insisting, that
our independence should be acknowledged previous to a treaty. He
repeated, that it was expecting the effect before the cause, and many
other similar remarks, which did not appear to me to be well founded.
I told the Count, that a declaration of our independence was in my
opinion, a matter of very little consequence; that I did not consider
our independence as requiring any aid or validity from British acts;
and provided, that nation treated us as she treated other nations,
viz. on a footing of equality, it was all that I desired. He differed
with me also in this opinion. He thought an explicit acknowledgment of
our independence in treaty very necessary, in order to prevent our
being exposed to further claims. I told him we should always have arms
in our hands to answer those claims, that I considered mere paper
fortifications as of but little consequence; and that we should take
care to insert an article in the treaty, whereby the King of Great
Britain should renounce all claims of every kind to the countries
within our limits.

The Count informed us, he had delayed doing business with Mr
Fitzherbert, until we should be ready to proceed with Mr Oswald, and
that he expected to see him the next day or the day after.

Mr Fitzherbert went the next day to Versailles, and immediately
despatched a courier to London.

The answer of the British Ministry to Mr Oswald is contained in the
following extract of a letter to him from Mr Townshend, dated
Whitehall, September 1st, 1782.

"Sir,

"I have received and laid before the King your letters of the 17th,
18th, and 21st ultimo, and I am commanded to signify to you, his
Majesty's approbation of your conduct, in communicating to the
American Commissioners the fourth article of your instructions; which
could not but convince them, that the negotiation for peace, and the
cession of independence to the Thirteen United Colonies, were intended
to be carried on and concluded with the Commissioners in Europe.

"Those gentlemen, having expressed their satisfaction concerning that
article, it is hoped they will not entertain a doubt of his Majesty's
determination to exercise in the fullest extent the powers with which
the act of Parliament has invested him, by granting to America, full,
complete, and unconditional independence, in the most explicit manner,
as an article of treaty."

When Mr Oswald communicated this letter to me, I did not hesitate to
tell him,