86 APPENDIX TO BRITISH COUNTER CASE. 



No. 52. 1782, July 26: Extract from letter, Mr. Townshend to Mr. 



Oswald. 



26TH JULY 1782 



SIR : I expected to have had the honor to transmit you herewith the 

 King's commission, authorizing you to treat, and conclude a peace 

 with the American Commissioners at Paris, as well as his Majesty's 

 instructions, consequent to it; but from the length of time necessary 

 to pass the commission, I have thought it necessary to forward this 

 to you without waiting for it. ... 



I think it necessary to acquaint you, that Mr. Fitzherbert, now at 

 Brussels, has orders to join you at Paris and to replace Mr. Grenville. 

 I have great pleasure in recommending him to your confidence, as he 

 is a person of whose talents and discretion I have the highest opinion 

 founded in a long acquaintance. 



Of those with whom you are to treat I have no knowledge of 

 any, except Dr. Franklin. My knowledge of him is of a long 

 standing, though of no great degree of intimacy. I am not 

 53 vain enough to suppose, that any public conduct or principles 

 of mine should have attracted much of his notice; but I be- 

 lieve he knows enough of them to be persuaded that no one has been 

 more averse to the carrying on this unhappy contest, or a more 

 sincere friend to peace and reconciliation, than myself. If he does 

 me the justice to believe these sentiments to be sincere, he will be con- 

 vinced, that I shall show myself in the transaction of this business an 

 unequivocal and zealous friend to pacification upon the fairest and 

 most liberal terms. . 



No. 53. 1788, July 27: Extract from letter, Lord Shelbume to. Mr. 



Oswald. 



SHELBURNE Ho 27th July 1782. 

 To Mr. OSWALD 



DEAR SIR. I am to acknowledge the receipt of your several letters 

 of the 8th, 10th, llth, and 12th instant by Potter. They give me the 

 greatest satisfaction, as they contain in my apprehension unequivocal 

 proofs of Dr. Franklin's sincerity and confidence in those with whom 

 he treats. I am sure it will be the study of His Majesty's Ministers 

 to return it by every possible cordiality. 



I cannot say that the subject of your letter of the 12th and of Dr. 

 Franklin's to you of the same date gives me so much uneasiness as 

 it seems to do you. I know the correctness of my own conduct, and 

 that it can stand every test. A French Minister might not so easily 

 be brought to understand the conduct of others. 



But those with whom you have particularly to treat know too much 

 of the parties incident to our constitution, and of the violence and 

 inveteracy occasioned by personal disappointment, to be easily misled 

 by false assertions or newspaper comments. I need only appeal to 

 your own knowledge. However, as you may not wish it to rest en- 

 tirely upon that, I nave obtained His Majesty's leave to send you my 

 despatch to Sir Guy arleton and Vice- Admiral Digby. dated so long 

 ago as the 5th June, and Mr. Fox's letter to Mr. Simolin of the 28th 



