272 ANNUAL REGISTER, no-f. 



endless barbarities^ wbirh was hour- 

 ly gaining ground through the low- 

 est as well as the better classes, they 

 rightly conjectured that tlie end of 

 his tyranny was approaching. Du- 

 ring the plenitude of his power, he 

 iiad occasionally assumed a great 

 appearance of superior dignity and 

 !:nportance, even towards those 

 states that stood on a friendly foot- 

 ing with France. His intercourse 

 with the Americans had not been 

 exempt from his vanity in this par- 

 ticularj though he must have been 

 fonscious of the offence it gave, 

 and the mischief it might produce. 

 Since the commencement of the 

 revolution, the French had uni- 

 formly expressed an earnest desire 

 to form the strictest amity with the 

 United States cf America. As 

 these were in some measure indebt- 

 ed to the assistance of France for 

 the establishment of the independ- 

 ence, the French expected, in re- 

 •turn, their cordial approbation of 

 those chansres in the Erovernment 

 of I'Vance which the kingdom at 

 large looked upon as more condu- 

 cive to its happiness, than the for- 

 iiier unlimited power of the crown. 

 But, after the destruction of the 

 monarchy, and the apprehensions 

 entertained that the croM'ned heads 

 of Europe would unite for the o\'cr- 

 throw of the republic, erected on 

 its ruins, the French considered 

 the United States no longer as mere 

 wellwishers, but as deeply interes-* 

 ted in tlifi support of principles 

 similar to their own, and bound by 

 every consideration to make one 

 common cause with their republi- 

 can brethren of F'rance against 

 every sovereign and state that should 

 take up arms against them. These 

 ideas had been favourably received 

 by a numerous party in the Ame- 



rican States. They all indeed sin- 

 cerely concurred in their good-will 

 towards the French republic ; but 

 a division of sentiments took place 

 on the propriety of making the 

 cause of France that also of Ame- 

 rica. To a league of the strictest 

 amity there could be no objection ; 

 but to arm in her quarrel with sq 

 many potentates, appeared an im- 

 politic violation of that neutrality 

 on which her conimeicial interests 

 were so materially and so manifest- 

 ly founded. The backwardness of 

 tlie mling powers in America to 

 engage in hostilities conjointly witli 

 France, produced at last a coolness 

 between both countries, that was 

 attended with many inconveniences 

 to the Americans. In the mean 

 time the American government, 

 desirous of giving a public testi- 

 monyofits unfeigned attachment 

 and respect for the French republic, 

 sent an ambassador to tlie Conven- 

 tion, commissioned toexpress those 

 sentiments in the warmest manner. 

 Mr. James Monro was the gentle- 

 man appointed for this purpose. 

 He was introduced to the Conven- 

 tion on the 15th of August, and 

 received with the greatest demour 

 strations of respect. The flag of 

 the United States was hung up with 

 the national colours in the hall, 

 with the highest applause of the 

 Assembly and the numerous com- 

 pany in the galleries ; and sanguine 

 expectations were formed that this 

 would lead to a more intimate con- 

 nexion with America. 



During thpse ttansactions, which 

 were of a nature to administer 

 much satisfaction to the public, jts 

 hopes were directed to the more 

 essential object of a total extinction 

 of those feuds between the heads 

 of the nation, that liad hitherto in- 



volvetj. 



