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138 spirit in France had not been awed by the great disaster in the West Indies, and that the most strenuous efforts were being made, with every prospect of success, to replace the fleet which had been lost, and again render it possible to send succours across the Atlantic. He now told Grenville his suspicions in very plain terms, and repeated that the interests of France and America were indissoluble; that the treaties must go hand in hand; and be all signed the same day. In this declaration he was supported by Franklin, who furnished Grenville with a copy of the treaty between the two countries in order that he might see the contents of it. Grenville at once sent a courier to London, asking for an extension of his powers, sufficient to enable him to negotiate with all the Powers at war, and on the 1st of June informed Franklin confidentially of the resolution arrived at by the Cabinet on the 23rd of May, hoping thereby to shake the union between France and America. His announcement however seemed to produce no effect, and Franklin he observed was very reserved to him in manner.

Franklin had not unnaturally been led by Grenville to suppose that sooner or later he would be the sole negotiator. The first thing necessary, he said in their interview on the 1st of June, was that Grenville should procure full powers; the next that they should assemble the plenipotentiaries of all the Powers at war, and proceed to business. On the 31st of May however Oswald arrived in Paris. He at once delivered the letters of which he was the bearer to Grenville and to Franklin. With the latter he was unable to obtain an immediate interview for the purposes of business, and it was not till the 3rd of June that they met. Oswald then informed Franklin that during his stay in England he had had conversations both with the Prime Minister and the two Secretaries of State; that their desire of peace remained unabated, although he considered that in some respects they were too much elated by Lord Rodney's