Great Britain was now considered as a chimera. The secret machinations in order to divide the people of America, the terror and barbarity of the Indians, the attempts of treason, the destruction of commerce, the falsification of bills of credit, odious means to which the British ministers had resorted, and even the victories of their generals, all had failed of wresting from the Americans the smallest indication of a disposition to resume their ancient yoke. If such had been their constancy, when their ship, battered by the tempests, seemed hasteuing to the bottom, how could it be hoped to see them bend, while the most propitious gales were conducting them into the wished for port? It was selfevident that henceforth the war of America could have no other object but that of obtaining the most honorable conditions possible, after having acknowledged independence. On the other hand, the immense losses sustained in the West Indies, gave occasion to fear lest they might be followed by others still more afflicting. The most anxious apprehensions were entertained for Jamaica, against which the House of Bourbon seemed ready to display the entire apparatus of its power. The fall of a place of such importance as Fort St. Philip, and the loss of the whole island of Minorca, inspired doubts for Gibraltar itself.

ters.

The people, always the same every where, imputed these disasters, not to the contrariety of fortune, but to the incapacity of minisTheir adversaries, both within parliament and without, raised the most violent clamors. They exclaimed, that such were the foreseen results of ministerial infatuation and obstinacy. They demanded with vociferation the immediate dismission of these perverse and imbecile servants of the crown; they affirmed, that it was urgent to prevent those who had brought the country to the brink of a precipice, from plunging it headlong down it by the last frantic shock; that there was no chance of safety but in removing instantly, those senseless instigators of a fatal war. These cries of hatred coincided with the prevailing spirit; they were echoed with unanimity by the discontented multitude. Besides, it escaped no one that since the course of things had created the necessity of entering into negotiation with the Americans, and of acknowledging their independence, it was not suitable that those who had at first so highly exasperated them by their laws, and afterwards had imbittered them to the utmost by a barbarous war, should undertake to treat with them. The work of a durable pacification appeared little proper to be confided to hands which had fanned the fire of war. Already general Conway, by a very eloquent speech, pronounced the twenty-second of Febru ary, in the house of commons, bad moved and obtained that his majesty should be entreated to command his ministers not to persist any longer in the attempt to reduce the colonies to obedience by means of force, and by continuing the war upon the American continent. He did more; in the sitting of the fourth of March, he

proposed and carried a resolution, purporting that those who should advise the king to continue the war upon the continent of North America, should be declared enemies of the sovereign and of the country. From this moment, the leading members of the privy council, the centre and source of all great deliberations, perceived that it was full time to resort to the usual remedy of a change of ministry. The general attention was excited to the highest degree. At length, the twentieth of March, the earl of Surrey having moved in the house of commons that the king should be supplicated to change his ministers, lord North rose, and declared with dignity that it was superfluous to spend any more time upon this subject, since it had already occupied the attention of his majesty, who would shortly make known his new choice. Before I take leave of this House,' added lord North, I feel it a duty to return it thanks for the support and favor it has afforded me during so long a course of years, and in so many trying situations. It will be easy to give me a successor, endowed with a greater capacity, of better judgment, and more qualified for his situation; but it will not be equally so to find a man more zealous for the interests of the country, more loyal to the sovereign, and more attached to the constitution. I hope the new servants of the crown, whoever they may be, will take such measures as shall effectually extricate the country from its present difficulties, and retrieve its fortune at home and abroad. I should declare, in retiring, that I am ready to answer to my country for all the acts of my administration. If it is wished to undertake the investigation of my conduct, I offer myself to undergo it.'

The new ministers were selected from among those members of the two houses of parliament, who had shown themselves the most favorable to the pretensions of the Americans. The marquis of Rockingham was appointed first lord of the treasury; the earl of Shelburne and Mr. Fox secretaries of state; lord John Cavendish chancellor of the exchequer. Admiral Keppel was at the same time created viscount and first lord of the admiralty. So great was the exultation caused by this event, particularly in the city of London, that it was feared the people of that capital, would, according to their custom, break out into some blameable excesses. Every body felt assured that the end of the war was at hand, and that of all the calamities it had caused. All that was desired was, that the conditions of peace might be honorable. Accordingly, the partisans of the new ministers were earnest in their prayers that some favorable event might gloriously repair the checks which the British arms had received towards the close of the past, and in the commencement of the present year.

END OF BOOK THIRTEENTH.

BOOK FOURTEENTH.

1782. THE belligerent powers, in order to execute the plans they had formed in the beginning of the present year, only waited the completion of their preparations, the return of spring, and the fitness of occasion. Alike weary of a long war, all bad the same persuasion that this campaign was to be decisive. Nor were they ignorant that it is at the moment of peace that reverses have the most fatal consequences, as there no longer remains either time or hope for retrieving them. Under these considerations, each of the powers at war redoubled vigilance and efforts, in order to secure the definitive triumph of its arms. The allied courts directed their views especially upon the domination of the European seas, the reduction of Gibraltar, and the conquest of Jamaica. The French were in the highest degree solicitous to transmit succours to their establishments in the East Indies, where, notwithstanding the valor and distinguished ability displayed by M. de Suffren, in several hard fought engagements with admiral Hughes, their affairs were in a state of declension; and already two Dutch places of great importance, Trincomale and Negapatam, were fallen into the power of the English. The attention of the allies had therefore two principal objects; to defend their own possessions, and to seize those of the enemy.

It was agreed, that the Dutch and Spanish fleets should effect their junction with the French in the port of Brest. This mighty armada was afterwards to scour the open sea, and clear it of all hostile force from the straits of Gibraltar to the coasts of Norway. It was intended that the ships of the line should blockade the squadrons of the enemy in all the channels and ports, while the frigates and other light vessels should intercept the convoys; and utterly ruin the commerce of the English. The views of the allies extended yet farther; they hoped by incessantly spreading new alarms upon the coasts of Great Britain, that some opportunity might present itself for making descents, ravaging the country, and even for striking still more important blows, according to circumstances. They proceeded with the greatest zeal to the execution of their designs; the junction of their armaments was to present a powerful mass of sixty sail of the line, besides a prodigious number of frigates and sloops of war. The English were very far from possessing means sufficient to withstand so formidable a display of forces. Accordingly, the allied courts entertained not the least doubt but that their arms would be as successful in the West Indies and Europe, in this year's campaign, as they had been in the last upon the American continent. A glorious peace must, they felt assured, inevitably result from these decisive

successes.

On the other hand, the new members of the British cabinet neglected nothing that could tend to remedy the calamitous state of affairs, and enable them to resist with effect the storm that rumbled over their heads. They hoped to compensate the inequality of force by the skill of commanders, the courage of troops, and the success of projected expeditions. Their cares were directed to the equipment of the fleet and the lading of the convoy destined to revictual Gibraltar. After the security of the kingdom, there was nothing which they had so much at heart as the safety of that place. But they were sensible that, first of all, it was necessary to prevent the junction of the Spanish and Dutch squadrons with the French flee! ; thus interrupting also, at the same time, the commerce of the Dutch in the Baltic, and protecting that of England against their insults.

Admiral Howe was therefore ordered to put to sea from Portsmouth with twelve sail of the line, and to establish his cruise upon the coasts of Holland. This measure had the desired effect. The Dutch squadron, which had already set sail from the Texel, abandoned the sea to the English, and made the best of its way back into port. After having cruised off the Dutch coasts for the term of a month, adiniral Howe, finding that the enemy made no movement demonstrative of a disposition to put to sea again, and the unhealthiness of the season having occasioned much sickness on board his fleet, took the determination to return to Portsmouth. Admiral Milbanke relieved him almost immediately. If he was not able to annoy the Dutch trade in the Baltic, he at least effectually protected that of the English; and, moreover, he constantly interdicted to the enemy's squadron the entrance of the channel. Thus, with the exception of the brilliant action of Doggers Bank, the republic of Holland, formerly so famous, did nothing in all this war that was worthy of her, and of her ancient renown. Such was the decay of her glory and of her power, the deplorable result of excessive riches, of insatiable avidity, and perhaps still more, of the party spirit which rent those provinces. If in a republic the counterpoise of parties, in matters relating to internal administration, may sometimes turn to the advantage of liberty, and maintain more energy in the people, those factions which have foreign powers for object, produce an entirely opposite effect. They divert the public spirit upon that which is abroad, and paralyse all its activity at home. The most evident symptom of the decay of the strength of a state, and of the loss of its independence, is, doubtless, a division between citizens in favor of foreigners; and such was the situation of the Dutch at this epoch. If at the conclusion of the present war, their republic was not reduced to the last degree of depression, if it even repaired a great part of its losses, this it owed, not to its own force, but entirely to the arms and protection of France.

We resume the course of events; undoubted intelligence had been received in England that a considerable convoy of troops and military stores destined for India, was on the point of sailing from the port of Brest. Fearing, on the one hand, for Jamaica, and on the other, for the establishments of the coast of Malabar, the ministers, without any delay, despatched admiral Barrington, at the head of twelve sail of the line, with orders to watch this convoy, and to capture it, if the opportunity should offer itself. He shaped his course for the bay of Biscay, and soon discovered the convoy, which consisted of eighteen transports, under the guard of two ships of the line, the Pegase and the Protecteur. The wind was violent and the sea tempestuous. The English nevertheless continued to crowd sail. The ship Foudroyant, an excellent sailer, commanded by captain Jarvis, at length came up with and engaged the Pegase, under the chevalier de Sillan. The forces of the two ships being about equal, the action lasted with extreme violence for a full hour. The Frenchman did not strike till after having seen the greater part of his men either killed or disabled. The sea was so rough that captain Jarvis was scarcely able to shift a small part of the crew of the prize. It was to be feared that the small number of men he sent aboard of it might be risen upon, and the ship rescued. But captain Maitland, who commanded the Queen, came up at this moment and assisted his companion to secure his prize. Immediately after, they were again separated by a gust of wind. Captain Maitland afterwards fell in with another French ship called the Actionnaire, and captured her, after a feeble resistance. In the meantime, the frigates had given chase to the transports, which, at the first appearance of the English, had obeyed a signal for dispersing with all celerity. Twelve fell into the power of the enemy. This was a sensible loss to France; for independent of the artillery, munitions of war, and provision, there were on board these vessels upwards of eleven hundred regular troops. Admiral Barrington brought his prizes safely into the ports of England.

The British admiralty having realised the utility of cruises in the seas of Europe, resolved to multiply them. It adopted this determination the more willingly, as it had not yet received any intimation of the approaching appearance of the grand combined fleet. Notwithstanding the ardent desire which animated alike the French and the Spaniards, to depress the power of their implacable enemy, their operations suffered too often from that slowness which seems inseparable from all coalitions. The English, on the contrary, enjoyed the advantages attached to the unity of powers, and to the concert of movements. As soon as Barrington was returned, Kempenfeldt had orders to put to sea, and stand in like manner towards the bay of Biscay. His instructions were, to do the French commerce all the harm possible, to protect that of the British, and espe