To Robert R. Livingston. Paris, Sept. 28th, 1782,
Mr Oswald receives a new commission, empowering him to treat with the thirteen United States of America.
To Robert R. Livingston. Paris, Oct. 13th, 1782,
The French Court advised treating with Mr Oswald under his former commission.—Mr Jay refused.—The Count d'Aranda wishes to treat with Mr Jay without exchanging powers, and the French Court advises it.—Mr Jay declines.
To Robert R. Livingston. Paris, Nov. 17th, 1782,
England appears disposed to evade the acknowledgement of independence.—Visit from Sir William Jones, who desires letters of recommendation for America.—Probable objects of his proposed visit.—Note from the Count de Vergennes to Dr Franklin, on Mr Oswald's powers.—Conference between the Count de Vergennes and Messrs Franklin and Jay; Mr Jay objects to treating with Mr Oswald, under a commission styling the United States Colonies; opinion of the Court assented to by Dr Franklin, that that was no ground of objection.—Conversation on the same subject between Dr Franklin and Mr Jay.—Extracts from the instructions to Sir Guy Carleton, transmitted by Lord Shelburne to Dr Franklin.—Conversation with Mr Oswald on this subject.—Form of a commission to Mr Oswald proposed by Mr Jay, recognising the colonies as independent States.—Further conversation with the Count de Vergennes on the same subject.—Extract of a letter from Mr Townshend to Mr Oswald (Whitehall, September 1st, 1782), declaring that the negotiations were intended to be carried on in Europe, and on the basis of unconditional independence.—Mr Jay, in conversation with Mr Oswald, points out the inconsistency of this with General Carleton's instructions, and attributes it to French influence; it is for the interest of England to treat with America as an independent State.—Letter from Mr Jay to Mr Oswald, stating his objections to his commission.—Dr Franklin objects to the letter.—Letter from Mr Jay to the Count d'Aranda (Paris, June 25th, 1782), acquainting him with his readiness to enter upon the negotiations.—Letter from Count d'Aranda to Mr Jay (Paris, June 27th, 1782), expressing a wish to see him.—Conversation between Mr Jay and Count d'Aranda on the western boundary.—The Count sends Mr Jay his proposed boundary line.—Conversation with M. Rayneval, in which Mr Jay declines treating with the Count d'Aranda, without exchanging powers.—Mr Jay assures the Count d'Aranda that the Mississippi is the ultimatum of America; objections of the Count.—Letter from M. Rayneval to Mr Jay (Versailles, September 4th, 1782), requesting a visit from him.—Letter from M. Rayneval to Mr Jay (Versailles, September 6th, 1782), transmitting the following Memorial.—Memorial of M. Rayneval on the right of the United States to the navigation of the Mississippi.—Reflections of Mr Jay on this Memorial.—Letter from Mr Jay to the Count d'Aranda (Paris, September 10th, 1782), stating that he is not empowered to cede any countries belonging to the United States, but is ready to negotiate, with a Minister vested with equal powers, a treaty of amity and commerce.—Reply of the Count d'Aranda, declaring himself vested with ample powers to treat.—Visit of the Count d'Aranda to Versailles.—M. Rayneval goes to England.—Probable objects of his visit.—Conversation with Mr Vaughan on the subject of M. Rayneval's visit.—Mr Jay represents the expediency of treating with America on an equal footing; the inexpediency of attempting to exclude the Americans from the fisheries; and of restricting the western boundary and the navigation of the Mississippi.—Mr Vaughan goes to England to communicate these views to Lord Shelburne.—Proposed draft of a letter to the Count de Vergennes, containing objections to Mr Oswald's commission; it does not designate the United States by their proper title; it empowers him to treat with bodies not having authority to treat by the American constitution; it calls in question the independence of the United States; precedents from acts of Congress; America has treated with other powers as an independent State; precedents from other States under similar circumstances; detail of the history of the early negotiations of the United Provinces with Spain, showing that they treated with other powers on an equal footing, and refused to negotiate with Spain except in like manner; the independence exists in fact, and not as a grant from Great Britain.—Conversation between Mr Jay, the Count d'Aranda, and the Marquis de Lafayette, on the propriety of Spain's treating with America on an equal footing.—The Count de Vergennes states the object of M. Rayneval's visit to England to be, to judge of the real views of the English Ministry.—The claims of Spain to countries east of the Mississippi are of recent origin.—Conversation with M. Rayneval on this subject.—Mr Oswald receives a new commission, under which articles are agreed on.—Conversation between Messrs Jay and Franklin and M. Rayneval on the boundaries and fisheries.—The policy of the French Court is directed to prevent a cordial reconciliation between America and England, and thus to keep the United States dependent on France.
Observations of the Editor on the above letter,
Pointing out the misapprehensions of Mr Jay as to the objects of M. Rayneval's visit to England.
Robert R. Livingston to John Jay. Philadelphia, November 23d, 1782,
Complains of want of information from the Ministers in Europe.—English Commissioners will meet with no success in America.—Mr Barlow's poem.—Mr Boudinot elected President of Congress.