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HE consequences of the triumph of the American arms in the north were soon apparent, to the great exultation of the friends of independence, and the depression of their adversaries. After the Declaration of Independence was adopted, the leading patriot statesmen perceived that an alliance with any of the great powers of Europe would be an effectual step towards securing that independence upon a firm basis. Their eyes at once turned to France. It was clearly the policy of that indomitable rival of Britain to encourage the dispute between the mother country and and the colonies, and to aid in their total separation.

Early in 1776, Silas Deane had been sent to France, to sound the ministry upon the subject of the American controversy, and to procure military stores. He was successful in procuring supplies, and found that the French government looked with a favorable eye upon the struggle of the Americans. At the end of September of the same year, Congress agreed on the plan of a treaty to be proposed to foreign powers, and elected Dr. Franklin, Silas Deane and Arthur Lee, commissioners to propose and solicit its acceptance at the court of France. The fame of Dr. Franklin as a philanthropist and a philosopher was more extensive than that of any other American, and smoothed the way to a favorable reception of the proposals of Congress.

On the 28th of December, the commissioners arrived at Paris and opened negotiations. Count de Vergennes, the minister with whom they had to deal, was a man of extensive political information and great ability. He knew that France was not ready for a war with Great Britain, and therefore that the course of prudence was not to be hasty in openly espousing the cause of the colonists, but to encourage them in their struggle while pretending to be indifferent to it. At the same time, private agents of the United States armed and equipped vessels in the French ports to annoy the British commercial marine, and thus bring on a war between the two powers. The news of the capitulation at Saratoga reached France early in December, 1777. This event determined the policy of the ministry, convincing them that an alliance with a people who had captured a British army was a desirable consummation.

N the 16th of December, 1777, the commissioners of Congress were informed by Mr. Gerard, one of the secretaries of the king's council of state, "that it was decided to acknowledge the independence of the United States, and to make a treaty with them; that in the treaty no advantage would be taken of their situation, to obtain terms which, otherwise, it would not be convenient for them to agree to; that his Most Christian Majesty desired the treaty once made should be durable, and their amity to subsist forever, which could not be expected, if each nation did not find an interest in its continuance, as well as in its commencement. It was therefore intended, that the terms of the treaty should be such as the new-formed states would be willing to agree to, if they had been long since established, and in the fulness of strength and power, and such as they should approve when that time should come; that his Most Christian. Majesty was fixed in his determination not only to acknowledge, but to support their independence; that in doing this he might probably soon be engaged in a war; yet he should not expect any compensation from the United States on that account. Nor was it pretended that he acted wholly for their sakes, since besides his real good-will to them, it was manifestly the interest of France, that the power of England should be

diminished, by the separation of the colonies from its government. The only condition he should require, and rely on, would be, that the United States, in no peace to be made, should give up their independence and return to the obedience of the British government." At any time previously to the 16th of December, 1777, when Mr. Gerard made the foregoing declaration, it was in the power of the British ministry to have ended the American war, and to have established an alliance with the United States, that would have been of great service to both; but from the same haughtiness which for some time had predominated in their councils, and blinded them to their interests, they neglected to improve the favorable opportunity.

Conformably to the preliminaries proposed by Mr. Gerard, his Most Christian Majesty, Louis the XVI., on the 6th of February, 1778, entered into treaties of amity, commerce, and alliance with the United

States, on the footing of the most perfect equality and reciprocity. the latter of these, that monarch became the guarantee of their sovereignty, By independence and commerce. On a review of the conduct of the French ministry to the Americans, the former appear to have acted uniformly from a wise regard to national interest. Any line of conduct, different from that which they adopted, might have overset the measures which they wished to establish. Had they pretended to act from disinterested principles of generosity to the distressed, the known selfishness of human nature would have contradicted the extravagant pretension. By avowing the real motive of their conduct, they furnished such a proof of candor as begat confidence.

The British ministers were no less surprised than provoked by hearing of the alliance between France and the States, which they continued to look upon as their provinces. They considered it as a violation of the laws of nations, and as an interference which deserved the severest inflictions of war. The French justified the alliance, by observing that they found the colonies in actual possession of independence, and that they were bound to presume they were independent of right. Upon this presumption, interest dictated that they should enter into treaties with them.

HE Marquis de Lafayette, whose letters to France had

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a considerable share in preparing the nation to patronize the United States, was among the first in the American army who received the welcome tidings of the treaty. He joyfully informed General Washington, and the intelligence soon spread to the people. The army received it with particular manifestations of gratitude and confidence. Their chaplains offered up thanks to Almighty God, and delivered discourses suitable to the occasion. A feu-de-joie was fired, and on a proper signal being given, the air resounded with huzzas and cries of "Long live the King of France!" Undervaluing the resources and the spirit of the British nation, the Americans confidently believed that the olive-branch would soon be extended to them, and their independence acknowledged.

Congress, previous to their reception of the news of the treaty of alliance with France, had firmly rejected some offers of conciliation from the ministry and parliament of Great Britain. This circumstance displayed the confidence of that body in the justice of their cause and the strength of their resolution to accept no terms of peace which did not as a precedent condition, acknowledge the independent sovereignty of the