France was still powerful, and kept on pointing to the enormous armaments which professed to be ready to start in the spring to attack the West Indies. Lafayette, "that vain and insolent young man," as Fitzherbert termed him, went about fanning the waning flames of ill-will between the two countries. For some time past he had been attempting to get sent on some kind of mission to the English Court, in order, as he said, to have the satisfaction of braving George III., by appearing before him at Court in an American uniform.[1] Benjamin Vaughan, who persisted in remaining in Paris, and seemed to imagine he was clothed with some kind of diplomatic character, was causing general suspicion of the intentions of the English Government. Nor had Shelburne's own speech at the opening of Parliament been without disturbing effects, however diplomatically correct. "I know a gentleman," said Oswald writing to Shelburne, "and he is not entirely unknown to your Lordship, of that happy vein, that if he is not employed, will officiously thrust himself into employment; and if he is not invited into the boat, will step in at once, without waiting for an invitation."[2] Franklin, impelled by his vindictive hatred of the Loyalists, was still threatening to bring forward new clauses before the signature of the Final Treaty.[3] "Mr. Adams, Mr. Jay, and Mr. Laurens," so Mr. Fitzherbert informed Shelburne, "have little or no communication with Versailles, and not only distrust, but are strongly distrusted by that Court; but the fourth, Dr. Franklin, keeps up (though perhaps in a less degree than formerly) his connection with the French Minister, and on that account and on account of the private animosity and resentment which he still entertains against England, he prevents his colleagues, on whom (though they rather fear than are attached to him) he has great influence, from inserting in their joint letters to the American Congress such representations of matters on their side as would lead the latter
