To John Jay from Benjamin Franklin, 16 August 1782
From Benjamin Franklin
Passy, Augt. 16. 1782
Sir,
Inclos’d is a true Copy of the Extracts from Gen. Carleton’s Instructions given to me by Mr Vaughan from Lord Shelbourn.1 You will see that the Instruction I mention’d as given to Mr Grenville is acknowledged and recited. Is it not probable therefore that Mr Oswald may have the same? and if he has, and will execute it by making ministerially in Writing the Declaration intended, perhaps the Paper propos’d to be sent to England may in this Case not be necessary.2 With great Esteem I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient and most humble Servant
B Franklin
ALS, PPAmP: Franklin (EJ: 2575). Endorsed: “ . . . enclosg Ex. of Carltons Instru[ction]s / of 5 Jun 1782”. Tr, NN: Bancroft.
1. C, in hand of William Temple Franklin, NNC (EJ: 7833). For BF’s copy of the extract, dated 5 June 1782 and mistakenly catalogued as Benjamin Vaughan to Franklin, see , 37: 673n5; and , 1: 419–21. It communicates the decision to instruct Thomas Grenville to propose the independence of America “in the first instance instead of making it the condition of a general peace.” On the interpretation of this phrase, see JJ to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, 17 Nov. 1782, below, where the extract is mistakenly dated 25 June.
2. See John Jay’s Draft of a Patent, 15 Aug. 1782, above. For considerations about the form in which Americans could be assured of Britain’s intent to guarantee independence, see Richard Oswald’s Notes on Conversations with Benjamin Franklin and John Jay, 15–17 Aug. 1782.