diency of treating with America on an equal foot-
ing; the inexpediency of attempting to exclude
the Americans from the fisheries; and of restrict-
ing the western boundary and the navigation of
the Mississippi.-Mr Vaughan goes to England
to communicate these views to Lord Shelburne.
-Proposed draft of a letter to the Count de Ver-
gennes, containing objections to Mr Oswald's
commission; it does not designate the United
States by their proper title; it empowers him to
treat with bodies not having authority to treat by
the American constitution; it calls in question
the independence of the United States; prece-
dents from acts of Congress; America has treated
with other powers as an independent State; pre-
cedents from other States under similar circum-
stances; detail of the history of the early negotia-
tions of the United Provinces with Spain, show-
ing that they treated with other powers on an
equal footing, and refused to negotiate with Spain
except in like manner; the independence exists
in fact, and not as a grant from Great Britain.-
Conversation between Mr Jay, the Count d'Aran-
da, and the Marquis de Lafayette, on the proprie-
ty of Spain's treating with America on an equal
footing. The Count de Vergennes states the ob-
ject of M. Rayneval's visit to England to be,
to judge of the real views of the English Minis-
try. The claims of Spain to countries east of the
Mississippi are of recent origin.-Conversation
with M. Rayneval on this subject.-Mr Oswald
receives a new commission, under which articles
are agreed on.-Conversation between Messrs Jay
and Franklin and M. Rayneval on the boundaries
and fisheries.-The policy of the French Court
is directed to prevent a cordial reconciliation be-
tween America and England, and thus to keep
the United States dependent on France.
Observations of the Editor on the above letter,
Pointing out the misapprehensions of Mr Jay as to
the objects of M. Rayneval's visit to England.
Robert R. Livingston to John Jay. Philadelphia,
November 23d, 1782,
Complains of want of information from the Minis-
ters in Europe.-English Commissioners will meet
with no success in America.-Mr Barlow's poem.
-Mr Boudinot elected President of Congress.
To Robert R. Livingston. Paris, Dec. 12th, 1782, 214
The negotiations with Spain are not begun.-Una-
nimity of the Commissioners on all points in the
preliminaries.-Mr Adams's services relative to
the eastern boundary.-Dr Franklin's services on
the subject of the tories.
