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neral reasons. My particular ones are, that, if France meditated a considerable blow, she has neglected her opportunity. Last year, we had neither army nor a manned fleet at home. Now, we have a larger and better army than ever we had in the island, and a strong fleet. Within these three days, our West-India and Mediterranean fleets, for which we have been in great pain, are arrived, and bring not only above two millions, but such a host of sailors as will supply the deficiencies in our unequipped men-of-war. The country is covered with camps; General Conway, who has been to one of them, speaks with astonishment of the fineness of the men, of the regiments, of their discipline and manoeuvring. In short, the French Court has taught all our young nobility to be soldiers. The Duke of Grafton, who was the most indolent of ministers, is the most indefatigable of officers. For my part, I am almost afraid that there will be a larger military spirit amongst our men of quality than is wholesome for our constitution:* France will have done us hurt enough, if she has turned us into generals instead of senators.

I can conceive another reason why France should not choose to venture an invasion. It is certain that at least five American provinces wish for peace with us. Nor can I think that thirteen English provinces would be pleased at seeing England invaded. Any considerable blow received by us, would turn their new allies

* In reference to the prevalence of this military spirit amongst the higher orders, Gibbon wrote to Mr. Holroyd, "Their chief conversation at Almack's is about tents, drill-serjeants, subdivisions, firings, &c., and I am revered as a veteran."-ED.

into haughty protectors. Should we accept a bad peace, America would find her treaty with them a very bad one in short, I have treated you with speculations instead of facts. I know but one of the latter sort. The King's army has evacuated Philadelphia, from having eaten up the country, and has returned to New York. Thus it is more compact, and has less to defend.

General Howe is returned, richer in money than laurels. I do not know, indeed, that his wealth is great.

Fanaticism in a nation is no novelty; but you must know, that, though the effects were so solid, the late appearance of enthusiasm about Lord Chatham was nothing but a general affectation of enthusiasm. It was a contention of hypocrisy between the Opposition and the Court, which did not last even to his burial.+ Not three of the Court attended it, and not a dozen of the Minority of any note. He himself said, between his fall in the House of Lords and his death, that, when he came to himself, not one of his old acquaintance of the Court but Lord Despencer so much as asked him how he did. Do you imagine people are struck with the death of a man, who were not struck with the sudden appearance of his death? We do not counterfeit so

* Philadelphia was evacuated by the British army on the 18th of June; which passed the Delaware on the same day, under dispositions made for the purpose by the Admiral, Lord Howe.—ED.

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"Lord Chatham's funeral," says Gibbon, in a letter to Mr. Holroyd, was meanly attended, and Government ingeniously contrived to secure the double odium of suffering the thing to be done, and of doing it with an ill grace."-ED.

easily on a surprise, as coolly; and, when we are cool on surprise, we do not grow agitated on reflection.

The last account I heard from Germany was hostile. Four days ago both the Imperial and Prussian Ministers expected news of a battle. O, ye fathers of your people, do you thus dispose of your children? How many thousand lives does a King save, who signs a peace! It was said in jest of our Charles II., that he was the real father of his people, so many of them did he beget himself. But tell me, ye divines, which is the most virtuous man, he who begets twenty bastards, or he who sacrifices an hundred thousand lives? What a contradiction is human nature! The Romans rewarded the man who got three children, and laid waste the world. When will the world know, that peace and propagation are the two most delightful things in it? As his Majesty of France* has found out the latter, I hope he will not forget the former.

* The unfortunate Marie-Antoinette was then enceinte for the first time. On the 19th of December she was delivered of a Princess named Marie-Therèse-Charlotte. The Rev. Dr. Warner, then at Paris, thus wrote on the 20th, to George Selwyn, " Yesterday the beauteous Majesty of France underwent the pangs of child-birth. The agony of her regret that it is not a dauphin has thrown her into such strong convulsions, that her life is thought to be in danger. She had a fine time, as the goodies say, and it is a fine child. I hope the fine woman will do well, and have a dauphin another time. There were bonfires and sky-rockets; but the whole thing was wretched and poor. The public offices, such as the Hotel des Fermes, the Post-office, and some of the Financiers, or, as Boileau calls them, ' Commis engraissés des malheurs de la France,' gave some of their tallow but scarce a candle, even of the diminutive size that is burnt to the lousiest saint in the calendar, was to be seen amongst the lean and little folks." Selwyn Correspondence, vol. iii. p. 372.-ED.

LETTER CCLXXXVIII.

Arlington Street, Aug. 4, 1778.

FOR these three weeks I have been constantly waiting for news from sea; for to tell you that nothing had happened, was telling you nothing. We are in the oddest situation that can be; at war, in fact, but managed like a controversy in divinity: we and France write against each other, and do each other all the hurt we can, but do not own we are enemies. The communication is open, the packet-boats pass as usual, and French and English are allowed to go to Paris and to come to London, as if to compare notes on all that happens. I am not sorry that this Christian plausibility is preserved; it may facilitate peace without the tediousness of a formal treaty. The two countries have nothing to do but to declare hostilities are at an end.

On Saturday last we thought we had gained a double festival for the 1st of August. Admiral Keppel's captain arrived, and a rumour spread that he had taken or destroyed seventeen of the Brest fleet.* It was not for want of will or endeavours if he has not. He had

* The Duc de Chartres, afterwards the infamous Égalité, who was on board one of the French ships, took occasion to acquaint Sir George Rodney, that he was to have a command in the fleet which was to be opposed to that under the command of Admiral Keppel, and with an insulting air asked him, what he thought would be the consequence of their meeting? "That my countryman will carry your Royal Highness home with him to learn English" was the spirited reply. During the action of the 27th of July, the Duke retired into the hold of the ship, and refused to come on deck until the engagement was over. See Keppel's Life, vol. ii. p. 36.-ED.

placed himself between that squadron and port, and tried to force them to battle; which they obstinately declined, till he came so near that they fired on him. He desired no more, and the fight began smartly; but, the wind favouring the French, they kept sailing away, but pouring all their broadsides on his masts and rigging, which they damaged a good deal. This flying fight lasted two hours, and our admiral promised himself a complete battle the next day: but, as the French meant mischief and not glory, at day-break they were vanished-in short, got into port; and Keppel is returned to Plymouth, heartily chagrined that his enemies are so little ashamed of running away. *

There is as little prospect of laurels from Byron's squadron. Both his fleet and D'Estaing's have suffered by a great storm. Nor are we likely to have more olives than laurels. The Congress has treated our Commissioners with sovereign contempt;t and the Commis

Admiral Keppel, finding it in vain to attempt a general or a partial chase, determined to return to England to repair the heavy damages his fleet had sustained. He arrived at Plymouth on the 31st of July. Amongst the numerous letters of congratulation received by the Admiral on this occasion, was one from Mr. Burke: "You have," he says, "saved us twice in one summer; once by retreating, and once by fighting. The disciplined mob of court-runners in the City thought proper, for some time, to censure the conduct to which we owe it; but the appearance of the French fleet off Ushant has shown your wisdom and their folly. Every honest man, every man of judgment, congratulates you and himself, with a sedate joy, on this great and eminent advantage. The designs which this fleet of the enemy was meant to second are defeated, and the honour of our flag completely secured." Life of Keppel, vol. ii. p. 57.-Ed.

The condition of the Commissioners on the 22nd of July is thus feelingly depicted by Lord Carlisle, in a letter to George Selwyn: "When you see before you the list of our misfortunes, I think I

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