Draft letter apparently in Jay's hand, indicating the American commissioner's strenuous objections to the form of Oswald's commission. Nations may treat together only on the basis of an equality of position; if Britain is willing to concede independence in the First Article of the treaty, why will she not do so in Oswald's commission? To deny this is to question the independence of the U.S.A. befor e the signature of the treaty, which is most degrading to American national honor. A notation on the letter reads, "Scroll of a Letter proposed to be wrote by Mr. Jay to Mr. Oswald- Which with some difficulty I got out of his hands, after it had been settled with his Friend, that it was not proper to go before any public board, etc." Then, "In Mr. Oswald's of 11th September 1782."
Subjects
United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783; Jay, John, 1745-1829