Diary of John Adams, volume 3
1782-11-05
Oswald talks of Pultney, and a Plott to divide America between France and England. France to have N. England. They tell a Story about Vergennes and his agreeing that the English might propose such a division, but reserving a Right to deny it all. These Whispers ought not to be credited by Us.2
Because of the omission of preceding matter, this sentence in JA's “Peace Journal” furnished to Congress reads: “Mr. Jay told me our Allies did not play fair.”
Oswald had told this highly improbable “Story” earlier to Jay in greater detail; see Diary during the Peace Negotiations of 1782, ed. Frank Monaghan, New Haven, 1934
Though he made no entries in his Diary during the next three days, JA summarized the state of the negotiation in a long letter to Livingston, 6 Nov. (PCC, No. 84, IV; Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev.
, 5:854–858).