DOCUMENTS BEARING ON TEBATY OF 1783. 69 



as soon as possible. He pressed me earnestly to do it, saying an ex- 

 pression of mine in a former conversation, that there still remained 

 roots of good will in America towards England, which, if properly 

 taken care of, might produce a reconciliation, had made a great im- 

 pression on his mind, and given him infinite pleasure, and he hoped I 

 would not neglect furnishing him with the information of what 

 would be necessary to nourish these roots, and could assure me that 

 my advice would be greatly regarded. . . . 



No. 33. 1782, June 5 : Extract from Lord Shelburne^s instructions to 

 Sir Gruy Carleton and Vice-Admiral Digby in America,. 



It naturally therefore and necessarily became a chief consideration 

 with His Majesty's Ministers to draw from the information they 

 were possessed of, some probable clue by which the real disposition 

 and views of the American Deputies might be discovered, in order 

 to form a judgment how far the expectations of the House of Bour- 

 bon were well founded, and whether if the great ground of contention 

 between Great Britain and the revolted Provinces was removed, either 

 America or her Delegates would in such case be willing, or think 

 themselves bound to risk the full enjoyment of their favorite Object 

 by adhering to and supporting all the Demands of France and Spain. 



The Turn of Dr. Franklin's Conversation at several times both with 

 Mr. Grenville and Mr. Oswald had encouraged a belief entirely nega- 

 tive to these suppositions, especially, when he had expressly said 

 that "When we had allowed the Independence of America, the 

 " Treaty she had made with France for gaining it ended, and none 

 " remained but that of Commerce, which we too might make 

 43 " if we pleased" He had also said at another time, that " there 

 " should, he thought, be a great Difference made in a Treaty 

 " between England and America, and one between England and 

 " France, which had been always at Enmity "/ repeating frequently 

 that great effects might be obtained by some things being done spon- 

 taneously from England. 



Upon these and other considerations, his Majesty has been in- 

 duced to give a striking proof of his royal magnanimity and disin- 

 terested wish for the restoration of peace, by commanding his Minis- 

 ters to direct Mr. Grenville, that the independency of America should 

 be proposed by him in the first instance, instead of making it a con- 

 dition of a general Treaty. 



Mr. Oswald was sent back to Paris on the 26th ult, with this im- 

 portant Commission, and Mr. Grenville is instructed to make all the 

 advantage possible of the concession which His Majesty from His 

 ardent Desire of Peace has been induced to make with respect to the 

 Independency of the thirteen States, especially by pressing Dr. Frank- 

 lin's own idea, that the object of the Treaty of Alliance with France 

 being attained, the Treaty determined. 



I have given a confidential information to you of these particulars, 

 that you may take such measures as shall appear to you most advis- 

 able for making a direct communication of the substance of the same 

 92909 S. Doc. 870. 61-3. vol 7 10 



