Life of William, Earl of Shelburne (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1876. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IV. TITE FIKST NEGOTIATION IN PARIS. 1782. In America, with the exception of New York, Charlestown, and a few other posts on the coast, the whole mainland of the Thirteen revolted Colonies by the beginning of 1782 was lost to England. The forces of Spain had overrun West Florida, had captured the Isle of Providence, the Bahamas, and also Minorca. The French fleet had taken Granada, the Grenadines, St. Vincent, Dominica, St. Christopher, Nevis, and Monserrat. On the other hand, the English forces had captured St. Lucia, the French establishments in Senegal, the Island of Goree on the coast of Africa, Chandernagore, and the French establishments on the coast of Bengal and Orissa, Pondicherry, Karical, Mahe, and the Comptoir of Surat. From the Dutch they had taken Trincomalee and Negapatam. Such were the chief territorial changes which had resulted from the war. Besides the question how far the peace was to confirm them, there were others equally certain to be brought forward in any negotiation between England and the belligerents. Such were the rights of the French fishermen off Newfoundland, under the Treaties of Utrecht and of Paris; the clauses of former treaties relating to Dunkirk; and the commercial relations between the two countries. It had never yet been definitely agreed, how far the rejection by the English House of Commons of the eighth and ninth clauses of the Treaty of Utrecht, had invalidated the other commercial clauses of that treaty. It was also more than probable that the question of the rights of neutrals would be mentioned, especially if the Northern Powers became parties to the negotiation. After the peace of Teschen in 1779, Austria anxious to regain the prestige she had lost on the question of the Bavarian succession, had joined Rus...