The despatch of the 28th of June dwelt chiefly on the negotiation; and contained details, which the Count de Vergennes directed the Minister to make to Congress, but which have in a great measure been already transmitted to them by their Ministers in Europe. These details related to the emissaries sent to Dr Franklin and Mr Adams, and their satisfactory answers. Mr Oswald, in an interview with the Count de Vergennes, hinted to him the desire of the Court of London, and the necessity it was under to make peace; and received for answer, that the King was equally disposed to make an honorable and solid peace. Mr Oswald went to London to carry this information; returned soon, and was immediately followed by Mr Grenville, the intimate friend of Mr Fox.
Mr Oswald repeated to Dr Franklin the assurances of the disposition of the Cabinet of St James; and Mr Grenville, in answer to his overtures to the Count de Vergennes respecting the disposition of the King of Great Britain, was informed by the express order of the King, _that his Majesty was disposed to negotiate for peace, provided it was a general one, and the allies and friends of his Majesty were satisfied_. This answer was just given when the news of the action of the 12th of April reached Europe. Nevertheless, the King of Great Britain sent full powers to Mr Grenville to negotiate the peace with his Majesty. In communicating them the English Agent declared, _that the King of England, in order to facilitate peace, was disposed to treat of the independence of the United States with his Majesty, provided all other matters were put upon the footing of the treaty of 1763_.
To this the King answered, 1st. _That the powers of Mr Grenville were insufficient, as they did not mention the allies of his Majesty._ 2dly. _That his Majesty could not himself negotiate for the interests of America, having no powers to this purpose; and that it became the dignity of the King of England and of the United States to open a direct negotiation on this subject._ 3dly. _That in order to conclude a solid and lasting peace, it ought not to be founded upon the treaty of Paris, but upon justice and the dignity of all the contracting powers._
The British Ministry adopting these observations, sent new powers to Mr Grenville, authorising him to treat with all the belligerent powers. Mr Grenville presented to the Count de Vergennes a copy of these powers, and declared, _that the King of England, being disposed to acknowledge and declare directly the independence of America, it would no longer be a conditional article of peace_. And as to France, the English Plenipotentiary proposed _to take the treaty of Paris for the basis, not of the peace itself, but of the negotiations which were to be entered into_.
