ne might reasonably
expect honest men to be. We are perfectly resolved to come to an
explanation upon the business, if it is possible so to do,
without betraying any confidence reposed in me by you, or in you
by others.

The two principal points which occur are the paper relative to
Canada, of which I had never heard till I received your letter,
and the intended investment of Mr. Oswald with full powers,
which was certainly meant for the purpose of diverting
Franklin's confidence from you into another channel. With these
two points we wish to charge Shelburne directly; but pressing as
the King is, and interesting as it is both to our own situations
and to the affairs of the public--which are, I fear,
irretrievably injured by this intrigue, and which must be ruined
if it is suffered to go on--we are resolved not to stir a step
till we hear again from you, and know precisely how far we are
at liberty to make use of what you have discovered. If this
matter should produce a rupture, and consequently become more or
less the subject of public discussion, I am sensible the Canada
paper cannot be mentioned by name; but might it not be said that
we had discovered that Shelburne had withheld from our knowledge
matters of importance to the negotiation? And with respect to
the other point, might it not be said, without betraying
anybody, that while the King had one avowed and authorized
Minister at Paris, measures were taken for lessening his credit
and for obstructing his inquiries by announcing a new intended
commission, of which the Cabinet here had never been apprized.

Do, pray, my dear Grenville, consider the incredible importance
of this business in every view, and write me word precisely how
far you can authorize us to make use of your intelligence. It is
more than possible that, before this reaches you, many other
circumstances may have occurred which may afford further proofs
of this duplicity of conduct; and if they have, I am sure they
will not have escaped your observation. If this should be the
case, you will see the necessity of acquainting me with them as
soon as possible. You see what is our object, and you can easily
judge what sort of evidence will be most useful to us. When the
object is attained--that is, when the duplicity is proved--to
what consequences we