In this important new work on Britain''s policy toward the United States in the critical early years of independence Charles R. Ritcheson re-examines the Adams thesis that ''the character of all our negotiations wit Great Britain has borne the stamp of liberal concession on our part and of reluctant niggardly boon-peddling on hers.'' The book includes the text of the Treaty and ten other documents on trade and other subjects from British and American sources.