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CONCLUSION.

THE Secresy and despatch with which the American commissioners had brought the negotiation to a conclusion, and the very favourable terms which by their industry, skill and perseverance, they had obtained for their country, created no less surprise at the French court, than dissatisfaction and indignation in the Parliament of England. The latter were so loud in their expressions of disapprobation, that serious fears were entertained, lest all the measures for a general pacification should be set aside or suspended, and hostilities be once more commenced.

In addition to the common enjoyment of the fisheries, the boundaries which our commissioners had procured for the United States, were much more extensive, than any which had been claimed by them in their colonial state. These boundaries comprehended the country on both sides of the Ohio, and the extensive Indian lands on the east side of the Missisippi, some of the nations inhabiting which, had been allies of Great Britain. The free navigation of the Mississippi was regarded as a concession, which the revolted colonies had no right to demand; and the abandonment of the loyalists to the mercy of Congress, was reprobated by their friends in parliament, as giving them up to the fury of a populace who regarded them as more inveterate and cruel enemies than the natives of Great Britain. It was represented as idle and fallacious, to suppose that Congress could or would protect them, or make restitution of their confiscated estates; and upon the whole it was

urged that an agreement in such provisional articles of a treaty as those which the folly and weakness of Mr. Oswald had granted, would be to tarnish the character and prostrate the glory of the British nation.

The freedom with which Mr. Oswald was ridiculed, was extended also to the new minister, Lord Shelburne, whose conduct was severely censured as weak and inconsistent; and this minister soon found himself so greatly in the minority, that he was glad to retire from a political contest, in which it was obvious, private interests and passions had more influence than concern for the publick welfare. He was succeeded by the Duke of Portland, and a coalition was formed as singular and extraordinary, as that which seven years before, had been raised up, under the auspices of the Earl of Chatham. Lord North and Mr. Fox, between whose political sentiments there had been for eight years an irreconcileable difference, were now seen to act together with the cordiality of long established friendship. Mr. Oswald was recalled from Paris, and Mr. Hartley was deputed by the new minister to take his place.

The ferment which this discussion created in Parliament, served no other purpose than to retard the general negotiations: for as far as they regarded the United States, neither the high tone of the British cabinet, nor the ingenuity and address of Mr. Oswald's successor, were able to effect any change in the stipulations of the provisional treaty. Young as the United States were in affairs of diplomacy, it would not have been easy to have found four gentlemen better qualified to meet the profound and subtle statesmen of Europe, than our commissioners on this occa

sion. Their talents, their indefatigable zeal and vigilance, their strenuous exertions and devoted attachment to the interests of their country, enabled them to discover and counteract the intrigues and diplomatick finesse of older negotiators; and though Congress had evinced a want of confidence in their discretion, by placing them under the guidance of the French court, the firmness and address with which they acted throughout the whole of the arduous business of negotiation, showed that while they were claiming independence for their country, they knew how to enjoy its rights and privileges in themselves.

The definitive treaty of peace and friendship between his Brittanick Majesty, and the United States, was signed at Versailles on the 3d of September, 1783, by the respective plenipotentiaries; and on the same day at Versailles, the definitive treaties between Great Britain, France and Spain were also concluded and signed. A cessation of hostilities had taken place between Great Britain and the United Provinces of Holland, when the preliminary articles were signed between the other powers of Europe, but their provisional treaty was not concluded until the 2d of September, nor finally ratified until some months after the perfect restoration of peace.

Although as we have just seen, the definitive treaty between Great Britain and the United States, was not signed until September, there had been no act of hostility between the two armies, and a state of peace had actually existed, from the commencement of the year 1783. A formal proclamation of the cessation of hostilities was made throughout the army on the 19th of April; but some time before this period, mischievous attempts had been made by anon

ymous publications, to influence the minds of the offcers and soldiers against Congress, and to impress them with the necessity of insisting upon a full redress of all their grievances, before they consented to put out of their hands the means of enforcing it. While the war continued, the army, with a few exceptions, had borne with heroick patience, hardships and privations of the severest kind: they had looked forward to the peace, as the final period of their sufferings, trusting with confidence to the promises of Congress, and to the prospect of an ameliorated state of the finances. But now this long expected time was approaching; and that they saw no effort made to secure the payment of their large arrearages; that on the contrary, it appeared to be the wish and intention of Congress to disband the army by furloughs, with no other reward for their long services, than the arms with which they had fought; they became outrageous in their complaints, and equally bold in their demands for immediate payment. They addressed a letter to the commander in chief, entreating, that he would not now take the part of Congress against them, by compelling the soldiers to accept of furloughs until they had received some compensation for their services, and they appointed a committee, (General McDougal, Colonels Brookes and Ogden) to wait on Congress, and represent to that body the state of the army, and the probable consequences of a disbandment under such circumstances.

The most seditious papers were in the mean time industriously circulated through the army, the authors of which, it was generally suspected, were prompted or aided by other public creditors, than those which

belonged to the military. They felt an interest in making use of the army to intimidate Congress and compel them to enter into such arrangements as would bind the respective states to become responsible for all the public debts. It was a fearful and alarming crisis for Congress. They could not deny the justice of the claims made upon them by the army, nor was it in their power to satisfy their demands. It was painful to dismiss them without some security for the future liquidation of their immense arrearages, and yet so indifferent were the states to the orders or remonstrances of Congress, that but little hope could be entertained of any final and satisfactory settlement.They were compelled, therefore, to answer the representations of the army, in such a way as they thought best calculated to calm their irritation, and excite them to future patience and confidence in the good faith of the states. They made a commutation of the half pay for life to the officers, or to those of them who prefered it, by granting the gross sum of five years pay, in money or securities at 6 per cent per annum; and by the indefatigable exertions of Mr. Morris, they were enabled after a time to procure a sum équivalent to four months pay of the army.

Washington during all this time laboured with assiduity to quiet the murmurs, and allay the mutinous spirit of the army. He spoke individually to the officers, and addressed them collectively; and every thing which his duty as commander in chief, or his feeling as a patriot could dictate, was done. He conjured them to rely on the faith of their country, and pledged himself that his influence and abilities would never cease to be exerted in their favour, so long as they respected themselves, and preserved

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