Oct. 16, 1777. Washington himself despaired of the cause for CHAP. 70. which he was contending. But ignorance of 1776-1779. the public sentiment, and the nature of the country, led to the fatal expedition from Canada, under general Burgoyne, which terminated in the loss and surrender of 10,000 men, at the post of Saratoga, and raised the spirit of the americans at the moment when they were most depressed by their reverses. This was a signal which had been long impatiently expected by the french. While the event was uncertain, they had clothed their hostilities under the guise of an insidious neutrality; fomented the insurrection by succours in money and arms, and sent officers to supply the want of military science. But when a crisis arrived which seemed likely to extort such concessions from England as might lead to a reconciliation, when commissioners were actually appointed to effect an accommodation which might render british supremacy compatible with colonial freedom, they assumed a direct and open part. A treaty of union, friendship, and commerce, was concluded with the american agents, at Paris, by which their independence was acknowledged; and in return an engagement extorted that they would never return to their obedience to the british crown. The notification of this engagement to England, on the 13th of the following March, was the CHAP. 70. signal for a war. Within two months after 1776-1779. the signature, a french squadron of twelve men July 27, 1778. Sept. 7, 1778. of war, with a force of 4,000 men, including marines, sailed to America under the command of d'Estaign, who was accompanied by M. Gerard, secretary to the council of state, as accredited minister to the new republic.* The sword being drawn, vigorous preparations were made for an arduous contest. An army of 50,000 men was assembled on the coasts of Normandy and Britanny, to threaten an invasion of England, and powerful fleets were equipped on both sides to contend for the mastery of the channel. An indecisive engagement ensued off Ushant, between Keppel with a fleet of thirtyone sail, and d'Orvilliers with thirty-two; and though the french presumptuously claimed the victory, yet they were deterred from making any attempt against the british isles. While the result of the struggle was yet undecided in Europe, both nations carried their hostilities into other quarters of the globe. The english captured St. Lucie and the french Dominica; on the coast of Africa, they respectively reduced the rival settlements of Gorée and Senegal; and in the east, where the war had been We refer the reader to Mr. Adolphus's History of George the third, for the best and most accurate account of the rise and progress of the american revolution. rather suspended than terminated, the french CHAP. 70. were again compelled to surrender their only 1776-1779. remaining settlement, Pondicherry. Madrid, as on former occasions, again became the theatre of a political struggle between the belligerent powers. For a time, Charles hesitated between these two opposite motives, and appeared inclined to imitate the wise neutrality of Ferdinand. He assured the british embassador, lord Grantham, that he was a stranger to the treaty concluded between France and America; and even to the notification of this alliance, before it was made public. Florida Blanca also solemnly declared, that he considered the independence of the american colonies as no less detrimental to Spain T CHAP. 70. than to Great Britain herself. He averred that 1776-1779, the king, his master, had positively rejected the instances of France to acknowledge their independence; and even affected to testify great displeasure at the conclusion of a treaty with America without his knowledge. Jan 17, 1779. Notwithstanding these solemn and reiterated assurances, the spanish minister continued his hostile preparations, and meditated a junction with France to share the spoils of a nation considered as hastening to its decline. The manner, however, in which the rupture was effected, was neither open or manly, but an insidious design, contrary to the generous character of the spanish nation, and derogatory to the honour of a sovereign who prided himself on good faith and equity. The ostensible pretence for interference, was the hacknied expedient of a mediation; and to give it additional effect, a new embassador, the marquis of Almodovar, was nominated to the court of London. Immediately after the commencement of hostilities, the king of Spain reiterated his wishes to promote harmony, and draw closer the bonds of union between Spain and England. He next tendered his mediation and, without any apparent cause, captiously complained of the neglect shewn to his good offices. On the reply of the british government, that it was inconsistent with national honour to solicit the interference of a foreign power, till the CHAP. 70. views of France were known, he expressed his 1776-1779. readiness to open a negotiation, and spare both parties the humiliation of making the first advances. He suggested, that each government should transmit their conditions to Madrid, tendered his interference in promoting a free and dispassionate discussion, and proposed to draw, from the offers and demands of both, a plan for the conclusion of a definitive treaty. England confined her demands to one single article. Assuming, as an undoubted principle, her right to treat with her own colonies, independent of foreign intervention, she declared, whenever France would withdraw her assistance from the americans, she would readily concur in establishing the harmony which had subsisted between the two crowns. France, on the contrary, required as a preliminary, that England should acknowledge the independence of the colonies, and withdraw all her forces, both by land and sea. She further reserved the power of bringing forward additional demands, under the pretence of amending and explaining preceding treaties. On these foundations, the negotiation proceeded. France persisted in her demands, on the principle that the honour of the crown did not permit her to desist from her engagements, and that the colonists themselves had announced |