The New York herald., 1878-03-27
THE LECTURE SEASON.

| BUhNE.
Mr.. George Tcknor Curtis last evening delivered at
Association Hall the FIRST OF series OF three lectures
upon selected topics American utionaI and
political history. Tho audience TO considerable
extent composed OF the Bench and Bar of this city.
and the speaker listened to with great attention
The subject OF last nights discourse was "Ths
| Negotiation OF the Treaty OF tho Peace which
Recognized the Independence OF This Country at tho
Close OF tho Revolutionary War" Briefly aiiuoing to
the disastrous administration OF Lord North In the
British Cabinet, Mr. Curtis proceeded to discuss that
OF his successor Lord Rockingham. Tho latter ac-
cepted Office upon these conditions :-"Peace with
the Americans and the acknowledgment OF their In
dependence not to bo bar to tho attainment that
| object" HIS death occurred three months after his
appointment, and no progress had been made toward
the peacc. -Ro was succeeded by Lord sholburnc
sHELBuRNE
Rockingham's political connection embraced Ed
| mund Burke and Charles James Fox; and during his
administration irrcconcablc differences between
the two Secretaries, Fox and Lord shelburno Tho
latter was Secretary OF the department In which the
colonies were then included aud Fox at the head
OF the Department OF Foreign Affairs. II tho Arncr-
can States were to be treated with footing Of
acknowledged independence the conduct OF the nego-
| tiaton belonged to Mr. Fox; II their independence
was not 10 be yielded before negotiating, and they
wore TO bo regarded as II they stili
revolted colonies OF Great Britain whose indcpcn-
| denco Of the points TO DO embraced In tho
treaty the business belongs to Lord Shclburnc Upon
these two very important questions tho Secretaries
| werc at variance. on tho 23d Of May 1882 Fox sent
anoto TO Mr. Grcnviilc, the agent conducting tho
negotiations for Dr. franklin. and proposed ''ihc
dependence OF America IN tho first instance instead Of
| making IT a condition OF general treaty.
The Cabinet adopted this m,nuto Lord Shell
oarne n . oonssnded on that the recognition was
OF general peace Fox pressed for the establishment
OF the colonies upon AN independent basis, this
being refused hc threatened TO retire During tho
war with England tho Americans had had treaty OF
alliance with France. with its incalcuIable boneas.
and had been long represented ut her court They
had also tho idea OF participation with Spain In tho
general war against England, although thoy never
could gain from her an alliance; IRON Holland thcy
had gained recognition OF their Independence and a
free commercial treaty. When Adams, Jay and Frank
lin entered upon tho negotiation OF their treaty with
England the territorial limits of tho United States
tho fisheries tho subject OF debts ana conscatoD
gethcr with tho navigation OF the M.ssssppi aud tho
evacuation Of The country by The British troops
tho principal matters to be settled between England
aud the United States, now That formal separation
was 10 bc made. These were agreed upon and signed
10 tho form Of provincial articles at Paris November
80, 1852. The irst OF those articles declared tho
United States to be "frec, sovereign and independ
cnt."
COMMERCIAL RELAroNa
In conflict OF national feelings, Mr.. Curtis said,
almost any practical solution is for the case right
one, provided 1t BUNDLES no national pride aud vio
lates no principle. Tho Brush government tricd hard
TO have tho Americans restore tho property IL had
con1scated from tory population but In vain The
principal treaty, however LETT the commercui reia-
tons OF tho two countries wholly untouched On this
tions, and were therefore under no POSITIVE re.
strictions In the list OF articles which Mr.
mora ss1 had prsparsa
carrying trade between England aud America; but
when ne negotiations drew 10 point it was found
essential 70 peace. Tho formation OF the provisional
treaty was in violation Of the understanding
OF inc alliance with France, and tho FroBoh
Minister Dc vergennes, was very much dis
pleased ana sent noto to the French Minis
| n N n dtcauN ofan nt,o
soon alter the death OF Lord Rockingham 1882,
Parliament was prorogued aud did not assemble until
December g. In the meantime Lord Sheburne HAD
been trying 10 strengthen his party by an alliance
with tho opposition, represented 6y Fox and Lord
ana with Fox did all he could to mako treaty
tasteful TO the nation Tho Kings speech at the
terms OF the provisional treaty. although
that treaty had not then been fully consummatsd
cics France and Spain signed nj Paris wcre a,d
before Parliament. Tho consideration Of thet, was
Shclburne continued is form a COALITION
with either Fox or North, but was wholly uosuocess-
fu, ana they formed coalition 10 oppose the peace
Speaking OF Fox's coalition, Mr. Curtis said -"
] have rcad aud / trust with candor the most mpor-
tant OF what been written in defence OF Fox hopo
too that may assume to be out OF the reach OF that
current OF dctraction which has run through English
this part OF ms life. Ny opinion OF his merits and
pinco as a statesman IS suficentiy manifested IN
what havc ead oil him. Ny feelings American
would carry me TO the side OF lenicncy In Judging
OF any part Of his conduct But cannot agree that
such coalitions between pubic mon OF opposite prn.
cpcs, in countries where public conduct supposed
TO DO founded on principle. can never have moral,
as ihey seldom can have political, Justification"
In ludgiog Fox's conduct, however, Mr. Curtis
suggested that Americans should not allow their
natural resentment against Lord North 10 Influence
their estimate Of tho conduct oi Fox
Tho attack % on tho peace was made In tho House Of
tho coalition on the 2lst o February
OPPOSITION
Among the resolutions carried 10 the effect
that concessions q rent
Britain greater than they were entitled TO-
either from the actual state OF their respective DOS
sessions from their apparent strength But what
ever might be said respecting the concessions
TO France ana spain the real question ior an English
House OF Commons in relation to tho settlement
vote @ Lord shslDurne resigned, ana William Pit, PIT,
son of Lord Chatham, became Chancellor, and later
Premier. on the lorh OF April Mr.. Fox proposed
to repeal the prohioory acts restricting with
passed May Tho American Commissioners in
PARIS proposed to Mr.. Hartley, representing tho
and iull reciprocity. and which was entered into
on the 29h OF April While 1t was agreed TO between
them the proposition was sent TO London and an
swcr did not arrive until the end Of thrce weeks,
and meanwhile n very liberal regulation Of tho CON-
appeared a, mat time, however that the disposition
OF the Cabinet was 10 exclude the United states from
put a bar to the negotiations OF the American
missoners.
Thus 1t camc about that the treaty of peace was
followed by no permanent settlement OF tho
commercial relations between England ard the
United states until our confederation was fol-
lowed by tho constitution Tho debt OF the
United States was $42.000,375 At annual
interest OF r$2 1886 No proper aud efficient
means existed for dIscbarsing tho interest, ard
mcaus for funding the principal. There was due 10
the army on the 3lst OF December 1882. s5,625,6ls
and fhcrc was also duo further sum of $5 900, 900
ns communication OF tho haf pay tor lie that had been
formerly granted by Congress to officers Mcssrs
Hamilton and Madison endeavorcd to induce tho
states TO consent TO national system OF revenue but
without success
CONGRESS- IN
On the Sd OF November. lTS,. COnrresa en- mo n
gether There were but iftcon persons present from
seven states. 1.-TWO great acts, -; suid Mr. Gurus,
"awuted the attention OF the usscmbiagc--both
interesting aud important character, both OF national
concern" One was tho resignation OF Washing gton,
solcmnity which appealed TO every feeling or
nationsi gratitude aud PRIDE, and which would
seem 10 have demanded whatever OF pomp and
dignity and power tbe United States could display.
Tho other was a legislative act winch VA 10 give