The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

From the Courier de l'Europe, a newspaper printed in London.

LONDON. May 28.

Soon after the revolution in the ministry by the States General of the Netherlands as Minister Plenipotentiary of America, communicated to our new rulers, and through the medium of a trusty messenger, that Congress had deputed in Europe five commissioners to open and conclude a treaty of peace that consequently their powers were not extensive; and that they were ready to use them, in case they should find in the new government of this country a disposition equally pacific. In consequence of that commission from Mr. Adams, the new administration consulted Mr. Laurens, one of the five commissioners, and immediately after the first conference on the subject, he was released from his parole as well as his securities. - They did more: though they did not immediately proceed to a general exchange of prisoners, Earl Cornwallis was released from his parole, in consideration of the favor granted Mr. Laurens. Mr. Oswald, one of Mr. Laurens's securities, was immediately sent to Versailles, to confer with the French ministry and Dr. Franklin. He had several other audiences in the beginning of April, and availed himself of them to make proposals, which were better received, and procured more favorable answers, than could be expected. The courts of Madrid and the Hague were also visited for the same purpose, with similar propositions; and it was in that epoch that the known correspondence was opened between Mr. Fox and M. Simolin: and the Russian plenipotentiary at the Hague. It was then thought proper, under a plausible pretext, to send to Paris, the hon. Mr. T. Grenville, who is now there, continually receives and dispatches messengers, relative to that great affair:

The 12th inst: Mr. Laurens left England. He is supposed to be now near the place where the negotiations are to be decisive. It is said they are on the following terms.

All our islands, that of Grenada excepted, shall be restituted by France, which shall again be in possession of St. Lucia. Pondicherry, and all her other settlements in India.

Minorca to be ceded to Spain, who shall give us Porto Rico, renounce her pretensions to Jamaica, in consideration of which she shall be put in full possession of Gibraltar.

Florida to be ceded to the Americans.

We shall restitute to the Dutch all their possessions taken during the war, and secure to them the exercise of a free and neutral trade, on the terms of the armed neutrality.

America will be granted her independency, and a general liberty of trade. England on her part will equally divide with her the fisheries of Newfoundland and New England; preserve the peaceable possession of Canada to its old limits, and all the lands to the northward of that province.

We shall, in consequence of this, give up New York to the Americans, and whatever we possess to the southward.