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rations having paffed the houfe of commons, the war with the colonies was in fact at an end. The original purpose of France being accomplished, the could have no motive to persevere in a conteft, the expence of which was enormous, and the farther fuccefs uncertain. Spain, after extraordinary exertions, having failed in both her grand objects, the recovery of Gibraltar, and the conqueft of Jamaica, had little reason to flatter herself that her future efforts would be more effectual than the past; and Holland would have neither the inclination or ability to continue the war alone.

During the negotiation with France and Spain, protracted chiefly in confequence of the demand in which Spain for fome time refolutely perfifted of the ceffion of Gibraltar, provifional articles of pacification between Great Britain and America were figned on the 30th of November 1782, by which the thirteen provinces were declared free and independent states; and by a boundary line very favoable to America, the whole country fouthward of the lakes on both fides of the Ohio, and eastward of the Miffifippi, was ceded to the colonies, with a full participation of the fisheries on the banks of Newfoundland, and the Gulph of St. Laurence. In return for which the congrefs engaged to RECOMMEND to the feveral states to provide for the reftitution of the confifcated eftates of the loyalifts. But this recommendation eventually proved, as might have eafily been foreseen, nugatory and useless; and this wretched portion of his majesty's deluded fubjects migrated in great numbers to the inhofpitable wilds of Nova Scotia, and the barren fhores of the Bahamas.

Dr. FRANKLIN, fo lately the fubject of the vileft and groffeft abufe, had now the glory of figning this treaty on the part of the united ftates-the intelligence of which was received in America with emotions of exultation and rapThe definitive treaty was not however figned till the following year, at the clofe of which New York, Charlestown,

ture.

lestown, and Savannah, the only place in the poffeffion of the English, were finally evacuated; and general Washington made his public entry into the firft of these cities. as foon as the royal army was withdrawn. The rejoicings on this occafion were celebrated with patriotic enthusiasm; after which an affecting leave was taken by the general of the friends and companions of his warfare, who accompanied him on his return to his own province, in filent and folemn proceffion, to the banks of the north river. When the barge quitted the fhore, he waved his hat, bidding them for the last time adieu. To this valediction, fixing their regards on their beloved commander till they could no longer diftinguifh his perfon, they replied by acclamations intermingled with fuppreffed fobs and involuntary tears. In every town and village through which the general paffed, he was received with the highest demonftrations of gratitude and joy.

When he arrived at Annapolis, he fignified to congrefs his intention to refign the command he had the honor to hold in their fervice, referring to them the mode in which it fhould be done. They refolved it fhould be in a public audience. When the day fixed for that purpofe arrived, the hall of the fenate house was crowded with perfonages of the higheft merit and distinction; and general Washington, addreffing the prefident in a speech remarkable only for its dignified fimplicity, demanded leave to furrender into their hands the truft committed to him, and, having finished the work affigned him, to retire from the great theatre of action to the tranquil fcenes of private life, earneftly recommending to the protection of Almighty GOD the interests of his dear country, and thofe who have the fuperintendance of them to his holy keeping." To this addrefs the prefident replied in words to the following purport" The united states in congrefs affembled, receive with emotions too affecting for utterance the folemn refignation of the authority under which you have led our

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troops with fuccefs through a perilous and doubtful war. Called upon by your country to defend its invaded rights, you accepted the facred charge before it had formed alliances, and whilft it was without friends or a government to support you-you have conducted the great military conteft with wifdom and fortitude, invariably regarding the rights of the civil power through all difafters and changes-you have, by the love and confidence of your fellow-citizens, enabled them to difplay their martial genius, and tranfmit their fame to pofterity. Having defended the ftandard of liberty in this new world, having taught a leffon ufeful to thofe who inflict, and to those who feel oppreffion, you retire with the bleffings of your country; but the glory of your virtues will not terminate with your military command, it will continue to animate remoteft ages. May the Almighty fofter a life fo beloved with his peculiar care, and may your future days be as happy as your paft have been illuftrious." The grand and interefting fcenes which crowded upon the imagination of the general and the prefident, almost deprived them of the power of articulation; and the mingled emotions of joy, regret, and admiration, which agitated the minds of the fpectators, were expreffed more forcibly by looks and geftures than they could have been by words.

Immediately on this refignation, the late commander, "haftened," to ufe his own words, "with ineffable delight to his feat at Mount Vernon, on the banks of the Potowmac;" whence, at the powerful call of his country, he in a short time again emerged in order to affuine the high ftation which he now occupies as prefident and guardian of that new and noble conftitution, which, by one of the happiest and most extraordinary efforts of human virtue, wifdom, and ability, has been fubftituted in America, to her former feeble, inefficient, and defective form of government.

In

In Great Britain, to the affairs of which we must now revert, the feffion of parliament commenced December 5, 1782, with a very excellent fpeech from the throne, in which, his majesty, reverting after a long and inglorious feries of years to the genuine principles of whig policy, declared, "that he had loft no time in giving the nececeffary orders for prohibiting offenfive operations against America, and had been directing his views to a cordial reconciliation with them. Such being his own inclination, and fuch the sense of his parliament and people, he had not hesitated to conclude with them provifional articles of peace, by which they were acknowledged free and independent frates. He deplored this difmemberment of the empire, which had become a matter both of policy and prudence; but teftified a hope that religion, language, intereft, and affection, would yet prove a permanent tie of union between the two countries. He fpake with pride and fatisfaction of the late gallant defence of Gibraltar : he recommended an immediate attention to the great objects of public receipt and expenditure, and above all to the state of the national debt. He applauded the liberal principles which had actuated the conduct of parliament refpecting Ireland: he preffed a revision of the whole fyftem of trade with a view to its fullest extenfion; and turning his attention to Afia, pointed out our vaft poffeffions there as a moft important object of regulation and

care.

He declared that the true fpirit of the conftitution would be the invariable rule of his conduct, and called upon parliament to exercife their temper, wifdom, and difinterestedness."

Loyal addreffes were voted in both houfes without a divifion; but fome fevere remarks having been directed in the house of peers against the inconfiftency of the minifter, who had at a former period fo ftrongly opposed the recognition of American independence, his lordship declared, "that he had exerted every effort to preserve

America

America to this country;" and with great animation exclaimed, "that he had not voluntarily yielded up this independency; he had merely fubmitted to the controlling power of neceflity and fate. It was not I, faid he, that made this ceffion-it was the evil ftar of Britain-it was the blunders of a former administration-it was the power of revolted fubjects, and the mighty arms of the houfe of Bourbon."

Doubts having arifen whether the acknowledgment of independency was abfolute or conditional, and lord Shelburne declining to communicate any particulars of a negotiation actually pending, Mr. Fox moved in the house of commons an address to the king, to lay before the house copies of such parts of the provifional articles as related to the fame; but this was oppofed as inexpedient and improper, not only by the chancellor of the exchequer Mr. Pitt, but by the late minifter lord North; and the question being put, Mr. Fox's motion was negatived by a majority of 219 against 46-a divifion, perhaps fatal to the minister, by inspiring him with high and lofty ideas of his own ftrength and fecurity.

On the 23d of December the parliament after voting one hundred thousand seamen and marines for the fervice of the enfuing year, adjourned to the 21ft of January 1783-the day preceding which preliminary articles of peace were figned between Great Britain, France, and Spain, which immediately after the recefs were fubmitted to the confideration of the two houfes. By this treaty Great Britain guarantied to France the island of Tobago, and restored that of St. Lucia; alfo the fettlements of Goree and Senegal in Africa; and the city of Pondicherri, with her other conquefts in the eaft, accompanied by fome additions of territory. Laftly, the claims of Britain respecting Dunkirk were exprefsly relinquished; and on her part, France agreed to restore, Tobago excepted, all her valuable and important conquefts in the West Indies. His catholic majefty was allowed to retain Minorca

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