XIX. 1777. CHAP strongest language: nor was this all; Manchester and Liverpool each raised a regiment of 1000 men; Edinburgh and Glasgow followed their example; independent companies were raised in Wales and the highlands of Scotland; and although the livery of London and corporation of Bristol, steady to their expressed opinions, refused to co-operate in such schemes, yet a large sum of money was raised in both places by subscription, for the public service, and a body of 15,000 men placed at the disposal of government. When parliament assembled after the recess, this mode of raising troops, without the concurrence or knowledge of the legislature, occasioned violent debates, being considered unconstitutional and dangerous to public liberty; neither was the plan thought consistent with economy, though calculated to serve certain influential persons, who were complimented with the appointment of officers to the newly-formed regiments: the purchase-money of their commissions, it was said, would greatly exceed the amount of the gratuities; and their full and half pay might have been spared to the nation by an offer of bounties to recruits entering into the old regiments.14 While the strenuous partisans of ministers thus supplied them with means for carrying on the war, people of different sentiments found another channel into which they could direct their bounty. Complaints had been made, and noticed in the house of lords, that American prisoners were treated with great cruelty in British prisons: the subject was investigated; and although it could not be shown that government authorized any wanton exercise of power in regard to food, fuel, or personal treatment, yet instances were discovered, in which the hardships arising from a slender allowance were still farther increased by the inhumanity of keepers. To relieve these distresses, a subscription was opened; and the prisoners were supplied with clothes, firing, bedding, and other necessaries, during the winter. 15 Among the many subjects of disquiet and alarm 14 Lord North's Administration, p. 296. 15 Ibid. XIX. 1777. which at this time must have forced themselves on CHAP. the cabinet, was an evident inclination felt by other nations to take advantage of our distress: a rupture indeed with France and Spain was considered as certain; but apprehensions also were entertained of hostilities in the northern states, jealous of our naval superiority, and irritated by the code of maritime law which that superiority had enabled us to establish. To ward off such dangers and enable us to act with better effect against our revolted colonies, it was now determined to seek an alliance offensive and defensive with Russia, for which purpose Mr. James Harris, our cleverest diplomatist, was removed from the court of Berlin to that of St. Petersburg. In his instructions to this new envoy lord Suffolk plainly indicated the obstruction which negotiations were likely to receive from the rancorous enmity of Frederic the Great:16 but he could not foresee the extent to which it was carried; or the complicated intrigues of continental powers; or the rapacity, meanness, perfidy, and all other base passions which distinguished the potentates of this period. Mr. Harris soon found himself engaged in a fearful labyrinth of the most artful duplicity, where antipathy to the interests of Great Britain was the leading principle: both he and his employers at home long thought it possible to effect the object of his mission by diplomatic arts; in which as much money was spent as would have sufficed to equip a British fleet, that best of all diplomatists, while flattery and cajolery, profusely lavished. on one side, were met by the meannest offers of compliance on the other; until it was at length discovered that the wishes and policy of the czarina, all lay in an opposite direction to that in which it was proposed to turn them. She had absurdly set her mind on ships, colonies, and commerce, as strongly as Napoleon did at a later period: her pride also had been deeply wounded by some insulting sarcasms uttered against 16 See the Diary and Correspondence of the Earl of Malmsbury (vol. i. p. 158); for which interesting and instructive work, the world is deeply indebted to his grandson the present earl. XIX. CHAP. her on that subject by lord Hillsborough, our late secretary of state; but the grand object of Catharine 1777. was the seizure of Turkey and the occupation of Constantinople. This, the uppermost desire of her heart, was ever kept alive by her wily minister and earliest favorite Potemkin; nor did she fail to perceive that the nearest, if not the only way of obtaining it, was to engage the two powerful monarchies of France and England in a protracted war; while the perfidious Joseph of Austria was ready to aid her for a share of the spoil on the side of Servia; and the unprincipled Frederic was still grasping at the plunder of Poland, and would almost have sold his soul for the possession of Dantzig. On the third of November the queen was safely delivered of a daughter, the princess Sophia. In this year the first duty was laid on goods sold by auction, as well as on inhabited houses. СНАР. XX. CHAPTER XX. GEORGE III. (CONTINUED).-1778. Effect of general Burgoyne's surrender on the court of FranceCount de Vergennes, and Marie Antoinette-First French envoy sent to North America-American affairs in ParisHints of conciliatory measures by lord North-Mr. Fox's speech in committee on the state of the nation-His motion rejected -Also that of the duke of Richmond-Mr. Burke's speech against the employment of Indians-Story of Miss MacreaGovernor Pownal's speech and humane proposal-Attempt of Mr. Fox to stop the sending of troops to America-Examination of evidence in the upper house-Lord North introduces his conciliatory bills-Debates on them-Intimation of the French treaty with America-Attempt to engage lord Chatham in the administration-Notification of the French treaty to parliament -Motion of an address thereon-Debates-Investigation of the state of the navy-Lord Sandwich severely attacked-Motion for excluding contractors from seats in parliament-Committee for the revision of the Irish trade laws-Opposition of the British merchants and manufacturers-Bill for the relief of Roman Catholics-Motion of censure on lord George Germaine -Duke of Richmond's motion in the house of lords, and last reply of lord Chatham-His death, &c.-Supplies, &c. for 1778 -Parliament rises-King's speech-Admiral Rodney-Military affairs in America-Manner in which notice of the conciliatory bills was received-Notification of the French treaty-Unfortunate action under La Fayette-Sir Henry Clinton takes the supreme command of the British army-Conduct of the British commissioners, and of congress-Evacuation of Philadelphia by the British troops-March towards New York-Affair of general Lee-His disgrace-Arrival of a French fleet on the shores of America under count d'Estaing-The British fleet protected in the harbor of New York-Combined attack of French and Americans on Rhode Island-Its failure-D'Estaing's conduct meets with disapprobation-Operations of the British army in the provinces of New York and New Jersey-Attack of the savages on the settlement of Wyoming under colonel Butler-Americans take revenge-The French envoy received at Philadelphia— 1778. CHAP. XX. 1778. Hostile intentions Instructions sent to Franklin-French deprived of their fishery at Newfoundland-The capture of Dominica; but lose St. Lucie -French plans regarding Canada counteracted by the prudence of Washington-Capture of Savannah by the British-Naval operations in the British channel-Affairs respecting admiral Keppel and sir Hugh Palliser-Domestic matters. THE capture of general Burgoyne's army determined of France. France to assume that hostile attitude to which her secret intrigues in favor of the revolted Americans were all preparatory: Spain was not so ready to throw off the mask, but there was no doubt of her adhering to those plans which the elder branch of the house of Bourbon had adopted. It may seem repugnant to every maxim of true policy, that nations, which had foreign settlements of their own, and whose government at home was founded in despotism, and corrupted by abuses of every description, should teach a lesson and set an example which might so easily be turned against themselves: indeed it is surprising that a bare apprehension of that shock to the political system of Europe, which American success was sure to produce, did not deter the most ambitious statesmen from engaging in a transatlantic war: but pride and avarice, with a desire of wiping off the disgrace of the last contest, and securing exclusive benefits from American commerce, rendered the French ministers blind to consequences; while their king's natural indolence, and moderate abilities, threw the reins of government into the hands of that anti-pacific party, of which the queen was considered the head; and which thought the present a favorable opportunity of rising on the ruin of a detested rival. An appearance of neutrality, with secret aid given to the revolted colonists, had been long kept up; and an open declaration of hostility was still anxiously avoided: but the talent and spirit shown in Washington's last campaign, the capture of Burgoyne's army, and reports of some very conciliatory propositions about to be submitted by the British ministry to the colonists, obliged the French cabinet to throw off the mask earlier than they intended. It was well known that the Americans, notwithstanding their success at Sara |