finally took a part, and which were, in some respects, maritime, not a single principle, beneficial to the neutral, has been secured. In all the treaties made in the celebrated years of 1814, 1816, treaties, that appear to guaranty the repose of the world for centuries, we find no allusion to the neutral. And it is, truly, a most discouraging circumstance, how completely all armed neutralities have been dissolved, and how entirely the obligation different states (this country among others) have entered into, to establish a convention for the protection of the neutral, have been forgotten on the return of peace. Still, he should not be in despair. The great improvements, taking place in society and in the intercourse of nations, will probably in time reach that portion of the code, that relates to him.

There has been in Europe, for three centuries, in a small, compact space, a remarkable collection and concentration of powerful nations;-the frontiers of the principal, laying so close to each other, that they had become rivals rather in arms than in commerce. Even the small states, forming a part of the balance of power, were drawn by the attraction of the larger bodies from a neutral position. Before the armed neutrality of the North, a scheme dictated by personal ambition and desire of aggrandizement, (partaking entirely of a political character, and as far as Russia and France were concerned) adopted for any other purpose than the benefit of neutrals, the period that may be selected, as most marked by favourable dispositions in regard to neutrals, is, probably, that of the peace and treaties of Utrecht. It is most likely that the balance of power was then more fairly and nicely adjusted ;-it may, also, be the true date of the beginning of British commercial supremacy, though it was not very apparent till the peace of 1763. At any rate, as that supremacy rose, the hopes of the neutral have fallen. Since the time of Charles the V., all Europe has been occupied with a consideration of the balance of power, applied to the land, but a proper attention does not appear to have been paid to the unequal manner, in which power may be distributed on the ocean. To the maritime superiority of Great

Britain, no effective and steady resistance has been opposed for one hundred years, except by this country. The true fountain and strength of that resistance consists in the distant situation of the United States,-the habits and character of the people, and the undoubted interest we have in maintaining neutrality. At the late great division of spoil in Europe, England was permitted to appropriate to her own use the best islands and commercial marts in every sea, while the other powers were busy in seeking indemnities, reclaiming statues and pictures, and rounding and squaring their territories.

The war with England, and the movements in the British House of Commons in the beginning of the summer of '82, finally induced the provinces, not only to make a treaty, but Mr. Adams was enabled, under those favourable auspices to negotiate a loan with certain merchants of Amsterdam, at first (in September 1782) for * 5,000,000 guilders at 5 per cent. redeemable in ten years ;-2,000,000 at 4 per cent. in '85; and, again, 1,000,000 in 1787 at 5 per cent. The price of these loans was, probably higher than was paid by other nations; but America did not enter into the market of Amsterdam with all the advantages of a well established government. When the first loan was contracted in September '82, very little doubt could exist but that America would be able ultimately to maintain her independence against the claims of the mother country. But this was not sufficient for the European money lender. to satisfy him, that the confederacy of "74, whose pledge was his only security, would remain united, would not separate into thirteen independent governments, neither willing nor able to execute their engagements. The debts, contracted by the United States in Europe, during the revolution, were all honourably paid; but the adoption of the constitution of '89, and the establishment of a treasury department, contributed in no small degree to this happy result.

It was necessary

* In November 1781, the French king borrowed, for the United States, of the States General, 5,000,000 florins, at 4 per cent.

The pecuniary embarrassments under which the confederacy laboured, both as it respects the foreign and domestic debt, constituted, in reality, one of the principal arguments in favour of the present union of the States; and the Dutch as well as French creditor is much indebted to that change in the concerns of the country for the speedy and exact payment of his demands.

As the United Provinces were the second state to acknowledge the independence of this country, so they were the second to send a minister plenipotentiary to the Congress at Philadelphia. This was done with great promptitude. The person appointed was P. T. Van Berckel. He arrived in America in the autumn of '83, and in October of the same year was admitted, in the form prescribed, to a public audience. He addressed a speech to Congress on the occasion in the French language. A greater interest than common is justly attached to his sentiments, as there is some slight resemblance in the history of the Dutch and American revolutions.

CHAPTER IV.

TREATY OF 1783 WITH GREAT BRITAIN.

Lord North attempts a Peace-America early conquered every thing she sought-Members of Parliament see Franklin privately―Ministry, as well as Opposition against acknowledgment of Independence -Lord Chatham speaks against it-Mediation of European courts -Unsuccessful—Adams' correspondence with Vergennes respecting official character—Austria and Russia not in favour of Independence -General Conway's resolution-Decides the question of War-New Ministry-Oswald and Grenville sent to Paris-Not officially— Failed-Lord Cholmondelly visits Franklin-Shelburne's Administration-Franklin's correspondence-Oswald instructed to acknowledge the Independence-Account of Negotiation from secret journals —Adams, Franklin, Jay, Laurens and Jefferson authorized to treat -Meet at Paris-Jay's firmness in declining to treat-Opposed to Vergennes and Franklin-Gets Oswald's commission altered—Difficulty as to loyalists-Make a compromise through violation of instructions-Anecdote of Jay-Conclude a Treaty-Boundaries— Fisheries-Agreed to Treaty without consulting France-Violation of Instructions-Explained—Michel's Map-France and Spain desirous of Fisheries and Western Country-De Rayneval's opinion of boundaries-Treaty honourable and favourable to America-Unpopular in England—Ministry in minority on first division-Necessary sacrifice.

THE war, that led to the independence of the American colonies, began in 1775. The fatal celebrity, of having commenced hostilities, belongs to the administration, of which Lord North was first lord of the treasury, though the origin of the dispute may be traced to an earlier period in English history. For nearly four years, this administration had successfully withstood the accumulated disasters of the war abroad; and at home, they had resisted with equal good for

tune all the efforts of an opposition, as powerful by its talents, as any that had appeared since the days of Sir Robert Walpole. From November '74, to February '78, we find the ministry engaged in more than fifty angry, protracted debates, on topics directly connected with America; for no subject had, till that time, attracted so much of the attention of the British Parliament, or of the civilized world. But there is little variety in the course or progress, and none in the result of these different propositions. When we have read the debate on the memorable provisional act of Lord Chatham in the Lords, or the still more celebrated resolutions of Mr. Burke for conciliation with America, in the House of Commons, both made in the early part of the contest, we have little to learn either of the manner, in which motions were treated, or of the fate to which they were consigned. Thus matters stood till the beginning of the year '78. At that time an unfavourable change took place in American affairs, and in the tone of the British ministry; -Burgoyne had surrendered; and an alliance was formed. with France;-one other act, the capture of Cornwallis, completed, as far as England was concerned, the Revolution. The administration at this period made a decided effort for peace, and, in that point of view, an account of the business properly belongs to this work. In the month of February of the same year, Lord North, as unexpectedly to his friends as his enemies, suddenly developed a plan, fully matured, of abandoning the principles upon which he had hitherto conducted the affairs of the colonies in North America. In introducing what were called his "conciliatory propositions" into the House of Commons, he declared it to be the intention of government to send a commission to America, to treat, with the Congress, to grant pardons and immunities, to restore to the colonies their ancient charters, to exempt them from taxation, and not to require them to renounce their independence, till the treaty had been ratified by the king and parliament.-A writer of the day observes:

"A dull, melancholy silence succeeded to the speech, made by Lord North on this occasion. It had been heard with profound