"Since I have risen to explain a sudden thought, I will avail myself
of your favorable attention, and hazard a few words on the general
question itself. Numbers have patience to hear, who have not time to
read. And as to _myself, a very particular and urgent occasion, which
calls me some months from England_, will deprive me of another
opportunity to communicate my sentiments, until the momentous object
before us shall be made certainly attainable through the concord, or
forever lost and irrecoverable, through the disagreement of the
nation."

To make comments on these extracts would be to waste time and paper.
On reading them, I became persuaded that Mr Paradise and American
liberty were mere pretences to cover a more important errand to
America, and I was surprised that Mr Jones's vanity should so far get
the better of his prudence, as to put such pamphlets into my hands at
such a time.

I pointed out these extracts to Dr Franklin; but they did not strike
him so forcibly as they had done me. I mentioned my apprehensions also
to the Marquis de Lafayette, and I declined giving any letters either
to Mr Paradise or to Mr Jones.

I am the more particular on this subject, in order that you may the
better understand the meaning of a paragraph in my letter to you, of
the 28th of June last, where I inform you, "that, if one may judge
from appearances, the Ministry are very desirous of getting some of
their emissaries into our country, either in an avowed or in a private
character; and, all things considered, I should think it more safe not
to admit any Englishman in either character within our lines at this
very critical juncture."

Mr Jones and Mr Paradise went from hence to Nantes in order to embark
there for America. Some weeks afterwards I met Mr Paradise at Passy.
He told me Mr Jones and himself had parted at Nantes, and that the
latter had returned directly to England. How this happened I never
could learn. It was a subject on which Mr Paradise was very reserved.
Perhaps the sentiments of America, on General Carleton's overtures,
had rendered Mr Jones's voyage unnecessary; but in this I may be
mistaken, for it is mere conjecture.

On the 25th of July, 1782, the King of Great Britain issued a
warrant,[4] or order, directed to his Attorney or Solicitor-General.

A copy of this warrant was sent by express to Mr Oswald, with an
assurance that the commission should be completed and sent him in a
few days. He communi