In Paris fireworks lit the sky, and the people sang "Malbrouk s'en va-t-en guerre," for ships had brought news of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. From Nice Lord Cholmondeley hastened to pay his respects to Dr. Benjamin Franklin, and Fox's ill-fated ministry swiftly dispatched ambassadors to treat with the philosopher. Jay arrived, and John Adams, and from London came Richard Oswald, a merchant whom Shelbourne considered sufficiently canny to deal successfully with the Yankees. The stage was set for great deeds. For reasons personal or traditional the gulf between Dr. Franklin, Mr. Adams, and Mr. Jay was equal to that between Jay the Huguenot and le Comte de Vergennes, French foreign minister, or between de Vergennes and Charles James Fox. To quote an historian, "Adams thought Franklin was an atheist of no morality, and Franklin thought that Adams was a madman who was all the more dangerous as he was honest."

"Divide et Impera," reasoned the British, and told the Americans of the mysterious visit of a French emissary to London. "The French have betrayed their word," they whispered slyly, "They will get a separate peace, and you will get nothing." Dr. Franklin stroked his lace frill with bejeweled chubby fingers and pondered the possibilities of a separate peace. Le Comte de Vergennes toyed with the silver inkpot on his satinwood desk, and tried to fathom the strange actions of his friends the Americans. Even Dr. Franklin received him a bit stiffly, a bit coldly.

Then Oswald was alarmed by evidences or healing in his carefully prepared breach. Dr. Franklin was a violent Francophile; he let it be known that he was a violent Francophile. Richard Oswald, Esq., grew alarmed. Daily his sedan waited before Franklin's lodgings in Paris, the emissary pressed harder for settlement. Mr. Jay reasoned, and delayed. Mr. Adams fumed, and delayed. Dr. Franklin told stories, between twinges of gout, and delayed. Mr. Oswald ceded to the colonies all the land to the Father of Waters. October, in process of time, became November; Dr. Franklin became more friendly with le Comte. Mr. Oswald gave up the province of Maine, fishing rights, even George III's treasured indemnities to the Tories. Dr. Franklin wavered, he had hoped for Canada and cash reparations; but the French had betrayed him. He signed. Jay signed. Adams signed.

The following day Dr. Franklin went to le Comte de Vergennes, and showed the minister the new treaty. He suggested that France give America, oh, perhaps another 20,000,000 francs. De Vergennes protested; certainly it could not be done, and America had violated the conditions of alliance. "But," said Franklin, "how happy the British would be to see a quarrel between their late foes!" He received the money.

At 11 o'clock "The Peace Negotiations of 1782-1783," Professor Baxter, Harvard 1.