It is needless for me to enter into such details as will of course be communicated to Congress by the Minister. Dr Franklin will doubtless be very particular. But as Congress have been pleased to order that I should give my opinion, I now have the honor to tell you what I think upon the several transactions that have lately taken place.
Before the change of Ministry, the old Administration had sent people to feel the pulse of the French Court and of the American Ministers. They had reasons to be convinced that neither of the two could be deceived into separate arrangements, that would break the union and make both their enemies weaker. In the meanwhile, a cabal was going on against the old Ministry. New appointments took place, and it is not known how far Lord North would have gone towards a general negotiation.
It had ever been the plan of the opposition to become masters of the Cabinet. But while every one of them united against the Ministry, they committed this strange blunder, never to think what would become of them after their views had been fulfilled. They even made Ministers, and upon the same day they did not know how to divide the prey; upon the second they perceived that they had different interests and different principles to support; upon the third they were intriguing against each other. And now the British Ministry are so much divided, that nothing but their disputes can account for their indecision in public affairs.
The Marquis of Rockingham has nothing of a Minister, but the parade of levees, and a busy appearance. He is led by Mr Burke. He is also upon the best terms with Charles Fox. The principles of the latter everybody knows. That party it appears is on one side of the Administration.
The Duke of Grafton and Lord Camden think it their interest to support Lord Shelburne, whom, however, they inwardly dislike. The Earl of Shelburne seems to have by far the greater share in the King's confidence. He is intriguing, and, upon a pretence to follow Lord Chatham's opinions, he makes himself agreeable to the King by opposing American independence. He is, they say, a faithless man, wishing for a continuation of the war, by which he hopes to raise his own importance; and, should the Rockingham party fall, should Lord Shelburne be found to divide power with another party, he is not far, it is said, from uniting with Lord North and many others in the old Administration.
The King stands alone, hating every one of his Ministers, grieving at every measure that combats his dispositions, and wishing for the moment when the present Ministry, having lost their popularity, will give way to those whom he has been obliged to abandon for a time.
Such is the position in which they stand, and I am going to relate the measures they have taken towards negotiation.
It appears Lord Shelburne, on the one hand, and Charles Fox on the other, went upon the plan which Lord North had adopted, to make some private advances, but they neither communicated their measures to each other, nor said at first anything of it in the Cabinet. Count de Vergennes said that France could never think to enter into a treaty, but in concurrence with her allies, and upon being told that America herself did not so much insist upon asking for independence, he answered, "people need not ask for what they have got." Mr Adams in Holland, and Dr Franklin in Paris, made such answers as were consistent with the dignity of the United States. But they as well as Count de Vergennes, expressed a sincere desire for peace, upon liberal and generous terms.
From the very beginning Mr Adams has been persuaded, that the British Ministry were not sincere—that the greater part of them were equally against America as any in the old Administration, and that all those negotiations were not much to be depended upon. His judgment of this affair has been confirmed by the events; though at present the negotiation has put on a better outward appearance.
Dr Franklin's pen is better able than mine can be, to give you all the particulars through which Mr Grenville, a young man of some rank, is now remaining in Paris, with powers to treat with his Most Christian Majesty, and all other Princes or States now at war with Great Britain.