had not a still more forcible claim to our acknow

ledgments."

Soon after this, La Lande visited London; and, on being introduced to the King, thanked him for the liberal patronage he had afforded to his favourite science, when he received the following memorable answer: "Is it not far better than spending money for the purpose of setting men to murder each other ?" On the twentieth of August this year, His Majesty met with his first family affliction of the loss of a child, in the death of Prince Alfred, little more than two years old.

1783.

In this year terminated a war, which had been marked during its progress with almost every circumstance adverse to Britain; which, at many periods, had menaced her very existence; and under which she must have sunk, had it not been for the resolute perseverance of the King, and the gallantry of his people by sea and land.

Negotiations, prolonged through the autumn of 1712, produced a general pacification at the beginning of 1783, the terms of which, however widely different they were from those which we had dictated at the treaties of Utrecht and of Fontainbleau, seemed neither ignominious nor disadvantageous in the enfeebled state of the finances and resources of the country.

When Adams, the first American envoy, a man personally obnoxious to the King, was first introduced at the levee, His Majesty, in his reception and treatment of him, displayed a degree of magnanimity highly praiseworthy, and deserving of admiration. He observed to the independent representative, that it was with great reluctance he had consented to the separation of the Trans-Atlantic colonies from his dominions; but this he did in a frank and most conciliatory manner, adding, that now, when their independence was ratified, he should be the last man in the empire to encourage its violation.*

A more detailed statement of this interview was given in the American papers of that day, as extracted from a letter of Mr. Adams to the secretary of state at Philadelphia. We insert it, as peculiarly illustrative of His Majesty's manner and good disposition; and as shewing that a king, who could conduct himself with such moderation, could never have been actuated by the tyrannical sentiments of which he was accused.

"At one, on Wednesday, the first of June (says Mr. Adams), the master of the ceremonies called at my house, and went with me to the secretary of state's office, in Cleveland-row, where the Marquis of Carmarthen received me, and introduced me to Mr. Frazier, his under-secretary, who had been, as his lordship said, uninterruptedly in that office through all the changes in administration for thirty years, having first been appointed by the Earl of Holderness. After a short conversation upon the subject of importing my effects from Holland and France, free of duty, which Mr. Frazier himself introduced, Lord Carmarthen invited me to go with him in his coach to court. When we arrived in

It was on the seventeenth of February that the memorable coalition between North and Fox was

the ante-chamber, the master of the ceremonies met me, and attended me, while the secretary of state went to take the commands of the King. While I stood in this place, where it seems all ministers stand upon such occasions, always attended by the master of the ceremonies, the room very full of ministers of state, bishops, and all other sorts of courtiers, as well as the next room, which is the King's bed-chamber, you may well suppose that I was the focus of all eyes. I was relieved, however, from the embarrassment of it, by the Swedish and Dutch ministers, who came to me, and entertained me with a very agreeable conversation during the whole time. Some other gentlemen, whom I had seen before, came to make their compliments too, until the Marquis of Carmarthen returned, and desired me to go with him to His Majesty. I went with his lordship through the leveeroom into the King's closet-the door was shut, and I was left with His Majesty and the secretary of state alone. I made the three reverences; one at the door, another about half way, and the third before the presence, according to the usage established at this and all the northern courts of Europe, and then addressed myself to His Majesty in the following words:

"Sir,-The United States of America have appointed me minister plenipotentiary to your Majesty, and have directed me to deliver to your Majesty this letter, which contains the evidence of it. It is in obedience to their express commands, that I have the honour to assure your Majesty of their unanimous disposition and desire to cultivate the most friendly and liberal intercourse between your Majesty's subjects and their citizens, and of their best wishes for your Majesty's health and happiness, and for that of your royal family.

"The appointment of a minister from the United States to your Majesty's court will form an epoch in the history of England and America. I think myself more fortunate than all my