90 APPENDIX TO BRITISH COUNTER CASE. 



ence, which is the indispensable condition of our acknowledging their 

 independence on our Crown and kingdoms. 



10. It were much to be wished, that a foundation for an amicable 

 connection could be laid in some mutual principle of benefit and 

 indulgence. In this view we would direct you to propose as a 

 friendly token of reconciliation and of propensity to those ties which 

 are consonant to our mutual relation, habits, language, and nature, 

 that in future an unreserved system of naturalisation should be 

 agreed upon between our kingdoms and the American colonies. 



11. But notwithstanding you are by our commission authorised to 

 conclude and sign anything that may be agreed upon between you 

 and the American commissioners, it is our express will and pleasure 

 that you do not, in virtue of the said power, proceed to the signature 

 of any Act whatever with the commissioners for the colonies, with- 

 out first having received our special orders for that purpose from 

 one of our Principal Secretaries of State. 



12. Whereas we have, at the earnest desire and suggestion of the 

 said commissioners as above stated actually commenced a negotiation 

 with the Court of France, which has been extended to other bellig- 

 erent Powers, and entrusted as above our trusty and well-beloved 

 Alleyne Fitzherbert, Esq., with the necessary powers for that pur- 

 pose. Our will and pleasnre is that your preserve the most constant 

 and intimate communication from time to time with the said Alleyne 

 Fitzherbert, and in case you shall learn from such communication 

 that the proposals of the Court of France or of the other belligerent 

 Powers, without whose concurrence the Court of Versailles will not 

 conclude a treaty, should be such as we cannot consistently with a 

 due regard to our own honour and the interests of our kingdom 

 accept, and the design of a general treaty should be thereby frus- 

 trated; you will in that event point your whole attention to dispose 

 the American commissioners towards a separate negotiation, in the 

 hope, that the concessions you are authorised to make, will appear to 

 them to satisfy the interests and the claims of their constituents, as 

 in that case they can have no justifiable motive to persist in a war, 

 which as to them will have no longer any object, and, it is to be 

 hoped, will not be inclined to lend themselves to the purposes of 

 French ambition. At any rate, you will not fail to inform yourself 

 accurately what will content them, and report to us accordingly 

 through one of our Principal Secretaries of State, waiting for, and 

 expecting further instructions, which shall be sent you with all 

 suitable expedition. 



G. R. 



No. 55. 178%, August 7-9: Mr. Oswald's Minutes of Conversation 

 with the American Commissioners. 



... I accordingly returned to Paris, & called upon Mr. Jay. He 

 is a man of good sense; of frank, easy & polite manners. He read 

 over the copy of the Commission, and Mr. Townshend's letter ac- 

 counting for its not being under seal; and then said, By the quota- 



Mr. Jay reached Paris on 23 June, but from ill health was unable to conduct 

 negotiations until August. 



