with the envoy sent to negotiate with the European belligerents; and if necessary to dispose the American Commissioners towards a separate negotiation.[1]
On seeing the commission of Oswald, Franklin at first said "it would do."[2] Jay, who had been in Paris since the 23rd of June, but owing to a severe illness had hitherto been unable to take any share in the negotiations, was not so easily satisfied. He absolutely refused to have any concern in a negotiation in which the United States were not treated as an independent nation; believing that until their independence was recognized they would be at the mercy of France and Spain, who would barter their rights with England for concessions to themselves. He was mainly induced to take this step by a conversation he had recently had with D'Aranda, who had traced a line on a map showing him what he considered would be the proper boundaries of the United States.[3]
Vergennes, who was not anxious to see the American negotiation make any progress, almost simultaneously informed Fitzherbert that until a preliminary recognition of American independence was given, he would refuse to take any further step in the negotiation; and Franklin, following his lead, joined his colleague in asking for a change in Oswald's commission, insisting that a certification of American independence should be given, and stating that until then, he would refuse to take any further step in the negotiation; thereby confirming the truth of what Oswald had already told Shelburne, that France would seize every opportunity of delaying a general pacification. Franklin also intimated, in order to alarm Oswald, that he was about to sign a treaty of commerce and alliance with Spain, containing clauses in regard to the conclusion of peace, of a character similar to those in the treaty with France.[4]
From the 11th to the 17th of August did Oswald go backwards and forwards between the American Commis-
