"It was proposed to present to his majesty, that it would be well for Mr. Oswald to return to Doctor Franklin, and acquaint him that it is agreed to treat for a general peace, and at Paris; and that the principal points in contemplation are the allowing of. American independence, on condition that England be put in the same situation that she was left in by the peace of 1763."

Mr. Oswald also informed me, that he had conversed with lord Shelburne on the subject of my paper of notes, relating to reconciliation. That he had shewn him the paper, and had been prevailed on to leave it with him a night, but it was on his lordship's solemn promise of returning it, which had been complied with, and he now returned it to me; that it seemed to have made an impression; and he had reason to believe, that matter might be settled to our satisfaction towards the end of the treaty; but in his own mind he wished it might not be mentioned at the beginning. That his lordship indeed said he had not imagined reparation would be expected, and he wondered I should not know whether it was intended to demand it. Finally, Mr. Oswald acquainted me, that as the business now likely to be brought forward, more particularly appertained to the department of the other secretary, Mr. Fox, he was directed to announce another agent coming from that department, who might be expected every day; (to wit) the honorable Mr. Grenville, brother of lord Temple, and son of the famous Mr. George Grenville, formerly chancellor of the exchequer.

I immediately wrote the following note to M. le compte de Vergennes.

SIR,

"Passy, May 4, 1782.

I HAVE the honor to acquaint your excellency, that Mr. Oswald has just returned from London, and is now with me: he has delivered me a letter from lord Shelburne, which I inclose for your perusal, together with a copy of 'my letter to which it is an answer. He tells me that it has been agreed in council to meet at Paris, and to treat of

a general peace, and that as it is more particularly in the department of Mr. Fox, to regulate the circumstantials: a gentleman (Mr. Grenville) to be sent by him for that. purpose, may be daily expected here; Mr. Oswald will wait on your excellency, whenever you shall think fit to receive him.

I am with respect, &c.

B. FRANKLIN."

And the next day received the following answer.

SIR,

Versailles, May 5, 1782.

I HAVE received the letter which you did me the honor to write to me the fourth instant, as also those which accompanied it. I will see you I will see you with your friend with pleasure, at 11 o'clock to-morrow morning.

I have the honor to be, &c.

DE VERGENNES.

Accordingly, on Monday morning, I went with Mr. Oswald to Versailles, and we saw the minister. Mr. Óswald acquainted him with the disposition of his court, to treat for a general peace, and at Paris; and he announced Mr. Grenville, who he said was to set out about the same time with him; but as he would probably set out by way way of Ostend, might be for a few days longer on the road. Some general conversation passed, agreeable enough, but not of importance. In my return Mr. Oswald repeated to me his opinion, that the affair of Canada would be settled to our satisfaction, and his wish that it might not be mentioned till the end of the treaty. He intimated too, that it was apprehended the greatest obstruction in the treaty might come from the part of Spain. But said, if she was unreasonable, there was means to bring her to reason. That Russia was a friend to England, had lately made great discoveries on the back of North America; could make establishments there, and might easily transport an army from Kamtskatka to the coast of Mexico, and

conquer all those countries. This appeared to me a little visionary at present, but I did not dispute it. On the whole, I was able to draw so little from Mr. O. of the sentiments of lord S. who had mentioned him as entrusted with the communication of them, that I could not but wonder at his being sent again to me, especially as Mr. Grenville was so soon to follow.

On Tuesday I was at court, as usual on that day. M. de Vergennes asked me, if Mr. Oswald had not opened himself farther to me. I acquainted him with the sight I had had of the minute of council, and of the loose expressions contained in it of what was in contemplation. He seemed to think it odd, that he had brought nothing more explicit. I supposed Mr. Grenville might be better furnished.

The next morning I wrote the following letter to Mr. Adams.

SIR,

"Passy, May 8, 1782.

MR. OSWALD, whom I mentioned in a former letter, which I find you have received, is returned and brought me another letter from lord Shelburne, of which the above is a copy. It says, Mr. Oswald is instructed to communicate to me his lordship's thoughts. He is however very sparing of such communication. All I have got from him is, that the ministry have in contemplation the allowing independence to America, on condition of Britain being put again into the state she was left in by the peace of 1763; which I suppose, means to be put again in possession of the islands France has taken from her." This seems to me a proposition of selling to us a thing that is already our own, and making France pay the price they are pleased to ask for it. Mr. Grenville, who is sent by Mr. Fox, is expected here daily. Mr. Oswald tells me that Mr. Laurens will soon be here also.

Yours of the second instant, is just come to hand; I shall write to you on this affair hereafter, by the court couriers, for I am certain your letters to me, are opened at

the post office either here or in Holland, and I suppose, mine to you are treated in the same manner.

I inclose the

the cover of your last, that you may see the seal. With great respect, &c.

B. FRANKLIN.

I had but just sent away this letter, when Mr. Oswald came in, bringing with him Mr. Grenville, who was just arrived. He gave me the following letter from Mr. secretary Fox.

SIR,

"St. James, May 1, 1782.

THOUGH Mr. Oswald will no doubt have informed you of the nature of Mr. Grenville's commission, yet I cannot refrain from making use of the opportunity of his going offers me, to assure you of the esteem and respect which I have borne to your character, and to beg you to believe that no change in my situation, has made any in those ardent wishes for reconciliation-which I have invariably felt from the very beginning of this unhappy contest. Mr. Grenville is fully acquainted with my sentiments upon this subject, and with the sanguine hopes which I have conceived, that those with whom we are contending, are too reasonable to continue a contest, which has no longer any object either real or even imaginary.

I know your liberality of mind too well, to be afraid lest any prejudices against Mr. Grenville's name, may prevent you from esteeming those excellent qualities of heart and head which belong to him, or from giving the fullest credit to the sincerity of his wishes for peace, in which no man in either country goes beyond him.

I am with great truth and regard, &c.

C. J. FOX.

I imagined the gentlemen had been at Versailles, as I supposed Mr. G. would first have waited on M. de Vergennes before he called on me; but finding in conversation that he had not, and that he expected me to introduce him. I immediately wrote to that minister, acquainting him that

Mr. G. was arrived, and desired to know when his excellency would think fit to receive him, and I sent an express with my letter. I then entered into conversation with him on the subject of his mission, Mr. Fox having refered me to him as being fully acquainted with his sentiments. He said, that peace was really wished for by every body, if it could be obtained on reasonable terms; and as the idea of subjugating America was given up, and both France and America had thereby obtained what they had in view originally, it was hoped that there now remained no obstacle to a pacification: that England was willing to treat of a general peace, with all the powers at war against her, and that the treaty should be at Paris. I did not press him much for further particulars, supposing they were reserved for an interview with M. de Vergennes. The gentlemen did me the honor of staying to dinner with me, on the supposition which I urged, that my express might be back before we parted. This gave me an opportunity of a good deal of general conversation with Mr. Grenville, who appeared to me a sensible, judicious, intelligent, good tempered, and well instructed young man, answering well the character Mr. Fox had given me of him; they left me however about six o'clock, and my messenger did not return till nine. He brought me the answer of M. le compte de Vergennes, that he was glad to hear of M. Grenville's arrival, and would be ready to receive us to-morrow at half past ten or eleven o'clock. I immediately enclosed his note in one to Mr. Grenville, requesting him to be with me at Passy by eight, that we might have time to breakfast before we set out. I have preserved no copy of these three last mentioned notes, or I should have inserted them, as I think, that though they seem of almost too trifling a nature, they serve usefully sometimes to settle dates, authenticate facts, and shew something of the turn and manner of thinking of the writers on particular occa sions. The answer I received was as follows;

G g