Preface 



she would so far interfere in the contest as to en- 

 deavour to distress and embarrass this country, 

 would send troops to America, to the irreparable 

 ruin of her own finances, in order to make the Ameri- 

 cans free and independent states: 



Least of all was it within the sphere of calculation 

 to suppose, 



That Spain would join in a plan inevitably lead- 

 ing, though by slow and imperceptible steps, to the 

 final loss of all her rich possessions in South America. 



There were indeed enlightened minds both in 

 France and in Spain, who foresaw what has since 

 happened, and who deprecated any interference in the 

 dispute, and recommended the observance of a strict 

 neutrality: And the unfortunate Lewis the sixteenth 

 himself is said to have shewn the greatest repug- 

 nance to the treaty with the Americans, and to have 

 declared in the bitterness of sorrow, when he signed 

 it, that he had signed the warrant for his own ruin 

 and destruction. 



In August, 1792, the Author was at Cologne; and 

 there accidentally falling in with the Duke of Bour- 

 bon, and several French noblemen of his suite, the 

 conversation naturally turned upon the situation and 

 affairs of France; and the author expressing his sur- 

 prise at the impolicy of the French ministry in en- 

 gaging so deeply in the American war, and deducing 

 from thence the present miseries of France, one of 

 the courtiers with great emotion exclaimed, — '*Ah, 



[i8j 



