"All these corporations, formed in a body, repaired in succession to fourteen public squares, where the reading of the royal document took place, attended each time with these formalities.

"The Chevalier de la Haye, after having ordered three peals from his Majesty's bells-at-arms, thrice exclaimed, "In the name of the king," then added, "First herald-atarms of France, by the title of Burgundy, attend to the performance of the duties of your office." The official, thus bidden, received the ordinance from the hands of his chief, and read it aloud. The king-at-arms, after the conclusion of the reading, ordered three flourishes from the royal trumpeters; and then cried out three times," Long live the king." About the middle of his stately march, the king-at-arms and his heralds, in conformity with a custom as ancient as it is peculiar, entered the convent of the Feuillants, whose monks had prepared a collation for those officials. The rest of the procession, being by the laws of etiquette excluded from the privilege of the feast, waited in the streets the return of the guests of the convent. The ceremony was concluded with a sumptuous supper at the City Hall, where every inhabitant of Paris was a welcome guest.

"During this official promenade, the Peace was announced from the stage of the opera to a delighted audi

While France was thus jubilant, the British Parliament spoke the discontents of the people. By the opposition, the terms of the treaty were loudly condemned; and even its most powerful advocate, William Pitt, held language wounding to the pride of the nation. "To accept the treaty or to continue the war," he declared, " was the only alternative in the power of ministers. Such was the ulti

* Oeil de Bœuf, ii. 291.

matum of France. There was a time when we could have dictated to the proudest of our enemies. But that era is past; and the summit of glory, of which we could once vaunt, is now but a vision and a memory. At the same time, let it be remembered, that the peace obtained is better than was suited to the lowness of our condition. have acknowledged the American independence. what is that but an empty form? The incapacity of the minister who conducted the war, and a series of unprosperous events, had produced the acknowledgment."

We

But

After a long and earnest struggle, the public dissatis. faction prevailed, and the ministry were compelled to retire.

Though England had been worsted in her contest with the United States, that contest was not to her without its benefits. The public opinion of the nation had been fostered into strength, and those great meetings, which have resulted in successive reforms of the House of Commons, owed their birth to the American revolution. With a wise characteristic caution, the doors of liberty have been opened without imperilling the State.

Early in the year eighty-two, the counties, cities, and towns of England were seen in motion; and on the first of February, the livery of London resolved, "that the unequal representation of the people, the corrupt state of parliament, and the perversion thereof from its original institution, had been the principal causes of the unjust war with America, of the consequent dismemberment of the British empire, and of every grievance of which the nation complained. That these grievances could never be removed, until the right of the people to their constitutional share in the English government should be reestablished, by a fair and equal representation in parliament, and a frequent election of their representatives, according to ancient usuage."

Thus sustained by these manifestations of feeling, William Pitt led the way in a motion for reform, which succeeding parliaments have introduced.

A rumor that the definitive treaty had been received, prompted a request that Hamilton would remain in Congress a few days. The apprehensions entertained by him of obstacles to its conclusion being thus dispelled, he was much elated at the event, and with the prospect, after so long a public service, of enjoying the repose of private life.

"I am strongly urged," he wrote to his wife," to stay a few days for the ratification of the treaty; at all events, however, I will not be long from you. I give you joy of the happy conclusion of this important work, in which your country has been engaged. Now, in a very short time, I hope we shall be happily settled in New York. My love to your father. Kiss my boy a thousand times. A thousand loves to yourself."

He soon after proceeded to Albany. The instability of the public counsels, and the impotence of the confederacy, caused Hamilton to fear that either foreign aggression or civil discord might again compel a resort to arms. Thus impressed, he wrote to Washington on the thirtieth of September:

"I think I may address the subject of this letter to your Excellency with more propriety than to any other person, as it is purely of a military nature; as you are best acquainted with my services as an officer, and as you are now engaged in assisting to form the arrangements for the future peace establishment.

"Your Excellency knows, that in March '82, I relinquished all claim to any compensation for my services, either during the residue of the war, or after its conclusion-simply retaining my rank. On this foundation I build a hope that I may be permitted to preserve my rank

on the peace establishment, without emoluments, and unattached to any corps, as an honorary reward for the time I have devoted to the public. As I may hereafter travel, I may find it an agreeable circumstance to appear in the character I have supported in the revolution.

"I rest my claim solely on the sacrifice I have made; because I have no reason to believe that my services have appeared of any value to Congress, as they declined giving them any marks of their notice on an occasion which appeared to my friends to entitle me to it, as well by the common practice of sovereigns, as by the particular practice of this country in repeated instances.

"Your Excellency will recollect, that it was my lot at Yorktown to command, as senior officer, a successful attack upon one of the enemy's redoubts; that the officer who acted in a similar capacity in another attack, made at the same time by the French troops, has been handsomely distinguished by the government to which he belongs; and that there are several examples among us, where Congress have bestowed honors upon actions, perhaps not more useful, nor, apparently more hazardous.

"These observations are inapplicable to the present Congress, further than as they may possibly furnish an additional motive to a compliance with my wish.

"The only thing I ask of your Excellency, is, that my application may come into view in the course of the consultations on the peace establishment."

Hamilton had been too prominent in his opposition to the cabal against the Commander-in-chief, to be forgiven by its partisans in Congress. Hence the injustice done him. Consecrated in the public affections, Washington could not be directly attacked by his enemies. It was at Hamilton, as a buckler, the incessant blows were struck.

The Commander-in-chief replied on the sixth of November.

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Congress, after resolving to adjourn upon the twelfth of this month, did, equally unexpectedly and surprisingly to me, finish their session at this place the day before yesterday; without bringing the peace establishment, or any of the many other pressing matters, to a decision.

"Finding that this was likely to be the case, I showed your letter to some of your particular friends; and consulted with them on the propriety of making known your wishes with my testimonial of your services to Congress ; but they advised me to decline it, under a full persuasion that no discrimination would, or indeed could, be made at this late hour, as every other officer from the highest to the lowest grade (not in actual command) were retiring without the retention of rank; and that the remainder, upon a peace establishment (if a continental one should ever take place), would come in upon the new system, under fresh appointments; so that unless you wished to come into actual command again (which none supposed), they saw no way by which you could preserve your rank. "I have the pleasure to inclose you a brevet, giving you the rank of full colonel."

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Hamilton was now looking to the evacuation of New York. What a tide of thoughts must have passed through his mind as he now sailed the tranquil Hudson, on whose margin he passed many of his happiest after hours, and breathed his latest sigh! How changed his present from his former feelings, when hastening along its alarmed borders on his lonely, anxious way-amid deserted dwellings, forsaken fields, a discordant population-to extort reluctant aid from Gates, he detected those incipient intrigues which would have lost Washington to his country!

Where, before, the timid shallop rarely ventured to dart