The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

ET. 46.] LIFE OF WASHINGTON. 315
the war, till the independence of the United States
should be secured; but she had not engaged to fight
for conquests, nor for the extension of the territories of
the United States beyond their original limits. Such
an engagement would have bound her to continue the
war indefinitely, with no other object than to gratify the
ambition or enmity of her ally, while every motive of
interest and of national honor might prompt her to seek
for peace. It was evident, too, that the pride of England, humbled by conceding the independence of her
revolted colonies, would never brook the severance of
her other provinces by the direct agency of France.
All conquests thus made, therefore, would perplex the
negotiations for peace, and might involve France in a
protracted war, without the least prospect of advantage to herself. Hence she resolved to adhere strictly
to her pledge in the treaty of alliance. But, although
the French minister in America was instructed not to
hold out encouragement of cooperation in plans of
conquest, yet he was at the same time directed not
to throw any obstacles in the way; thus leaving the
United States to decide and act for themselves. Should
they gain conquests by their own strength, these might
reasonably be claimed by them in a treaty of peace,
without embarrassing the relations between France and
England.