Imágenes de página
PDF
ePub

in other cases as near as safety and other circumstances would permit. It was orderered by the same authority, that at the election the votes of such only should be received as had never taken British protection, or who having taken it, had notwithstanding rejoined their countrymen, on or before the date of the procla mation. Other persons, though residents, were not considered as freemen of the state, or entitled to the full privilege of citizenship. To counteract the several measures of the governor, general Leslie issued a proclamation on the 15th of December, assuring his majesty's loyal subjects in the province, that they might rely on speedy and effectual support being given to them, by the exertions of the forces under his command; and at the same time giving notice, that the severest punishments should be inflicted on all who having solicited for and obtained the enjoyment of the privileges of a British subject, should again take arms against his majesty's government, or serve in any civil capacity under a second usurpation.

Vermont, though not admitted into the confederation, nor acknowledged by the United States, exercises all the powers of an independent state-has her legislative, judicial and executive branches, and will continue them, without subjecting herself to the payment of any part of the continental debt till received into the union.

LETTER

XI.

Rotterdam, April 30, 1782.

FRIEND G.

THE

HE congress of the United States of America, having at length (that they might gain Spain) agreed to recède from their claim to the navigation of the Missisippi. Mr. Jay, agrééable to the request of the count de Florida Blanca, delivered in propositions relative to an intended treaty, on the 22d of last September. The 6th article was thus expressed "The United States shall relinquish to his Catholic majesty, and in future forbear to use, the navigation of the river Missisippi from the point where it leaves the United States down to the ocean." But it was accompanied with this remark of his among others-"If the acceptance of it should, together with the proposed alliance, be postponed to a general peace, the United States will cease to consider themselves

themselves bound by any propositions or offers, which he may now make in their behalf." The design, of the Spanish court appears to be the drawing of all such concessions from the United States, that their present distress and the hopes of aid may extort. Beside, by protracting negociations about the treaty, they may intend to avail themselves of these concessions at a future day, when the inducements for offering them have ceased. They neither refuse nor promise to afford the United States further aids. Delay may be deemed their system. The American commissioners at the European counts Labor under great disadvantages, as their dispatches brought by the captains of vessels are not sent to them by a trusty officer, and therefore are liable to be opened and suppressed, as is known to have been done in Certain instances. Few of the proceedings of congress remain long secret; and one of their agents has informed them, that he had very good authority for saying, that copies of the letters which passed between the committee and the late commissioners in France, are now in the hands of a certain foreigner. How he got them the agent knows not; but he asserts it as a fact.

The arrival of the British West-India trade was so much later than had been expected, that adm. Darby kept the sea till November. It is somewhat remarkable, that neither the allied Heets, nor the British, took a single prize during the long term they were respectively at sea.

The Spaniards, though they engaged in the expedition against Minorca, did not relax in their operations against Gibraltar.For the more certain and speedy reduction of the place, they erected stupendous works, which were at length arrived at the highest state of perfection, after immense labor and expence. Gen. Elliot considered this as the proper season for attempting at once to frustrate all their views, by attacking, storming and destroying them. The time being fixed [Nov. 27.] and the arrangments made, a strong detachment issued from the gamison upon the setting of the moon, at 3 o'clock in the morning. The troops were divided into three columns, and the whole commanded by Gen. Ross. Each column was formed in the following order, viz. an advanced corps, a body of pioneers, a party of artillerymen carrying combustibles, a sustaining corps, and a reserve in the rear. The pioneers of the left column were seamen. Nothing could 'exceed the silence and order of the march, the vigor and spirit of the attack, or the exact combination of all, the parts. The whole exterior front of the Spanish works was every where attacked at the same instant, and the ardor of the troops was irFesistible. The Spaniards gave way on every side, and soon abanVOL. III.

Kk

doned

doned their works with the utmost precipitation. In half an hour two mortar batteries of ten 13 inch mortars, and three batteries of heavy cannon, with all the lines of approach, communication and traverse, were in flames, and whatever was subject to the action of fire was finally reduced to ashes. The mortars and cannon were spiked, and their beds, carriages and platforms de stroyed. The inagazines blew up one after another in the course of the conflagration.. The whole Spanish camp continued specta tors of the havoc, without an effort to save or even avenge their works, unless an ill-directed and ineffectual fire of round and grape-shot might be considered as either. The whole service was performed and the detachment returned to the garrison before day-break. Its loss was too inconsiderable to be mentioned.

On the 27th of November, his British majesty went to the house of peers and opened the session of parliament. The speech expressed the king's determined resolution to persevere in the de fence of his dominions, until such a pacification could be made as might consist with the honor of his crown, and the permanent iterest and security of his people.. The losses in America were neither dissembled nor palliated; but stated as the ground for requiring the firm support of parliament, and a more vigorous, animated and united exertion of the faculties and resources of the people.. The favorable appearance of affairs in the EastIndies was noticed; which was the only ray of success with which the speech was illuminated. An account had been received, that on the 1st of July Sir Eyre Coote with his little ar my came to a general action with Hyder Ally, which lasted eight hours, and was a hard fought day on both sides. The amazing superiority of the enemy yielded at length to the stea diness, spirit and bravery of Sir Eyre's troops. Hyder Ally retreated precepitately after having had 4000 killed, among whom were many of his principal officers. Sir Eyre lost but few offi cers, and about 400 privates killed and wounded.

The motion for an address in the house of commons produced a warm and animated debate, which continued till two in the morning. Mr. Fox moved far an amendment, by omitting that part of it which promised to support the American war; and proposed a new one, expressing a wish for a new system of measures, which the house would assist to forward. But it was rejected by 218 against 129. During the debate Mr. Burke observed, that "The Colonel Laurens, who drew up the articles of capitulation when lord Cornwallis surrendered, is the son of Mr. Laurens who has been committed close prisoner to the Tower of London, of which lord Cornwallis is himself the governor: and thus his

lordship

lordship became a prisoner to the son of his own prisoner." In the house of lords an amendment to the address was proposed by lord Shelburne in a very masterly speech, but was rejected by a anajority of 75.

Mr. Burke had in the former session, moved for an inquiry into the conduct observed on the capture of Statia, which was rejected by a majority of near two to one. He brought on the bu siness afresh; and in his speech [Dec. 4.] on the occasion mentioned, that three months were spent by the British.commanders in disposing of and securing the plunder of the island; that Sir George Rodney's fleet amounted to 21 sail of the line; and that the whole French force, previous to the arrival of count de Grasse, consisted only of 8 ships of the line, and one fifty.--He said this favorable opportunity was entirely neglected, the whole British fleet, and near 3000 chosen troops, being kept upward of two months in a state of total inaction, for the important service of protecting the sales at Statia. He ascribed to the same disgraceful cause, as a second misfortune, the weakness of the detachment sent under Sir Samuel Hood, to prevent the junction of the French fleet in the West-Indies with that which de Grasse brought from Europe. Sir George declared in reply, that he made the seizure of the effects for the sole and exclusive benefit of the crown; and had no intelligence, till long after the confiscation, ef his majesty's intentions to relinquish his right in favor of the fleet and army; that his presence at Statia was adsolutely necessary for some time; that during that period, he had planned two expeditions, one against Curacoa, the other against Surinam, and was upon the point of putting them into execution, when he received intelligence of the approach of de Grasse, whose flect was reported to consist of no more than 12 sail af the line; and that consequently he thought Sir Samuel Hood a sufficient match with fifteen.

An humble address, remonstrance and petition of the lord mayer, alderman and livery of the city of London was agreed to, and ordered to be presented to his majesty sitting on the throne. The king determining to receive it at the levee, the mode of thus presenting it was declined. It was however published. The language and sentiments of it are peculiarly striking-"It is (they say) with inexpressible concern, that we have heard your majesty declare in your speech to both houses of parliament, your intention' of persevering in a system of measures which has proved so disastrous to this country. Your majesty's ministers have by false. assertions and fallacious suggestions, deluded your majesty and the nation, into the present unnatural and unfortunate war."

The

The consequences of this delusion have been, that the trade of this country has suffered irreparable losses: the landed property thro? the kingdom has been depreciated to the most alarming degrees the property of your majesty's subjects, vested in the public funds, has lost above one third of its value: private credit has been al- .. most wholly annihilated, by enormous interest given in the pub lic loans, superior to that which is allowed by law in any private contract: your majesty's fleets have lost their wonted superiority. your armies have been captured: your dominions have been lost: and your majesty's faithful subjects have been loaded with a burden of taxes, which even if our victories had been as splendid as our defeats have been digraceful, if our accession of dominion had been as fortunate as the dismemberment of the empire has been cruel and disastrous, could not in itself be considered but a great and grievous calamity. We beseech your majesty no longer to continue in a delusion, from which the nation has awakened 1. and that your majesty will be graciously pleased to relinquish ene tirely, and for ever, the plan of reducing our brethren in America to obedience by force. We further humbly implore your majesty, that your majesty will be graciously pleased to dismiss from your presence and councils, all the advisers both public and secret, of the measures we lament, as a pledge to the world of your majesty's fixed determination to abandon a system incompatible with the interests of your crown, and the happiness of your people."

On the day appointed [12th.] for voting the army supplies, the house of commons was early and uncommonly crowded. The op position foreseeing the difficulties ministry would be under was in duced to bring forward certain motions, which might discover the number of those in the house, who with respect to their generat political sentiments, agreed in opinion with them on the prosecu tion of the war. A coalition from all partics was designed, for the sole purpose of obliging the crown to put an end to the attempt of reducing Americans to obedience by force. Sir James Lowther moved" that all our efforts to subjugate America have been fruitless, either for the purpose of supporting our friends, or conquer. ing our enemies; and that it is the opinion of this house, that all future attempts to reduce the Americans to obedience by force, will be ineffectual and injurious to the true interests of this country, by weakening her powers to resist her ancient and confedera tedenemies." These motions were opposed by the whole strength fo government which however produced but a small majority, the numbers for them being 179, and against them 220. This sufficiently showed a prevailing change of sentiment in regard to

the

« AnteriorContinuar »