PERTAINING TO NEGOTIATION OP TREATY OF 1783. 231 



He at the same time told me that to satisfy His Majesty's Ministers 

 of the propriety of their Conduct, as persons under Trust, He had 

 sketched out a Letter to me, which I might send home if I pleased. 

 He read the scroll of it to me, and promised to write it out fair, and 

 give it me before the departure of a Courier. 



******* 



Richard Oswald. 



[Annex.] 



Sketch of an alteration proposed by M r . Jay to be made in Eis 

 Majesty's Commission, for treating with the Commissioners of the 

 Colonies. 



Received about eight days ago. 



10 th . Sep*. 1782 



A Commission (in the usual form) to Richard Oswald Esq r . to 

 treat of Peace or Truce with Commissioners or Persons vested with 

 equal Powers by and on the part of the Thirteen United States of 

 America, would remove the objection to which the present Commis- 

 sion is liable, and thereby render it proper for the American Com- 

 missioners to proceed to treat with him on the subject of Prelimi- 

 naries. [Note by Mr. Oswald attached to foregoing sketch.] 



11th August. In case the proposed alteration in the Commission 

 should be agreed on, I humbly submit whether it will not be proper 

 in the description of the American Parties to be treated with to 

 leave out a great part or all that variety of Denominations of Colo- 

 nies, Bodies Corporate, Persons &c. as they now stand in the Com- 

 mission, and to confine the description to just what is necessary, as 

 in the Sketch abovementioned, or with such farther addition only as 

 may not give offence to the Commissioners. I have not said any- 

 thing to M r . Jay respecting the words of the abovementioned Memo- 

 randum having forgot to do so, but I think (he "Words — or Commis- 

 sioners would stand properly after or before the Word Persons in the 

 above minutes. 



Mr. Towmhend to Mr. Oswald. 



Whitehall 20 th . September 1782 

 R d . Oswald Esq r . 



Sir, I received on Saturday last your Packets of the 10 th and 1 I th 

 of tin- month. 



A meeting of the King's Confidential Servants was held as soon 

 as possible to consider the contents of them; and it was at once 

 agreed to make the alteration in the Commission proposed to you by 

 M r . .fay. I trust that the readiness with which this proposal was 

 accepted, will be considered 08 an ample Testimony of the. openness 

 and sincerity with which the ( io\ frnimiit of thifi Country is disposed 

 to treat with the Americans. 



The Commission is passing with ns much dispatch as the forms of 

 office will allow, but 1 thought it materia] thai n<> delay should hap- 

 pen in giving you notice of the determination of His Majesty's 

 Council upon this subject. 

 I am &c. 



T. Townhiirnu. 



