which is above all value
to a commercial country like England. For his heroic defence, General
Elliot was raised to the peerage by the title of Baron Heath field, with
a pension annexed to the title similar to that bestowed on Rodney.

PROSPECT OF GENERAL PACIFICATION.

This final attempt upon Gibraltar was the last action of importance
during the war. Every nation which had been engaged in the fatal
struggle now sighed for peace, and admitted the policy of putting up the
sword into its scabbard. Each found, by a review of past events, that,
although their gains were great, then-losses greatly preponderated.
Negociations were entered into, and the Empress of Russia, finding that
England was not so near the verge of destruction as she imagined, now
began to act as a fair and anxious mediatrix. Spain had not yet raised
the siege of Gibraltar, and demanded the wonderful rock as the price of
a treaty; but the empress told its monarch that he must give up all
idea of obtaining it either by arms or treaty. France, Holland, and the
United States were also told by her that they ought to moderate their
pretensions. But the grand obstacle that stood in the way of peace,
was removed by Great Britain herself; namely, the recognition of the
independence of America. During the negociations with France and Spain,
provisional articles between England and America were signed on the 30th
of November, at Paris, by Mr. Fitzherbert and Mr. Oswald, on the one
hand, and Dr. Franklin, Adams, Jay, and Laurens, on the other. This was
contrary to the letter and spirit of their treaty with France, and was
brought about by the treachery of the French minister, Vergennes.
While he was urging the Americans to claim a share in the Newfoundland
fishery, he was instigating the British government to refuse the
concession! This double-dealing was detected; and in an interview with
the American negotiators, Mr. Fitzherbert assured them that a share in
that fishery would be allowed them, which had the effect of bringing the
treaty between England and America to a conclusion. Vergennes complained
of American chicanery, and still sought to set aside the treaty, by
advising the English government not to make too ample concessions as
regarded the boundaries to be assigned to the United States; but his
character had become manifest, and his advice was not heeded. The
British cabinet was, indeed, too desirous of peace to raise any
undue obstacle against i