Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    L29/565/31
  • Title
    Grantham, St. James's to Stepney, Berlin (No 7, separate & confidential) Stepney is asked to explain the Preliminary Articles to the Prussian king. The separation of America from Britain became unavoidable. The Treaty of Paris was offered on one side and accepted on the other as the basis of a negotiation and of a future treaty. But France at an early stage claimed many modifications of it and especially asserted an intention of getting rid of those restrictions in the Treaty of Paris which were considered as humiliating. His Majesty, "willing to give the most unequivocal Proofs of this earnest Desire of Peace, did not insist on the Maintenance of some of those Advantages which the Conclusion of the War enabled him to demand". The claims of the French in the East and West Indies have "by perseverance" been reduced to what Britain possessed the before present war. The Newfoundland coast upon which French are allowed to fish is more extensive than that enjoyed by the Treaty of Utrecht. France and Spain have united in having some parts of their treaties of commerce with Britain revised. Those possessions which Spain obtained by war are too many for Britain to expect to recover them. Holding on to Gibraltar renders Minorca of small value. The addition of East Florida to Western "cannot be regretted". Right of cutting logwood preserved. Holland has put herself on a most hostile footing. Supported by France. Became impossible to retain the Port of Trincomali. Peace a "fair and honourable conclusion to a complicated and burthensome war." There was no opportunity before signature to appeal to the Mediating Powers.
  • Date free text
    22 Feb 1783
  • Production date
    From: 1783 To: 1783
  • Level of description
    item
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