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change. If it is that, which occasions the difference between 14,513 for the first quarter, and the 16,667 for the second, it is considerable. I think we have no right to any advantage by the exchange, nor should we be liable to any loss from it. Hitherto we have taken 15,000 for a quarter, (subject however to the allowance or disallowance of Congress,) which is lower than the medium between those two extremes.

The different accounts given of Lord Shelburne's character, with respect to sincerity, induced the ministry here to send over M. de Rayneval, Secretary to the Council, to converse with him, and endeavour to form by that means a more perfect judgment of what was to be expected from the negotiations. He was five or six days in England, saw all the ministers, and returned quite satisfied, that they are sincerely desirous of peace, so that the negotiations now go on with some prospect of success. But the court and people of England are very changeable. A little turn of fortune in their favor sometimes turns their heads; and I shall not think a speedy peace to be depended on, till I see the treaties signed. I am obliged to finish. With great esteem, &c.

B. FRANKLIN.

TO JOHN ADAMS.

Passy, 15 October, 1782

SIR,

A long and painful illness has prevented my corresponding with your Excellency regularly.

Mr. Jay has, I believe, acquainted you with the obstructions our peace negotiations have met with, and that they are at length removed. By the next courier expected from London, we may be able perhaps to

form some judgment of the probability of success, so far as relates to our part of the peace. How likely the other powers are to settle their pretensions, I cannot yet learn. In the mean time, America is gradually growing more easy, by the enemy's evacuation of their posts; as you will see by some intelligence I enclose. With great respect I have the honor to be, &c.

B. FRANKLIN.

FROM GEORGE WASHINGTON TO B. FRANKLIN.
Head-Quarters, 18 October, 1782.

SIR,

I have been honored with two favors of your Excellency, one presented by the Count de Ségur, of the 2d of April, the other delivered by the Prince de Broglie, of the 8th, both of which were rendered doubly agreeable by the pleasure I had in receiving them from the hands of two such amiable and accomplished young gentlemen. Independently of my esteem for your Excellency, be assured, Sir, that my respect and regard for the French nation at large, to whom this country is under so great obligations, as well as the very favorable impressions I have conceived for their particular characters, will secure my warmest attention to the persons of these distinguished young noblemen.

I am much obliged by the political information, which you have taken the trouble to convey to me, but feel myself much embarrassed in my wish to make you a return in kind. Early in the season, the expectations of America were much raised in consequence of the change of the British ministry, and the measures of Parliament; but events have shown that our hopes have risen too high. The death of the Marquis of Rockingham, the advancement of the Earl of Shel

burne, and the delays of negotiation, have given us very different impressions from those we at first received. We now begin again to reflect upon the persevering obstinacy of the King, the wickedness of his ministry, and the haughty pride of the nation, which recall to our minds very disagreeable recollections, and a probable continuance of our present troubles. The military operations of the campaign are drawing to a close without any very important events on this side of the water, unless the evacuation of Charleston, which is generally expected, but not yet known to me, should take place, and form a paragraph in the page of this year's history.

The British fleet from the West Indies still continues in New York. I have not been able yet to decide on the enemy's intentions there. It is generally thought, that a detachment of their troops will sail, when the fleet returns to the West Indies, where it is conjectured their efforts for the winter will be prosecuted with vigor. I have the honor to be, &c. GEORGE WASHINGTON.

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FROM THOMAS TOWNSHEND TO B. FRANKLIN.

SIR,

Introducing Mr. Strachey.

Whitehall, 23 October, 1782.

As Mr. Strachey* is going from hence to Paris, with some particulars for Mr. Oswald, which were not easily to be explained in writing, I take the liberty of introducing him to your acquaintance, though I am not sure that he is not a little known to you. The confidential situation, in which he stands with me,

* Mr. Strachey was Under-Secretary of State in the Department of Mr. Townshend.

makes me particularly desirous of presenting him to you.

I believe, Sir, I am enough known to you, for you to believe me, when I say, that there has not been from the beginning a single person more averse to the unhappy war, or who wishes more earnestly than I do for a return of peace and mutual amity between Great Britain and America. I am, with great regard, Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

T. TOWNSHend.

TO THOMAS TOWNSHEND.

Passy, 4 November, 1782,

SIR,

I received the letter you did me the honor of writing to me by Mr. Strachey, and was much pleased with the opportunity it gave me of renewing and increasing my acquaintance with a gentleman of so amiable and deserving a character.

I am sensible you have ever been averse to the measures that brought on this unhappy war; I have, therefore, no doubt of the sincerity of your wishes for a return of peace. Mine are equally earnest. Nothing, therefore, except the beginning of the war, has given me more concern than to learn at the conclusion of our conferences, that it is not likely to be soon ended. Be assured, no endeavours on my part would be wanting to remove any difficulties that may have arisen, or, even if a peace were made, to procure afterwards any changes in the treaty, that might tend to render it more perfect, and the peace more durable. But we, who are here at so great a distance from our constituents, have not the possibility of obtaining in a few days fresh instructions, as is the case with your negotiators, and are therefore obliged to insist on what

is conformable to those we have, and at the same time appears to us just and reasonable. With great esteem and respect, I have the honor to be, Sir, &c.

B. FRANKLIN.*

*From Richard Oswald to Thomas Townshend.. "Mr. Jay, after rcpeating his wishes that Great Britain might determine in a manner suitable to the present situation of things, said, that, in case we meant to close with them on this occasion, he would take the liberty to request that his Majesty would order his ambassadors at the neutral courts to give so much countenance to the peace with America, as formally to intimate its being in the train of negotiation, and, when signed, that the same also should be notified. The advice of this he said would soon reach America, and would produce the happiest effects there, as well to our benefit as theirs; even although the final conclusion must wait a settlement with France. That even that conclusion would also feel the benefit of those negotiations.

"Soon after, Mr. Adams, the other commissioner, called upon me, and expressed himself equally anxious that there might be an end to all our differences. In the mean time, he delivered to me the enclosed packet from their Congress to Mr. Laurens, with a request that I would send it by the first courier, and recommend it so as to get safe to his hands, which I promised to do, and hope it will be taken care of. Mr. Adams also signified in like manner, as Mr. Jay had done, a wish that the abovementioned intimation might be made at the neutral courts. He seemed so earnest about it, that I could not avoid asking him as to the object of such intimation. He answered, that, among other things, it would make them more independent, or indifferent about this court, which they wished exceedingly might be brought about; that neither he nor Mr. Jay had any particular instructions relative to this court, nor had any correspondence with it, further than as they were bound by the letter of their treaty with them. Farther than that, he said, they gave themselves no concern about them; that, in case of a particular commission, long residence, and habits of correspondence, it was natural to suppose a correspondent complaisance would be created even under the guidance of the most upright intentions and conduct upon the whole; but as to them, this gentleman said, they were not even under those kinds of biases."— Paris, November 7th. MS. Letter.

From Mr. Strachey to Thomas Townshend. — “Since Mr. Adams came here, the commissioners have taken more notice of the refusal of admitting their having the privilege of drying in Newfoundland, than I expected from what they told me at settling the plan of treaty, which was sent to England. But at last, after a great deal of conversation at different times on the subject, it was agreed to be left out, upon condition of their being allowed to dry upon any of the unsettled parts of the coast of Nova Scotia, when they happened to be so far from home as that their fish might run some risk of being spoiled before they reached

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