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might very much cripple her proceedings elsewhere ; that our treaty, indeed, obliged us to receive into our ports the armed vessels of France, with their prizes, and to refuse admission to the prizes made on her by her enemies : that there was a clause, also, by which we guarantied to France her American possessions, which might perhaps force us into the war, if these were attacked. Then it will be war, said he, for they will assuredly be attack ed. Listen, at Madrid, about the same time, made the same en quiries of Carmichael. The government of France then declared a determination to form a camp of observation at Givet, commen ced arming her marine, and named the Bailli de SufFrein their Generalissimo on the Ocean. She secretly engaged, also, in ne gotiations with Russia, Austria and Spain, to form a quadruple al liance. The Duke of Brunswick having advanced to the confines of Holland, sent some of his officers to Givet, to reconnoitre the state of things there, and report them to him. He said afterwards, that if there had been only a few tents at that place, he should not have advanced further, for that the King would not, merely for the interest of his sister, engage in a war with France. But, find ing that there was not a single company there, he boldly entered the country, took their towns as fast as he presented himself be fore them, and advanced on Utrecht. The States had appointed the Rhingrave of Salm their Commander in chief; a Prince without talents, without courage, and without principle. He might have held out in Utrecht, for a considerable time, but he surrendered the place without firing a gun, literally ran away and hid himself, so that for months it was not known what was become of him. Amsterdam was then attacked, and capitulated. In the mean time, the negotiations for the quadruple alliance were proceeding favor ably ; but the secrecy with which they were attempted to be con ducted, was penetrated by Fraser, Charge des Affaires of England at St. Petersburg, who instantly notified his court, and gave the alarm to Prussia. The King saw at once what would be his situ ation, between the jaws of France, Austria, and Russia. In great dismay, he besought the court of London not to abandon him, sent Alvensleben to Paris to explain and sooth ; and England, through the Duke of Dorset and Eden, renewed her conferences for ac commodation. The Archbishop, who shuddered at the idea of war, and preferred a peaceful surrender of right, to an armed vin dication .of it, received them with open arms, entered into cordial conferences, and a declaration, and counter-declaration, were cook ed up at Versailles, and sent to London for approbation. They were approved there, reached Paris at one o clock of the 27th, and were signed that night at Versailles. It was said and believed
