26 The Fishery Question. 



the end of the struggle, French diplomacy- 

 preferred that England should retain Canada, ^ 

 and that the limits of the new republic should 

 be curtailed. 5' 



Upon the arrival of Mr. Jay in Paris, early 

 in September, 1782, the negotiations that were 

 to result in a definite treaty of peace were v 

 already in progress, ^-^ Peace had long been 

 desired by both parties. It had several times 

 been attempted, but could make no headway 

 against the repugnance of George III. to any 

 acknowledgment of American independence, 

 and the artificial identity, in consequence of 

 the general war, of American, French and 

 even Spanish interests. When in March, 1 782, 

 the ministry of North fell, and what was more 

 significant, when the king had reluctantly con- 

 sented to acquiesce in American independence 

 as a condition precedent to the formation 

 of the Rockingham ministry, Franklin, at 

 Passy, anticipated the new home secretary. 

 Lord Shelburne, in a letter inviting an inter- 

 change of views. Less than a month after- 

 wards Oswald, was in Paris, not in the charac- 

 ter of a formal negotiator, but as the confidant 

 and representative of Shelburne who was anx- 

 ious to prepare the way for a regularly ac- 



