110 APPENDIX TO BRITISH COUNTEB CASE. 



much intreaty, got him to give me the scroll, upon condition of my 

 making only such use of it, as it should not appear in any public way, 

 and so as it should not be heard of either here or elsewhere ; not even 

 by some of his own friends. I take the liberty to send that paper in- 

 closed. When Mr. Townshend sees it, to which I can have no ob- 

 jections, I dare say he will excuse my not sending it to him, since I 

 was not certain but that in such case it must be laid for inspection 

 with other papers in the course of the negotiation. It is a clear proof 

 of this commissioner being particularly desirous of smoothing the 

 path of this awkward business. If the proposal above-mentioned is 

 agreed to by His Majesty, which is only treating with them as States 

 instead of colonies, I should think your Lordship may have the 

 pleasure of meeting Parliament with a peace in hand. At least there 

 would be a kind of certainty, as far as appearances can be relied on, 

 to have so far satisfied America, as that she will not only control but 

 spur on the other parties. 



This would calm the disturbances at home, by disappointing those 

 who may wish to inflame them. I was once afraid that if Mr. Gren- 

 ville's proposition could not be regranted or repeated, that all the 

 treaties must wait to have the fiat of Parliament to that grant for 

 laying the first foundation of any of the negotiations. Now all that 

 is required is to say States instead of colonies, and the whole machine 

 is put into motion and will go its course. I will not allow myself to 

 doubt of there being any hesitation on the subject. The only incon- 

 veniency is that there must necessarily be a new commission. If that 

 is agreed on, I hope there will not be an hour lost in dispatching it. 



By what I can understand, the French court, of all things, wish the 

 colonies may not be satisfied, but rather that they should go on treat- 

 ing without any acknowledgment of independence, and have actually 

 told them that they were seeking for the effect without the cause, 

 since it could only with propriety arise out of the treaty ; and so 

 wishing that they should continue unfixed and unsatisfied until their 

 affairs and those of their allies are satisfied, and there might be then 

 no fear of check, but rather help from the American quarter. The 

 Marquis de la Fayette is always going about the commissioners, 

 anxious to know how they are like to proceed, on which head one of 

 those gentlemen has had sundry applications, and he makes no 

 scruple to give me these hints. 



Mxms r . de Vergennes, who keeps these agents in motion, it is said, 

 is to send his secretary, M. Gerard, &c., over to London upon some 

 particular negotiation, it is thought in favour of Spain. That court 

 wishes to have the whole of the country from West Florida, of a 

 certain width, quite up to Canada, so as to have both banks of the 

 Mississippi clear, and would wish to have such cession from England 

 before a cession to the colonies takes place. If that gentleman goes 

 over, there can be no difficulty in amusing him. The Spaniards have 

 the French title, and would gladly complete one to the whole of that 

 district by patches from the English pretensions, which they could 

 not hope tor once we have agreed with the colonies. 



I am very happy that your Lordship has so good a prospect of 

 increasing strength to the present system. A quick and decisive 

 settlement with the Americans will give it fresh vigour. I therefore 

 hope your Lordship will bestow some attention to have that matter 

 speedily carried forward. If it succeeds, it is thought France will 



