he would willingly make the sacrifice gratuitously, but these circumstances require rather that he should apply himself to irncreasing his naval forces, — and with this he is now occupied. It must be considered, likewise, that the sending of eight vessels to the shores of America would not change the face of affairs there. As powerfully armed as the English are in Europe they would very quickly send a greatly superior squadron which would reduce the other to inaction. France, in agreeing to this requisition, would thus compromise herself openly, without any advantage resulting to the cause she wished to assist. We must not receive ourselves. Ostensible assistance is a legitimate motive of war for the nation against which it is directed.

The same reasons which Militate against the lending of vessels, oppose equally the granting of convoys. These should be the consequence and not the preliminary of war. It would be contrary to the dignity and justice of a great power to lead thither by indirect means. It is by sentiment and the necessity of her own great interests that she can and ought to be led there. What seems yet far off may draw near but one may not anticipate the course of events, one must await them and be prepared to profit by them. That will be the time to come to an understanding, and to lay the solid foundation of a union the desire for which already exists, and which will be the more easily rendered indissoluble as there exists no aim on the part of France and Spain which could clash with the interests of the united provinces and excite their jealousy or cause their uneasiness.

France and Spain, in according to the Americans all the facilities in their ports which they grant to friendly nations, sufficiently exhibit their manner of thinking as regards the united provinces. What more could be required of them? A war lightly embarked upon would not form a point of real union, it would rather be to ignore the object which each must have in view and which may result from the natural course of events.

France does not hamper the Americans in obtaining such resources as they can procure by commerce, but she recommends them to conform on their part to all the rules prescribed by the precise and rigorous meaning of the treaties which the King does not wish to be the first to infringe. It is not possible to ell)ter into the details of the several provisions which may be needed, but His Majesty wishing to signify to the united provinces his favourable disposition and his good wishes assigns for them secret assistance calculated to extend their credit and to facilitate their purchases.

approved