The convention of Saratoga; the reputing General Burgoyne
as a lawful prisoner, in order to suspend his trial; the exchange
and liberation of other prisoners made from the colonies; the having
named commissioners to go and supplicate the Americans, at their own
doors, request peace of them, and treat with them and the Congress:
and, finally, by a thousand other acts of this sort, authorized by the
court of London, which have been, and are true signs of the
acknowledgment of their independence.
"In aggravation of all the foregoing, at the same time the British
cabinet answered the King of Spain in the terms already mentioned,
they were insinuating themselves at the court of France by means of
secret emissaries, and making very great offers to her, to abandon the
colonies and make peace with England. But there is yet more; for at
this same time the English ministry were treating, by means of another
certain emissary, with Dr. Franklin, minister plenipotentiary from the
colonies, residing at Paris, to whom they made various proposals to
disunite them from France, and accommodate matters with England.
"From what has been observed, it evidently follows, that the whole
of the British politics was, to disunite the two courts of Paris and
Madrid, by means of the suggestions and offers which she separately
made to them; and also to separate the colonies from their treaties
and engagements entered into with France, and induce them to arm
against the house of Bourbon, or more probably to oppress them when
they found, from breaking their engagements, that they stood alone and
without protection.
Pages:
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247