sion.) Now, therefore, to the end that a
period may be put to the calamities of war, and peace, commerce, and
mutual intercourse the more speedily restored, we do hereby, in
pursuance of our royal word, for ourselves and our successors,
recognise the said thirteen Colonies as free and independent States.
And it is our will and pleasure, that you do forthwith proceed to
treat with the Commissioner or Commissioners already appointed, or to
be appointed for that purpose by the Congress of the said States, and,
with him or them only, of and concerning the objects of your said
commission, which we do hereby confirm, and that this declaration be
considered by you as a preliminary article to the proposed treaty, and
be in substance or in the whole inserted therein, or incorporated
therewith. And it is our further will and pleasure, that, on receiving
these presents, which we have caused to be made patent, and our great
seal to be hereunto affixed, you do deliver the same to the said
Commissioner or Commissioners, to be by him or them transmitted to the
Congress of the United States of America, as an earnest of the
friendship and good will, which we are disposed to extend to them.
Witness, &c. 15th of August, 1782."

Mr Oswald approved of the draft, and said he would recommend the
measure to the Minister. The next day, however, he told me that he had
an instruction, which he thought enabled him to make the declaration;
but that it would be necessary to obtain the previous consent of the
Minister for that purpose. He then read to me the fourth article of
his instructions, of which the following is a copy, viz.

"In case you find the American Commissioners are not at liberty to
treat on any terms short of independence, you are to declare to them
that you have our authority to make that cession; our ardent wish for
peace disposing us to purchase it at the price of acceding to the
complete independence of the thirteen colonies."

He said he would immediately despatch a courier to London, and would
press the Ministry for permission to acknowledge our independence
without further delay, which he accordingly did.

At this time the commission under the great seal had arrived, and Dr
Franklin and myself went to Versailles to communicate that
circumstance to the Count de Vergennes, and (agreeably to our
instructions) to inform him of what had passed between Mr Oswald and
us.

The Count and myself again discussed the propriety of