CHAP. XII. 1778. ly in the year one thousand seven hundred and feventy-eight.* It required time to ripen a measure in a defpotic court, to fupport a struggle like the prefent; a struggle unparalleled in modern nations. An effort for the liberties of mankind, by colonial oppofition to the parent ftate, the proud and potent fovereignty of Britain, might rationally be expected to have an influence on the political systems of the greatest part of Europe. Befides, the intrigues of the British cabinet, and the policy of France, might co-operate to poftpone the event of any foreign alliance with the colonies, until American firmnefs had been tried in the ordeal of affliction, and her conftancy and fuccefs had rendered her more refpectable in the eyes of older nations, and long practised statesmen. But the conqueft and capture of a British army, commanded by officers of distinguished name and abilities, was confidered as a decided proof of the importance of the connexion, and haftened the determination of France to conclude a treaty, that might cut off all hope of reconciliation between the colonies and the mother country. Thus on the fixth of February, one thousand seven hundred and seventy *See doctor Franklin's letter to congrefs, March, one thoufand feven hundred and feventy-eight. eight, a treaty of alliance, amity, and com- This mortifying event had for fome time. been predicted by the minority in the British parliament; yet the minifter affected to difbelieve even the probability of its taking place; and as late as March the eleventh, one thoufand feven hundred and feventy-eight, defired, "that it might be remembered he declared in "his place, that he knew of no fuch treaty, "either in existence or contemplation." Only eight days after this, the duc de Noailles, in the name of his fovereign, announced the treaty in form; and a refcript thereof was delivered to the king of Great Britain. The ignorance or incapacity of the minifter, in not obtaining more early intelligence of the conduct of the houfe of Bourbon, or his wickedness in concealing the information if he had received it, was echoed from the house to the city, and from the city through the nation. CHAP. XII. 1778. CHAP. XII. 1778. But there was little reason to doubt, notwithftanding the folemn declaration of the minister, that he had obtained more authentic documents than he was willing to acknowledge, of the tranfactions of the French cabinet. This was undoubtedly the reafon, why the conciliatory bills were hurried through both houses, and fent over to lord and general Howe, before the act was completed, or commissioners named for the purpose. Many diftinguished members in both houfes of parliament infifted, that an immediate fufpenfion of hoftilities, and a direct acknowledgment of the independence of America, was the only medium of fafety. They juftly observed, that the burning fome of their faireft towns, defolating their lands, plundering their houses, and abufing their wives and daughters, had left fuch an acrimonious ftamp on the minds of Americans, as deftroyed all faith and confidence in the appearances of accommodation, or advances towards reconciliation. Others ftill fanguine in profecution of meafures lefs derogatory to the pride of Britain, urged a change of ministry, and a new arrangement of officers, in both the civil and military departments. At the fame time they urged, that commiffioners fhould be appointed to repair to America, to confer with congrefs as a legal body, or with the ftate legiflatures in their prefent form; and that they should be authorised to offer a 1778. cessation of hostilities, a repeal of all obnoxious CHAP. XII. bills, a free trade, a reprefentation in parlia ment, and in short, almost every thing they could wish, except an explicit acknowledgment of independence. This mode was adopted, and commiffioners appointed to make overtures from the parent ftate, that would once have been received with the highest tokens of gratitude. But that period was irretrievably paffed. Probably had administration taken a cool retrofpect of the natural operations of the human mind, and reflected on the infult and mortification, of the repeated rejection of fincere and ardent petitions; of the commencement of hoftilities by ftaining the fword with the blood of innocence; of the miseries that awaited the unhappy victims, which the uncertain chances of war had thrown into their hands; and the numberlefs inftances of deception, that had been practised on the less experienced politicians of America, they muft themselves have been fenfible, that all ideas of peace, on any conditions, but the most decided acknowledgment of the independence of the United States, were precluded. But men impelled by a partiality for systems of their own fabricating, whether they originated in paffion, plausibility, or intereft, can feldom bend their pride to a generous dereliction CHAP. XIL 1778. of their favorite object, though reason or time might have brought to their view a full con viction of its abfurdity or impracticability. Great Britain was at this time herself without allies; nor had the any reason to expect the affiftance of foreigners, to facilitate the fubjugation of America, except the auxiliaries fhe had obtained at an immenfe expenfe, from fome of the petty princes of Germany. They had fome time before applied to the ftates of Holland, to fend forward a Scotch brigade in their service, in aid of their hoftile operations against the colonies; but by the fingle voice of one of their honeft republicans, it was prevented, and the propofal rejected in a ftyle characteristic of his nation. He obferved, that "it " was more proper for Britain to hire janiza"ries for their purpose, than to apply to the Batavians, who had fo dearly purchased their own liberties."* σε Thus, while a war with France was appre hended to be the immediate and inevitable consequence of the weak, pernicious, and perverfe councils of the British cabinet, the oppofition declared the nation had every thing to fear from the house of Bourbon, and nothing to hope from the affiftance of other European * Speech of van der Capellen, in the affembly of Overyffel. |