again made on the twenty-second of April, the reciprocal holding of possession should and succeeded. The troops were rowed to refer; and the negotiation with France was various parts of the island, as if they in- resumed. tended to disembark in different places, so

The epochs named by the British minister as to distract the attention and divide the were, the first of August for Europe, the forces of the enemy, whilst the men-of-war first of September for Africa and America, directed their fire with great judgment and and the first of November for the East Ineffect on the hills. These manœuvres gave dies. To these epochs France agreed, though brigadier-general Lambert, with a small de- reluctantly, on account of the nearness, as tachment of grenadiers and marines, an at this juncture she wished and hoped to opportunity of climbing up a very steep rock make some acquisitions in Westphalia bewithout molestation. Here they directly fore the close of the campaign, which might formed themselves in good order; and though at least counterbalance the loss of Belleisle. attacked by superior numbers, they main- She also agreed, that everything settled tained their ground, till the whole corps, between the two crowns, relative to their which had now ascended in the same man- particular disputes, should be finally concluner, arrived to their assistance, and repulsed sive and obligatory, independent of the prothe enemy. The landing of all the forces ceedings of the congress to be held at Augswas made good in a short time after. In burg: and she farther agreed, that the deone or two places the enemy seemed dispos- finitive treaty of peace between the two ed to make a stand; but a body of light kingdoms, or preliminary articles to that horse, which was embarked in this expedi- purpose, should be signed and ratified before tion, soon drove them into Palais, the capi- the first of August. France even gave up tal of the island. The siege of Palais was the point of honor, and frankly made an commenced with vigor; and the garrison, offer of what places she was willing to cede commanded by the chevalier de St. Croix, and exchange. Her first proposals came a brave and experienced officer, threatened through the medium of Stanley; and after a long and obstinate defence. This was a some difficulties had been removed, and a place of extraordinary strength, having been few claims relinquished, Bussy delivered, on built by the famous Vauban, who supplied the twenty-third of July, a memorial in by art what nature had left undone, to make form, containing a regular digest of the it almost impregnable; and it was now de-sacrifices acquiesced in, and the compensafended by St. Croix with a show of the most tions required by the French ministry. The desperate resolution. Parallels were finish- following were the chief articles of their ed, barricadoes made, and batteries con- conciliating plan. They proposed to cede structed; and a continual fire from mortars and guaranty all Canada to England, and and artillery was kept up on both sides, by to ascertain the boundaries of that province night and by day, from the thirteenth of and Louisiana in such a manner as to preMay to the twenty-fifth, when that of the clude all possibility of any future dispute enemy began to abate. By the end of the on the subject. They only stipulated that month a breach was made in the citadel; the free and public exercise of the Roman and notwithstanding the indefatigable indus- Catholic religion should be permitted there, try of the garrison and the governor in re- and that such of the old French colonists as pairing the damage, the fire of the besieg- chose to retire might have leave to take ers increased to such a degree, that a great away or dispose of their effects, and might part of the defences was ruined, and the be supplied by the English government with breach rendered practicable on the seventh the means of conveyance on the most reaof June. Then St. Croix, having no pros- sonable terms. In return for this, they repect of relief, and being apprehensive of a quired a confirmation of their former privigeneral assault, thought it prudent to capit-lege of fishing on the coast of Newfoundulate. land, with the restitution of Cape Breton, as some harbor was necessary for carrying THE taking of Belleisle, which was cele- on that fishery to advantage; but excluding brated with bonfires, illuminations, and every themselves from erecting any kind of fortiexpression of tumultuous joy, contributed fication. They offered to exchange Minorgreatly to elate the pride of the English ca for Guadaloupe and Marigalante; and populace, and was no small mortification to that, with respect to the neutral islands in France. But the expedition having failed the West Indies, two of them, namely Doin its ultimate aim, which was to oblige the minica and St. Vincent, were to be held by French to weaken their army in Westpha- the native inhabitants the Caribbees, while lia, in order to defend their own coast, and France occupied St. Lucia, and England by that means to enable prince Ferdinand took possession of Tobago. In the East to strike some decisive blow; Pitt conde- Indies they had no equivalent to offer for scended to name certain periods, to which the recovery of the English acquisitions VOL. IV. 3

NEGOTIATIONS RESUMED.

INFLEXIBILITY OF THE ENGLISH
MINISTER.

there; but they proposed the treaty of one ties of a challenge; and that the alarming thousand seven hundred and fifty-five, be- steps taken by the French in America to tween the Sieur Godeheu and governor gain ground on the English colonies, and the Saunders, as a basis for the re-establishment preparations making at home to send out of peace in Asia. On the side of Africa, vast bodies of troops to support and extend they required the settlements at Senegal, or such encroachments, amidst the most solemn the isle of Goree to be given up by Eng-assurances of amicable intention, neither deland; for which, together with the restora- served a return of candor, nor allowed time tion of Belleisle, they consented to evacu- for a scrupulous regard to the usual puncate Gottingen, Hesse, and Hanau; but these tilios. evacuations were to be preceded by a cessation of hostilities between the two crowns, and a positive engagement that their armies ON whatever side the scale of reason and in Germany should observe an exact neutral- justice may be thought to incline in this ity, not affording the least assistance, nor controversy, the British minister seemed ingiving the least offence to the allies of either flexible in his refusal to restore the disputed party. captures, while he was no less absolute in MAIN POINTS OF DISPUTE. demanding the evacuation of Wesel and So far the advances of the French minis- Gueldres. He was also averse from the protry had a very plausible and even captivating posed ground of pacification in the East Inappearance but they strictly adhered in dies, as well as from the giving up of the their memorial to two points, which had island of Cape Breton in America, and of been already the cause of much dispute with Senegal or Goree on the coast of Africa; the negotiators at both courts. The one was nor would he, astonishing as it may appear, an absolute refusal on the part of France to agree to a neutrality in regard to Germany. give up Wesel and Gueldres, which she had He treated such an intimation with disdain, conquered from the king of Prussia, in the as an insult on the honor of his country; name of the empress-queen, whose consent though it would certainly have been more to a separate peace between France and easy and no less honorable for Great Britain England had been obtained only under two to mediate, or even purchase a peace for the conditions, first, that the empress should king of Prussia, in the congress at Augskeep possession of the countries belonging burg, than to enable him to continue any to the king of Prussia, and secondly, that longer a very unequal and ruinous struggle. England should not afford him any succor But, besides these contentious points which (1). The other article was a demand very were not likely to be soon, or easily adjusted, strongly urged for having all the captures a new circumstance occurred, against which restored, which had been made by England, Pitt's opposition was directed with still more previous to the declaration of war. The ar- unqualified vehemence. guments for and against this claim may be At the time of presenting the above mesummed up in a few words. It was said, on morial to the court of London, Bussy delivthe one hand, that the practice of declaring ered a private paper, signifying the desire war had been established by the law of na- of his most Christian majesty, that, in order tions, to make subjects acquainted with the to establish the peace upon solid foundations, quarrels of their sovereigns, and to give not to be shaken by the contested interests them a fair warning to take care of their of a third power, the king of Spain might persons and effects; that, in the late in- be invited to guaranty the treaty between stance, the merchants of France reposing the two crowns; and farther proposing, with themselves on the faith of treaties, and ig- the consent and communication of his Cathnorant of the facts or circumstances which olic majesty, that three subjects of dispute led to a rupture between the two kingdoms, which subsisted between England and Spain, had been plundered without the least regard and which might produce a new war in Euto equity or honor; and that even supposing rope and America, should be finally settled any improper encroachments to have been in this negotiation; namely, the restoration made on the back of the English colonies in of some ships taken in the course of the America, the aggression ought first to be present war, under Spanish colors; the libcomplained of, and a reparation of the in- erty claimed by the Spanish nation to fish jury peremptorily insisted upon, as nothing on the banks of Newfoundland; and the debut an absolute denial of redress, and a pub-molition of certain settlements made, conlic appeal to the sword could justify the com- trary to treaty, by the English logwood-cutmencement of hostilities. To this it was ters in the bay of Honduras. From what replied, that when a nation is insidiously has been already hinted of Pitt's sentiments, robbed of her right, she has a natural claim with respect to the treaty, it may be easily to instant retaliation; that a faithless assas-imagined in what manner he received this sin is not entitled by any law to the formali-private memorial. He expressed his sur

THE FAMILY COMPACT.

RESULTS OF THE NEGOTIATION.

prise and indignation at an humbled enemy's been at that moment exposed by an immeundertaking to settle differences between de- diate rupture with England, made the conclared friends: he called upon the Spanish tracting parties use every endeavor for some ambassador to disavow the step which had time to keep their late alliance a profound been said to be taken with the knowledge of secret. The negotiation between the courts his court: he returned as wholly inadmissi- of London and Versailles was therefore still ble the offensive paper, declaring that it carried on with seeming sincerity; but the would be looked upon as an affront to the real eagerness of the latter to terminate the dignity of his master, and incompatible with war must have been greatly abated by an the sincerity of the negotiation on the part assurance of support from a power untouched of France, to make any farther mention of in its resources of men, money, and stores. such a circumstance; and he prepared with- It may also be fairly presumed, that Pitt's out delay a very unaccommodating reply to aversion to a peace was not lessened, but the other porposals of the French ministry. greatly increased by his well-founded susIn this answer, bearing date the twenty-picions of the private correspondence beninth of July, all the before-recited objec- tween France and Spain. He did not wish, tions were urged with little temper or deli- however, to put an end to the treaty, till he cacy; and the secretary took care to embit- could furnish himself with sufficient proofs ter his assent to the most unexceptionable of the engagements which the two branches articles, either by some new and mortifying of the house of Bourbon had entered into condition, or by the imperious style in which against Great Britain, as he thought such it was given. proofs would be the best justification of his own conduct. Thus, while the forms of paTHE views of the different parties began cific discussion were preserved, on both sides, now gradually to unfold themselves; but the all that cordiality vanished which is so nehaughtiness and impetuosity of Pitt's char-cessary towards smoothing and clearing a acter gave the French ministry a considera- road, which a long hostility had broken up, ble advantage over him. They seemed to- and so many intricate topics had contributed tally unaffected by his tone of arrogance, to embarrass. though bordering upon insult: they digested every mortification in silence: they made In order to judge which party was most an apology for having proposed a discussion blamable for the failure of the negotiation, of the points in dispute with Spain: and, in nothing more is necessary than to examine, reply to the English secretary's last dictates, without prejudice, the ostensible grounds on as well as in the private instructions sent which the treaty was broke off, after it had with it to Bussy in the beginning of August, been protracted considerably beyond the term they appeared willing to make farther sacri- fixed for signing it. The last papers interfices for the re-establishment of peace. changed by the ministers of both courts are Whether they really hoped to accomplish the proper documents to be appealed to in that object, or not, by these new concessions, this case. The final resolutions of the Brittheir conduct was equally moderate and po- ish cabinet were transmitted to Versailles in litic. At least, it insured the success of their the latter end of August; and the reply of intrigues at the court of Madrid, where the the French ministry was delivered to Pitt domineering language of the British minis- on the thirteenth of September. From these ter could not fail to give disgust, while the papers it appears, that the most interesting increasing humiliations of the French mon- objects of concern were settled, or in a fair archy excited alarm. The famous family way of adjustment; and that mere points of compact was the consequence. By this honor were made the specious pretext for treaty, which was signed on the fifteenth of keeping Europe involved in the calamities August, the several branches of the house of war. The cession of Canada was agreed of Bourbon were entwined in the closest to in the most extensive form; and though union; and France derived from her misfor- some difficulty remained concerning the tunes and disgrace an advantage which she bounds of Louisiana, it was too trifling to obcould not have expected from the most suc- struct the progress or conclusion of the treaty. cessful issue of the war. Spain now en- The African contest seemed to have been gaged to assist her with as much zeal and attended with still less difficulty. The vigor as if the two kingdoms had been in- French consented to give up both Senegal corporated; and to admit her subjects to all and Goree, provided Anamaboo and Aera the privileges of natives. The two Sicilies were guarantied to them; and they very and the dutchy of Parma were united in the plausibly urged their compliance in this resame bonds of mutual guarantee of domin- spect as a demonstration of their readiness ions and community of interests. to embrace every temperament tending to Strong motives of policy, chiefly arising reconcile the two nations. The momentous from the danger to which Spain would have question of the fishery was likewise deter

mined. The French relinquished their claim Hanau, and Gottingen, which were of g f greatto Cape Breton and St. John's; and were er importance, they did not hesitate to give satisfied to receive the little islands of St. up, as part of the equivalent for the islands Peter and Miquelon, even under the restric- ceded by Great Britain. To the French detion of not keeping any military establish- mand of compensation for the captures made ment there. The privileges of fishing on before war was formally declared, Pitt had the coast of Newfoundland, as enjoyed by given an irrevocable negative. The centhe French before the war, under the thir-surers of his policy then asserted, "that teenth article of the treaty of Utrecht, were rather than make restitution of a few huncontinued to them; but in return for such dred thousand pounds plundered from the privileges, and in conformity to another ar- subjects of France, while trading under the ticle of that treaty, the king of France con- security of peace and the faith of treaties, sented to demolish the fortifications of Dun- false pride co-operating with the secretary's kirk. As to the islands of Guadaloupe, Mari- personal influence, induced government to galante, Minorca, and Belleisle, no great con- prosecute the war, at the annual expense of troversy had subsisted on their account from twelve millions; or that this enormous charge, the beginning: it had all along been agreed together with a farther waste of British that these conquests should be reciprocally re- blood, and the risk of fortune's inconstancy, stored. Nor did the French any longer press was a sacrifice made to the interest of a Gerthe consideration of the old treaty between man ally, who had already drained so much Godeheu and Saunders in the East Indies, from the nation, which his friendship or anibut agreed to refer the settlement of all dis- mosity could not possibly affect?" putes there to commissioners appointed by TREATY BROKEN OFF. the companies of the two nations. In short, PITT did not deign to answer the last the only points of difference were the con- memorial of the French ministry; but in a duct to be observed with respect to their al- few days after the receipt of it, he sent dilies, the evacuation of one or two places in rections to Stanley to return to England, and Germany, and the restoration of the mer- to desire that Bussy might have the like orchant-men taken previous to the declaration ders of recall from his court. The leading of war. On the first head, the French had negotiation in London and Paris being now made repeated proposals of neutrality, which broken off, that which was proposed at Augswere uniformly and positively rejected by burg never took place; and the fond hopes the English minister as derogating from the of the public, which had been kept alive for good faith and integrity of the nation; nor almost six months, expired in the most painwas he willing to come to any agreement ful disappointment. So far was the treaty about the succors which the two states might from producing any of the happy effects that be at liberty to afford their allies. He in- were expected from it-so far was it from sisted with equal positiveness on the surren- appeasing the animosities of the contending der of all the conquests made by France upon powers, that they parted with intentions more any of the allies in Germany, particularly hostile, and opinions more adverse than ever. Wesel, and the territories of the king of New subjects of jealousy and debate had Prussia, though the French ministry had de- also arisen; and there was reason to appreclared, that they could neither evacuate that hend that other powers would be tempted to town nor Gueldres, as such a cession would engage in the quarrel, and to throw off the be a direct breach of the engagements they veil of neutrality, under which they had were under to the empress-queen of Hun- hitherto concealed their secret attachments. gary, for whom those places had been taken, Thus all the seeming advances towards and in whose name alone they were govern- peace operated like oil poured upon the fire ed. This matter, they said, ought to be re- of contention, which, instead of extinguishferred to the congress at Augsburg. Their ing it, served to spread the flame wider, and other acquisitions on the continent, Hesse, to make it burn with greater rapidity.

NOTE TO CHAPTER II.

1 These conditions were specified in a separate note, which Mr. Pitt returned with another paper relative to Spain, declaring both to be totally inadmissible.

CHAPTER III.

Proofs of the King's Exemption from personal or political Prejudices.-His Majesty's Choice of a Consort, the Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburgh-Embassy sent to make the Demand of her Most Serene Highness; with an Account of her VoyageHer journey to London, her Reception and Nuptials-Preparations made for the Coronation of their Majesties-Entertainment given to the Royal Family at Guildhall-Some rising Clouds in the political Hemisphere-The Spanish Ambassador's Explanation not deemed satisfactory-Orders sent to the Earl of Bristol at Madrid— His Excellency's Dispatches in Reply-Warm Debates in the Cabinet on Mr. Pitt's Proposal to attack Spain without further Delay-His Resolution, with the President's Answer-His Interview with the King, on resigning the Seals of his Office-Lord Temple's Resignation-Violent Conflict between the Admirers and the Censurers of Mr. Pitt's Conflict sanctioned by the Abbé Raynal-Farther Instructions sent by the new Secretary of State to the British Ambassador at Madrid-Steps taken by the Ministry-Meeting of the new Parliament-His Majesty's Speech-Message to the Queen; and the Dowry granted her in Case she should survive his Majesty-Repeal of the compelling Clause in the Insolvent Act-Alacrity of the Commons in providing for the Service of the ensuing Year-Debate on the Expediency of the German War-Severe Remarks on the Alliances entered into with some of the continental Powers-Ingenious Defence set up by the Advocates for the German War-Result of this political Controversy-Effect of the English Ambassador's Remonstrances at the Court of Madrid-His Conjectures on the Causes of a sudden Revolution in the Spanish Councils-Propriety of his Conduct in so delicate a Conjuncture—A clear and categorical Explanation at length insisted upon-General Wall's Letter-Manifesto delivered by the Count de Fuentes, and Lord Egremont's Refutation of it.

KING'S FREEDOM FROM POLITICAL

PREJUDICES.

dismission, except that of Mr. Legge, in whose room lord Barrington was appointed

AFTER So long continued a view of ope-chancellor of the exchequer. rations in the field and of intrigues in the KING'S CHOICE OF A CONSORT. cabinet, it will be some relief to the mind to His majesty's conduct in another affair of contemplate a few events of a more tranquil very great moment afforded still fuller cause and domestic nature, which happened during of general satisfaction. This was his choice the same period. It was very pleasing to of a consort, whose endearments might the whole nation to see their young king sweeten the cares of royalty, and whose virascend the throne with so little partiality or tues should make his private happiness coinprejudice, either of a personal or political cide with the happiness of his people. The nature, that for almost twelve months no first circumstance, it is said, that directed change was made in any of the great offices his attention to the princess Charlotte of of state, which could excite the least clamor. Mecklenburgh Strelitz, was a letter which Lord Henley, afterwards created Earl of her serene highness had written to the king Northington, who had distinguished himself at the bar by his talents and integrity, and had for some time acted as keeper of the great seal, was continued in the same important trust, but with the higher title of The king had privately employed some lord chancellor. The earl of Holdernesse, persons in whom he could confide, to ascersecretary of state for the northern depart-tain the correctness of the report of her amiment, having retired from business, was suc-able qualifications; and having received the ceeded by the earl of Bute, who had spent fullest satisfaction on that head, he resolved some years on terms of very friendly inter- to make a formal demand of her in marcourse with lord Temple and Mr. Pitt, and riage. On the eighth of July, he made a all the leading members of the opposition declaration of his sentiments at a very full during the lifetime of the late prince of meeting of the members of the privy-council. Wales. The earl of Halifax was removed AN EMBASSY, &c. from the board of trade to be lord-lieutenant

of Prussia on his entering her cousin's territories, and which that monarch had sent over to George II. as a miracle of good sense and patriotism in so young a princess.

THIS declaration was so agreeable to the

of Ireland; and some other removals or pro- council, that they unanimously requested it motions from one department of administra- might be made public. Proper steps were tion to another took place, but not a single then taken for the accomplishment of his.