SUNBOTY AHEM
JOSEPH EISEi.Y. SPm
ormiBTon.
. It. MASSE It, Editor,
omCI IN femKKT sturit, hkar tit 111.
AND SIIAMOK1N JOUKNAI.
THE AMERICAN" i published erj Satur
Jy at TWO DOLLARS per annum tb be
'paid half yeafty 'in advance. No paper discontin
ued till all arrearage are f aid.
ISo subscription received Tor a'leaa period thin
i osths. All ebinihuiflcatiuna or letter on
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Abac-lute acquiescence in the deciaiona of the tnnjority, the vital principle of Republic, fiom which there i no appi al but tb force, I ho vital primiplo and immciliale parent of dfp jliain. JaKrtnaot.
Ily Masscr & Eisol.v.
Sunbtiry, rVortliumlCTlantl Co. Ia. Saturday, January 1, ISM.
roi. 11 xd. xiv.
ti:iois or the aii:iiic. '
HENRV D. MAS8ER, ?
ICAN
KiACHUri? poBTav.
Mr. S. NichoU, editor of the N. Y. Sunday
Mercury ta unequalled by any one of the prenent
age in hit peculiar atyle. Some time since he an
nounced, through the columns 6f the Mercury, tho
invention of a Machine to manufacure Poetry,
adapted to any metre or arty 'subject. The ma
'chine, it appears, is set in motion by a crank turn,
ed by negro hoy. The following is ft mere sam
ple of what the machine can do when in order:
"EXPERIMENTAL STANZA.
Forever act O Sun ! and thou, O Moon !
Behind you darksome cloud thy fire conceal!
Ye Zephyrs, loo, that fan the brow of noon,
Back to your monnlatn homin, O qtiickly Mc.il !
Retire sweet Venn 'lovely fnaid fif'eve
Unto thy Irfvely cdOc'h.kiltl rise, no more !
And Flora, thbu thy fchrand 'cease to weve !
r'orhll 'my 'h."pe of jrty and tili are o'er !
Triposa'a false 1 Hear It, ye Rods, and weep !
0, drown my ce'riies in eternal sleep !
Aloud 'call on Death to cull on me,
And set flta tsotil from all his tortures free'!
SSw off my lee; 1 or pluck out either Cye
Tread on my favorite corn ! bullet me die!
Too alow and melancholy, altogether, ftifl.
3 u t set the tyKndeT ro a ahortcr measure, anil ap
tyly mora .physical s'teiirn. Now, go ft.
W oil The sweets
A boAy meets,
Molame is the sweetest
Ofall that's neat
n 'Orange street,
!Dead cats are "boot the neatest.
(Kill bird fait
That flv the air,
The liat is far ihe f.iircni,
Of H that's rare
I do (leHare,
tiood claret 11 the rarest.
Of all thinga leafy,
I humbly ween,
A lizard is the leanest-;
Ofall things mean
I've ever seen,
A miser is tho meanest.
Of all things smafl
That creop or crawl,
A mite is nrtch the a "
1
Ofall that' - i
Upon this t "a i.
A southern q i o q at
v . n w M
"Hold on J Hold on ! Yon colored mass of
mischief. Here's a pretty Vettle offish'! I rx
jircud yoo'd make a flumux before you got through
with ft.
Look ahf- a, 'boss, let me KpLin dc canto nb dis
'discombolHTation. Vou see dis main spring 6b in
magination, oWin to te Velocity ub dc ideal wheels
'come in conjunctional collusion wid degcrros pin,
which suddenly fly ont and map de fine wires ob
ile fancy ; den de whole machiire got out o' gear,
and de berry Celi'l 10 pay wid do I art stamen ob
your auffusiuii.' J
Very jt;sfjcloiity ex-plained, BiH but ffyon j
are not more 'careful another tune, 1 II turn the
'crank myself. Ilemoiuher, Tie a
iiiitain.
Marj.
Is thy name Ma nr. maiden fair 1
Such hould, meihinks inuxic be ;
The sweolenl name that inoriula bear
Is but befitting thee :
And he, to whom it once whs given,
Was half ofeurlh and half 'of heaven.
Na-poiresS Bri't.v.TiJs. The following im
promptfj was rJublhihed in an English 1ppfr al'out
'the year 1803, immediately after receiving a pack
tut of bulletfns from Napoleon ';
"We tharik you for yilor liolletin,
Great Emperor, King and elf,
And hope you soon may have from um
X WV in yrfltrse'lf."
The anecdote of the two cats wliich lias
been told of many learned men, originated with
JJr. -Barrett, Trovost of Dublin University, and
oneof'OmTa)i'8-cotitdtnporaries. I lis -only f. ets ;
hiin.ii B r- , m rA i.-itlaiL il t .at.n4T A IV i n i , I I
,, , wv v ...1 ,
seeing two hfclcs vn the boftoin ol the door, I
, , , , . , 1 ,
-asked ir.in fer wr.ht purpose he made them
. . I
there. Barret said it Was for hw cats togoin!
" I
-, . , I
liy, replied his fren!, 'Would riot one do !
. -. ,, ' ;
for both!
... , . 1 1 1
Vou iRy wian, Batn tVw lnctors 'how ould
.u v .m i-.-. .1 i-fti k-i-v
the mg tat get Tnto the liflle hole "
But,' aaid his friend, could not the little
,i.....i, ,i, i.- i.i
VIII 1AI(J II IIIQ Ul IIUIC
Egad,' mm! Barrett, "and m she could, but
I never thought of thai.'
Ctost: Smvivi. A justice ut peace was
called on for tlws payment of a bill of 7. cents.
Upon pretfenting the "bilK the squire asked him
if he would swear to the acCouttt, The man
replied ye.s Ttie sqire swore him, and hand
ed him fifty tents. 'Stop squire,' said tho
man, you are mistakw in the amount ; 'tis 7.")
cents.' 'I know,' returned the squire. 'But
I can't swear you for nothing.'
Are you fnn of tongue, air!' 'Vm, (the
gentleman holding his hunda over his ears.)
I was always fund ol tungue, madam, iuul
( like it ttili:
From the London .Monthly Chronicle fur Sept.
j. j. Ai uinux,
THE AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGIST.
At'Dino is at home in his own majestic re
gion of primitive forests, and foaming rivets,
and ciaht. mountains. Great in the unstained
simplicity of liis nature, ho stands alone among
naturalist. He has accomplished an action
more than was ever dreamed of by the elegant
BulFoii or tho romantic Waterton. He has
science and poetry intoono inngnirlecnt whole,
find produced, in !iis 'Birds of America,' a
work that must rennin to the end of time a
monument of tint : sampled perseverance, wor
thy of tfi ardent lover of Nature. It is the on
ly work that represents hints ns they arc, pre
senting, in a single view, their forms, their ha
bite, and their climates. All other works take
single phases, and rtt best are nothing better
than illustrative memoirs-; bnt here is tho bird j
in all its ways of life in pursuit of its prey, if
it he voracious, or flying from pursuit, according
to iu nature building its nest, fostering its
young, poised on the tip -of a spray, hovering
over the sedgy margin of a lake, 'cowering in a
fen, or sailing in the clouds ; we have it iu
all its characteristic objects in love, in con
test, from the shell to the nlusenm. This is
the ideal (if high art, carrying us out of the de-
1 ecriplive cutnlogire into the green woods, a?ul
j giving irs the whole history of tlieeo races in a
j single TABI.KAf.
j Aodub'on is exactly the sort of man in whom :
j this true love of Nnturc might be expected to
j be predominant over ull other object. lie
j spent it princely fortune on that magnificent
j work ; and, to the eternal (lirgrace of England,
i we believe his subscribers in this country were
not sufficient to pay the expenses of one of his
j numerous journeys into the far H'cnt in search'
j of specimens. "rVtthe courtesy with which he
was received ! the panegyrics that were
showered upon him from the highest quarters !
the wonder, and curiosity, and admiration
liis labors excited'. these were the Tewatds
which the living Audubon enjoyed, to be eclipsed-,
no doubt, 1y marble tributes and literary
memorials, when tie shall be called into anotlrer
state rf existence a translation which, we
trust, fnay te far distant. How intensely Au
dubon despised all this ceremonial flattery and
hollow protestation! With what inborn prido
of heart he looted down upon the empty gor-
geoiisncsB'of our artificial society'! HiB life
hud been a life ef energy passed in the forests
and on the broad lakes; he had communed with
Nature in her grandest solitudes, and he sicV
ened at the effeminate pomp and pampered se-1-rishnCss
of the old world. There nevet breath
ed a finer spirit. Cast in a manly mould, fitted
for toil, stamped with the noble attributes of
con rage, patience, and hearty enthusiasm, 116
dangers appalled, no disappointments discour
aged him ; and whatever enterprises he under
took in the pursuit of his favorite science were
reputation to ! P1"050'"1 witU a. vigor which can be intelligi
! ble only ta natures of a similar integrity ofpur-
poe. H is 'Ornithological Biography' is a mon-
; umiiit of extraordinary labor,
j The vastness of the design startled every bo
j dy except himself; and the very apprehension
; that he should not live long enough to complete
fo gigantic an undertaking repelled many peo
j p!e from Venturing even to purchase the nuin-
bers as they appeurcd, lest an imperfect poWi
i cation of such magnitude should be ultimutelv
' left upon their hands. When he delivered his
' tirst drawing to tho engraver ho had n)t a sin
' gle subscriber. His friends pointed out to him
; the rashness of the project, and candidly told
him thattliey did nottxpeet to witness the is
sue of a second faseiculOus. Even at starting
he calculated that the engravers would take
sixteen years in accomplishing their task.
Not one single individual held out the least
hope of his success, and many sincere and anx
ions friends strongly urged him to at&ndon his
undertaking, to dispose of his drawings, and to
.... . ,
return to his native country. 'But, ho cx-
. . , , 1 . , ,-
claims, 'iy heart was nened-, and my reliance
., . ,, . . .. ' , ,
on that i'ower, ttri whom ull must depend
brought bright anticipations of success!' Hav-
. 0 , 0 , , . 1 . ,
tng completed his arrangement for meeting the
. . . ' , . , .
nrst uiHiculties, he tiCgan to collect scattered
.... ,?, . .
notes from the pae-es ol his joutna s respecting
, ... 6 . .. .1 .
, . .
liunseit to too improvement of his diawings.
improvement
He had tho satisfaction of finding that each suc
ceeding plato was superior to iu predecessor;
the engravers and colorists became more famil
iar with the peculiar demands of their respon
sible duties; and at the end of four years, du
ring which ho worked early and late without
respite, and against incredible discouragements,
ho was rewarded by finding the tirst volume
completed. Ho now labored with renewed
zeal, and looked forward confidently to tho re
sult of the next four years. 'J'lirtu passed on,
and lie returned from the forests and wilds of
tho Western world to receive the last plate of
his second volume from the hands of Ills inde
fatigable and skilful artist, Mr. Ilavell. Jx-t
us now give his own account ol un incident that
incurred at this pcriud.
Aboitt'that time a nobleman called npon 111c
with his family, arid requested mo to show them
some of my original drawings, which I did
with the more pleasure that my visitors pos
sessed a knowledge of ornithology. In the
codrso of our conversation I was asked how long
il might bo until my work ehotild be finished.
When I mentioned eight years more, tho noble
man shrugged up his shoulders, and, sighing
said, 'I may not see it finished, but my children
will, and ydi may please to add my name to
the list of subscribers.' The young people ex
hibited a mingled expression of joy and sorrow,
and when I with -them endeavored to dispel the
cloud thut sremed to hang over their father's
mind, he smiled and bido me be sure that tho
whole work should be punctually delivered.
Tho solemnity of liis manner I ould not forget
for several days ; I ollcii thought that neither
might I see the work completed, but at length
I exclaimed, 'My sons may.' And now that
another volume of tny illustrations and of my
biographies, is finished, my trust in Providence
is augmcAtcd, and I -Cannot bat hope Hint my
self and my family together may see the com
pletion of my labors.
When this was written ten years hail elapsed
sirtre the publication of his first plate. In three
years afterwards the fourth volume appeared
The work comprised four hundred and thirty
five plates, containing one thousand and sixty
five figures, the sfee of life, exhibiting, its we
have already "observed, the habits and climates
of the birds, carefully drawn and exqnifltoly
colored alter nntnro. And this great under
taking, occupying nliout thirteen years in the
production not to speak of tho labor expended
in exploring expeditions for observations mid
the collection ''specimens, every bird in the
series having been drawn from life by the hand
of the adventuroi'is naturalist was carried on
uninterruptedly, without the continuity of its
execution being broken for a single day, every
one of the numbers having been delivered with
exemplary regularity ! A fillh Volume com
pleted the Biography, and well might Audu
bon proudly felicitate himself upon the conclu
sion of a marvelous task, wliich the most indif
ferent of his readers cannot contemplate with
out mingled emotions of astonishment and de
light. 'Once more,' he says, ppeakirig out of
the depths of his heart, 'surrounded by tho
members of my dear family, enjoying the coun
tenance of numerous friends who have never
deserted me, and possessing a competent share
ofall that can render life agreeable, I lookup
with gratitude to tho Supreme Being, and Joel
that I am happy !'
Honor to him who wrote these grateful
words, and may the happiness he so well de
serves, and knows so truly how to appreciate,
accumulate around him, and accompany m
with increasing lustre to thecloso of his valitu
bfo life! But little can the European student,
bewildered with small impediments in the mu
seum Comprehend the nature ofAiidubon's re
searches. Alone he went forth into wilds, as
cheerful as the birds, and, with the snows ot
sixty years upon his head, as elastic astlie deer,
btit let him give a sample of his experience in
liis own fresh and characteristic way:
'The adventures and vicissitudes, that have
fallen to my lot, instead of tending to diminish
the fervid enthusiasm of my nature, have im
parted a toughness to my bodily constitution,
naturally strong, and to my mind, naturally
bcoyant, an elasticity such us to assure that
though somewhat old, and considciahly denu
ded in the frontal region, I could yet jvrfoVm
on foot a journey of any length, were I sure
that I should thereby add materially to our
knowledge of the ever it foresting creatures
which have for so lor a time occupied my
thoughts by day, and filled my dreams with
pleasant images. Nay, readers had I a new
lease of life presented to me, I should choose
for it the very occupations in which I have
been engaged.
And, reader, the life which I have lod has
been hi some respects a singular tine. Think
of a person, intent on such pursuits as mine
have bcert, aroused att?arly dawn from his rude
couch on the alder-fringed brook of some nrth
err) valley, or 111 the midst of some yet unex
plored forest of the West, or perhaps: on tno
soil and warm sands of the Florida shores, and
listening to the pleasing melodies ofsongttrs
innumerable saluting the magnificent orb, from
whoso radiant influence tho creatures of many
worlds receive life and light. Refreshed und
re-invigorated by healthful rest, he smarts ujou
his leet, gathers up his store cf curiositie-i,
buckles on his knapsack, shoulder his trusty
firelock, bays a kind word to his faithful dog,
and recommences his pursuit of ioologieul
knowledge. No Iht morning iu spent, and a
squirrel or a trout affords him a repast. Should
the day bo warun he reposes for a time under
the slmde of some tree, the woodland chor
isters again burst forth into King, and he starts
anew, to wander wherever his fuury may di
rect him, or the whjeels of Ins srurdi may lead
hint iu pursuit. Whun cen;i.g nppr-Hiclics,
nhd the birds drc peon betaking themselves to
their retreats", he looks for foiiic place of stifety,
erects his Fhed of green buugh, kindles his
fire, prepares his meal, and us tho wigeon or
the blue-winged seal, or perhaps tho brenst of
a turkey, cr a steak of venison, sends its deli
cious perfumes abroad, ho enter? into his parch-incut-bound
journal the r.-markablo incidents
and fuels thiit have occurred in the course of
the day. Puiknesj has now drawn her sable
enrtian over tins scene ; his repast is finished,
and kneeling on the earth, he rjises his soul to
Heaven, grateful for the protection that ha
been granted to him, und tho sense of the di
vine presence in this solitary place. Then
wishing a cordial goodnight to all the dear
friends at home, tho American woodtman wraps
himself up in his blanket, and closing Iris eyes,
soon 1'illsinto that comfortable sleep which ne
ver fails himo'i such occasions.'
Mark the profound spirit of love that per
vadesthis beantifnl pietuic and how the wood
man, aller the fatigues of the day, kneels in
tho darkness of the forest, fur away from the
haniits of infin, to thank histJod for the protec
tion that has concluded him in safety through
the petHs of his f nteipi i.c And how much
more touching and pictureqc is a'l this, than
the most labored artifices of poetry, which,
dealing with conjectural i'uiagc-s, eedeavors to
supply by the force of invention oil that vivid
train of associations which men like Audubon
realize, and present to ns in the permanent
I colors of iineinhellisheil truth. A thousand
1
1 passai; might te citd from the Biography in
I illustration of the vigorous fidelity with which
I
ho dolomites tho actual scenes through which
; ho passed. Such rpisinf.'s in hisdesriptive pa.
, ges are f rrftM-t 'of their kind, and "Aero ne
' ver surpassed for homely t-implicity and natural
eloquence.
From the Bait. American.
Hctolutlrtiinry History.
The seventh Lecture of the hiplily
interesting course, recently delivered
before the New York Historical Socie
ty, by the Hev. Air. SSi-arks, was on the
subject ol the Treaty of Alliance be
tween France and the United States.
The following sketch of the leading
facts adverted to by the learned and a
ble lecturer will, we are suie, be read
wilh interest :
Tho United Slates in her attempt to
throw olVthe yoke of tyranny, was ai
ded by France, which at once became
a subject of much discussion thoughout
all F.urope. The French people were,
at this time, divided into two parties,
that is to say the war parly and the
peace party. At the time the Ameri
can troubles commenced, a treaty of
peace existed between France and
Great Hritain, Which had been made
at the close of the old French war. Dy
j this war France lost her possessions in
1 Canada, exhausted her funds, and re
j duced her marine to almost nothing ; all
j of which made it obligatory upon her
I to remain at peace. Intoxicated with
! the accomplishment of all this, Ureat
llritain had dem ituled terms highly dis
! advantageous to France, to all of which
I she was obliged to accede. Crcat
I llritain wished to hiimbb and reduce
j the French, and to procure indemnity
I for the expense she had incurred in the
; war. Naturally sensitive, and at all
1 times jealous of the lnumr of their na
lion, every true heat led Frenchman felt
indignant, and desirous fur an opportu
nity of retaliation; The boundaries by
the treaty between the Fnglish and
French possessions on this continent
were not clearly defined, am! this led to
constant difficulties, and was a cause
of frequent quarrel;
l'esides this, the Fnlish were op
posed to an increase of the French ma
rine, and notwithstanding the treaty of
peace which existed between the two
nations, the Jlritish sci?ed a large num
ber of vessels. An cnlirc fleet w hile on
its way to the West Indies, was taken
possession of by this grasping power.
io less than three hundred vessels were
thin seized, besides a great number of
men. The French nation regarded
these acts as an outrage upon them, ami
in violation ofall their solemn treaties;
but such was then their crippled colt
dition, that they weretompelled to sub
mit. The day of retribution, however,
soon arrived. The American Revolu
tion began, and thus a chance of rela
liaf'oij wasotTored to France. Although
there were two parties in Frahre in re
gard to an opcil declaration of w ar with
Great Britain, all were united as to the
expediency of lending secret assistance
to the American insurgents, as they
were called, atid to endeavor by every
possible means lo foment the" rj'iarre!
between tho Colonies and the mother
eountry. This course they justified by
A reforenco to the amo course ol con
duct pursued by England herself, and,
indeed, among almost all nations.
Now that the French bad disposed
of their scruples, in the year 1 7 7 the
French authorities began to put their
designs into execution. In the first
place they gave to their merchantmen
the privilege of carrying out whatever
supplies were w anted by the American
army. Through the fear of 'exciting
suspicion, inasmuch as it was impolitic
for the French Government openly to
recognize these phiptnenls, a mercantile
house was established by M. IJeaumar
chais, who shipped cannon, lirearms,
ammunition and supplies to the Colo
nies as a merchant, the vessels profes
sedly clearing for the West Indies, lie
was socn joined by Silas Dean, who,
though not received in Court, Was se
cretly countenanced in liis designs.
Through his spies the British Ambassa
dor was informed of w hat was passing,
and immediately remonstrated with the
French Government; and in conse
quence the supplies for the American
Colonies we're sometimes withheld.
Whilst this system was progressing,
and about a year after its commence
ment, the Declaration of Independence
was issued, which instantly put the A
merieans oti a new- footitig with foreign
powers. France was liow teady to
take the fact of Colonial Independence
for granted. As we have already sta
ted at the commencement of this arti
cle, France was divided inlo two par
ties a war party and a peace party.
The latter entertained fears that they
could not place dependence in the Ame
rican colonics, and w ere therefore un
willing to run the risk of f ollision With
their formidable neighbor. The great
est champion of the war party was
Col'xt Vkroe.v.vks. Air. Sparks read
a secret State paper draw n up by the
Count, w hich he obtained in I'aris, and
which had never yet been published.
The paper treated at length on the
genera! policy of Great Britain, and her
icalousy of France. Iter ronstant
maxim, said the paper, is lo make war
with France whenever she attempt's to
increase her maratime strength, or to
increase her importance by sea or land.
It goes on to speak in the most bitter
terms of the various acts oT aggression
on France by the English, and the in
juries received at her hands for a long
scries of years. It argued that if Great
Britain should not succeed in educing
her American colonies to submission,
and the colonies should at length a
chieve independence from her power,
it w as not unreasonable to suppose that
England would seek to indemnify her
self for her losses by reprisals on other
nations, most probably Spain or France.
The paper concludes by speaking of
the advantages which would result to
France in the way of commerce by a
treaty between her 'and the United
States, if the latter should succeed in
throwing off the British yoke, and
France would thereby be enabled to
humble her ancient foe, and obtain sa
tisfaction for many old grievances.
The design of the French Ministry
was, first, by their co-operation with
the Americans, to weaken England by
the dismemberment of her colonies, and
secondly, to secure to themselves the
advantages which would result from
the trade of the Colonies. The King
of Fiance w as at this time one of the
peace parly.
The American Cortgress, acquainted
with the state of feeling iii France, and
the sympathies of many of her leading
men in their cause, determined on an
alliance; to effect which three com
missioners, Fn.WM.i.v, Silas Dea'v and
Jkumi-oi were appointed to treat w ith
the French Government on the subject.
Jellerson, for funic private reason,. de
clined serving, and'Kichard Henry I.ee
was appointed itt his place. The arri
val of Franklin in Fans created a great
sensation, liis fame had extended
throughout Europe. His d;coveries in
electricity bad made him Known td all
men of science, ami the shrewd hi a x
imsofFoor Uichard had been widely
dill'iised. Jliscomliict, too, at the Bri
lish Court, though subjected to the con
tinued insults of the missions of power,
had added greatly to bis reputation;
and he w as received at Paris as a mail
not lees distinguished as a philosopher
and a philanthropist than as a profound
and patriotic Matesmatl. Ma. NpARks
spoke in the highest terms of tho regard
and respect manifested towards iiim by
all classes, nnd quoted the remark of an
eminent Frenchman that nothing, not
ocii tlecls or armies, could be refused
lo the eompaUlols of Franklin.
riiMi-.s or AOTrnnsiAtt.
I square 1 iticcrtiuh, . '. fo iio
1 do S . .0 7
1 Ho 3 do ' . . I (it)
Evijry iuhecquent iiiFertii'n, . 0 ?5
Yearly Advertisement, '(with the Arivilrg ol
alteration) one column f 25 ; half column, JIB,
three square!, (12 5 two fqunres, ?9 ; Otie rrjtiare,
?!". Without the privilege of 'alteration a libei'al
discount will he mS'le.
Advertisement left withMlt 'direction tY to the
length of time they ate lo lie pulilixhed, w ill lib
continued ufitll ordered out, and charged accord
inply. Ct'fixtecn line maWa tquirc.
lit consequence of the urifortrinate
condition of affairs at that time in Ame
rica, the commissioners did notat'first
succeed In 'their mission. The supplies
by means of their Vessels were still con
tinued, and pVivate audiences w'efo kept
up by the Ministry and Commissioners,
So soon, however, -as intelligencc'of
Burgoyne's surrender, 'the 'conduct of
Washington, and an account o'f ths brcr
vcry and spirited energy of the Arncm
can Army and Congress, reached Fans',
matters assumed quite a 'different asT"
pect ; which the Commissioner's Were
not backward fn tu'rning to 'the bes:
advantage. The doubting 'porfirin trf
the ! rcncli Cabinet were brought 'bver
to the watlikc opinions 'of the Ctf'irr.
Vi:r.(iK.E's, arid the Ahierica'n .'Corn
missioners were informed that France,
was ready lo treat with them 'on fh'6
conditions o'f a treaty of alliance. ,. A
the firs interview, held at Versdillesv
the Commissioners were "told tha't
France did not desire the formatib'n. '01
a tempornry treaty, or for purposes
w hich only lacked for a trarisicfU'as
sistance to the American "cause, btit -aA
alliance which should result in irUifoal
and lasting 'benefit, and w hich should
effectually cement the tvo natidrTs for
ever. France at this lime was in close &flf
ancc with Spain and it was nec.cssary
to obtain the consent of the latter befp'rd
any 'definite arrangement could "be
made. Spain however, refused toTiaVd
any voice in the fna'tter : upon 'which
a treaty of amity and alliance Vn
formed between France a nd'ihe "United
States, by which France Vecotire'A
the independence 'of the United 'Slafey.
and pledged ifs assistance through thd
struggle in w hich the latfe'r was 'en
gaged. This treaty, ns well as thd
treaty cf amity and commence, was o'A
an exact system of reciprocity. Caen
was to support the other in 'Whatever
wars might groW'out'of tlieir conriec
tion, and neither was to Vav'down arms
without the consent of the other, 'or tirti
til the ends of each other we're fully 'ob1
tairied. The treaty was signed in Pari
is on the G:h of February. Tlfe treaty
was at first kept secret, in order o 'givd
notice to fiie French vessels fn "distant
ports, and prevent their seizure oy thd
English'cruisers. In March notice. of thd
treaty was formally given to the Britsft.
Minister at Paris.
The Commissioners des'patcVicd sp'ei
cial messengers to the United States
with the information, Which Was refcei
v'cd with the most funrullirous joy.
Braises cr tho French people and of
the French King 'filled the land; and
Washington', who was then with his
army at Valley Forge, ordered a dtly toX
special thanksgiving-.
After the treaty had been generally
made know n, the Commissioners madd
their first public appearance at thd
Court of Versailles Mr. Sparks hfcrd,
related a very amusing anecdote of
Franklin. As the independents bf
America had not been achieved, her?
Plenipotentiary was not recognized by
the ambassadors of the foreign poWcrs
at Court in their official intercourses
The Russian ambassador, on his am
val at Paris, issued his card to the other'
ministers resident at that Ccbfl, arid
among the rest a card was accidentally
left for Franklin. This wis something
now to him, and lie inquired of a frieha
w hat etiquette required on tho btcds
sioh. He was told that it was bnly nes
cessary to stop at the house ahd fetitef
his nania upon the porter's books':
This was done-, and the next day lha
Russian minister called upon fratriktitt
and assured him it was all a htistakS iii
leaving the card. Friihkliri reptigii
that no apology w;u heces9aryv that brj
harm had been' doh.c; But in brdef trJ
remove all diilictittv the minister hHet
only to erase Fraiikiin's name front hiS
porter's booki and he would burn hij
card.
The leciurer concluded his rnasfefiy
effort with an eloquent tribute td thd
conduct and good faith of France. Hi
had been privileged, wiiilo reaidiHg id
Paris, to examine Atk the archives arid
correspondence oT the government U
pon the subject-, .arid he felt free to SaV
that no nation had ever more scrtipil
lo'iisiy fulfilled its engagements lhafi
France with the United States. .All
who will institute a Mritl inquiry Inla
the matter--, will bo cniivineed, he laid
that Frrlh'ee acted Vlih no sinsistgr Of
hidden" design.
'h7er p out of bad company, for the tlttn8
iRthat when thfe devil fire into a flock H
hit foiiu-body.