indefinite truce
both with the colonies and with France, to determine only after a year's
notice, during which plenipotentiaries of England, France, and America
might form a congress at Madrid, with Spain as a fourth party. This
latter convention was to be signed by the American agents at Paris,
subject to the approval of congress, which France was to pledge herself
should be obtained, and in the meantime the colonies were to enjoy
freedom of trade and independence, and the British forces were to be
either withdrawn from America, or greatly reduced. The British ministers
replied, that any such plan seemed to proceed on every principle which
had been disclaimed, and to contain every term which had been rejected;
and they declared, that if compelled to grant such extreme conditions,
it would be more consistent with the dignity of the British nation to
grant them directly to America, without the intervention of any foreign
power. Before this final reply reached Madrid, however, the Spanish
monarch threw off the mask, and ordered his ambassador to quit London,
leaving the manifesto behind him as a justification of war. This
manifesto contained nearly one hundred grievances; and not the least
of these was, that Great Britain had insulted Spain by rejecting her
mediation--a mediation which was evidently commenced with the one design
of inducing a rupture between the two nations.

SPANISH ATTEMPT UPON GIBRALTAR.

Before the rupture took place between England and Spain, the Spanish
ambassador had delicately hinted to our ministers, that, if they would
restore the rock of Gibraltar to his monarch, he would consent to remain
neutral. This price, however, was deemed too high by our ministers for
what must have been, after all, a doubtful neutrality; and hence, after
war was declared, the first thoughts of the Spaniards were directed to
the siege of that wonderful rock. Before hostilities commenced, indeed,
Florida Banca, in order to facilitate this grand object, had entered
into a regular treaty with the Emperor of Morocco; he calculating that,
by that act, the Moors would be prevented from supplying the garrison
of Gibraltar with provisions, as they had hitherto done, and that Ceuta,
the other pillar of Hercules on the African coast, belonging to Spain,
would be left unmolested by them during the siege. Having done this,
a large army was collected at St. Roque, Algeziras, and the Campo near
Gibraltar, and immediately afte