Enclosed with this, I send to your Excellency the packet of correspondence between Mr Hartley and me, which I promised in my last. You will see, that we held nearly the same language; which gives me pleasure.
While Mr Hartley was making propositions to me, with the approbation or privity of Lord North, to treat separately from France, that Minister had an emissary here, a Mr Forth, formerly a Secretary of Lord Stormont's, making proposals to induce this Court to treat without us. I understand, that several sacrifices were offered to be made, and among the rest Canada to be given up to France. The substance of the answer appears in my last letter to Mr Hartley. But there is a sentence omitted in that letter, which I much liked, viz. "that whenever the two Crowns should come to treat, His Most Christian Majesty would show how much the engagements he might enter into were to be relied on, by his exact observance of those he already had with his present allies."
If you have received anything in consequence of your answer by Digges, you will oblige me by communicating it. The Ministers here were much pleased with the account given them of your interview by the Ambassador.
With great respect, I am, Sir, your Excellency's, &c.
B. FRANKLIN.
COUNT DE VERGENNES TO B. FRANKLIN.
Translation.
Versailles, April 23d, 1782.
Sir,