126 APPENDIX TO BRITISH COUNTER CASE. 



part to furnish subsistence to those, whom for the sake of peace, he 

 can never, consistently with his honour, entirely abandon. 



The debts due to our merchants previous to 1775 cannot be lightly 

 passed over. They regard some of our most considerable merchants, 

 who are full of apprehensions, and are making daily applications to 

 Government. Honest debts must be honestly paid and in honest 

 money. And to prove them honest some security is expected in lieu 

 of the right of appeal which existed when they were contracted. 

 These are considerations dictated by honour and justice, which can 

 never be sufficiently dwelt and insisted on. 



But I beg to recommend the question of policy to your most serious 

 reflection. If we are to look to regain the affections of America, to 

 reunion in any shape, or even to commerce and friendship, is it not 

 the last degree of consequence to retain every means possible to 

 gratify America at a future, I hope not very distant day, when the 

 negotiation will not be carried on at a foreign capital, not under the 

 eye, if not control, of inveterate enemies, nor under the reputed 

 impulse of absolute necessity? This is to me such an obvious line of 

 policy that I cannot believe it possible for it to escape your attention, 

 and indeed am very clearly of opinion that your whole endeavours 

 should be pointed to it. And if there is the disposition you mention 

 in the Commissioners towards Great Britain, and it is stated to them 

 with address, I should think they might be brought to enter into it, 

 as they must feel it perfectly consistent with the language hitherto 

 held to them. It is at the same time certainly of importance to pre- 

 serve their confidence and good-will, where it can be done without 

 sacrifices which mere speculation can never warrant . . . 



No. 80. 1788, October 22: Letter, Mr. Townshend to Mr. Oswald. 



[ABOUT 22ND OCTOBER, 1782.] 



SIR, As I am sending over a confidential Person, to converse with 

 you upon the Subject of Boundaries, it is unnecessary to write much 

 upon this or any other subject by this messenger as you will give 

 entire credit to Mr. Strache} 7 in all respects. You may however with- 

 out delay inform the Commissioners that we insist upon a more ex- 

 tensive Boundary to the South-West of Nova Scotia, than is pro- 

 posed by the Plan of Treaty transmitted in your letter of the 7th 

 mst. We extend our pretensions to Sogaduhoch and the Province of 

 Main. 



You will also particularly state our Claim to the back Country, and 

 urge the necessity we are under of claiming it, that the King may be 

 enabled to make some Compensation to the Refugees. In this view, 

 the Point is to be insisted upon ; nor is His Majesty disposed to recede 

 from it, unless the United States will consent to make a just Provision 

 for those unfortunate sufferers; or, unless some other means of an- 

 swering the same end should arise, in the course of the Treaty with 

 France and Spain. 



Another principal object, is, the Recovery of Debts due to British 

 Subjects before the War: and therefore, if the American Commis- 

 sioners repeat their declaration that they are not authorised to treat 

 thereupon, you will press them to state, either directly to the several 



