mississippi on the west. The fisheries; right
of the Americans to fish on the Banks of Newfoundland; sentiments of
France on this subject. Compensation to American royalists. Restitution
of records and papers taken from America.

To David Hartley. Passy, January 15th, 1782...

....204

No negociations can be opened without the concurrence of France. Objections

to the conciliatory propositions. Commissioners authorised to treat. A

formal acknowledgment of independence not made necessary by the treaty

with France.

To the Count de Vergennes. Passy, January 18th, 1782.....206

Capture of Flemish ships by American privateers. English ships furnished

with imperial papers after a pretended sale of ship and cargo at Ostend.

Robert R. Livingston to B. Franklin. Philadelphia, January 23d,

1782....

...207

Intercepted letters of Mr. Deane. Complains of want of intelligence from
Europe. Encloses resolutions of Congress relating to the fisheries and the
western limits.

David Hartley to B. Franklin. London, January 24th, 1782..209

Correcting Dr. Franklin's misapprehensions of his propositions. Cases in

which America might treat separately.

Explanatory letter to Mr. Hartley, referred to in the preceding, 212

Robert R. Livingston to B. Franklin. Philadelphia, January 26th,
1782....

Enclosing a convention for the establishment of Consuls.

To Robert R. Livingston, Secretary of Foreign Affairs.

January 28th, 1782........

.213

Passy,

....213

David Hartley to B. Franklin. London, February 1st, 1782..214

Interview with the Minister; he is favorably disposed for peace.

Danish Minister to the Count de Vergennes. Paris, February 6th,
1782.....

.214

Complains of the outrages of American armed vessels on the coast of Norway.
Robert R. Livingston to B. Franklin. Philadelphia, February 13th,
1782....

....215

Pressing for further assistance from France. This measure would be advan-
tageous to France herself. Sufferings of American prisoners in England.
Disturbances in Vermont and New Hampshire.

To David Hartley. Passy, February 16th, 1782.....

...218

Acknowledges his misapprehension of Mr. Hartley's former proposition.

Reasons of jealousy between France and England; English Commissioner at

Dunkirk. England must take the first step towards a peace with America.

Versailles, February 24th,

Count de Vergennes to B. Franklin.

1782....

...220

Enclosing the complaint of the Danish Court respecting outrages by American
vessels on the coast of Norway.

David Hartley to B. Franklin.

February 28th, 1782........220

Prospects of peace. The Ministry favorably disposed.

Edmund Burke to B. Franklin. London, February 28th, 1782, 221

Resolution of the House of Commons. Mr. Laurens.

To the Count de Vergennes. Passy, March 3d, 1782........222

Relative to the complaints of the Danish Court. Expects redress for the

seizure of American prizes in Danish ports.

To Robert R. Livingston. Passy, March 4th, 1782..........223

Complaints against American cruisers. Influence and services of M. de la

Fayette. Changes in the British Ministry. Unfriendly disposition of the

King. Relations with France. Financial arrangements of Mr. Morris.

American prisoners. Arrival and reception of Cornwallis and Arnold in

England. Mr. Deane's discontents; his vindication of Arnold.

To Robert R. Livingston. Passy, March 9th, 1782.........227

Address of the House of Commons to the King against continuing the war in

America.

Robert R. Livingston to B. Franklin. Philadelphia, March 9th,

1782.....

.228

Enclosing a letter from the Superintendent of Finance.

David Hartley to B. Franklin. London, March 11th, 1782...228

Mr. Digges appointed by the Ministry to inquire if any persons are authorised

to treat.

David Hartley to B. Franklin. London, March 12th, 1782...229

Enclosing the Parliamentary proceedings respecting the war with America;

prelude to a general bill to enable the Administration to treat.

David Hartley to B. Franklin. London, March 21st, 1782....230

Dissolution of the Ministry. Is desirous of negociating the peace.

T. Digges to B. Franklin. Amsterdam, March 22d, 1782 ....232

Appointed by the Ministry to inquire if any persons in Europe are com-

missioned by Congress to treat and to make known the disposition of the

Ministry to open negociations for a truce. His communications with

Mr. Adams.

John Adams to B. Franklin. The Hague, March 26th, 1782, 235

Interview with Mr. Digges; opposes the plan of a truce. Many cities in Hol-

land declare in favor of American independence.

To Robert R. Livingston.

Passy, March 30th, 1782........237

Policy of the Ministry; to divide America, and to separate America and France.

Singular language of the bill empowering the King to treat.

To John Adams. Passy, March 31st, 1782....

Mr. Digges's mission. Delays of Holland and Spain.

To David Hartley. Passy, March 31st, 1782...

The five Commissioners empowered to treat.

To David Hartley. Passy, April 5th, 1782....

.239

.240

Has no confidence in Digges. The Commissioners are ready to treat. Recon-

ciliation spoken of in the Parliamentary proceedings more than a mere peace.

To Robert R. Livingston. Passy, April 8th, 1782..

Acts necessary to effect it.

The new Ministry. Recommending the Prince de Broglie.

To Henry Laurens. Passy, April 12th, 1782..

.242

...243

Encloses a copy of his commission empowering him to treat. Treaties and

instructions forbid their treating without France.

M. de Rayneval to B. Franklin. Versailles, April 12th, 1782, 244

The French Minister approves his reply to Mr. Hartley. Proposals of the

British Ministry for a separate treaty with France by Mr. Forth.

To Robert R. Livingston. Passy, April 12th, 1782.........245

The new Ministry endeavor to gain over Holland. Capture of St. Joseph

(Illinois) by the Spaniards.

To David Hartley. Passy, April 13th, 1782.....

....246

Insincerity of the late Ministry in their proposals for reconciliation; endeavor-

ing, at the same time, to treat separately with France.

To John Adams. Passy, April 13th, 1782....

....247

Mr. Forth's mission to the French Ministry; Canada offered to France to

induce her to treat separately; answer of the French Court.

Count de Vergennes to B. Franklin.

1782....

Versailles, April 23d,

.248

Enclosing the complaint of the Danish Court on account of the capture of a

Danish vessel.

David Hartley to B. Franklin. London, May 1st, 1782......249

The late Ministry wished for peace on prudential grounds, not for reconcilia-

tion; proposal of a separate peace was intended to excite distrust in France.

His breviate laid before the Ministry, calculated to divest the war with

America of hatred and jealousy against France.

Robert R. Livingston to B. Franklin. Philadelphia, May 22d,

1782.....

.256

Enclosing a letter to the King; resolutions of Congress on the application of

Sir Guy Carleton to forward despatches, and on the subject of prisoners in

England. Disposition towards France in America.

David Hartley to B. Franklin. London, May 25th, 1782.....258

Release of the American prisoners in England. Prospect of reconciliation.

Robert R. Livingston to B. Franklin. Philadelphia, May 30th,

1782....

....259

Memorial on the subject of prize money due Captain Jones. Inquires why
the Danish Court applies to France on account of injuries of American
cruisers. Affair of Captain Huddy, who was hanged by a party of soldiers.

Richard Oswald to B. Franklin. Paris, June 5th, 1782......263

Desiring the discharge of Lord Cornwallis's parole.

To Richard Oswald. Passy, June 5th, 1782....

.263

Promises to comply with the request to discharge Lord Cornwallis.

John Adams to B. Franklin. The Hague, June 13th, 1782...264

Mr. Grenville only empowered to treat with France; the Ministry will be unwill-

ing to make any concessions. The Dutch are disposed to an alliance with

America. Policy of Russia.

Robert R. Livingston to B. Franklin. Philadelphia, June 23d,

1782...

....265