being in virtue of the laws of particular States, the Congress had no authority to repeal those laws, and therefore could give us none to stipulate for such repeal.

The ministry here have been induced to send over M. de Rayneval, Secretary of the Council, to converse with Lord Shelburne, and endeavour to form by that means a more perfect judgment of what was to be expected from the negociation. He was five or six days in England, saw all the ministers, and returned quite satisfied that they are sincerely desirous of peace; so that the negociations now go on with some prospect of success. But the Court and people of England are very changeable. A little turn of fortune in their favour sometimes turns their heads; and [ shall not think a speedy peace to be depended on till I see the treaties signed. With great esteem, I have the honour to be, Sir, &c. B. FRANKLIN.

To His Excellency JOHN ADAMS, Esq. Minister Pleni

SIR,

potentiary, &c.

Passy, Oct. 15, 1782.

A long and painful illness has prevented my corresponding with your Excellency regularly.

Mr. Jay has, I believe, acquainted you with the obstructions our peace negociations have met with, and that they are at length removed. By the next Courier expected from London, we may be able perhaps to form some judgment of the probability of success, so far as relates to our part of the peace. How likely the other powers are to settle their pretensions I cannot yet learn. In the mean time America is gradually growing more easy, by the

enemy's evacuation of their posts; as you will see by some intelligence I inclose. With great respect, I have the honour to be, &c.JPY & DB. FRANKLIN.

FROM THE RIGHT HON. T. TOWNSHEND TO DR. FRANKLIN

SIR,

3

U'

Whitehall, Oct. 23, 1782. As Mr. Strachey is going from hence to Paris with some particulars for Mr. Oswald, which were not easily to be explained in writing, I take the liberty of introducing him to your acquaintance, though I am not sure that he is not already a little known to you. The confidential situation in which he stands with me makes me particularly desirous of presenting him to you.

SI believe, Sir, I am enough known to you for you to believe me, when I say, that there has not been from the beginning a single person more averse to the unhappy war, or who wishes more earnestly, than I do, for a return of peace and mutual amity between Great Britain and America. I am, with great regard, Sir, your most obedient, humble servant, T. TOWNSHEND."

ANSWER TO THE RIGHT HON. THOMAS TOWNS

SIR,

HEND.

One of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State.

Passy, Nov. 4, 1782.

I received the letter you did me the honour of

+ Under Secretary of State in the Department of Mr. Townshend:-(afterwards Lord Sydney).

writing to me by Mr. Strachey; and was much pleased with the opportunity it gave me of renewing and increasing my acquaintance with a gentleman of so amiable and deserving a character."

I am sensible you have ever been averse to the measures that brought on this unhappy war; I have therefore no doubt of the sincerity of your wishes for a return of peace. Mine are equally earnest. Nothing therefore except the beginning of the war, has given me more concern than to learn at the conclusion of our conferences, that it is not likely to be soon ended. Be assured no endeavours on my part would be wanting to remove any difficulties that may have arisen, or even if a peace were made, to procure afterwards any changes in the treaty that might tend to render it more perfect, and the peace more durable. But we who are here at so great a distance from our constituents, have not the possibility of obtaining in a few days fresh instructions, as is the case with your negociators, and are therefore, obliged to insist on what is conformable to those we have, and at the same time appears to us just and reasonable. With great esteem and respect, I have the honour to be, Sir, &c. B. FRANKLIN.

Dr. Franklin had formerly known this gentleman when he acted as Secretary to the Commission which Lord Howe and his brother the General were charged with, in America, in the year 1776; the particulars of which are related in the Memoirs of the Life of Dr. Franklin.

2

FROM HENRY STRACHEY, ESO. TO THE MINISTERS PLENIPOTENTIARY FROM THE UNITED STATES.

GENTLEMEN,

Paris, Nov. 5, 1782.

Knowing the expectation of the King's ministers, that full indemnity shall be provided for the whole body of refugees, either by a restitution of their property, or by some stipulated compensation for their losses, and being confident, as I have repeatedly assured you, that your refusal upon this point will be the great obstacle to a conclusion and ratification of that peace which is meant as a solid, perfect, permanent reconciliation and re-union between Great Britain and America, I am unwilling to leave Paris without once more submitting the matter to your consideration. It affects equally in my opinion the honour and humanity of your country and of ours. How far you will be justified in risking every favourite object of America, by contending against those principles, is for you to determine. Independence and more than a reasonable possession of territory seem to be within your reach. Will you suffer them to be outweighed by the gratification of resentment against individuals? I venture to assert that such a conduct hath no parallel in the history of civilized nations.

I am under the necessity of setting out by two o'clock to day; if the time is too short for your re-consideration, and final determination of this important point, I shall hope that you will enable Mr. Oswald to dispatch a messenger after me, who may be with me before morning at

Chantilly, where I propose sleeping to-night, or who may overtake me before arrive in London, with a satisfactory Tanswer to this letter. I have the honour to be, Gentle tlemen, Yours, &c. H. STRACHEY.

(“་6,3 ས

SIR,

(Answer to the foregoing.)

To H. STRACHEY, ESQ..

We have been honoured with your favour of the 5th instant, and as our answer to a letter we received from Mr. Oswald on the same subject, contains our unanimous sentiments respecting it, we take the liberty of referring you to the inclosed copy of that answer. honour to be, Sir, your most obedient, &c..

SIR,

We have the

COPY OF THE LETTER TO MR. OSWALD.

In answer to the letter you did us the honour to write on the 4th instant, we beg leave to repeat what we often said in conversation, viz. that the restoration of such of the estates of refugees, as have been confiscated, is impracticable, because they were confiscated by laws of particular states, and in many instances have passed by legal titles through several hands. Besides, Sir, as this is a matter evidently appertaining to the internal polity of the separate states, the Congress by the nature of our constitution have no authority to interfere with it.