The British Ministry adopting these observations, sent new powers to Mr Grenville, authorising him to treat with all the belligerent powers. Mr Grenville presented to the Count de Vergennes a copy of these powers, and declared, _that the King of England, being disposed to acknowledge and declare directly the independence of America, it would no longer be a conditional article of peace_. And as to France, the English Plenipotentiary proposed _to take the treaty of Paris for the basis, not of the peace itself, but of the negotiations which were to be entered into_.
The Count de Vergennes, on the 21st of June, communicated to Mr Grenville the answer of the King. In this communication his Majesty declared his wishes for the restoration of peace, and his satisfaction, that the King of Great Britain was disposed to treat with all the belligerent powers, and that he intended to make a direct acknowledgment and declaration of the independence of the United States of America, and that this point would no longer be a conditional Article of a general pacification. That the King consents to adopt, according to the proposition of the King of England, the treaty of Paris for a basis of the negotiation, not as a confirmation of all its stipulations, but with exceptions and alterations respecting the East Indies, Africa, the fisheries of Newfoundland, and commercial regulations in Europe to mutual advantage. Rest.i.tution and compensation to be treated of, when the negotiation shall be established, with respect to which the King will be governed by the principles of justice and moderation, which are the basis of his policy. If these overtures are agreeable to the King of England, his Majesty will explain himself precisely on the different points. His Majesty expects, that his Britannic Majesty will make to all the belligerent powers and states, without delay, such overtures as he may think conducive to promote the negotiation as far as it respects their interests. That no doubt may be left with respect to his Majesty"s sentiments, he declares anew, that he will neither treat nor terminate any negotiation, unless the interests of his allies and friends shall be conjointly discussed and determined, or separately, according to the wishes of his Britannic Majesty and the allied and friendly powers of his Most Christian Majesty.
Such was the state of affairs on the 28th of June, at which time there appeared some obstructions to the negotiation, owing, as it was believed, to the misunderstanding which prevailed among the British Ministers. Tergiversations were discovered on the part of the British negotiator. The bill authorising the King of England to treat with the Colonies of America had not then pa.s.sed. These uncertainties made it essential to guard against British emissaries on the continent of America; and to prevent with all care their admission; and to recommend the same measure to the several Legislatures.
The Minister finished the conference by informing the committee of the fort.i.tude of the King on receiving the news of the action of the 12th of April. He immediately gave orders for constructing twelve ships of the line, the greater part of the first rate. The city of Paris and several other cities and corporations had offered some others, and it was expected, that the King would, in the course of the next campaign, have twenty new ships to oppose the enemy. His Majesty was resolved not to make the least alterations in his plans for the future negotiation; and he exhorted his allies to the same resolution and the same exertions.
TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
Translation.
Philadelphia, September 27th, 1782.
Sir,
I have the honor of sending to you a decree of his Majesty"s Council of State, made in consequence of the measures taken by Congress for preventing the fraudulent importation of English merchandise into this country. I desire that you would be pleased to communicate it to Congress, in order that it may be published under the seal of authority, and that American merchants and sailors may be informed, that it is in their own power to procure in the ports of France, the papers necessary for making it certain, that the English merchandise, which they take on board, is obtained from prizes. This decree agrees very well with the laws pa.s.sed by several States, and particularly with that pa.s.sed by the a.s.sembly of Pennsylvania during its last session, to prevent commerce and all communication with the enemy. I have also the honor of sending to you, Sir, the copy of a letter from the Marquis de Vaudreuil, which I request you to be pleased to transmit to Congress.[10]
I have the honor to be, &c.
LUZERNE.
FOOTNOTES:
[10] See above p. 113.
TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.
Translation.
Philadelphia, September 29th, 1782.
Sir,
I have received the letter, which your Excellency did me the honor to write to me on the 22d of this month, with the news which accompanied it. I beg you to accept my sincere thanks.
I have the honor to transmit you the extract of an answer, made by express order of the King, on the 21st of June, to Mr Grenville. I pray you to be pleased to keep it a secret; all that I can add is, that the negotiations were still in agitation the beginning of July, but there had been in the conduct of the British Minister many circ.u.mstances, which led to doubt his sincerity; I believe, that even if there had been a sincere disposition to treat, the death of the Marquis of Rockingham had occasioned a change.
I have just received your Excellency"s letter of the 24th; I cannot but thank you for the goodness, which you have had in transmitting me the detail, which it contains. I doubt not but M. de Vaudreuil will profit by the advice, and put himself in a posture of defence.
I have the honor to be, &c.
LUZERNE.
TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.
Translation.
Philadelphia October 1st, 1782.
Sir,
I send to New York M. Barbe, who has the honor to be known to your Excellency. The princ.i.p.al objects of his journey, are some arrangements relative to the French prisoners carried into New York, and of some Spaniards, who have been carried there also. I have charged him to see M. de la Touche, and to give him such consolation as depends upon me. I would at the same time wish to repurchase in New York some effects, which I had coming from France in the Eagle, and which I cannot replace here. I could wish you, Sir, to give all the a.s.sistance in your power to M. Barbe"s gaining admission into New York and returning.
I am, &c.
LUZERNE.
REPORT OF A COMMITTEE OF CONGRESS ON COMMUNICATIONS MADE BY THE FRENCH MINISTER.
In Congress, October 3d, 1782.
The committee, to whom were referred the notes of the communication made by the Minister of France to a committee of Congress, on the 24th of September, brought in a report, which was agreed to, as follows;
That the Minister Plenipotentiary of his Most Christian Majesty be informed, that the communication made by the said Minister on the 24th of September last, is considered by Congress as an additional proof of his Majesty"s magnanimity, and has confirmed those sentiments of affection and confidence, which his wise, steady, and liberal conduct in every stage of the war has so justly inspired.
That his Most Christian Majesty"s declaration to the British Minister at Paris, that he will neither treat nor terminate any negotiation unless the interests of his friends and allies shall be considered and determined, is entirely correspondent to the part, which these United States are resolved to take in any negotiation for peace.
That Congress, with the utmost satisfaction embrace this opportunity to renew their a.s.surances, that in every event these United States will inviolably adhere to their alliance with his Most Christian Majesty, which they consider to be equally essential to their interest and their glory.
That they will hearken to no propositions for peace, which shall not be discussed in confidence and in concert with his Most Christian Majesty, agreeably to the declaration made to his Minister Plenipotentiary on the 31st day of May last.
That upon this principle, Congress did not hesitate a moment, to reject the proposition made by the British General and Admiral, as Commissioners of Peace, for admitting Mr Morgan, their Secretary, to an interview at Philadelphia.
And that they are resolved to prosecute the war with vigor, until a general peace shall be obtained, in which their allies shall be comprehended.
That Congress place the utmost confidence in his Majesty"s a.s.surances, that he will readily employ his good offices in support of the United States in all points relative to their prosperity; and considering the territorial claims of these States as heretofore made, their partic.i.p.ation of the fisheries, and of the free navigation of the Mississippi, not only as their indubitable rights, but as essential to their prosperity, they trust that his Majesty"s efforts will be successfully employed to obtain a sufficient provision and security for those rights. Nor can they refrain from making known to his Majesty, that any claim of rest.i.tution or compensation for property confiscated in the several States, will meet with insuperable obstacles, not only on account of the sovereignty of the individual States, by which such confiscations have been made, but of the wanton devastations, which the citizens of these States have experienced from the enemy, and in many instances from the very persons in whose favor such claims may be urged. That Congress trust, that the circ.u.mstances of the allies at the negotiation for peace, will be so prosperous as to render these expectations consistent with the spirit of moderation recommended by his Majesty.
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Translation.
Philadelphia, October 16th, 1782.
Sir,
The undersigned, Minister Plenipotentiary of France, requests Congress to be pleased to appoint a committee, to which he proposes to communicate some measures which are provisional, and which are to remain secret till the moment of their execution.
LUZERNE.