1778.

litary force of nine thousand men, made his ap- CHAP. pearance. He was, however, repulfed at the XXXIV. grand Cul-de-fac by Barrington, with only three ships of the line, three of fifty guns, and fome frigates, who with a skill and bravery equally admirable, effectually protected the transports, and saved the provisions, ammunition, and stores of the army. D'Estaing was not more fuccessful in an affault by land, making, jointly with de Bouillé and count Lovendahl, three attacks on the British force, in each of which they were repulfed with great lofs, and finally put to flight. After an inaction of ten days he reimbarked, and left the island to its fate; a furrender was inevitable, and the by the British commander granted such liberal terms English. as entitled him to the gratitude of the enemy.

28th Dec. It is cap

tured.

THUS the first efforts of France in fupport of Indignaher new ally did not equal expectation, The Americans northern provinces loudly murmured at being against deserted by d'Estaing. The expedition against d'Estaing. Rhode Island would not have been undertaken but in confidence of his co-operation: his abandonment was formally protested against, as a traiterous dereliction of the common cause, derogatory to the honour of France, contrary to the intention of his most christian majesty, destructive to the welfare of the United States, and highly injurious to the alliance between the two nations,d

mation to

THE Americans foon perceived that the His procla French, in efpoufing their quarrel, fought only the Canatheir own interest. D'Estaing, when about to dians. fail for the West Indies, published a proclamation to the inhabitants of Canada, exhorting them to renew their obedience to their native fovereign; and Washington, through the afcenRamsay, vol. ii. p. 90,

dancy

XXXIV.

}

1778.

ton refuses to co-operate in

CHAP. dancy of the French party in congress, was strongly urged to undertake, in conjunction with a French force, the reduction of that dominion. Washing- The general prudently faw the danger of the attempt, and instead of communicating his instructions to La Fayette, as directed by the attacking committee for foreign affairs, wrote a long letter to congress, forcibly displaying the impolicy of the project, and urging found political and military reasons against its adoption.

Canada.

Ir the question of French or British alliance the Ameri- could have been fairly submitted to the people, divested of the tinfel declamations about independence, and merely viewed through the medium of comparative advantage, it can hardly be doubted that a great majority would have embraced with joy the splendid and beneficial offers of the parent-state. All the art and force of their governors were infufficient to restrain, within the defired limits, the contempt and hatred of the lower class for their new allies. Riots occurred at Boston, and at Charlestown in South Carolina between the French and American seamen; and in fact, independently of any remains of British prejudice, no two races of men could be found on the face of the globe, less predisposed for a cordial association, than those whom artifice, intrigue, and treachery, had thus combined in one cause.

CHAPTER THE THIRTY-FIFTH;

1778-1779.

State of the public mind - Difcordant views of oppofition. - System of lord Chatham. - Probability of his having intended to form an administration.-- Public indignation against France. - Preparations against invasion.Keppel commands the grand fleet-captures two frigates - returns to port - is reinforced. His engagement with d'Orvilliers. - Public difcuffion. - Publication by Sir Hugh Pallifer. - Meeting of parliament -the late naval transactions debated.Altercation between Keppel and Pallifer.Court-martial ordered on Keppel-he is acquitted- rejoicings and outrages of the mob-the admiral thanked by both houses. -Pallifer vacates his feat and refigns his appointments-is tried by a court martialand acquitted, though not without cenfure. - Keppel dissatisfied-refigns the command of the grand fleet. - Fox's motions againft lord Sandwich. The earl of Bristol's motion for his removal. - Motions refpecting the navy and Greenwich Hospital. — Refignation of naval officers. - Infubordination of the navy. Debates on the manifesto of the American commissioners. --Burgoyne's motion for papers-granted. - Similar motion by Sir William Howe--granted. -Committee formed-Evidence examined. - Burgoyne's evidence. - Counter evidence to Sir

William

William Howe. Committee diffolved. - Affairs of Ireland difcuffed. - Partial relief granted. - Diffatisfaction of the Irish.Non-importation agreements. - Volunteer affociations. - Motion by the marquis of Rockingham.-Relief afforded to proteftant diffenters. - Rupture with Spain. - King's message - address - amendments moved. Militia bill-altered by the lords-paffes in its amended ftate. - Bill for annulling feamens protections. - Termination of the feffion. Rife and progress of the dispute with Spain.-Spanish embaffador withdraws. -Manifesto. - Letters of marque issued.French manifeflo-ably anfwered by Gibbon. -Obfervations on the conduct of Spain. Siege of Gibraltar commenced. - Ineffectual attempt on Jersey. - Junction of the French and Spanish fleets which infult the British coafts.

CHAP. PEACE with America began now to be the object of general defire in England, but

XXXV.

}

1778.

snind.

the means of attaining, and terms of fecurState ofie ing it, occafioned great diversity of opinion. The plan of the ministry was more adapted to reason than hope; it proffered conceffions which, if early held forth, would have been irrefiftibly inviting, but the American caufe being not less strenuously espoufed, after the assumption of independence than at any previous period of the contest, it could not be expected that the leaders of congrefs would be backward in using those arguments, and adhering to those resolutions, which were de

fended with fo much pertinacity in the capital Difcordant and senate of the mother-country. Oppofition, pontion, although divided in their fentiments, united

views of

in

XXXV.

1778.

lord Cha

in decrying the measures of government, and CHAP. diftreffing administration; but could not form a system of conduct which would combine them in any direct or attainable project., A party rather active and clamorous, than numerous or popular, were defirous to concede the full extent of the American requifitions, and even to folicit, with humility approaching to abjectness, a preference in the favour of the late dependencies of the kingdom. Another Syftem of party adopted the opinion of lord Chatham, tham's and strenuously resisted the claim of indepen- adherents. dence as fatal to the welfare of Great Britain. The eloquence of lord Chatham, employed occafionally for party-purposes, and procuring credence for exaggerated statements, had caused a general delufion, from which even the ministry were not exempt. The dignity of the mother-country was engaged in the American contest, but it affected her profperity less than the public could be induced to believe. Lord Chatham deceived himself as much as others on this fubject, and perhaps facrificed his life to his patriotic feelings. De- Probability figns were probably entertained of engaging forming an his afsistance as head of an administration, in adminiftra directing the war, or giving efficiency to tion. modes of conciliation. Such an opinion, founded on the words of his last speech in parliament, was strongly maintained, and the measure would have been highly important in reconciling great part of the nation to the proceedings of government. The report of such an intention, created lively sensations in foreign courts, and the measure was supposed sufficient for the restoration of vigour to the

a See Lords debates, 8th April 1778.

of his

VOL. III,

K

councils,