DOCUMENTS BEARING ON TREATY OF 1783. 115 



officiousness. That may possibly be the case at present, in my pre- 

 suming once more to trouble your Lordship on the subject of Mr. 

 Laurens. He is now going over to America, I believe not ill-disposed 

 towards England. 



By his capacity and great activity he is capable of doing good. 

 Yet being perhaps soured with prejudices of resentment, it were to 

 be wished, however unjust, that they could be softened by any means 

 of notice and civility that may tend to quiet those irritations of 

 temper, which too often interfere with the operation of the soundest 

 and most benevolent principles. . . . 



No. 68. 1782, September 19: Warrant for Mr. Oswalds Second Com- 

 mission. 

 GEORGE R. 



Our will and pleasure is, and We do hereby authorise and com- 

 mand you forthwith to prepare a bill for our signature to pass our 

 Great Seal of Great Britain, in the words or to the effect following, 

 vizt. : 



George the Third, by the grace of God, King of Great Britain, 

 France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith &c. To our trusty and 

 well-beloved Richard Oswald, of the City of London, Esquire, greet- 

 ing. Whereas by virtue of an Act passed in the last session of Par- 

 liament, intituled "An Act to enable His Majesty to conclude a peace 

 or truce with certain Colonies in North America therein mentioned," 

 it is recited : " That it is essential to the interest, welfare, and pros- 

 perity of Great Britain and the Colonies or Plantations of New 

 Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Ehode Island, Connecticut, New 

 York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the three lower counties on Dela- 

 ware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South " Carolina and 

 Georgia in North America, that peace, intercourse, trade, and com- 

 merce should be restored between them." 



Therefore, and for a full manifestation of our earnest wish and 

 desire, and of that of our Parliament, to put an end to the calamities 

 of war, it is enacted that it should and might be lawful for us to 

 treat, consult of, agree, and conclude with any Commissioner or Com- 

 missioners named, or to be named by the said Colonies. or Planta- 

 tions, or any of them respectively, or with any body or bodies, cor- 

 porate or politic, or any assembly or assemblies, or description of 

 men, or any person or persons whatsoever, a peace or a truce with 

 the said Colonies or Plantations, or any of them, or any part or parts 

 thereof, any law, Act or Acts of Parliament, matter, or thing to the 

 contrary in any wise notwithstanding. 



Now know Ye, that We, reposing a special trust in your wisdom, 

 loyalty, diligence, and circumspection in the management of the 

 affairs to be hereby committed to your charge, have nominated and 

 appointed, constituted and assigned, and by these presents do nomi- 

 nate and appoint, constitute and assign You, the said Eichard Oswald, 

 to be our commissioner in that behalf, to use and exercise all and 

 every the powers and authorities hereby entrusted and committed to 

 you, the said Richard Oswald, and to do, perform and execute all 

 other matters and things hereby enjoined and committed to your care 

 during our will and pleasure, and no longer, according to the tenor 

 of these our letters patent ; And it is our royal will and pleasure, and 



