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FO-From Benjamin Franklin to Lafayette, 9 July 1782.md

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FO-From Benjamin Franklin to Lafayette, 9 July 1782

13 reprints from 1782-07-09 to 1870-08-26

by Franklin, Benjamin

From unknown source

1782-07-09

ge for it. On July 9, Grenville wrote Shelburne that Franklin “the other day, for the first time, gave me to understand that America must be to have her share in the N: Foundland Fishery, & that the limits of Canada would likewise be a subject for arrangement. He seems much dis-inclined to an idea he expects to be stated, of going into an examination, for the mutual compensation of the losses of individuals, insisting, perhaps with reason, upon the endless detail that would be produced by it; nor does he cease to give the most decided discouragement to any possible plan of arrangement with America, short of compleat and distinct independance, in it’s fullest sense.”
Franklin went into greater detail in a two-hour meeting w


by Franklin, Benjamin

From unknown source

1782-07-09

e as follows:
“… He took out a minute, & from it read a few hints or articles. Some he said as necessary for them to insist on; others which he could not say he had any Orders about, or were not absolutely demanded, & yet such as it would be advisable for England to offer for the sake of Reconciliation, and her future Interest, Viz:
1st. Of the first Class, necessary to be granted. Independence full & complete in every sense to the 13 States & all Troops to be withdrawn from thence.
2d. A settlement of the boundaries of their Colonies, & the loyal Colonies.
3d. A Confinement of the Boundaries of Canada, at least to what they were, before the last Act of Parliament, I think in 1774, if not to a still more contracted State, on an ancient footing.
4. A freedom of fishing on the Banks of Newfoundland, & elsewhere, as well for Fish as whales. I own I wonder’d he should have thought it necessary to ask for this priviledge. He did not mention the Leave of drying Fish on shore in Newfoundland, & I said nothing of it. I dont remember any more articles which he said they would insist on, or what he calld necessary for them to be granted.
Then as to the adviseable Articles, or such as he would as a Friend recommend to be offer’d by England Viz.
1st. To indemnify many People who had been ruind by Towns burnt & destroy’d. The whole might not exceed the Sum of Five or Six hundred thousand pounds. I was struck at this. However the Dr. said though it was a large Sum, it would not be ill bestow’d; as it would conciliate the Resentment of a multitude of poor Sufferers, who could have no other Remedy, & who without some Relief, would keep up a Spirit of secret Revenge & Animosity for a long time to come, against Great Britain: whereas a voluntary Offer of such Reparation, would diffuse an universal Calm & Conciliation over the whole Country.
2d. Some Sort of Acknowledgment in some public Act, of Parliament or otherwise, of our Error in distressing those countries so much as We had done. A few words of that kind the Dr said, would do more good than People could imagine.
3d. Colony Ships & Trade to be receiv’d & have the same priviledges in Britain & Ireland, as British ships & Trade. I did not ask any Explanation on that head for the present. British & Irish Ships in the Colonies to be in like manner on the same footing with their own ships.
4. Giving up every part of Canada


by Franklin, Benjamin

From unknown source

1782-07-09

ing, he was correcting the mistakes he had made in April when he first proposed that Britain offer Canada.
In his letter to Shelburne, Oswald expressed hopes that it would be possible “to put an End to the American quarrel in a short time.” To do so, however, would require that Shelburne ove


1830-01-01 · Boston

manner promised on the sixth, he took out a minute and read
from it a few hints, or articles; some, he said, as necessary for
them to insist on; others, which he could not say he had any or-
ders about, or were not absolutely demanded, and yet such as it
would be advisable for England to offer for the sake of reconcilia-
tion and her future interest ; viz.

‘ Points Necessary to be granted ;

‘1. Independence, full and complete in every sense, to the thir-
teen United States, and all troops to be withdrawn from
thence.

‘2. A settlement of the boundaries of their colonies, and the
loyal colonies.

‘3. A confinement of the boundaries of Canada, at least to what
they were before the last act of parliament, I think in 1774,
if not to a still more contracted state on ancient footing.

‘4. A freedom of fishing on the Banks of Newfoundland. I
own I wondered he should have thought it necessary to ask
for this privilege.

‘Then as to the ApvisABLE articles, or such, as a friend, he
would recommend to be offered by England ;

‘1. To indemnify many people who had been ruined by towns
burnt and destroyed. ‘The whole might not exceed five or
six hundred thousand pounds. I was struck at this. How-
ever the Doctor said, though it was a large sum, it would
not be ill bestowed, as it would conciliate the resentment of
a multitude of poor sufferers, who would have no other
remedy, and who, without some relief, would keep up a se-
cret revenge and animosity, for a long time to come, against
Great Britain; whereas a voluntary offer of such a repara-
tion would diffuse a universal calm and conciliation over
the whole country.

‘2. Some sort of acknowledgment in some public act of parlia-
ment, or otherwise, of our error in distressing those coun-
tries so much as we had done. A few words of that kind,
the Doctor said, would do more good than people could
imagine.

‘3. Colony ships and trade to be received and have the same
privileges in Britain and Ireland, as British ships and trade.
I did not ask any explanation on that head for the present.
British and Irish ships in the colonies, to be, in like man-
ner, on the same footing with their own ships.

‘4. Giving up every part of Canada

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1830-01-01 · Boston

only have a beneficial intercourse with the colonies, but at last it
might end in a federal union between them. In the mean time
we ought to take care not to force them into the hands of other
people.

‘ From this conversation I have some hopes, that it is possible
to put an end to the American quarrel in a short time, and when
that is done I have a notion that a treaty with the other power

Page image

1830-01-01 · Boston

sioner for negotiating with France, writes as follows to Lord
Shelburne, on the ninth of July; ‘The other day, for the first
time, Dr Franklin gave me to understand, that America must
have her share in the Newfoundland fishery ; that the limits of
Canada would likewise be a subject for arrangement ; nor does
he cease to give the most decided discouragement to any possi-
ble plan of arrangement with America, short of complete and dis-
tinct independence in its fullest sense.’ This was the very
time when Mr Cooper tells us, that Franklin was ‘ stirring hi

Page image

1830-01-01 · Boston

manner promised on the sixth, he took out a minute and read
from it a few hints, or articles; some, he said, as necessary for
them to insist on; others, which he could not say he had any or-
ders about, or were not absolutely demanded, and yet such as it
would be advisable for England to offer for the sake of reconcilia-
tion and her future interest ; viz.

‘ Points Necessary to be granted ;

‘1. Independence, full and complete in every sense, to the thir-
teen United States, and all troops to be withdrawn from
thence.

2, A settlement of the boundaries of their colonies, and the
loyal colonies.

‘3. A confinement of the boundaries of Canada, at least to what
they were before the last act of parliament, I think in 1774,
if not to a still more contracted state on ancient footing.

‘4. A freedom of fishing on the Banks of Newfoundland. I
own I wondered he should have thought it necessary to ask
for this privilege.

‘Then as to the ADVISABLE articles, or such, as a friend, he
would recommend to be offered by England ;

‘1. To indemnify many people who had been ruined by towns
burnt and destroyed. ‘The whole might not exceed five or
six hundred thousand pounds. I was struck at this. How-
ever the Doctor said, though it was a large sum, it would
not be ill bestowed, as it would conciliate the resentment of
a multitude of poor sufferers, who would have no other
remedy, and who, without some relief, would keep up a se-
cret revenge and animosity, for a long time to come, against
Great Britain ; whereas a voluntary offer of such a repara-
tion would diffuse a universal calm and conciliation over
the whole country.

‘2. Some sort of acknowledgment in some public act of parlia-
ment, or otherwise, of our error in distressing those coun-
tries so much as we had done. A few words of that kind,
the Doctor said, would do more good than people could
imagine.

‘3. Colony ships and trade to be received and have the same
privileges in Britain and Ireland, as British ships and trade.
I did not ask any explanation on that head for the present.
British and Irish ships in the colonies, to be, in like man-
ner, on the same footing with their own ships.

‘4. Giving up every part of Canada

Page image

1830-01-01 · Boston

only have a beneficial intercourse with the colonies, but at last it
might end in a federal union between them. In the mean time
we ought to take care not to force them into the hands of other
people.

‘From this conversation I have some hopes, that it is possible
to put an end to the American quarrel in a short time, and when
that is done [ have a notion that a treaty with the other power

Page image

1830-01-01 · Boston

sioner for negotiating with France, writes as follows to Lord
Shelburne, on the ninth of July; ‘ The other day, for the first
time, Dr Franklin gave me to understand, that America must
have her share in the Newfoundland fishery ; that the limits of
Canada would likewise be a subject for arrangement ; nor does
he cease to give the most decided discouragement to any possi-
ble plan of arrangement with America, short of complete and dis-
tinct independence in its fullest sense.’ This was the very
time when Mr Cooper tells us, that Franklin was ‘ stirring hi

Page image

1833-07-01 · Cambridge

Dr Franklin mentions among the terms necessary to be
granted, ‘“‘Independence full and complete in every sense to
the thirteen United States,” “a freedom of fishing on the
banks of Newfoundland,” &c. &c

Page image

1870-08-06 · New York

proposed “some sort of acknowledgment in
some public act of Parliament, or otherwise,”

f the British error “in distressing those coun-
tries so much.” The English negotiator, who
mentfons the fact, adds: ** A few words of that
kind, the Doctor said, would do more good than
people could imagine.”

Page image

1870-08-06 · New York, N.Y.

proposed “some sort of acknowledgment in
sume public act of Parliament, or otherwise,”
of the British error “in Jistressing those coun-
tries so much.” The English negotiator, who
mentfins the fact, adds: “ A few words of that
kind, the Dector said, would do more good than
people could imagine.”

Page image

1870-08-26 · Emporia, Kan.

"some sort of acknowledgment in some
public act of Parliament, or otherwise,"
of the British error "in distressing those
countries so much." The English nego
tiator, who mentions the fact, adds : A
few words of that kind, the Doctor said,
would do more than the people could
imagine.

Page image