Con

powerful and illuftrious a friend. It is the hope and
opinion of Congrefs, that the confidence his majesty
reposes, in the firmness of these States, will receive
additional ftrength from every day's experience. The
Affembly are convinced, Sir, that had it rested solely
with the Moft Chriftian King, not only the indepen-
dence of thefe States would have been univerfally ac-
knowledged, but their tranquillity fully established.
We lament the luft of domination which gave birth
to the prefent war, and hath prolonged and extended
the miseries of mankind. We ardently with to fheath
the fword, and fpare the further effufion of blood;
but we are determined, by every means in our power,
to fulfil thofe eventual engagements, which have ac-
quired pofitive and permanent force from the hoftile
defigns and measures of the common enemy.
grefs have reafon to believe, that the affistance fo
wifely and generously fent, will bring Great Britain to
a fenfe of justice and moderation, promote the com-
mon intereft of France and America, and fecure
peace and tranquillity on the most firm and honour.
able foundation. Neither can it be doubted, that
those who adminifter the powers of government
within the several States of this union, will cement that
connection with the subjects of France, the beneficial
effects of which have already been fo fenfibly felt.
Sir, from the experience we had, of your exertions to
promote the true interefts of our country, as well as
your own, it is with the highest fatisfaction, Congress
receive, as the first minister from his Moft Chriftian
Majefty, a gentleman, whofe paft conduct affords a
happy prefage, that he will merit the confidence of
this body, the friendship of its members, and the ef
teem of the citizens of America. The fecretary of

the

the Congrefs then delivered to the minifter a copy of this reply: whereupon the minifter withdrew, and was conducted in the manner in which he was brought to the house.

The whole management in this affair plainly fhewed that the Congress understood their business, and had fufficient addrefs to receive a French minifter, as well as to flatter the vanity of his mafter; they said nothing mean or what was beneath their character, or that of the Moft Independent States, and expreffed a. greatness of mind in midft of calamities, which would have done honour to the antient Romans. It will be proper here to give fome account of the eventual alliance which was the foundation of this formal intro. duction of a French minifter into the American Congrefs. Our miniftry were fully warned that this treaty was going on before it was concluded, and had it in their power to have prevented it, to the advan. tage of their fovereign and the intereft of the nation, But the foolish idea of etiquette and a falfe notion of honour, prevented them from faving thousands of innocent lives, and millions of treafure to Great Bri tain. To yield to the colonies, whom they had fo un justly injured, and give up the golden dream they had been indulging for fo long a time, was an idea they could not at all relish. They knew that any perma Bent agreement with America, could not be made while they continued in office, because America could pever trust them who had fo wantonly and cruelly spilt her beft blood, and ravaged her towns in the most barbarous manner. To give up their offices was to give up the emoluments that attended them, which was much dearer unto men of their character, than ei ther the honour of their fovereign or the happiness

of

of the empire. Though they knew of the French treaty, they fuffered it to go on without acquainting parliament till it was finished, and then they propofed a plan of reconciliation which the renowned knight of La Mancha would have been ashamed of. They propofed to the colonifts to break their faith with France in the first publie treaty that ever they made, and expose themselves to all the world as the most faithlefs of mortals. This, they knew, could not be complied with, and of confequence they would keep their places and continue the war. They had also fome friends to ferve, and the office of commiffioner was a lucrative employment. Even this commiffion was put into the hands of men the moft unlikely to gain credit in America: A young nobleman of little experience, who was never remarkable in managing his own affairs with honour to himself, was placed firft in a commiffion to fettle the difference between Britain and her colonies. To this beau of a nobleman, was joined, an apoftate patriot, a general of the army, and a pettifogging lawyer, who was remarkable for nothing but in being a penfioner and a pliant voter on the fide of the ministry. To all thefe was added, as a fecretary, a Scotch profeffor of moral philofophy, who left his fchool, and his fcholars, to the care of another, to cross the Atlantic under the pretence of procuring peace, but in reality to glean fome of those benefits which the bounty of government was now fo ready to bestow. Among the whole, it is doubtful, though their characters had been more refpectable, whether there was as much judgment as was neceffary to execute a commiffion of fo great importance. It was certainly an affront to the nation, and a difcredit to the commiffion, that it was left to the management