provinces of Guienne, Normandy, great part of Picardy and French
Flanders, some portions of which were under England for nearly 500
years, but that we were overcome in such a succession of battles, that
ultimately we were beaten out of every acre we had left in France;
Calais, which surrendered to the Duke de Guise, in the reign of Mary,
being the last place which we retained. These of course, as historical
facts, cannot be denied. But I certainly do consider that portion of the
English press much to blame, in recurring to events so distant, for the
purpose of wounding national feeling; the effect has been to provoke
reply on the part of the French press, and in all the virulence of party
spirit, in defending their country against the odium cast upon her, they
have been led into some of the most illiberal statements which have had
a very baneful effect upon many persons, in exciting an extreme
irritation against England; but generally speaking, the French people,
if left alone, do not desire war with the English; if it were only for
the sake of their interests, it is natural for the French to wish for
peace with England, as her subjects are amongst the most liberal
purchasers of the produce of the soil and manufactures of France.

The party the most anxious for war with England, is the navy, and they
bitterly feel the sting which goads within them, of their having been so
beaten by our fleets, and pant for an opportunity to efface the stain
which they certainly do feel now tarnishes the honour of their flag.
They consider, also, that the circumstances under which they were
opposed to the forces of England, were so disadvantageous, that no
other result could have been expected than such as occurred, as when the
war broke out in 1793, France had not one experienced admiral in the
service; all possessing any practical knowledge of naval affairs, being
staunch adherents to the royal cause, had either quitted France, or
retired from the navy, de Grasse, d'Estaing, Entrecasteux, d'Orvilliers,
Suffren, Bougainville and several others. The consequence was, that the
command of the fleets were given to men who acquitted themselves very
ably in the management of a single vessel, but were not at all competent
to the office with which the necessity of circumstances invested them,
and although there were several encounters between the frigates of the
two nations, in which the reputation of both were well sustained, yet of
the power