Emissaries have been sent to Paris and to the Hague, to sound, on the one hand, Mr John Adams, in the hope that his connexion with some independent members might facilitate an accommodation; and, on the other side, in the hope that very advantageous offers might seduce his Majesty, and engage him to make a separate peace to abandon his allies. The Chevalier de la Luzerne is not informed of the steps that have been taken at Madrid, or by the States General.
The proposition made secretly to France tended to a partial peace. It offered France the possession of their conquests in the West Indies, the suppression of an English Commissary at Dunkirk, and advantages in the East Indies. These offers were certainly satisfactory to his Majesty; and he would have had no reason to reject them if he had had no allies. But his engagements marked out another line of conduct. He replied, that how sincerely soever he was disposed to peace, he would commence no negotiations to this end without the participation of his allies. The emissary easily comprehended, that this answer related as well to the United States as to Spain; and pretended that the condition was inadmissible; that England, in treating upon this foundation, would acknowledge the independence of her colonies, which made no part of her system. The Minister of his Majesty replied, that their independence was considered by the King as an indispensable point, and that it made the basis of his system.
The English Agent then demanded, if there were no means to avoid treating with us of the affairs of America. The Count de Vergennes replied, by referring him to the answer given to the first overtures of pacification made by the mediators, and communicated to Mr Livingston.
It should be observed, that whether England treats of the affairs of the United States with the Court of Versailles, or whether she opens a direct communication with the United States, she cannot avoid treating with the American negotiators sent by Congress. In either case she will be under the necessity of acknowledging that body.
The conduct of his Majesty on this occasion being strictly conformable to justice and his engagements, his Minister confines himself to a simple communication of it to Mr Livingston. He confides also to him, that the Count de Vergennes, in declaring to the English Agent, that his Majesty could not listen to any negotiations of peace if the Court of London did not treat at the same time with his allies, added verbally, that the King did not attend to his own satisfaction till that of his allies was procured.