LETTER XI.

SOME years, some little years ago, there were such things as gratitude and friendship between nations, believed in by the people of these states, and with a fervor of conviction, in ardor and assurance inferior only to a good man's religious faith, or-they were all liars.

THEY were not liars. They uttered what they thought. Their tongues were the interpreters of their souls. He who never erred has told us, that "of the abundance of the heart the mouth speak. eth," and surely there was an "abundance," for our mouths to speak from.

How uncertain, at least how remote, must have been the issue of our war with Great-Britain—— what an accumulation of distresses upon those we were enduring, must we have suffered, if it had not been for the aids we received from France? Let us endeavour as well as we can, to recollect what we have seen, heard, and felt, and to convey our experience to our children.

How did the nation most solemnly express their sentiments by their representatives in congress?

"THE treaties between his most Christian majesty and the United States of America, so fully demonstrate his wisdom and magnanimity, as to command the reverence of all nations. The vir-tuous citizens of America can never forget his beneficent attention to their violated rights, nor cease to acknowledge the band of a gracious Providence, in raising them up so powerful and illustrious a

FRIEND.

"THIS assembly are convinced

that had

it rested solely with the most Christian king, not only the independence of these states would have been universally acknowledged, but their tranquillity fully established"—"We ardently wish to sheathe the sword, and spare the further effusion of blood"-Congress have reason to believe, that the assistance so wisely and generously sent will bring Great-Britain to a sense of justice and moderation, promote the interests of France and America, and secure peace and tranquillity, on the most firm and honourable foundation. Neither can it doubted, that those who administer the powers of government, within the several states of this union, will cement that connection with the subjects of

France, the beneficent effects of which have already been so sensibly felt.*

"You have conducted the great military contest with wisdom and fortitude, invariably regarding the rights of the civil power through all disasters and changes; you have by the love and confidence of your fellow-citizens, enabled them to display their martial genius, and transmit their fame to posterity: you have persevered till these United States, AIDED BY A MAGNANIMOUS KING AND NATION, have been enabled, UNDER A JUST PROVIDENCE, to close the war in freedom, safety, and independence.†

"If other motives than that of justice could be requisite on this occasion, NO NATION COULD EVER FEEL STRONGER; for to whom are the debts to be paid?

"To AN ALLY, in the first place, who to THE EXERTION OF HIS ARMS in support of our cause, has added THE SUCCOURS OF HIS TREASURES, who to his IMPORTANT LOANS has added LIBERAL DONATIONS;

and whose loans themselves carry the impression of his magnanimity "and FRIENDSHIP."

"IF justice, good faith, honour, gratitude, and all the other qualities which ennoble the character of a nation, and fulfil the ends of government, be the fruits of our establishments, the cause of liberty will acquire a dignity and lustre which it has never yet enjoyed; and an example will be set which cannot but have the most favourable influence on the rights of mankind. If, on the other side, our government should be UNFORTUNATELY blotted with the reverse of these cardinal and essential VIRTUES, the great cause which we have engaged to vindicate will be dishonored and betrayed; the last and fairest experiment IN FAVOR OF THE RIGHTS OF HUMAN NATURE, will be turned against them, and their patrons and friends, exposed to be insulted and silenced by the votaries of tyranny and usurpation."*

How base spirited, how contemptible must our representatives in congress have been, had they not expressed such sentiments with respect to the French nation, and their chief magistrate, as they did?

* Journals of congress, April 26th, 1783.

THEY knew, that his conduct towards us deserv ed "the reverence of all nations," their well chosen phrase; for the sincerity, good-nature, liberality, generosity, and magnanimity therein displayed, stand, I believe, unequalled in any instance of negociation, which the ample repositories of diplomatic literature can furnish.

TRUTH has been cunningly disguised by a laboured compilation, ‡ intended to deceive and irritate the citizens of these states, as if a meritorious vigilance had been happily exerted to explore in a number of political transactions, the base and artful motives that lay lurking, under a pretended friendship on his part towards these states.

THE real fact is, that at the very beginning of our acquaintance with him, which he so diligently cultivated till it ripened into a friendship bearing a profusion of the richest fruits, he came forward boldly, like an HONEST MAN, and TOLD US PLAINLY, that the interest of France, as well as of these states, induced him to enter into an alliance with us.

"On the 16th day of December, 1777, the commissioners of congress were informed by Mr. Gi

It is distressing to recollect, by what hand that compilation was made.