PROSPECT OF GENERAL PACIFICATION.
This final attempt upon Gibraltar was the last action of importance during the war. Every nation which had been engaged in the fatal struggle now sighed for peace, and admitted the policy of putting up the sword into its scabbard. Each found, by a review of past events, that, although their gains were great, then-losses greatly preponderated. Négociations were entered into, and the Empress of Russia, finding that England was not so near the verge of destruction as she imagined, now began to act as a fair and anxious mediatrix. Spain had not yet raised the siege of Gibraltar, and demanded the wonderful rock as the price of a treaty; but the empress told its monarch that he must give up all idea of obtaining it either by arms or treaty. France, Holland, and the United States were also told by her that they ought to moderate their pretensions. But the grand obstacle that stood in the way of peace, was removed by Great Britain herself; namely, the recognition of the independence of America. During the negociations with France and Spain, provisional articles between England and America were signed on the 30th of November, at Paris, by Mr. Fitzherbert and Mr. Oswald, on the one hand, and Dr. Franklin, Adams, Jay, and Laurens, on the other. This was contrary to the letter and spirit of their treaty with France, and was brought about by the treachery of the French minister, Vergennes. While he was urging the Americans to claim a share in the Newfoundland fishery, he was instigating the British government to refuse the concession! This double-dealing was detected; and in an interview with the American negotiators, Mr. Fitzherbert assured them that a share in that fishery would be allowed them, which had the effect of bringing the treaty between England and America to a conclusion. Vergennes complained of American chicanery, and still sought to set aside the treaty, by advising the English government not to make too ample concessions as regarded the boundaries to be assigned to the United States; but his character had become manifest, and his advice was not heeded. The British cabinet was, indeed, too desirous of peace to raise any undue obstacle against its attainment. Eight days before the separate preliminaries were signed, Lord Shelburne wrote to the lord mayor, acquainting him that the negociations promised a speedy conclusion; on which account parliament would be prorogued from the 26th of November to the 5th of December. At this time it was, indeed, considered that America was wholly detached from the league, and there was no anxiety about the prolongation of a naval war with the rest of our enemies. There was in truth, no fear of this, for France, Spain, and Holland had all suffered too much on the ocean to make them desirous of continuing hostilities. Pride might dictate haughty demands, but it was clear that they would rather abate them than renew the struggle.