their ravages, which would more than balance their estimated losses.
Oswald told Franklin that personally he agreed with him, and he also mentioned that he not only had not concealed his opinion when in England, but had also urged the cession of Canada during an interview with Rockingham, Shelburne, and Fox. The two former, he said, spoke reservedly on the point; but in his opinion did not seem very averse to it. Fox, however, seemed startled at the proposition.
They then proceeded to the article of the note containing the following words: "On our part commissioners will be named, or any character given to Mr. Oswald which Dr. Franklin and he may judge conducive to a final settlement of things between Great Britain and America." Oswald explained that he had no personal wishes of his own either of honour or profit; he thought Mr. Grenville perfectly capable of carrying on the affair, but that he was himself willing, if Franklin thought that he could be of use in the matter, to serve in any character or manner which might be deemed advisable.
"Dr. Franklin," says Oswald, in his account of the interview, "then said he thought the best way to come at a general peace was to treat separately with each party, and under distinct commissions to one and the same or different persons. By this method many difficulties, which must arise in discussing a variety of subjects, not strictly relative to each other, under the same commission, and to which all the several parties are called, would be in a great measure avoided. And then at last there would only remain to consolidate those several settlements into one genuine and conclusive treaty of pacification, which upon inquiry I found he understood to be the indispensable mode of a final accommodation. He explained as to the commissions, that there might be one to treat with France, one for the Colonies, one for Spain, and he added, one for Holland, if it should be thought proper."[1] Franklin then went on to say that
- ↑ Oswald to Shelburne, June 9th, 1782.
