Bonnier, to represent the republic in the congrefs, which was to open on the 1st of January enfuing (A. D. 1798).

The ratification by the Directory of the treaty of Udina, or Campo-Formio, as it was more ufually ftyled, was followed by a proclamation addreffed to the armies, in which it was observed, "that although so much had been done, fo many kings conquered, fo many people fet free, and the republic itself established by the valor of its arms, yet the country expected one more facrifice; fince the enemy, who had been the original cause of all the horrors and miferies which they had fuffered, both from foreign and civil war, remained yet to be crushed; and that the fafety of the republic was endangered whilft the ENGLISH GOVERNMENT exifted." This declaration was followed by two refolutions: ift, That an army should be immediately affembled on the coafts of the Channel, under the name of the Army of England; and, 2dly, That general Buonaparte should be appointed the commander-in-chief.

On the injudicious recall of Mr. Monroe, the American ambaffador, from France, the Directory refused to receive the credentials of Mr. Pinckney, his fucceffor, until their grievances were redreffed; and in the month of January, 1797, that minister received formal notice to quit the territory of the republic; in confequence of which order he accordingly retired to Amfterdam. At the opening of the enfuing feffion of the congrefs at Philadelphia, in the spring of 1797, the new prefident, Mr. Adams, declared it “ to be his fincere defire to preferve peace and friendship with all nations; and that, believing neither the honor nor the intereft of the United States abfolutely to forbid the repetition of advances for fecuring thefe defirable objects with France, he fhould inftitute a fresh attempt at negotiation." Three commiffioners were named for the purpose--Mr. Marshall and Mr. Gerry being joined with general Pinckney. These gentlemen were allowed to remain quietly at Paris, but could make little or no progress to

wards

wards an accommodation of differences. The spirit of intrigue, extravagance, and corruption, at this period, pervaded every branch of the directorial government, which was diftinguished only by its tyranny, its imbecility, and rapacity. After the revolution of the 18th Fructidor, scarcely did this government deign to attempt the concealment of its vices. At a conference, held by the commiffioners in the month of October (1797), with a confidential friend and agent of the minifter of foreign relations, Talleyrand, that perfon expatiated largely on the animofity difcovered by the American prefident, in his fpeech to the congress, against the French republic---and on the keen refentment which it had excited in France; faying, that fatisfaction was indifpenfably neceffary previous to negotiation: "But," faid he, "gentlemen, I will not disguise from you, that, this fatisfaction being made, the essential part of the treaty remains to be adjusted---Il faut de l'argent, il faut beaucoup de l'argent."---He affirmed, " that the Directory were jealous of their own honor; jealous of the honor of the NATION; and this honor must be maintained, unless we fubftituted, in place of the reparations demanded, fomething perhaps more valuable--that was MONEY! There were to the amount of 32 millions of florins of Dutch infcriptions, which, if the commiffioners would engage to take as a fecurity for a loan to the fame amount, it would be a great accommodation. There fhall," faid he, "be first taken from the loan certain fums for the purpose of making the customary diftributions in diplomatic affairs. This fum, according to diplomatic ufage, he estimated at about 1,200,000 livres." The commiffioners replied, "that the American government would have fuppofed fuch a propofition, if made by them, would have given mortal offence." He asked, fay the commiffioners in their official account of this conference, "if our government did not know that nothing was to be obtained here without money?" The commiffioners anfwered, " that such a state of things was

not

not even suspected." He appeared furprised at it, and said, "there was not an American in Paris who could not have given that information."* The commiffioners refufing with difdain these ignominious conditions of peace, the negotiation remained entirely suspended: and the president, Mr. Adams, in a meffage to the congress (March 1798), with good reafon declared, " that he perceived no ground of expectation that the objects of their miffion could be accomplished on terms compatible with the fafety, honor, or the essential interests of the nation.”

M. d'Aranjo, ambaffador from Portugal at Paris, had been this summer employed in negotiating a separate peace, and had actually concluded a treaty on the 10th of Auguft, which was to be ratified in two months,---a period which was, no doubt, by the court of Lisbon deemed fufficient to determine the iffue of the negotiation depending between France and England. The negotiation breaking off, and the treaty confequently not being ratified, it was declared by the Directory null and void, and M. d'Aranjo ordered to quit the territories of the republic. But lingering, probably for fome purpose of political intrigue, beyond the time specified in the order, he was, by an extraordinary ftretch of power, committed prisoner to the Temple; whence, however, he was released, after no long interval of confinement or fufferance.

In the courfe of the prefent year died the celebrated Danish minifter, count Bernstorf, deeply lamented by his countrymen, and all the friends of peace and humanity throughout Europe. Diligent and indefatigable in business, he had a ready conception, and a happy manner of expreffing his ideas. An enemy to flattery, indifferent to pleafure, firm, fagacious, beneficent-never was any statesman more univerfally admired and revered. Eafy of access, fimple in his manners, with a temper always equal, communicative, and affable---never was any man in his individual

Vide" Official Narrative of the Commiffioners."

vidual capacity more efteemed and beloved. The affranchisement of the Danish peasants, the abolition of the negro trade, the acquifition of Holstein, and the calm wisdom with which he fteered the veffel of the state amid the storms and tempefts which agitated Europe for the last seven eventful years of revolution and war, will render his administration for ever memorable in Denmark.

In the month of November this year a perfonage of a very different description, Frederic-William II. king of Pruffia, departed this life. During his reign, which lasted eleven years, Pruffia maintained her full influence as a political power in Europe; though his ability for government did not rise above the royal accomplishment of KING-CRAFT, or what is in other men ftyled cunning. The fabric of Pruffian greatness had indeed been conftructed with a master-hand; nor were the fame talents requifite for maintaining as for erecting the edifice. His general conduct participated more of the rapacity of a robber than the ardor of a hero---all was mean, selfish, and contracted; nor can the nearest view detect one virtue to mitigate the horror with which every honest man must contemplate the confpirator of Pilnitz and the plunderer of Poland.

Since the commencement of the prefent war, a proclamation had iffued every year for the observance of a FAST; and a fervice compofed for the occafion by the bishops was ordered to be read in the churches---many of the offices contained in which were by fome thought rather calculated to inflame the minds of the ignorant multitude against the enemy, than to imprefs upon them fentiments of penitence, devotion, or humanity; and the general strain of them better adapted to the character of priests of MOLOCH than of CHRIST." We proftrate ourselves before thee"fuch is the language of the first morning collect of this pious ritual" in earnest prayer and fupplication, in behalf of ourselves and other Chriftian nations, expofed at this time to the cruelty or groaning under the oppreflion of

apoftates

apoftates from thy truth, and defpifers of thy holy name, who have spread defolation wherever they have erected their standard."---And in a certain form of words called A PRAYER for our ENEMIES! we find the following meek and benevolent expreffions:---" Suffer us, we beseech thee, in the fpirit of Chriftian charity, to offer our humble interceffions for the repentance and conversion of men who have caft off their faith in thee the living GoD, and, following the vain imaginations of reprobate minds, have plunged themselves into crimes and impieties which aftonish the Christian world.---Open their eyes, O LORD !---Strike them, in thy mercy, with remorfe and compunction," &c. &c.

At the end of the prefent year, Providence having declar ed fo openly and decidedly in our favor by the late naval victories, it was determined by his majesty to go, attended by the two houses of parliament, and the great officers of state (December 19), in religious and triumphal proceffion, to the cathedral of St. Paul, in order to offer up a public and national thanksgiving for the fame. The flags and colours taken from the French, Spaniards, and Dutch, accompanied with bands of mufic, &c. were borne in folemn pomp to the cathedral, and depofited with holy exultation upon the altar. After which a fermon was preached by the lord bishop of Lincoln, fraught with fuch fentiments of self-abasement, contrition, and humanity, as the following:-"Where will be found fuch ftrict adherence to public faith, fuch impartial administration of justice, fuch fidelity in the concerns of private life, fuch liberal attention to the poor, fuch kindness to the ftranger, fuch generofity to the prifoner, as in this country? While our enemies have infulted the MAJESTY OF HEAVEN, WE have HUMBLED ourselves before GOD, and ACKNOWLEDGED our TRANSGRESSIONS.-While THEY have impioufly denied his all-controling power, we have prayed unto the Lord to give wifdom to our councils, fuccefs to our arms, and steadiness to our people, and he has heard us The banners which you have this day feen

presented