George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 10

[547] and hoped to draw from him in return the Ameri-

Chap. XXVII.} 1782.

can conditions for a separate peace. But Franklin would not unfold the American conditions to a person not authorized to receive them. Irritated by this ‘unlucky check,’ by which, as he thought, his hopes of a great diplomatic success were ‘completely annihilated,’ he made bitter and passionate and altogether groundless complaints of Oswald. He would have Fox not lose one moment to fight the battle with advantage against Shelburne, and to take to himself the American business by comprehending all in one.

Though Fox had given up all present hope of making peace, he enlarged the powers of Grenville so as to include any potentate or state then at war with Great Britain; and he beat about for proofs of Shelburne's ‘duplicity of conduct,’ resolved, if he could but get them, to ‘drive to an open rupture.’

Under his extended powers, Grenville made haste to claim the right to treat with America; but, when questioned by Franklin, he was obliged to own that he was acting without the sanction of parliament. Within twenty-four hours of the passing of the enabling act, the powers for Oswald as a negotiator of peace with the United States were begun upon and were ‘completely finished in the four days following;’ but, on the assertion of Fox that they would prejudice everything then depending in Paris, they were delayed. Fox then proposed that America, even without a treaty, should be recognised as an independent power. Had he prevailed, the business of America must have passed from the home department to that for foreign affairs; but, after full reflection,