Henry Strachey to the American Peace Commissioners, 5 November 1782
Henry Strachey to the American Peace Commissioners
Paris 5th. Octr. ^Novr.^ 1782.
Gentlemen
Knowing the Expectation of the King’s Ministers, that a full Indemnity shall be provided for the whole Body of Refugees, either by a Restitution of their Property, or by some stipulated Compensation for their Losses, and being confident, as I have repeatedly assured You, that Your Refusal upon this Point will be the great Obstacle to a Conclusion and Ratification of that Peace which is meant as a solid, perfect, permanent, Reconciliation and Re Union between Great Britain and America, I am unwilling to leave Paris, without once more submitting the Matter to Your Consideration. It affects equally, in my Opinion, the Honor and the Humanity of Your Country, and of Ours. How far You will be justified in risking every favorite Object of America, by contending against those Principles, is for You to determine. Independence, and a more than1 reasonable Possession of Territory, seem to be within Your Reach. Will You suffer them to be outweighed by the Gratification of Resentment against Men ^Individuals?^ who adhered to their lawful King? I venture to assert that such a Conduct hath no Parrallel in the History of civilized Nations.2
I am under the necessity of setting out by One ^Two^ o’Clock to day. If the time is too short for your Reconsideration, and final Determination, of this important Point, I shall hope that You will enable Mr. Oswald to dispatch a Messenger after me, who may reach ^be with^ me before Morning at Chantilly, where I propose sleeping tonight, or who may overtake me before I reach ^arrive in^ London, with such an ^a satisfactory^ answer as to this Letter— I am have the honor to be, Gentlemen, Your most obedn. and most humble Servn.
H Strachey3
Dft, UkLPR: FO 27/ 2, 390–91. Endorsed: “Draft of Mr Strachey’s / Letter to the American / Commissioners—/ 5th. Novr. 1782—/ (No. 6) / In Mr. Strachey’s / 8th Novr. 1782.” Enclosed in Strachey to Townshend, 8 Nov. 1782, : 413–14. LbkCs, UkLPR: 95/ 511, 27/ 2 (EJ: 5031), and Chatham, 30–8–343 (EJ: 4920); MiUC: Shelburne 70: 372 (EJ: 4941). Tr, NN: Bancroft: Strachey. Additional texts, DLC (2) and MHi (2) recorded in , 38: 278.
1. “More than a” in , 5: 850.
2. On the matter of compensation for Loyalists, see the editorial note “The Preliminary Articles: Second Draft,” on pp. 200–205.
3. In their reply of 6 Nov. 1782, the American Peace Commissioners referred Strachey to their letter to Oswald of 7 Nov., below. LS, in the hand of William Temple Franklin, UkLPR: FO 97/ 157 (EJ: 5028); C, in the hand of JA, DNA: PCC, item 85, 282 (EJ: 9934); Cs (2), DNA: PCC, Misc., Diplomatic Despatches received from John Adams (EJ: 11691, 11693); Cs, UkLPR: Chatham 30–8–343 (EJ: 4924) and FO 95/ 511 (EJ: 5026); LbkCs, DNA: PCC, item 106, 13 (EJ: 4401); UkLPR: FO 27/ 2 (EJ: 5036); and MiUC: Shelburne 70 (EJ: 4938). Tr, NN: Bancroft: Strachey (EJ: 2771).