92 APPENDIX TO BRITISH COUNTER CASE. 



But now being in a somewhat different situation, and having so fair 

 an opportunity, which I wished not to miss of, in order to guess at 

 the meaning of this phrase, I replied that such long intermission of 

 war was certainly very desirable. But what security could there be 

 given for a continuance of peace, but such as generally put an end 

 to all wars, being that of treaty? But which was often found to be 

 a very inadequate security; as was the case of the last treaty con- 

 cluded at this place, only about 20 years ago. 



To this Mr. Jay replied, he would not give a farthing for any 

 parchment security whatever. They had never signified anything 

 since the world began; when any Prince or State, of either side, 

 found it convenient to break through them. But the peace he meant 

 was such, or so to be settled, that it should not be the interest of 

 either party to violate it. This, he said, was the only security that 

 could be proposed to prevent those frequent returns of war, by which 

 the world was kept in perpetual disturbance. 



I could guess what he meant by the present parties being bound by 

 motives of interest to be quiet; and asked for no explanation. 

 ******* 



I thought it remarkable that so soon after I left Dr. Franklin, I 

 should have found this gentleman's plan of settlement with Great 

 Britain, so much less liberal, or at least so much more encumbered 

 with relative connections, concerns, and interests than had been 

 insinuated in any conversation I had ever had with Dr. Franklin, or 

 rather, on the contrary, seemingly very materially different: except- 

 ing only in that of making such a peace as should be lasting, which 

 the doctor always said he aimed at. 



******* 



When we set out upon this business of peace, we justly thought that 

 a relinquishment of the sovereignty of America, which France so 

 strongly pleaded for, would have had some weight in the scheme of 

 pacification with them : and that such grant of independence would 

 have also fully satisfied the Colonies; and then, that by a few ex- 

 changes or concessions of little consequence, in the course of the 

 negotiation with France, the whole might have been quickly ended. 

 But th'e affair seems to have taken a different turn. France very 

 wisely, I don't say consistently, disowns the Grant of Independence 

 as being no concern of hers, and Mr. Jay will not allow them to 

 share in the merit of it lest, the Colonies should be brought under a 

 greater obligation to France, than they would choose; or more than 

 they can easily discharge, by a repayment of the money they bor- 

 rowed of them, which his colleague some time ago told me could be 

 easily done, as their taxes were coming in fast. 



******* 



I never chose to tease Dr. Franklin with many questions, yet at 

 different times he has freely declared, that having got the grant of 

 independence, their treaty with France was at an end : and on the 

 10th July explicitly specified the conditions which he thought must 

 necessarily be granted, to obtain a peace of any kind with the Colo- 

 nies; but if granted, would have that effect: adding at the same time 

 others, as discretionary or advisable; which if complied with, would 

 not fail to diffuse a temper of reconciliation all over the country. 



