154 APPENDIX TO BRITISH COUNTER CASE. 



2dly. Because the profits of an extensive and lucrative commerce, 

 and not the possession of vast tracts of wilderness, were the true ob- 

 jects of a commercial European nation. 



93 That by our extending to the Mississippi to the west, and to 



the proclamation bounds of Canada to the north, and by con- 

 senting to the mutual free navigation of our several lakes and rivers, 

 there would be an inland navigation from the Gulf of St. Lawrence 

 to that of Mexico by means of which the inhabitants west and north 

 of the mountains might with more ease be supplied with foreign com- 

 modities than from ports on the Atlantic, and that this immense and 

 growing trade would be in a manner monopolised by Great Britain, 

 as we should not insist that she should admit other nations to navi- 

 gate the waters that belonged to her. That, therefore, the naviga- 

 tion of the Mississippi would in future be no less important to her 

 ihan to us, it being the only convenient outlet through which they 

 could transport the productions of the western country, which they 

 would receive in payment for merchandise vended there. 



That as to retaining any part of that country, or insisting to ex- 

 tend Canada so as to comprehend the lands in question, it would be 

 impolitic for these further reasons. Because it would not be in their 

 power either to settle or govern that country ; that we should refuse 

 to yield them any aid, and that the utmost exertions of Congress could 

 not prevent our people from taking gradual possession of it by mak- 

 ing establishments in different parts of it. That it certainly could not 

 be wise in Britain, whatever it might be in other nations, thus to sow 

 the seeds of future war in the very treaty of peace, or to lay in it the 

 foundation of such distrusts and jealousies as on the one hand would 

 forever prevent confidence and real friendship, and on the other 

 naturally lead us to strengthen our security by intimate and perma- 

 nent alliances with other nations. 



I desire Mr. Vaughan to communicate these remarks to Lord Shel- 

 burne, and to impress him with the necessity and policy of taking a 

 decided and manly part respecting America. 



Mr. Vaughan set off the evening of the llth of September. It 

 would have relieved me from much anxiety and uneasiness to have 

 concerted all these steps with Dr. Franklin, but on conversing with 

 him about M. Rayneval's journey, he did not concur with me in 

 sentiment respecting the objects of it, but appeared to have a great 

 degree of confidence in this court, and to be much embarrassed and 

 constrained by our instructions. 



Nothing now remained to be done but to complete the letter we had 

 agreed to write to the Count de Vergennes, stating our objections to 

 treat with Mr. Oswald under his present commission. I accordingly 

 prepared the following draft of such a letter, and it was under Dr. 

 Franklin's consideration when the news of our success in England 

 rendered it unnecessary : 



[Here follows the " proposed draft " of a letter to Count de Ver- 

 gennes.] 



* * * * * * * 



On the 27th of September, Mr. Vaughan returned here from Eng- 

 land, with the courier that brought Mr. Oswald's new commission, and 

 very happy were we to see it. Copies of it have already been sent to 

 you, so that I will not lengthen this letter by inserting it here; nor 



