70 APPENDIX TO BRITISH COUNTER CASE. 



either immediately to Congress, or through the medium of General 

 Washington, or in any other manner, which you may think most likely 

 to impress the well-disposed part of America with the fairness and 

 liberality of his Majesty's proceedings in such great and spontane- 

 ous concessions. 



The advantages which we may expect from such communication 

 are: that America, once apprised of the King's disposition to ac- 

 knowledge the independence of the thirteen States, and of the disin- 

 clination 'in the French Court to terminate the war, must see that it 

 is from this moment to be carried on with a view of negotiating points 

 in which she can have no concern, whether they regard France, or 

 Spain and Holland, at the desire of France; but some of which, on the 

 contrary, may be in future manifestly injurious to the interests of 

 America herself That if the negotiation is broke off, it will un- 

 doubtedly be for the sake of some of those Powers, and not of Amer- 

 ica, whose object is accomplished the instant she accepts of an inde- 

 pendence, which is not merely held out to her in the way of negotia- 

 tion by the Executive Power, but a distinct unconditional offer aris- 

 ing out of the resolutions of Parliament, and therefore warranted by 

 the sense of the nation at large. 



These facts being made notorious, it is scarcely conceivable that 

 America, composed as it is, will continue efforts under French direc- 

 tion, and protract the distresses and calamities which it is well known 

 the war has subjected her to. It is to be presumed that from that 

 moment she will look with jealousy upon the French troops in her 

 country, who may from allies become dangerous enemies. 



******* 



You must convince them that the great Object of this Country is, 

 not only Peace, but Reconciliation with America on the noblest Terms 

 and by the noblest Means. 



No. 34. 1782, June 9: Extract from letter, Mr. Osicald to Lord 



Shelburne. 



... I have nothing of business to trouble your Lordship with. 

 Only that upon one occasion, since my last arrival, the doctor said, 

 they, the Americans, had been totally left out in Mr. Grenville's 

 powers, as they extended only to treating with the Minister of France. 

 I told him the deficiency would, no doubt, be supplied in due time 

 as might be supposed, since in the mean while they had been assured 

 by Mr. Grenville, that His Majesty had agreed to grant Independ- 

 ence in the first instance. The Doctor said it was true, and he was 

 flad of it, and supposed that was all that could be done until the Act 

 epending in Parliament was passed. . . . 



No. 35. 1782, June. 10: Extract from letter, Mr. Fox to Mr. 



Grenville. 



. . . I. have taken upon me .... to show your letter to Lord Rock- 

 ingham. the Duke of Richmond and Lord John [Cavendish], who 

 are all as full of indignation at its contents as one might reason- 



