"We think that since the arrival of Colonel Laurens, you have stopped the bills of Mr Morris on Messrs Le Couteulx. If the Superintendent has not followed your advice, he will cause us some embarrassment, as we have not destinated any fund for that article. We have peremptorily declared to Dr Franklin, that we will not in future discharge any bills, that had not been drawn with your consent. As to you, Sir, we cannot but repeat our former instructions on this subject; and we direct you to authorise no draft even for a small sum."
No. 1.
The Answer of his Most Christian Majesty to the Articles proposed by the two Mediating Courts.[2]
Translation.
The mediators are too well satisfied of the moderation of the King, and his constant wish for the re-establishment of peace, not to be previously assured, that his Majesty will receive with as much gratitude as warmth the Preliminary Articles they have communicated. The King, the more fully to convince the two high mediators of his frankness and of the purity of his intentions, as well as of the unreserved confidence, that he places in the justice and impartiality of their High Imperial Majesties, believes he ought to make some confidential observations upon these Preliminary Articles. His Majesty flatters himself, that this will be more acceptable to them as its sole objects are to prevent discussions, which are equally mischievous and complicated, and to facilitate the much wished for success of their generous interposition.
"Article i. There shall be a negotiation at Vienna, by the united care of the two Imperial Courts, embracing all the objects for the re-establishment of peace, which the belligerent parties, who intrust them with the mediation, shall judge proper to be there proposed. A negotiation shall in the meantime be entered into between Great Britain and her Colonies for the re-establishment of peace in America, but without the intervention of either of the other belligerent parties, or even of the two Imperial Courts, unless their mediation shall be formally demanded and accorded, for this object."
According to the verbal observations, the expressions in the first part of this Article have been used merely to place the King of Spain in a situation to propose the cession of Gibraltar, and this turn has been judged necessary because the Court of London had previously declared, that it ought to be made without reference to this cession, while the Catholic King demands it as a preliminary; as this part of the Article immediately affects the Court of Madrid, the King cannot but refer himself to it for the answer that shall be made thereto. His Majesty is content to observe, that having united himself in the same cause with the King, his uncle, he neither can nor will separate his interests from those of that Prince, and that he regards the satisfaction he claims as a condition, without which he cannot personally treat of those matters.
As to the second part of the Article, the two Imperial Courts cannot flatter themselves with the hopes of bringing their mediation to a happy issue, if they do not prevent the subterfuges, the subtelties and false interpretations, which either of the belligerent powers may avail themselves of to explain according to their views the preliminary propositions, which will certainly happen if they do not previously ascertain the sense of the expressions, which relate to America.
The Court of London will elude as much and as long as she possibly can, the direct or indirect acknowledgement of the independence of the United States, and will avail herself of the terms, that are used in speaking of them, to maintain, that she is not obliged to treat with her ancient Colonies as with a free and independent nation. That she is consequently not reduced to admit a Plenipotentiary on their part, and that she is at liberty to view the American representative as a deputy from a part of her subjects who demand a favor. From whence it will follow, that when the mediation is in force, and they shall be about to enter upon the negotiation, that they will dispute the character, in which the American Plenipotentiary shall be received. The King of England will consider him as his subject, while Congress will demand, that he shall be received as the representative of a free people, by means whereof the mediation will be stopped at the first outset.
To prevent this inconvenience it should seem, that previous to any other measure, the character of the American agent ought to be determined in the most precise and positive manner, and Congress should be invited to confide its interests to the mediation. This invitation is so much the more interesting, as the negotiation relative to America should go hand in hand with that of the Courts of Madrid and Versailles, and by consequence, the negotiations although separate should commence at the same time.