If

of kings, to spurn at all rule but that of a CHAP. legiflative elective body, and to affociate with XLVI. the ideas of freedom and natural right, those 1783. of republicanism and national equality. from motives of gratitude, the newly created ftates might be expected to court continual alliance, and give exclusive preference to France and Spain, other causes, not less cogent, naturally tended to regenerate partialities towards Great Britain. No part of the history of America was obfcure or uncertain; the period to which all other nations are obliged to refer their origin, commonly called "the night of time," with them had no existence. Every record, every reminifcence brought back their ancient connection, 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 state, the more imperishable, and never failing records of language, customs, manners, and jurifprudential forms, would always certify that not only the establishment of the Americans as a people, but the foundation of their most valuable focial institutes, were derived from Great Britain. To these, at every period of the revolution, and in every project of a new government, they inflexibly adhered. Trial by jury, fenatorial representation, liberty of the press, and habeas corpus, were, in their defini fion, 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

CHAP.
XLVI.

1783.

But these causes could not be speculated 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 respect, the condition of the country was neither fettled nor enviable.

In the eager defire of the British ministry and people to derive exclufive advantages from a new connexion with America, the wildeft fallies of imagination were indulged. Instead of viewing the United States, in the fituation they had elected, as a foreign country, fome perfons defined them by the whimsical term of a people fui generis; systems were preferred to experience, rash theory to fuccessful practice; and attempts were even fanctioned for abandoning the navigation act, the guardian of British profperity. But the excellent deliberative forms of British legislation, and the wholesome freedom of the press, prevented this fatal delusion from producing its worst effects, By wisdom in difcuffing the bills presented to parliament, the evils to be apprehended from a too hafty decifion were averted; and the temporary power vested in the sovereign, afforded time for obtaining the benefits of experience, instead of forming a rash judgment on the bafis of mere speculation. The press was no less judicioufly employed in obviating popular errors, and proving, by the best arguments drawn from analogy, comparifon, and calculas tion, 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,

Observations on the Commerce of America, by lord Sheffield, c. i. without

without too jealously preeluding the claims of CHAP. America.

b

SOON after the fignature of the definitive treaty, the British troops evacuated Charleftown, New York, and the few other remaining posts. Sir Guy Carleton, for his services, received a peerage, with the title of lord Dorchefter.

XLVI.

}

1783.

THE congress literally fulfilled the terms of Loyalifts the provifional articles, by voting a recom- provided for by mendation of the loyalists in the very words of Great the treaty; but the manner of this cold recom- Britain. mendation was essentially different from those ardent recommendations, which in the beginning of the contest impelled the colonists to war against the parent state; 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 passed in the late feffion, from about three thoufand heads of families; two thirds of which were heard and determined in England, the remainder in Nova Scotia or Canada, whither commiffioners were deputed. The grounds of renumeration were loffes of real or perfonal estate, and of income arising from offices, profeffions, and trade.

THE amount of the first species of claims exceeded ten millions sterling, from which deductions were made in small proportions, leaving always to the sufferer means of independent subsistence; the liquidations were made by in

The most distinguished and useful production on this subject, was the treatife by lord Sheffield, which I have already quoted. It was read with avidity at the time, and can never be perused but with advantage and instruction. See also, Opinions on interesting Subjects, by George Chalmers, Efq.

stalments,

CHAP. ftalments, interest being in the mean time allowed on the capital.

XLVI.

1783.

Condition of the American

army.

C

THE fecond fpecies 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 states had obtained the defired boon of peace and independence, and fecured as public property the fpoils 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 hardthips and privations, found themselves unrewarded and unpaid; and did not obtain even the means of a decent fubfift

ence.

An anonymous publication proved a fufficient incitement to impel men thus fituated, and in poffeffion of arms, to active exertions for 10th Mar. their own benefit. The most formidable effects were apprehended from a menaced combination, but averted through the temperance and judgment of Washington. He first mollified the Prudence minds of the officers, in feparate interviews, ington. and afterwards, in a general meeting, repre

gth.

of Wash

fented the infamy of adopting measures which would fully the glory of seven years sevice, in fuch glowing colours, that they unanimoufly declared, no circumftarice of distress or danger thould thake their confidence in the justice of their country, and that they viewed with ab

CHAP.
XLVI.

}

1783.

horrence and rejected with difdain, the infamous propofition of the anonymous address. Washington was highly applauded for his conduct in this alarming crifis; and the legiflative body, inftructed by recent danger, offered to 22d Mar. the officers the amount of five years full pay in money, or in fecurities bearing intereft at fix per cent, instead of the half-pay which had been promised them for life.

WHEN the officers were fatisfied, a confide- 26th May. rable difficulty still presented itself in difperfing fo large a body of foldiers; but this was evaded by granting furloughs, and never requiring those who held them to return. Thus the impatience of individuals to revifit their native homes, diminished the risk of disbanding an unpaid army; the men, without means of meeting to confer on grievances, refumed their fituations as husbandmen or artificers, and forgot those demands which the country was unable to liquidate. All were not, however, fo 20th June. eafily fatisfied; eighty of the Penfylvania levies marched from Lancaster, and being joined by other malcontents, to the amount of three hundred, repaired to the state-house at Philadelphia in martial array, placing guards at the doors, and threatening fignal vengeance, unless their just demands were gratified within twenty minutes. Congrefs, however, found means to temporize with these mutineers, until general Washington dispatched a fuperior force, which quelled the disturbance. Several were condemned to death and other punishments, but afterwards pardoned.

disbanded.

Ar a late period of the year, when the num- 18th O&. bers of the collective military body were greatly The army diminished by permissive abfences, congrefs iffued a proclamation, applauding their armies

for