directly. He concluded by saying that his Royal Master looked chiefly to justice and his own dignity, and by these he would stand unalterably. Grenville left the meeting much dejected, and at once communicated the result to Fox.[1]
On the 14th of May Oswald returned to England. The suddenness of his departure surprised Franklin, who wished him to remain, as he thought his presence likely to be useful. "I hoped," he writes to Shelburne, "that Mr. Oswald would have remained here some time, but his affairs, it seems, recal him sooner than he imagined. I hope he will return again, as I esteem him more, the more I am acquainted with him, and believe his moderation, prudent counsels, and sound judgment may contribute much, not only to the speedy conclusion of a peace, but to the framing such a peace as may be firm and longlasting."[2] The King had a similar wish. "Mr. Oswald's correspondence," he wrote to Shelburne, "carries the marks of coming from a man of sense. As Dr. Franklin wishes he should remain at Paris and as M. de Vergennes has intimated as much, I should think it best not to let him at least at present come home."[3]
On the 18th of May the Cabinet had agreed to the following minute:—"It is humbly submitted to your Majesty that your Majesty will be pleased to direct Mr. Fox to order full powers to be given to Mr. Grenville to treat and conclude at Paris, and also to direct Mr. Fox to instruct Mr. Grenville to make propositions of peace to the belligerent powers, upon the basis of independence to the Thirteen colonies in North America and of the Treaty of Paris; and in case of such proposition not being accepted, to call upon M. de Vergennes to make some proposition on his part, which Mr. Grenville will of course report to Mr. Fox."[4] The same evening the news arrived of the great naval victory which Rodney had gained on the 12th of April and of the capture of De Grasse himself, the co-operation of whose fleet with the
