620 
Mistery. Neckar was soon afterwards placed at their head. In 
—— order that he might carry into fall and uncontrolled ef- 
Neckar mc- fect all his plans, the entire mi nt of the funds and 
cools Tu revenue of France was submitted to him, with the title 
a of director-general of the finances. : ; 
Voyage of The interests of science next engaged the attention of 
ducovery. Louis and his ministers. Several vessels were fitted ont 
on astronomical discoveries. The Chevalier de Borda 
was instructed to ascertain the exact position of the Ca- 
nary Islands and the Cape de Verd, and the different de- 
grees of the coast of Aftica, from Cape Spartel to the 
island ‘of Goree. The Chevalier Grenier, who had tra- 
versed the Indian ocean, for the purpose of improving 
the charts, and correcting the errors which had misled 
former navigators, was liberally rewarded. 
In proportion as the success of the Americans increased 
the probability that they would ultimately establish their 
independence, the French cabinet, as well as the French 
nobility, were desirous of uniting with them, and thus 
contributing to the humiliation of Britain. But the for- 
mer concealed their wishes and their resolutions, and even 
restrained the ardour of the latter, till a proper opportu- 
nity offered itself of openly taking part with the Ameri- 
cans. As soon as the measures of Great Britain had 
roused the people of her colonies to the daring resolution 
of rising against their mother country, Silas Deane and 
Dr Franklin were sent to Paris. Here they exerted se- 
cretly their influence with the leading men in the French 
cabinet ; and though, in a public capacity, they were not 
admitted to an audience, yet they received sufficient en- 
couragement to hope, that, before long, their country 
would be assisted by the arms of France. In the mean 
time, the American privateers were allowed to refit in 
the French ports, and even to bring their prizes into 
them. Warlike stores were sold or given to the colo- 
nists ; French officers and engineers, with the connivance 
of government, entered into their service ; and the Mar- 
quis de la Fayette, a young nobleman of affluent for- 
tune and high birth, sailed for America, where he was 
received with open arms, and appointed to a principal 
command. These circumstances naturally excited the 
suspicions of the British court ; but, as nothing was done 
openly, they had no sufficient ground for remonstrating, 
till warlike preparations were carried on in such an undis- 
guised manner, and to such an extent, as could leave no 
doubt that France was on the eve of hostilities with some 
power. Upon this, the English ambassador at Paris 
closely questioned the French minister, who replied, that 
when the seas were covered with English and American 
ships of war, and when large armies were sent to the 
New World, it became prudent for France to arm for the 
defence of her colonies, and the protection of her com- 
merce. The outward forms and the language of neutra- 
lity, were, however, preserved, till the capture of Gene- 
ral Burgoyne and his army, when they were at once dis- 
missed from the French. cabinet, and the independence 
of the United States of America was openly acknow- 
ledged. Silas Deane and Dr Franklin were received as 
public ambassadors, and a treaty of amity and commerce 
was signed in the month of February 1778. The recal 
of the English ambassador from Paris was the signal for 
the commencement of hostilities. The details of this 
war between Britain and France having been already 
given in our article Brrrarn, we shall confine ourselves 
to the domestic transactions of France. 
Monsieur Neckar still continued at the head of the 
France fa- 
vours the 
revolution 
in America, 
Treaty of 
amity and 
commerce 
States, 
A. D. 1778. 
FRANCE. : 
finances, and endeavoured to render the pressure of the 
war as light as possible, by plans of economy and re+ 
trenchment; a variety of essary uffiews in the house- 
hold of the King and Queen were abolished, and other 
important regulations adopted for the benefit of the king< 
dom. At the same time, the diplomatic ‘skill, experi< 
ence, and intrigues, of the different Frerich ambassadors 
at the courts of Europe, were successfully’ exercised in 
rousing them, either directly or’ indirectly} ‘to take ad- 
vantage of the present circumstances, and crush, or at 
least weaken, the naval power of Britain. As ‘a long 
and intimate connection had subsisted between'thecourts 
of Petersburgh and London, the French ambassador at 
the former was instructed to conciliate the inclinations of 
the Empress ; and he conducted himself with so much 
adroitness, as to be very instrumental in ding her 
to place herself at the head of the Northern Confederacy. 
In answer to the declaration which she addressed to’ the 
courts of Madrid, Paris, and London, on the subject of 
neutral rights, the King of France declared, that what 
her Imperial Majesty claimed from the belligerent powers 
bai corresponded with the pha a yrs to the 
French navy; and as he was convinced solid advantages 
would undoubtedly result, not only to her subjects, but 
also to all nations, she might depend that he would ad« 
here to his ustal practice, and comply with her wishes. 
Towards the close of the year 1780, Monsieur Sartine’, p, 1 
was removed from the marine department, which he had 
superintended for five years. His Bee and leading ob« 
ject had been, during the whole of this time, to place 
the French navy upon the most extensive and efficient 
footing; and he had succeeded in raising her naval power 
to an unprecedented height; but his measures for this 
purpose necessarily required the expenditure of very large 
sums of money, at a time when the state of the finances 
loudly called for economy and retrenchment. Hence his 
measures and wishes were at variance with those of the 
comptroller-general of the finances; and his removal was 
the consequence. He was succeeded by the Marquis de 
Castries. el 
The disposition of Louis, naturally humane, was most Humane 
honourably displayed this year, by the abolition of the ee 
practice of putting the question by torture ; and his desire " or 
to relieve his subjects as much as possible from the pres- Louis. 
sure of the taxes, was evinced by the further diminu- 
tion of his own expenditure, and by his dismissing at 
once 406 officers belonging to his court. In this ad« 
herence to a system of economy so unusual in the soves 
reigns of France, Louis was undoubtedly strengthen- : 
ed by the advice, and perhaps the remonstrances, of 
Neckar. This minister continued to be uncommonly ¢,sacter 
active and faithful in the discharge of the duties of his of Neckar. 
important and arduous situation; but he was rather a - 
man of detail than of general principles or comprehen« 
sive mind ; and he did not always perceive the necessi- 
ty or advantage of accommodating his plans, in some | 
degree, to the habits and prejudices of the French na- 
tion. He conceived the impracticable idea of maintain- 
ing the war by loans, without additional taxes ; not re« 
flecting that loans cannot be raised in any country, in 
which there is not only a great superabundanee of capi- 
tal, but also the most implicit confidence in the’ faith of 
vernment. Unfortunately for his scheme, capital was 
far from being abundant in Yrarit,' and the measures of 
former sovereigns, as well as the nature of the govern« 
ment, were by no means calculated to inspire dence. 
