1790. BOOK hemispheres, shall accomplish the wish of philoXXIV. sophy, by delivering the human species from the necessity of war. What is it but an insidious system of politics that has hitherto represented as our rival a nation whose steps we have followed, whose brilliant example has been a light to direct us in the attainment of our liberties, and with whom so many new motives lead us to cultivate a good understanding?-Let us not for a moment believe that England is disposed to take advantage of our transient commotions to prevent the development of the principles which she has taught us. In her the attempt would be sacrilege-in us sacrilege to believe it." Notwithstanding the vote of the National Assembly for an immediate augmentation of the naval force, the court of Madrid plainly saw the reluctance of the French nation to engage in a war with England, and, yielding to necessity, complied first with the harsh demand of previous restitution and indemnification; and at length, on the 2d of Convention October, 1790, a convention was signed at the Great Bri- Escurial, by which every point in dispute was conSpain sign-ceded by Spain. The settlement at Nootka was restored; the free navigation and right of fishery in the Southern Pacific were confirmed to Britain; a full liberty of trade and even of settlement was granted to all the north-west coasts of America, beyond the most northerly of the Spanish between tain and ed at the Escurial. XXIV. 1790. settlements, unaccompanied, however, by any for- BOOK mal renunciation of their right of sovereignty. And the two powers were, on the other hand, equally restrained from attempting any settlement nearer to Cape Horn than the most southerly of the settlements actually formed by Spain. A very wise article was inserted likewise in this treaty: That in all future cases of complaint, or supposed infraction of the present convention, no act of violence shall be committed, but an exact report shall be made of the affair to the respective courts, who will terminate such difference amicably. Thus ended a dispute frivolous in its origin, but which seemed in its progress to threaten very serious consequences, and which cost Great Britain the sum of three millions in warlike preparations; though this expence might have been, with great advantage to the general interests of the parties concerned, avoided, by submitting the whole of the dispute, in the mode proposed by Spain, to amicable arbitration. And so insignificant ́was the object in contest, that no one either in or out of parliament has, so far as appears, thought it worth while to enquire whether restoration has really been made in the mode prescribed by the treaty or not.* It is certain, nevertheless, from the most authentic subsequent information, that the Spanish flag flying at the fort and settlement of Nootka was never struck, and that the whole BOOK 1790. The ANNIVERSARY of the REVOLUTION in France, which was dated from the fall of the Anniversa- Bastille (July 14), was celebrated throughout the French re- country, and more especially at Paris, with great celebrated. magnificence. The king assisted in person, and ry of the volution took a solemn oath to maintain the constitution. The National Assembly and the armed citizens repeated it amidst the acclamations of innumerable spectators; and the whole kingdom, with one voice, and almost at the same moment, swore to live free or die. In the genuine spirit of antient Greece, was raised on the site of the Bastille a superb column sacred to liberty: and in the Grecian' spirit of citizenship and equality, a decree of the territory has been virtually relinquished by Great Britain-a measure, however politically expedient, which involves in it a severe reflection upon the minister who could permit so invidious an encroachment upon the antient and acknowledged rights of the crown of Spain. The whole conduct of the British court in this business appeared so arrogant and arbitrary, that the ablest politicians were deceived by it. The count de Segur, ambassador at Berlin, by a mistaken refinement, affirms, "that England, profiting by the troubles by which France was exhausted, fitted out a numerous fleet, and under the flimsy pretext of reclaiming some contraband ships taken by the Spaniards on the west coast of North America, threatened and denounced war against Spain. But the cabinet of London (he asserts), intimidated by the energetic and unexpected resolution of the National Assembly to enforce the family compact, desisted from its ambitious projects." History of Frederic William II, vol. II. p. 153-171. XXIV. 1790. Assembly had recently passed, abolishing all arti- BOOK ficial distinctions of rank-all the Gothic institutions of chivalry and knighthood, ribbands, crosses, armorial bearings, and hereditary titles of honor.* In ENGLAND also, the French Revolution was commemorated in the metropolis, and various other parts, with great festivity and the most cordial gratulation—the characteristic generosity of the people of England displaying itself upon this occasion in a manner very conspicuous and pleasing. * After the reduction of the citadel of Syracuse by Timo. leon, that great man, as we are told, did not spare the place on account of its beauty and magnificence: but, on the contrary, he invited the Syracusans by public proclamation to join in the destruction of the bulwark of despotism; and, the building being levelled with the ground, he erected a cOMMON HALL there for the seat of judicature, at once to gratify the citizens and to shew that a popular government should be elevated on the ruins of tyranny. When, after thus gloriously re-establishing the liberty of Sicily, an envious and factious demagogue preferred a public accusation against him in the assembly of the people, who could not suppress the emotions of their indignation, he immediately stilled the tumult, by declaring, "that he had voluntarily undergone so many labors and dangers, that the meanest Syracusan might have recourse when he pleased to the laws:" adding "that he could not sufficiently express his gratitude to the GoDs, in permitting him to see all the Syracusans enjoy the liberty of saying what they thought fit." Plutarch. Let the admirers of such distinctions declare what TITLE could add dignity to the name of TIMOLEON. BOOK XXIV. Soon after this transaction, Mr. Burke, who had in the last session uttered so furious an invective 1790. against the French revolution in the house of com Mr. Burke publishes mons, still more transported with rage and rancor calumnious reflections at the high degree of prosperity it had now attain on the French re- ed, published a book entitled "Reflections on the volution. French Revolution," written with a force of eloquence and energy of declamation calculated to produce the most powerful effects. The object of this elaborate treatise was two-fold: 1. To expose to the public resentment and indignation those persons who had in this country manifested their approbation of the revolution in France; and, 2. To place that revolution itself in an odious and abominable light, as an event to be deplored, detested, and deprecated. And, in an Appendix to this work, he with most atrocious and unexampled malignity invites and exhorts all Christian princes to make, what he styles," a common cause with a just prince dethroned by rebels and traitors." The deluded people of France, to be rescued from the evils they had brought upon themselves, must, as he affirmed, be SUBDUED. And he inti mates, that this war, or crusade, is to be conducted on principles different from any former one. "The mode of civilized war (says he) will not be practised; they must look for no modified hostility; all which is not battle will be MILITARY EXE |