DOCUMENTS BEARING ON TREATY OP 1783. 157 



relative to the Newfoundland fishery, and places the Americans 

 exactly in the same state as the French were by the treaty alluded to. 



This is thought advisable as incident to the rights of sovereignty, 

 as well as in order to prevent quarrels between the fishermen of 

 both countries, and I am sure, that in the outset it will be wise for 

 those, who wish a thorough and perfect reconciliation to remove 

 as far as possible all objects of dispute. But the manner as well as 

 the extent of urging this will be left to your discretion on the whole, 

 but particularly with regard to the fifteen leagues off Cape Breton. 

 There seem to be no reasons for including the Magdalen Islands. 



I send to you General Leslie's letter with its enclosure, and likewise 

 one of Sir Guy Carleton's relative to the state of our prisoner? in 

 North America. I am sorry to say that chicane of every kind is the 

 recompense we meet with for the fair and voluntary return of the 

 American seamen, who were prisoners in England. I had intended 

 to have sent you Dr. Franklin's letters on the subject of our return- 

 ing the American prisoners, but cannot immediately find them. I 

 wish the subject might be mentioned to him in such manner as may 

 be least likely to raise acrimony, if you find a convenient opportunity. 



With regard to the secret article, you will observe, that if you can 

 satisfy the Americans, that they have attained their object without 

 inserting the article itself, it is highly desirable, that it should rest 

 rather on private assurances; as the insisting on anything further can 

 have no other effect, than carrying an unnecessary harshness towards 

 individuals. 



I now come to the conclusion, which is to lay before you in as few 

 and as clear words as I can, what the King expects should be the 

 conduct observed in this very important business. 



No exceptions are to be [sic.] in case of personal amnesty. 



The payment of debts before 1775 due to real British subjects and 

 restitution of their property. You are to take care to have as clear 

 and as favorable definitions on this head as possible. 



With regard to the rest of the articles, you are to use your best en- 

 deavours and to make the best terms you can. 



95 When you offer the substance of the secret article you must 



be aware that it is only for the sake of acquiring the full ben- 

 efit of the fifth article without any of the modifications. 



The Americans by this treaty will have their Independence con- 

 firmed to them, and will acquire the boundaries which they claim 

 themselves. New York and Charlestown will be ceded to them with 

 the artillery in them, that has been taken from them in the war. The 

 country has already shown a sufficient appearance of returning kind- 

 ness to the Americans by the Parliamentary Resolution against car- 

 rying on offensive war. 



We demand in restitution and indemnity what it is clearly in their 

 power to grant, and trust that our offers effectually remove the onty 

 solid ground of objection on their part, as we are willing that the 

 bond fide purchase-money should be paid to the real purchasers, and 

 as by the substance of our secret article we agree to except the per- 

 sons most obnoxious to America. 



We are fully persuaded that the only real ground that induced the 

 Commissioners to refuse restitution was the apprehension of having 

 these persons return to them : and we are even authorised in this opin- 



