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  THE

  DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE

  OF THE

  AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

  VOL. IV.




  THE

  DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE

  OF THE

  AMERICAN REVOLUTION;

  BEING

  THE LETTERS OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, SILAS DEANE, JOHN
  ADAMS, JOHN JAY, ARTHUR LEE, WILLIAM LEE, RALPH
  IZARD, FRANCIS DANA, WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, HENRY
  LAURENS, JOHN LAURENS, M. DE LAFAYETTE, M.
  DUMAS, AND OTHERS, CONCERNING THE FOREIGN
  RELATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES DURING
  THE WHOLE REVOLUTION;

  TOGETHER WITH

  THE LETTERS IN REPLY FROM THE SECRET COMMITTEE OF
  CONGRESS, AND THE SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

  ALSO,

  THE ENTIRE CORRESPONDENCE OF THE FRENCH MINISTERS,
  GERARD AND LUZERNE, WITH CONGRESS.

  Published under the Direction of the President of the United States, from
  the original Manuscripts in the Department of State, conformably
  to a Resolution of Congress, of March 27th, 1818.

  EDITED
  BY JARED SPARKS.

  VOL. IV.

  BOSTON:

  NATHAN HALE AND GRAY & BOWEN;

  G. & C. &. H. CARVILL, NEW YORK; P. THOMPSON, WASHINGTON.

  1829.

  HALE'S STEAM PRESS.

  No. 6 Suffolk Buildings, Congress Street, Boston.




CONTENTS OF THE FOURTH VOLUME.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN'S CORRESPONDENCE, CONTINUED.


                                                                    Page.

  Count de Vergennes to B. Franklin. Versailles,
  August 23d, 1782,                                                     3

      Expresses a wish to promote the commerce between
      France and America.

  Thomas Townshend to Richard Oswald. Whitehall,
  September 1st, 1782,                                                  4

      The King is ready to treat with the Commissioners
      on the footing of unconditional independence.

  To Robert R. Livingston. Passy, Sept. 3d, 1782,                       4

      Allowance made to his grandson for various public services.--
      Submits his own account to the disposal of Congress.--Encloses
      letters (inserted in the note) from Mr Jay and Mr Laurens,
      expressing their regard for his grandson.

  To John Jay. Passy, September 4th, 1782,                              9

      Mr Oswald's courier arrives, with directions to acknowledge
      the independence of America.

  Robert R. Livingston to B. Franklin. Philadelphia,
  September 5th, 1782,                                                 10

      Complains of want of information from Europe.--Movements
      of the British troops in the south.--Importance
      of the West India trade to the United
      States.--Right of the States to cut logwood.

  Richard Oswald to B. Franklin. Paris, September
  5th, 1782,                                                           15

      Enclosing an extract from a letter of the Secretary of
      State, regarding the negotiation.

  To Richard Oswald. Passy, Sept. 8th, 1782,                           15

      Requesting a copy of the fourth article of his instructions,
      given in the note.

  To Earl Grantham. Passy, Sept. 11th, 1782,                           16

      Prospect of peace.

  Robert R. Livingston to B. Franklin. Philadelphia,
  September 12th, 1782,                                                17

      Presenting Mr Paine's work addressed to the Abbe
      Raynal.

  Robert R. Livingston to B. Franklin. Philadelphia,
  September 12th, 1782,                                                18

      Necessity of further supplies of money.

  To David Hartley. Passy, September 17th, 1782,                       18

      The preliminaries formerly received, inadmissible.

  Robert R. Livingston to B. Franklin. Philadelphia,
  September 18th, 1782,                                                19

      Congress declines accepting Mr Laurens's resignation;
      alters Dr Franklin's powers.

  Mr Secretary Townshend to Richard Oswald.
  Whitehall, September 20th, 1782,                                     20

      The commission passing with the change proposed by
      the American Commissioners.

  Richard Oswald to B. Franklin. Paris, September
  24th, 1782,                                                          21

      Transmitting a copy of Mr Townshend's letter to himself.

  Count de Vergennes to B. Franklin. Versailles,
  September 25th, 1782,                                                21

      Aspect of affairs dubious.

  To Robert R. Livingston. Passy, Sept. 26th, 1782,                    22

      Reply to his complaints of want of information.--Delays
      of the negotiation.

  Count de Vergennes to B. Franklin. Versailles,
  October 3d, 1782,                                                    23

      Granting the exequatur empowering the United States'
      Consul to act in France.

  David Hartley to B. Franklin. Bath, Oct. 4th, 1782,                  24

      Sends a proposition for a temporary commercial convention.--The
      dissolution of the union of the States apprehended.

  To Robert R. Livingston. Passy, Oct. 14th, 1782,                     25

      Progress of the negotiation.--Acknowledges the receipt
      of Ministers' salaries.

  To John Adams. Passy, Oct. 15th, 1782,                               28

      Delay in the negotiations.

  From T. Townshend to B. Franklin. Whitehall,
  October 23d, 1782,                                                   29

      Introducing Mr Strachey.

  To Thomas Townshend. Passy, Nov. 4th, 1782,                          30

      Regrets the obstructions to the negotiations.

  To Robert R. Livingston. Passy, Nov. 7th, 1782,                      31

      Introducing the Baron de Kermelin.

  Robert R. Livingston to B. Franklin. Philadelphia,
  November 9th, 1782,                                                  31

      Sweden proposes to acknowledge the independence of
      the United States.--Advantage of obtaining an acknowledgment
      from the States of Barbary.--Difficulties in the exchange of
      prisoners.--Affair of Lippincott.--Mr Boudinot elected President.

  Robert R. Livingston to B. Franklin. Philadelphia,
  November 21st, 1782,                                                 34

      Mr Jefferson added to the commission.--Mr Burgess,
      an English merchant, not permitted to settle in Boston.

  To Richard Oswald. Passy, Nov. 26th, 1782,                           36

      Indemnification of American royalists.--Resolutions of Congress
      on the subject.--Act of the Pennsylvania assembly for procuring
      an estimate of the damages committed by the British.--Characters
      of the royalists.--Inexpediency of discussing the measure.

  Robert R. Livingston to B. Franklin. Philadelphia,
  November 27th, 1782,                                                 44

      Messrs Lamarque and Fabru.

  To Count de Vergennes. Passy, Nov. 29th, 1782,                       45

     