Arrival in Paris.--Conference with Mr Jay.--Difference of opinion as to the true sense of the instructions to the Ministers, requiring them to act only with the consent of the French Ministry.--Contested points.--Visits the Dutch Minister, who informs him that little progress has been made in the negotiations between Holland and England.--M. Rayneval's visit to England. To Robert R. Livingston. Paris, Nov. 6th, 1782, 439 Mr Jay and Mr Adams have declined treating without a previous acknowledgment of independence.--Information from Holland reaches America by the way of France, before it can be transmitted directly.--The affairs of the Foreign Department ought to be kept secret from France.--Character of the English agents for negotiating the peace.--Real disposition of Lord Shelburne.--Have agreed on boundaries, and the payment of British debts due before the war.--Indemnification of tories and Eastern boundary, points of dispute.--Secret influence of France.--Negotiations at Versailles secret.--The Dutch Ambassador suspects the sincerity of the English.--Mr Oswald proposes that the British army should be allowed to evacuate New York unmolested. Robert R. Livingston to John Adams. Philadelphia, November 6th, 1782, 445 Military operations have ceased.--Mr Fitzherbert's commission. To Robert R. Livingston. Paris, Nov. 8th, 1782, 447 Importance of insisting upon points of etiquette.--Thinks the instructions to communicate everything to the French Minister is not to be understood literally.--Good effects which have been produced by disobeying them.--Submission of Dr Franklin. To Robert R. Livingston. Paris, Nov. 11th, 1782, 451 Conversation with Count de Vergennes on the controverted points, Eastern boundary, compensation to tories.--Suspicions of the motives of France.--All points should be definitively settled, so as to leave America totally unconnected with any European power. Robert R. Livingston to John Adams. Philadelphia, November 18th, 1782, 457 Mr Jefferson added to the commission.--The resignation of Mr Laurens not accepted by Congress.--Affair of Captain Asgill. To Robert R. Livingston. Paris, Nov. 18th, 1782, 459 Embarrassments occasioned by the instruction to communicate on all matters with the French Ministers. To Robert R. Livingston. Paris, Nov. 24th, 1782, 462