DOCUMENTS BEARING ON TREATY OF 1783. 77 



it may concern, and he seems to understand that those general words compre- 

 hend the United States of America. There may. be no doubt that they may 

 comprehend Spain and Holland, but as there exists various public acts by 

 which the government of Britain denies ns to be States, and none in which they 

 acknowledge us to be such, it seems hardly clear that we could be intended at 

 the time the commission was given, the enabling act not being then passed. So 

 that though I can have no objection to Mr. Greuville, nor right to make it it 

 I had any, yet as your long residence in America has given you a knowledge 

 of that country, its people, circumstances, commerce, &c., which, added to your 

 experience in business, may be useful to both sides in facilitating and expe- 

 diting the negociation, I can not but hope that it is still intended to vest you 

 with the character above mentioned, resecting the treaty with America, either 

 separately or in conjunction with Mr. Grenville, as to the wisdom of your 

 ministry may seem best. Be it as it may. I beg you would accept this line as 

 a testimony of the sincere esteem and respect with which, &c. 



B. FBANKLIN. 



No. 42. 1782, June 26-30: Extracts from the Duke of Graf ton's 



Autobiography. 



On the 26th of June a Cabinet was assembled in the morning at 

 my house : . . . At another Council in the evening of the same day, 

 it was agreed that, with every testimony of our earnest desire of 

 acting with the Empress of Russia, in the closest connexion, yet, that 

 the armed neutrality cannot be formally admitted. It was also here 

 again explained, that independence to America was offered, in order 

 to obtain peace, or to separate the Americans from their allies. The 

 little prospect we then saw of succeeding in the French negociation, 

 occasioned us to desire as earnestly to bring it to a short issue, as the 

 Court of Versailles was endeavoring to protract it. 



* ****** 



At a Cabinet held on the 30th, the day previous to that on which 

 Lord Rockingham died, Mr. Fox pressed us earnestly to give sepa- 

 rately our opinion on the same point he had urged on Wednesday, 

 relatively to the independence of America being freely granted, even 

 without a treaty for a peace. The majority was for a treaty accom- 

 panying the surrender of the claim; but that it was also advisable 

 that independence should in the first instance be allowed, as the basis 

 to treat on. This decision not coming up to Mr. Fox's ideas : he de- 

 clared, with much regret, that his part was taken to quit his office. 

 which the illness alone of Lord Rockingham occasioned him for the 

 present to hold. 



No. 43. 1782, July 8: Extract from letter, Mr. Oswald to Lord 



Shelourne. 



PARIS Monday 8th July 

 MY LORD : I beg leave, under this cover, to transmit to your Lord- 

 ship a letter directed to myself from Dr. Franklin, which he sent me 

 ten days ago, on the day it is dated; and I will also take notice of 

 what passed between him & me in consequence of it. 



Lord Rockingham, the Prime Minister, died on 1st July 1782. He was suc- 

 ceeded by Lord Shelburne; Mr. Thomas Townshend becoming Colonial Secre- 

 tary. Mr. Fox resigned and was followed by others. 



