tone by perpetual warfare, like the states of ancient Greece, or by perpetual preparation for warfare, like the nations of modern Europe. In my book entitled "American Political Ideas, viewed from the Standpoint of Universal History," I have tried to indicate the pacific influence likely to be exerted upon the world by the creation and maintenance of such a political structure as our Federal Union. The present narrative may serve as a commentary upon what I had in mind on page 133 of that book, in speaking of the work of our Federal Convention as "the finest specimen of constructive statesmanship that the world has ever seen." On such a point it is pleasant to find one's self in accord with a statesman so wise and noble as Mr. Gladstone, whose opinion is here quoted on page 223. To some persons it may seem as if the years 1861-65 were of more cardinal importance than the years 1783-89. Our civil war was indeed an event of prodigious magnitude, as measured by any standard that history affords; and there can be little doubt as to its decisiveness. The measure of that decisiveness is to be found in the completeness of the reconciliation that has already, despite the feeble wails of unscrupulous place-hunters and unteachable bigots, cemented the Federal Union so powerfully that all likelihood of its disruption may be said to have disappeared forever. When we consider this wonderful harmony which so soon has followed the deadly struggle, we may well believe it to be the index of such a stride toward the ultimate pacification of mankind as was never made before. But it was the work done in the years 1783-89 that created a federal nation capable of enduring the storm and stress of the years 1861-65. It was in the earlier crisis that the pliant twig was bent; and as it was bent, so has it grown ; until it has become indeed a goodly and a sturdy tree. CAMBRIDGE, October 10, 1888. CONTENTS. Sympathy between British Whigs and the revolutionary party in America Oswald talks with Franklin Grenville has an interview with Vergennes Misunderstanding between Fox and Shelburne Fall of the Rockingham ministry Shelburne becomes prime minister Defeat of the Spaniards and French at Gibraltar French policy opposed to American interests And sends Dr. Vaughan to visit Shelburne . John Adams arrives in Paris and joins with Jay in insisting Secret article relating to the Yazoo boundary 23, 24 They attack the American treaty in Parliament And compel Shelburne to resign Which leaves England without a government, while for several weeks the king is too angry to appoint ministers Until at length he succumbs to the coalition, which pres- ently adopts and ratifies the American treaty The coalition ministry is wrecked upon Fox's India Bill Constitutional crisis ends in the overwhelming victory of Pitt in the elections of May, 1784 Ordination of Samuel Seabury by non-jurors at Aberdeen Francis Asbury and the Methodists Presbyterians and Congregationalists. Except in the instance of slavery, all the changes described in this chapter were favourable to the union of the But while the state governments, in all these changes, are seen working smoothly, we have next to observe, by The several states have never enjoyed complete sovereignty Anomalous character of the Continental Congress |