DOCUMENTS BEAETNG ON TREATY OF 1783. 165 



I-told him I thought, in that case, we should aid opposition as much 

 as we could, by suggesting arguments to those who would transmit 

 them in favor of America, and in favor of those who had the most 

 liberal sentiments towards America, to convince them that the wing- 

 clipping plan was ruinous to England, and the most generous and 

 noble part they could act towards America, the only one that could 

 be beneficial to the nation ; and to enable them to attack a contracted 

 ministry with every advantage that could be. 



I thought it was now a crisis in which good will or ill will towards 

 America would be carried very far in England; a time, perhaps, 

 when the American Ministers may have more weight in turning the 

 tide of sentiment, or influencing the changes of administration, than 

 they ever had before, and, perhaps, than they would have again; 

 that I thought it our duty, upon this occasion, to say every thing we 

 could to the Englishmen here, in order that just sentiments might 

 prevail in England at this moment; to countenance every man well- 

 disposed, and to disabuse and undeceive everybody; to drive out of 

 countenance and into infamy every narrow thought of cramping, 

 stinting, impoverishing, or enfeebling us; to show that it is their 

 only interest to show themselves our friends, to wear away, if pos- 

 sible, the memory of past unkindnesses; to strike with us now upon 

 our own terms, because, though we had neither power nor inclination 

 to make peace without our allies, yet the very report that we had got 

 over all our difficulties, would naturally make all Europe expect 

 peace, would tend to make Spain less exorbitant in her demands, and 

 would make Holland more ardent for peace, and dispose France to 

 be more serious in her importunities with Spain and Holland, and 

 even render France herself easier, though I did not imagine she 

 would be extravagant in her pretensions; to show them the ruinous 

 tendency of the war if continued another year or two. Where would 

 England be if the war continued two years longer? what the state of 

 her finances? what her condition in the East and West Indies, in 

 North America, Ireland, Scotland, and even in England? WTiat 

 hopes have they of saving themselves from a civil war ? If our terms 

 are not now accepted they will never again have such offers from 

 America ; they will never have so advantageous a line ; never, their 

 debts ; never, so much for the tories, and, perhaps, a rigorous demand 

 of compensation for the devastations they have committed. 



Mr. Jay agreed with me in sentiment, and, indeed, they are the 

 principles he has uniformly pursued through the whole negotiation 

 before my arrival; I think they cannot be misunderstood or disap- 

 proved in Congress. 



No. 102. 178%, November 21: Letter, Mr. Adams to Mr. Livingston. 



PARIS, November 21, 1782. 



SIR: We live in critical moments. Parliament is to meet, and the 

 King's speech will be delivered on the 26th. If the speech announces 

 Mr. Oswald's commission, and the two houses, in their answers, thank 

 him for issuing it, and there should be no change in the ministry, the 



92909 S. Doc. 870, 61-3, vol 7 16 



