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JAY TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON. 373
until they had made all their uses of us. It was easy
for them to foresee difficulties in bringing Spain into
a peace on moderate terms, and that if we once found
ourselves standing on our own legs, our independence
acknowledged, and all our other terms ready to be
granted, we might not think it our duty to continue
in the war for the attainment of Spanish objects. But,
on the contrary, as we were bound by treaty to continue the war till our independence should be attained,
it was the interest of France to postpone that event
until their own views and those of Spain could be
gratified by a peace, and that I could not otherwise
account for the Minister's advising us to act in a
manner inconsistent with our dignity, and for reasons
which he himself had too much understanding not to
see the fallacy of.
The Doctor imputed this conduct to the moderation
of the Minister, and to his desire of removing every
obstacle to speedy negotiations for peace. He observed, that this Court had hitherto treated us very
fairly, and that suspicions to their disadvantage
should not be readily entertained. He also mentioned our instructions, as further reasons for our
acquiescence in the advice and opinion of the Minister. A day or two afterward I paid a visit to Mr.
Oswald, and had a long conversation with him yq-
specting his commission. On the resignation of Mr.
Fox many reports to the prejudice of Lord Shel-
burne's sincerity on the subject of American independence had spread through France as well as
through Great Britain. His Lordship, fearful of
| Title | The correspondence and public papers of John Jay - 2 |
| Creator | Jay, John |
| Publisher | G.P. Putnam's Sons |
| Place of Publication | New York, London |
| Date | [1890-93] |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Title | 00000394 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | JAY TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON. 373 until they had made all their uses of us. It was easy for them to foresee difficulties in bringing Spain into a peace on moderate terms, and that if we once found ourselves standing on our own legs, our independence acknowledged, and all our other terms ready to be granted, we might not think it our duty to continue in the war for the attainment of Spanish objects. But, on the contrary, as we were bound by treaty to continue the war till our independence should be attained, it was the interest of France to postpone that event until their own views and those of Spain could be gratified by a peace, and that I could not otherwise account for the Minister's advising us to act in a manner inconsistent with our dignity, and for reasons which he himself had too much understanding not to see the fallacy of. The Doctor imputed this conduct to the moderation of the Minister, and to his desire of removing every obstacle to speedy negotiations for peace. He observed, that this Court had hitherto treated us very fairly, and that suspicions to their disadvantage should not be readily entertained. He also mentioned our instructions, as further reasons for our acquiescence in the advice and opinion of the Minister. A day or two afterward I paid a visit to Mr. Oswald, and had a long conversation with him yq- specting his commission. On the resignation of Mr. Fox many reports to the prejudice of Lord Shel- burne's sincerity on the subject of American independence had spread through France as well as through Great Britain. His Lordship, fearful of |
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