before. He was also to tell Franklin that the statement contained in the private paper, that he did not know whether the Americans intended to make claims of indemnification, was not an open course of proceeding, the American Commissioners being already invested with full powers; and in any case that no such reparation could be thought of.
He was also further told to recollect that a great blow might shortly be expected to be struck in the West Indies, whither Admiral Rodney had sailed with a fleet of forty ships; that the reinforcements to De Grasse would probably be intercepted, and that a naval victory might settle a great deal. It does not appear that Shelburne shared in the violent dislike for Rodney which distinguished his colleagues, and led about this time to his recall. Rodney had caused great alarm by the wholesale confiscation of property, British as well as foreign, which had accompanied the capture of St. Eustatia, and the Whig Opposition had joined in the clamour raised against him as a cloak to their dislike to his appointment, which was rightly attributed to the favour of the King. Oswald was also directed to "tell Franklin candidly and confidentially Lord Shelburne's situation with the King; that he was sent for to form the Ministry; that he would make no use of his situation, but to keep his word with mankind; that he was under as little apprehension of being deceived himself, as unwilling to deceive others; in short that he knew the bottom to be sound;" and lastly he was told not to conceal from Franklin that Shelburne had reluctantly come into the idea of the complete independence of America; that he had wished for a federal union between the two countries; but that having been forced by circumstances to abandon his plan he would loyally try to carry through the other.[1]
The paper of instructions to Oswald in which the above points were set out, concluded thus:—
It is reasonable to expect a free trade, unencumbered with duties, to every part of America.
- ↑ Lansdowne House MSS.
