adjournment, but this he afterwards withdrew: CHAP. Fox's motion was carried, and followed by XXX. one from ferjeant Adair, renewing the thanks of the houfe to their chief officer. 1777. Grant to the Mufe AMONG the other tranfactions of the feffion, 28th April. were a grant of three thoufand pounds to the British Mufeum, and an act, which will ever um. redound to the credit of the folicitor-general, Annuity for reftraining, and fubjecting to feveral important regulations, all grants of annuities. a&t. the feffion. IN prefenting the bills to the king, at 6th June. the clofe of the feffion, the fpeaker again ad- Clofe of dreffed his majefty, ftating the hope of the houfe, that fpeedy means would be found to ftop the ravages of war, which would otherwife be attended with confequences ruinous to the profperity, perhaps dangerous to the fafety of the country. THE king expreffed his approbation of the King's conduct of parliament, and thanked them for fpeech. the unquestionable proofs of the continued attachment to his perfon and government, their clear difcernment of the true interefts of the country, and fieady perfeverance in maintaining the rights of the legislature. He trufted - in Divine Providence, that, by a well concerted and vigorous exertion of the great force put into his hands, the operations of the campaign would be bleffed with fuch fuccefs, as might moft effectually tend to the fuppreffion of rebellion, and re-eftablishment of the conftitutional obedience, which all the fubjects of a free ftate owe to the authority of law. mind. No effort to engage the attention of the State of public, or procure an indication of popular the publie fentiment, on the fubjects which engaged the attention of the legillature, merits particular attention: all eyes feemed fixed on the centre, to which the great exertions of government CHAP. were directed with an anxiety proportioned XXX. to the magnitude of the conteft, the nation furveyed the employment of thofe preparations which the miniftry had demanded with a confidence of ultimate fuccefs, and the parliament had granted with the cheerfulness of well founded hope. State and views of IN fanguinely predicting the interference of foreign powers in the difpute, the members of oppofition uttered fuppofitions well founded with refpect in theory, and ftrongly fupported by circum foreign powers to Eng land. ftances, though premature. France, towards which thefe fuggeftions moft particularly pointed, gave fufficient indications of a with to aflift the revolted colonics, though her language was ftill pacific, and confidential, and her conduct, fo far as it could be referred to the teft of public acts, unexceptionable.. SOON after the declaration of independency, congrefs had difpatched Silas Dean, and fubfequently Dr. Franklin, to Paris, for the purpofe of negotiating for the affiftance of France; they were not received in a public character, but permitted to refide in the capital; and as it was the prevailing French fashion to patronize the American revolt, they were introduced to, and courted by people of the firft rank. The queen of France, at the head of an active and numerous party, anxioufly awaited the moment for commencing hoftilities; but her influence was not fufficient to remove the miuifters, who feeling the true intereft of the country, were unwilling, by engaging in war, to preclude the advantages which might be derived from neutrality. Some members of adminiftration did not adopt the fame views, but through ambition of directing the operations of a war, or defire of giving effect to fome fome untried projects of finance, countenanced CHAP. as much as poffible the rifing fpirit of partia- XXX. lity to America. THE king of Pruffia, facrificing every confideration of found policy, and fuppreffing every emotion of gratitude, loudly declared himfelf the champion of America. He was ambitious to become the director of the French councils, and give energy to every hostile attempt against England. Thofe among the French miniftry who entered into thefe views, were anxious to ftrengthen the alliance with Pruffia, and weaken the effect of the royal marriage into the house of Auftria, as they forefaw the impoffibility of engaging the cabinet of Vienna in projects hoftile to England. The partiality for this connection was daily growing weaker in both countries. The queen of France was foiled in her first attempt, that of replacing Choifeul in administration; a measure which would have led directly to a strong union against Pruffia, and formidable to England, Holland, and Ruffia. The connection with Pruffia was now therefore purfued with eagernefs, and without fear, from the certainty, that during the life of the empress queen, at least, no hoftility would be fought by Auftria with France. Maria Therefa, weary of war, had an infurmountable repugnance to all measures which could tend to the infraction of peace; and her ftrong maternal feelings, rendered her peculiarly averfe to hoftilities with the houfe of Bourbon, into which five of her children were intermarried. THUS, under an enforced neceffity of maintaining pacific appearances, while the majority of the nation were eager for hoftile meatures, the conduct of France was replete with inconfiftencies: many acts, both in that kingdom and 1777. XXX. 1777. CHAP. and the tranfatlantic colonies, afforded reafonable grounds of offence, while on every complaint, the government evinced a ferious defire to allay the jealoufies, and conciliate the goodwill of Great Britain. The American privateers found a ready fale for their captures in the French ports, as well in Europe, as in the Weft Indies. In France, fome difguife and reftraint were requifite, though no effectual impediment was inforced, but the people in the Ilands permitted private fales, and fitted out privateers under American colours, and with American commiffions, for the purpofe of committing depredations on British property. An . agent of congrefs, openly eftablished at Martinico, not only facilitated thefe illicit proceedings, but laid the grounds for quarrels between the French and English merchants. The American privateers, increafing in audacity, infefted the channel, infulted the coaft of Great Britain and Ireland, and began to be received and faluted in the ports of France.° ONE of the effects of fathion in the confideration of the American conteft, was the rage of adventuring, with which it infpired many of the young nobility of France. Among the moft confpicuous of thefe inftances was, that of the marquis de la Fayette: he was nephew to M. de Noailles, the French embalador in London; had for fome time refided with his uncle, and having availed himfelf of a familiar intercourfe with fome of the fervants of government, to acquire a knowledge of the intended plan of operations for the enfuing campaign, fuddenly withdrew to France, purchafed a yacht, and on pretence of a voyage to Italy, See Ramfay, vol. ii. p. 23. and all the hiftories. P XXX. 1777 failed to América, and joined the army under CHAP. Washington. But whatever might be the arguments or temptations which induced French officers to engage in thefe fpeculations, they muft have been confiderably mortified with their reception in the American army. They expected rank equivalent to that which they had held in the fervice of the French king, and congrefs inadvertently decreed that arrangement; but Washington foon demonftrated, that it could not take effect without difplacing and difgufting all native officers. The French adventurers did not know the language, and were impatient at the manners of their new affociates; the Americans viewed them with jealoufy and difaffection; many returned difappointed to their native land, and even la Fayette was in danger of experiencing the fame fate. IF thefe circumftances, feparately confidered, were calculated to give uneafincfs to the British government, the public conduct of France was always conciliatory, often humble. The miniftry explained frankly the caufe of large armaments then making in their ports, and gave affurances that they were only in purfuance of the family compact, for the affiftance of Spain, who was involved in difputes with Portugal. The whole correfpondence on this fubject difplays a difpofition in France to avoid all occations of offence, and fomewhat of alarm left Great Britain, by affifting Portugal, fhould render hoftilities inevitable. P History of lord North's administration, p. 277. La Fayette was not yet twenty, when he commenced his career with this act of treachery. 9 See Washington's Letters, vol. ii. p. 197. 216. and for other statements relative to the French officers, the fame vol. p. 13. 26. 32. 53, 54. 57. 69. 70. 75. 84. and 89. ON |