George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 10

‘ [191] until the English themselves shall be forced

Chap. VIII.} 1779.

to recognise it by the peace. He fears the example which he should otherwise give to his own possessions.’ ‘As well acknowledge their independence as accord them assistance,’ began Montmorin; but the minister cut him short, saying: ‘Nothing will come of your insisting on this article.’¹

Now that no more was to be gained, Florida Blanca himself made a draft of a convention, and suddenly presented it to Montmorin. A few verbal corrections were agreed upon, and on the evening of the twelfth

April 12.

of April the treaty was signed.

By its terms France bound herself to undertake the invasion of Great Britain or Ireland; if she could drive the British from Newfoundland, its fisheries were to be shared only with Spain. For trifling benefits to be acquired for herself, she promised to use every effort to recover for Spain Minorca, Pensacola, and Mobile, the bay of Honduras, and the coast of Campeachy; and the two courts bound themselves not to grant peace, nor truce, nor suspension of hostilities, until Gibraltar should be restored. From the United States Spain was left free to exact, as the price of her friendship, a renunciation of every part of the basin of the Saint Lawrence and the lakes, of the navigation of the Mississippi, and of all the land between that river and the Alleghanies.

This convention of France with Spain modified the treaty between France and the United States. The latter were not bound to continue the war till Gibraltar should be taken; still less, till Spain should have carried out her views hostile to their interests. They