United States, as well as to his wish to establish their
happiness upon a permanent foundation.

I have the honor to be, &c.

LUZERNE.

FOOTNOTES:

[15] See the proceedings of Congress here alluded to in the _Secret
Journal_, Vol. III. p. 106.

* * * * *

SUBSTANCE OF A VERBAL COMMUNICATION FROM THE FRENCH MINISTER.

Office of Foreign Affairs, December 30th, 1782.

The substance of a verbal communication made to the Secretary for
Foreign Affairs by the Minister of France, on the 30th and 31st of
December, 1782, offered to the consideration of Congress on the 1st of
January, 1783, by the said Secretary.

The Minister of France came this day agreeably to appointment, to the
Office of Foreign Affairs, and read to Mr Livingston a letter from the
Count de Vergennes to him, dated the 12th of August last, which
contained in substance; that the negotiations begun by Mr Grenville
and Mr Oswald were interrupted by the resignation of Mr Fox. That
previous to that, the King of England appeared disposed to acknowledge
the independency of America in express terms, without making it a
condition of the peace; that Mr Grenville encouraged them to hope,
that this object would be rendered complete by an act of Parliament;
that they looked in vain for this act till they were apprised of the
resignation of Mr Fox; that the difference which arose between him and
Lord Shelburne led them to suppose, that the design of the first was
to recognise the independency of America and treat for a general peace
upon fair and honorable terms; that Lord Shelburne's was, on the
contrary, to endeavor to excite distrusts, and particularly to
endeavor to mislead the Americans; that in pursuance of this system in
the month of June last, at the very time that they opened their
treaty in Europe, he proposed to offer the most advantageous terms to
America upon condition that the Americans laid down their arms and
left France to settle the dispute alone. This insidious conduct was
pursued during Mr Grenville's negotiation.

That Mr Fox's resignation suspended the negotiation, though the new
Administration declared, that this event should occasion no change of
measures; that the Court of France expected the effect of this
declaration, when a commission was expedited to Mr Oswald to treat
with the American Plenipotentiaries, and anot