XLV.

CHA P. the revenue fo reduced could not bear any further burthen, parliament granted to the king an aid of 1783. fixty thoufand pounds to equip the prince in a manner fuited to his dignity.

16th July. Clofe of the

feflion.

Definitive

treaties of peace executed.

2d Sept.

3d Sept.

Ar an advanced period of the year, the king terminated the feffion, thanking the house of commons for enabling him to make provision for the prince of Wales.

His majesty also expreffed regret at not being able to announce the completion of the definitive treaties; but after the fignature of preliminaries every difficulty vanifhed, except thofe which arofe from the unfettled state of the British government, and those which originated in a few captures made fubfequent to the commencement of negotiations. For the fake of compliment, the emperor of Germany and emprefs of Ruffia were admitted as mediators; but the compacts were arranged without their affiftance, though formally fanctioned by the declaratory atteftations of their ministers. Holland, under the influence of France, acceded to preliminaries on the bafis of mutual restitution, except the town of Negapatam, which was ceded to Great Britain. The definitive treaties with France, Spain, and America, were executed on the enfuing day.

CHAPTER THE FORTY-SIXTH :

army.

1783.

General view of the late belligerent powers :-America-loyalifts provided for by Great Britain-condition of the American -Prudence of Wafbington-be refigns the command, and retires with honours and acclamations.-Cincinnati.Debts and embarrassments of America.--State of France -Spain--Holland.--Conduct of the imperial courts.-— State of Great Britain.-Interview of Mr. Adams with the king.-General remarks.

G

XLVI.

1783.

REAT BRITAIN having now emerged from CHA P. the most extraordinary conteft in which a nation. had ever engaged, and respecting the termination of which the most gloomy forebodings had been enter tained, it only remains to review her fituation in comparison with other powers, and particularly those with whom she had been engaged in hoftilities.

General view

of the late belligerent

powers.

AMONG thefe, America firft claims attention, as America. well because she was the original fource of conteft, as from the novelty of her political relation to other ftates. Colonies planted and established in peace, foftered, protected, and enriched by the mothercountry, had emancipated themfelves from her reftraint, and formed a separate, and in some respects hoped to become a rival establishment. To catholic and defpotic monarchs, proteftant republicans were indebted for that support, which enabled them to maintain principles of hatred and contempt of kings, to fpurn at all rule but that of a legislative elective body, and to affociate with the ideas of freedom and natural right, thofe of republicanism and natural equality. If, from motives of gratitude, the newly created

KK 2

ftates

XLVI.

1783.

CHAP. ftates might be expected to court continual alliance, and give exclufive preference to France and Spain, other caufes, not lefs cogent, naturally tended to regenerate partialities towards Great Britain. No part of the hiftory of America was obfcure or uncertain; the period to which other nations are obliged to refer their origin, commonly called "the night of time," with them had no exiftence. Every record, every reminifcence brought back their ancient connexion, their indifputable origination; and if the heat of party, or the perverfion of historical fact, for the purposes of fuppofed advantage, fanctioned momentary mifreprefentations of the conduct and motives of the parent ftate, the more imperifhable, and never failing records of language, cuftoms, manners, and jurifprudential forms, would always certify that not only the establishment of the Americans as a people, but the foundation of their moft valuable focial inftitutes, were derived from Great Britain. To thefe, at every period of the revolution, and in every project of a new government, they inflexibly adhered. Trial by jury, fenatorial reprefentation, liberty of the prefs, and habeas corpus, were, in their definition, not modes of administration, but natural rights of man; and when they had attained independence founded on these principles, it was natural to expect, that every motive arifing from fimilarity of principles, wants, feelings, and exertions, would induce attachment and preference for Great Britain.

BUT thefe caufes could not be fpeculated on as likely to produce immediate effects. Although the terms of peace with the United States were remarkably liberal in the articles of limits, fisheries, and indeed in every other refpect, the condition of the country was neither fettled nor enviable.

In the eager defire of the British miniftry and people to derive exclufive advantages from a new connexion with America, the wildeft fallies of imagination were indulged. Inftead of viewing the United

States,

XLVI.

1783.

States, in the situation they had elected, as a foreign CHA P. country, fome perfons defined them by the whimsical term of a people fui generis; fyftems were preferred to experience, rafh theory to fuccefsful practice; and attempts were even fanctioned for abandoning the navigation act, the guardian of British profperity. But the excellent deliberative forms of British legiflation, and the wholesome freedom of the prefs, prevented this fatal delufion from producing its worst effects. By wifdom in difcuffing the bills prefented to parliament, the evils to be apprehended from a too hafty decifion were averted; and the temporary power vested in the fovereign, afforded time for obtaining the benefits of experience, inftead of forming a rafh judgment on the basis of mere fpeculation. The prefs was no lefs judicioufly employed in obviating popular errors, and proving, by the beft arguments drawn from analogy, comparifon, and calculation, that the greatest advantages would be derived from American commerce, not by wild eagerness or imprudent facrifices, but by liberality mingled with prudence, and by a firm tenaciousness of the rights of Great Britain, without too jealously precluding the claims of America".

SOON after the fignature of the definitive treaty, the British troops evacuated Charlestown, New York, and the few other remaining pofts. Sir Guy Carleton, for his fervices, received a peerage, with the title of lord Dorchester.

provided for

THE congrefs literally fulfilled the terms of the Loyalis provifional articles, by voting a recommendation of by Great the loyalifts in the very words of the treaty, but the Britain. manner of this cold recommendation was effentially different from thofe ardent recommendations, which

a Obfervations on the Commerce of America, by lord Sheffield, c. i. The most diftinguished and useful production on this fubject, was the treatife by lord Sheffield, which I have alicarly quoted. It was read with avidity at the time, and can never be perufed but with advantage and inftruction. See alfo, opinious on interesting Subjects, by George Chalmers, Eiq.

XLVI.

1783.

CHAP. in the beginning of the contest impelled the colonists to war against the parent ftate; it was in course difregarded, and the care of providing for its meritorious objects devolved on the mother-country. Claims were received under the act paffed in the late feffion, from about three thousand heads of families; twothirds of which were heard and determined in England, the remainder in Nova Scotia or Canada, whither commiffioners were deputed. The grounds of remuneration were loffes of real or personal estate, and of income arifing from offices, profeffions, and trade.

Condition of

can army.

THE amount of the firft fpecies of claims exceeded ten millions sterling, from which deductions were made in fmall proportions, leaving always to the fufferer means of independent fubfiftence; the liquidations were made by inftalments, intereft being in the mean time allowed on the capital.

THE second species of .claimants demanded a hundred and fifty thousand pounds a year; about a hundred and twenty thousand of which were allowed, and vested in life annuities, from twenty to five hundred pounds each.

BUT although the American ftates had obtained the Ameri- the defired boon of peace and independence, and fecured as public property the spoils of the loyalifts, they found their troubles not terminated but varied. The army, by which congrefs had been enabled to attain the favourite objects of their wishes, and who had encountered incredible hardships and privations, found themselves unrewarded and unpaid; and did not obtain even the means of a decent fubfiftence. An anonymous publication proved a fufficient incitement to impel men thus fituated, and in poffeffion of

The deductions from the grofs claims were made as follows: From fuis not exceeding 10,000l. no abatement; from 10,000l. to 20,000 l. a fmall diminution, which was progreffively augmented to the largest demands. Yet after all drawbacks, fome claimants received 50, fome 70, and one 100,000l. An unparalleled inftance of magnanimity and juftice in a nation which had expended pearly a hundred and fixteen millions in the war.