DOCUMENTS BEARING ON TREATY OF 1783. 79 



trol the conditions of a treaty between them and Great Britain, ex- 

 cepting the provision for the great article of Independence which was 

 now out of the question. . . . 



After allowing me to go on in this way, he said there were some 

 things which he wished England to think of, or to agree to (I forget 

 which) , and yet he should not like that they were known to have been 

 suggested by him. At last he told me, if I would come out to his 

 house on Wednesday, the 10th, he would show me a minute of some 

 things which he thought might be deserving of notice upon the 

 occasion. . . . 



Meantime he read to me some late resolutions of the Assembly of 

 Maryland in May, just come to hand; declaring against a separate 

 peace, or peace of any kind with England until their independence is 

 acknowledged. . . . 



PS. . . . He again mentioned the affair of Canada and said there 

 would be no solid peace while it remained an English colony. 



No. 44. 1782, July 9: Extract from letter, Mr. Grenville to Lord 



Shelbume. 



. . . Mr. Franklin the other day, for the first time gave me to 

 understand that America must have her share in the Newfound- 

 land Fishery, and that the limits of Canada would likewise be a sub- 

 ject for arrangement. He seems much disinclined to an idea he 

 expects to be stated, of going into an examination for the mutual 

 compensation of the losses of individuals, insisting, perhaps with 

 reason, upon the endless detail that would be produced by it; ... 



No. 45. 1782, July 10: Extract from letter, Mr. Oswald to Lord 



Shelbume. 



PARIS Wednesday 10th July 1782. 



MY LORD: In consequence of Dr. Franklin's appointment, as men- 

 tioned in my letter of the 8th under this cover. I went out to his house 

 this morning and stayed near two hours with him. with a view 

 49 of obtaining the information and advice I wished for, as to 

 the terms and conditions upon which he thought a treaty be- 

 tween Great Britain and the commissioners of the colonies might be 

 carried on, and proceed to a conclusion. Having reminded him of 

 what he in a manner promised on this head on the 6th, he took out 

 a minute, and from it read a few hints or articles. Some he said as 

 necessary for them to insist on ; others which he could not say he had 

 any orders about, or were not absolutelv demanded, and yet such as 

 it would be advisable for England to o:$er for the sake of reconcilia- 

 tion, and her future interest, viz. : 



1. Of the first class, necessary to be granted. Independence full 

 and complete in every sense to the 13 States, and all troops to be 

 withdrawn from thence. 



2. A settlement of the boundaries of their colonies, and the loyal 

 colonies. 



