DOCUMENTS BEARING ON TREATY OF 1783. 55 



be better for England to offer it? Nothing would have a greater 

 tendency to conciliate, and much of the future commerce and return- 

 ing intercourse between the two countries may depend on reconcilia- 

 tion. Would not the advantage of reconciliation by such means be 

 greater than the expense? 



If, then, a way can be proposed which may tend to efface the 

 memory of injuries, at the same time that it takes away the occasion 

 of fresh quarrels and mischief, will it not be worth considering, 

 especially if it can be done, not only without expense, but be a means 

 of saving? 



Britain possesses Canada. Her chief advantage from that posses- 

 sion consists of the trade for peltry. Her expenses in governing and 

 defending that settlement must be considerable. It might be humil- 

 iating to her to give it up on the demand of America. Perhaps 

 America will not demand it ; some of her political rulers may consider 

 the fear of such a neighbor as the means of keeping the thirteen 

 States more united among themselves, and more attentive to military 

 discipline. But on the mind of the people in general, would it not 

 have an excellent effect if Britain should voluntarily offer to give up 

 this province; though on these conditions that she shall, in all times 

 coming, have and enjoy the right of free trade, thither, unincumbered 

 with any duties whatsoever; that so much of the vacant lands there 

 shall be sold as will raise a sum sufficient to pay for the houses burnt 

 by the British troops and their Indians; and also to indemnify the 

 royalists for the confiscation of their estates? 



This is mere conversation between Mr. Oswald and Mr. Franklin, 

 as the former is not empowered to make propositions, and the latter 

 can not make any without the concurrence of his colleagues. 



He [Oswald] then told me, that nothing in his judgment could be 

 clearer, more satisfactory, and convincing, than the reasonings in 

 that paper ; that he would do his utmost to impress Lord Shelburne 

 with them. . . . 



No. tf.1782, April 23: British Cabinet Minute. 







APRIL 23RD, 1782. 



Present Lord Chancellor, Lord President, Duke of Richmond. 

 Marquis of Rockingham, Duke of Grafton, Lord Ashburton, Lord 

 John Cavendish, Lord Keppel, General Conway, Mr. Fox, Lord 

 Shelburne. 



It is humbly submitted to his Majesty that Mr. Oswald shall return 

 to Paris, with authority to name Paris *s the place, and to settle with 

 Dr. Franklin the most convenient time for setting on foot a negotia- 

 tion for a general peace, and to represent to him that the principal 

 points in contemplation are The allowance of independence to Amer- 

 ica upon Great Britain's being restored to the situation she was 

 placed in by the treaty of 1763, and that Mr. Fox shall submit to 

 the consideration of the King a proper person to make a similar com- 

 munication to Mons. de Vergennes. 



