2.

Life of William, Earl of Shelburne . . . With Extracts from His Papers and Correspondence.

p. 196. [Shelburne to Fox. May 25, 1782.]

I am just now writing to Mr. Oswald, and instruct him of course to remain at Paris as Dr. Franklin desires, till he has orders to return. I likewise desire him to communicate freely to Mr. Grenville whatever may be of use to him, taking it for granted that you will instruct Mr. Grenville to apprize him of the power sent him, and of such other matters as may be useful in governing his intercourse with Dr. Franklin and the other American Commissioners, that it may not be supposed in France that there is or can be any difference among us upon the great subjects of peace and war.

p. 197. [Shelburne to Oswald. May 25, 1782.]

. . . It is his Majesty’s pleasure, that you should furnish Mr. Grenville any lights which may occur to you in the course of your communication with any of these gentlemen [the American Commissioners], which may be useful to him, in his transactions with the French ministers, or those of any of the other powers of Europe who may be about to enter into the proposed negotiation, and I must recommend to you to omit no opportunity of letting it be understood that there subsists the strictest union in his Majestys Council upon the great subject of peace and war.

p. 216. [Oswald to Shelburne. July 11, 1782.]

I thank your Lordship for the caution with respect to affairs under Mr. Grenville’s direction [Shelburne had cautioned him not to give any offence to Grenville]. It would have been quite wrong in me to meddle with it in any shape, and so cautious was I, that I scarce asked him any question as to the progress of his affairs, thinking it sufficient if by an intercourse with Dr. Franklin, I could help to bring on a settlement with the Colonies. . . . Even in this business, I had scarce taken any step since my last coming over in the end of May. It was impossible to do so, as Mr. Franklin seemed to attend to the expectation and issue of Mr. Grenville’s powers and instructions; which he said were imperfect at first, and not completed at last to his satisfaction with respect to them. So that the Doctor did not incline to talk of business to me, and I had nothing to write, even if I had known the times when Mr. Grenville’s couriers were despatched. The situation was not agreeable, but I could not help it. And I believe the Doctor was not pleased, although he said little to me on the subject.