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narrative otherwife had proved extremely barren and unentertaining. För though the animofity of the belligerent powers was not, as we obferved, abated, their efforts, however, had confiderably flackened, and their operations began gradually to degenerate into the Petiteguerre. Those vaft events that aftonish the mind, or hold it in a pleafing fufpence; thofe important battles and fieges; thofe rapid and well-conducted marches, and those lively enterprizes which distinguish the former years, except in a very few inftances, fcarce make any part of the history before us. But tho' the operations of the field bad fallen into a state of languor, the cabinet became full of bufinefs, and negotiation flourished. In this fituation candour obliges us to acquaint our readers that we are ftill more liable to mistakes, than when we attempt to describe the tranfactions of the campaign. It very frequently happens, that the accounts of the military operations come authenticated from the hands of thofe great generals who have conducted them, and when we have allowed for the partiality of the account, there is nothing to be detracted from them for want of fufficient information. Even in the cafe of partiality, we are often able to correct the mifreprefentation or overcharge of one of the parties by that of the other. Thefe things are done in the eye of the world. But the motives either to peace or war, and the steps taken in a negotiation, are all behind the curtain. They do not appear for a long time, and fometimes they never appear completely. There is however, an advantage in the prefent conjuncture. For one of the powers at war, in order to juftify

to its fubjects and to the world, its part in the continuance of a war fo fatal to both, has published an account of the late negotiation; artful indeed, and probably in fome refpects unfair; but containing at the fame time many valuable and illuftrating pieces, the authenticity, of which is not difputed. The point in fuch cafes to be dreaded is not. the publication of falfe pieces, but. the concealment of feveral that are real and important. The public information is probably rather incompleat, than untrue. We wait with impatience for that full and authentic narrative of fo important a negotiation, which undoubtedly our court propofes to publish. We have delayed the fetting out our work the longer, in hopes, of its appearance, by which we might have been able to perfect and cor rect our account of this tranfaction. The account of the Spanish negotiation has appeared late, but we have not failed to make use of it. At prefent we engage in our work, under thofe difficulties, which it is juft, the reader should know and allow for. In the fucceeding year we fhall take care to profit of whatever further lights may be imparted.

Very early in this year 1761, the

courts

of Petersburg, Vienna, France, Sweden and Poland, agreed feverally and jointly to offer propofals towards renewing that negotiation for peace, which had abruptly been broken off in the close of the year 1759. France was the principal and firft mover; for as it was her ambition which had made the war fo general, and her revenue which in a great measure fupported it; the former being now humbled by a feries of unfortunate events, and the latter reduced by moft enor

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mous expences, she began at length tó relent, and apparently to defire peace in earnest. The other members of the grand alliance could not decently, nor fafely oppofe thefe difpofitions of France. The court of Sweden in particular was given to undeaftand, that the exhaufted condition of France was the true motive of her moderation; that in fact, fhe was not able any longer to furnish the ftipulated fubfidies, nor to adhere to the letter of her engagements with her allies. These circumftances, which she was neither able, nor feemed difpofed to conceal, formed the fureft guaranty of her fincerity.

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The five parties to the war on that fide, made as many declarations, which were figned at Paris on the 25th of March, and delivered at London on the 31ft of the fame month. The counter declaration of Great Britain and Pruffia appeared on the 3d of April. Augf burg, as the fituation most commodious for the powers at war, was appointed for the congrefs.

Lord Egremont, Lord Stormont ambaffador in Poland, and general Yorke our ambaffador in Holland, were nominated as the English plenipotentiaries. On the part of France, the count de Choiseul was appointed. Augfburg now became the center of attention to all Europe, and each court prepared every thing towards this important meeting which it could furnish of fplendor for the difplay of its dignity, and of ability for the fupport of its intereft. The public converfation was for a while diverted from scenes of horror, bloodshed, and pillage, and every mind was employed more agreeably on the public fcene of magnificence,

and the private game of policy, which was to enfue.

In the first place, it was unanimoufly agreed, in order that a negotiation, in itfelf fufficiently intricate, fhould be the less embarrassed, to admit to the treaty none but the parties principally concerned, together with their allies.

Although this exclufion of the neutral interefts tended greatly to difembarrass and fimplify the negotiation, yet fuch was the variety of feparate and independent matters, which still remained to be discussed, that it became advisable to make a further feparation, if they hoped to treat upon them with any tolerable ease, or with any profpect of coming to a speedy decifion.

For this purpose it was neceffary to bring back the motives to the war to their first principles; and to difengage thofe feveral interefts which originally, and in their own nature had no connection, from that mafs, in which mutual injuries and a common animofity had blended and confounded them. This propofition came firft from France, and it was an early and happy omen of her inclination to peace.

The war, which was truly and originally German, evidently had but a fingle, though this a very dif ficult object, to determine the fate of the king of Pruffia. So many powers were concerned in this determination, and their views of aggrandifement, indemnification, and revenge, fo various and difficult to be reconciled, that this alone feemed matter enough for a separate and very arduous negotiation. In effect all the powers of the north were concerned in it. For this reafon, the other great object of the

general

general war, the limits of America, which by that ftrange chain of hoftile connections, which even unites the various independent quarrels and enmities of Europe, had been mixed with the German difputes, was again fet upon its proper and peculiar bafis; and whilft the truly German interefts were handled at Augfburg, it was propofed to treat on this head feparately in London and in Paris. For this purpose, minifters were mutually fent from thofe courts; Mr. Stanley on the part of England; and Mr. Buffy on that of France.

This propofition was alfo exceed ingly prudent: for there is no doubt that if thefe potentates could fettle their claims to their mutual fatisfaction, and fhould carry to Augsburg the fame candour and good faith, and the fame fincere defire of peace, their influence muft neceffarily tend to infpire principles of moderation into the reft, and must contribute largely to accelerate the great work of pacification.

Things were thus fet upon the beft footing poffible, and the negotiation feemed to be in the happieft train that could be wifhed. But unfortunately the plan and difpofition of the treaty was much more cafily adjusted, than the matter and the fubftance. It was very obvious that France, if she was willing even to pretend to a defire of peace, could fcarce avoid making concef fions, which to her were fufficiently mortifying. The moment her proper quarrel came to be feparated from the general caufe, he had every difadvantage in the negotiation, because she had fuffered every difafter in the war. On the fide of Germany indeed fhe had acted with fuccefs; but even there the advan tages he had acquired were fill

precarious, as the chance of war was fill open: no propofition for a ceffation of arms having been admitted. As the knew therefore, that great facrifices might be expected from her, fhe did not fo finally reft her hopes upon the negotiation, as not to look out for another refource; and this rendered on her part the whole proceeding lefs effective and lefs fincere.

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The refource the fought was in Spain, who fhe hoped could not look with indifference on the humiliation of the principal branch of the house of Bourbon. Hitherto indeed the king of Spain had obferved a tolerable exact neutrality in his conduct, and in his declarations had fpared no expreffions of good will and friendship to court. He feemed to be wholly intent on the internal economy of his dominions, on the improvement of their long neglected police, on the advancement of their commerce, and the regulation of the finances. But notwithstanding thefe domeftic attentions, the French ministry did not defpair of drawing his regards abroad. They thought that the offers which France in her prefent circumftances would find herself obliged to make, muft extremely alarm all good Spaniards, who could not fee without the most serious apprehenfions, the French power wholly annihilated in America. By this event, their colonies, though fo much fuperior to all others in opulence and extent, muft in a manner lie at the mercy of England: no power being in any fort able to afford them affiftance, or to hold the ballance between them and the power of England. At this time indeed, the French court had not abfolutely fucceeded in her de

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as long as the fortune of war tinued in the fame train, we w from the beginning appreheni that the new negotiation which have fince feen opened, and t fome time carried on with fuc pleafing appearances, might in the iffue be attended with no better fuccefs.

There are indeed but two fituations in which peace can be very rationally expected. The firft fituation is that of equality; and this is, either where nothing is gained on any fide; fo that whenever mutual weariness, and unprofitable hoftilities have calmed the ardor of the warring powers, no intricate points intervene to fruftrate the firft pacific difpofition; or it may be where the loffes are fo equal, that exchanges may eafily be made, or the parties may reft mutually fatisfied with their advantage over each other.

The fecond fituation is that of neceffity; where one of the parties is fo entirely broken and reduced, as to fubmit to receive conditions on the footing conqueft, and to purchal 1 Cimiliating and enns. A peace upis always the

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general war, the limits of America, which by that ftrange chain of hoftile connections, which even unites the various independent quarrels and enmities of Europe, had been mixed with the German difputes, was again fet upon its proper and pecuar bafis; and whilft the truly Ger"an interefts were handled at Augfurg, it was propofed to treat on is head feparately in London and Paris, For this purpofe, minifwere mutually fent from thofe ts; Mr. Stanley on the part of gland; and Mr. Buffy on that of

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precarious, as the chance of war was ftill open: no propofition for a ceffation of arms having been admitted. As he knew therefore, that great facrifices might be expected from her, fhe did not fo finally reft her hopes upon the negotiation, as not to look out for another refource; and this rendered on her part the whole proceeding lefs effective and lefs fincere.

The refource fhe fought was in Spain, who fhe hoped could not look with indifference on the humiliation of the principal branch of the houfe of Bourbon. Hitherto indeed the king of Spain had obferved a tolerable exact neutrality in his conduct, and in his declarations had fpared no expreffions of good will and friendship to our court. He feemed to be wholly intent on the internal economy of his dominions, on the improvement of their long neglected police, on the advancement of their commerce, and the regulation of the finances. But notwithstanding thefe domeftic attentions, the French miniftry did not defpair of drawing his regards abroad. They thought that the offers which France in her prefent circumftances would find herself bliged to make, muft extremely arm all good Spaniards, who could ot fee without the moft ferious prehenfions, the French power holly annihilated in America. By is event, their colonies, though much fuperior to all others in lence and extent, muft in a ner lie at the mercy of Engno power being in any fort to afford them affiftance, or the ballance between them power of England. At this eed, the French court had ately ded in her de

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