1796]

FRENCH INTRIGUES.

443 dient. Confidential agents were accordingly employed to discover the secrets of their intrigues. One of the number so engaged reported that five Frenchmen had not long before been living at Rouse's Point. They had lately hired a guide to take them into Canada, but he had led them astray. On their return, they had separated; one du Millière alone remained, who had established himself near the lines. This person spoke freely of himself as being a general in a movement against Canada. According to his statements, the French were to enter the province in small parties, to avoid notice, and mix with the French Canadians. By these means, they would obtain their support and cooperation. Next spring, the invasion was to take place. Du Millière was short of money; at least, his wife was selling her trinkets to support her wants. The report ran that the invading army would be composed of United States citizens, with the Canadians who were established in the country. A letter was obtained, signed Peters; but from the French commission, enclosed in the name of Du Calvet, it was held that the signature was assumed. The letter was dated from Burlington: the writer stated he was going to New York, but would in spring return and make the English dance the "Carmagnole."

In December, the attorney-general reported, from information received, that parties sent from the French directory were in the province, with copies of a proclamation to be published at the time when advantageous. The movement was receiving strong support in Vermont. Ira Allen had obtained at Paris a quantity of arms, ostensibly for the Vermont militia, but in reality destined to arm Vermont volunteers for the conquest of Canada. Any necessity for the possession of arms by this state could by no means be recognised. Vermont had been admitted into the union in 1791 with the usual conditions and privileges, and there was no occasion for any such purchase. There was no quarrel with Canada; on the contrary, most friendly feelings had been expressed. The report of such a probability seemed difficult of belief.

The news was, however, confirmed. In January, 1797,

the duke of Portland wrote from London that the "Olive Branch" from Ostend had been taken and brought into Portsmouth. She contained 20,000 stand of arms, several pieces of artillery with ammunition, and Mr. Ira Allen, of Vermont, was on board the vessel. He explained his presence by stating that the cargo was a purchase made by him for the militia of Vermont. But he could produce no documents, either from the governor or from the state, to authenticate his explanation. The first impression was that the arms had been obtained for a design upon Ireland. The duke of Portland, however, had seen a Mr. Graham, then established in England. From him • Portland learned that, in his opinion, the arms were intended for such of the inhabitants of Vermont as would engage in an invasion of Lower Canada. Graham gave likewise the information that Genet, when French minister at Philadelphia, had offered to him and others 300 blank commissions in the French army, to be filled up as they saw fit; and that Allen had purchased a large number of feathers for hats. The project was one with which the states had nothing to do. Prescott was called upon to deal secretly with the information, in his endeavour to probe the truth.

In December, a deposition was made by one Barnard that McLane had addressed him when in Alburgh, in Vermont. Barnard was a native of Deerfield, in Massachusetts, but was then resident in Vermont. McLane told him that he was there to bring about a revolution in Lower Canada, and proposed to Barnard to take part in it. Shortly afterwards he met McLane in Montreal, when the conversation was renewed. McLane urged Barnard to join the movement, for the attempt upon the province would be made the following spring. Barnard immediately gave notice of the fact to one of the magistrates, Mr. McCord.

Du Millière still continued at Rouse's Point, engaged in a correspondence with several parties in Canada. He alone remained; for those who had been sent from France with

1797]

CANADA THREATENED.

445 the expectation of finding the French Canadians ready to take up arms, had left, owing to there being no more money. Although these facts were known to the government, no arrests were made; for in April Portland wrote, expressing his surprise that such was the case with McLane.

With this knowledge of the design of an attempt upon Canada, we read the evidence given at the trial of McLane in a different spirit from what we would otherwise do. To suppose that McLane was at Quebec, alone, with no confederates, although provided with money with the intention at that time of carrying out his plans, is to regard him as little short of a madman. He was there to obtain associates in his undertaking; hence, it had been incumbent upon him to take a confident tone, so as to shew that he was working on a well considered plan.

If the events that at this period were causing agitation in the United States are left unconsidered, the attempt of McLane might be regarded a fable and his execution as a legal murder. In reality the organization to assail Canada was much more formidable than appeared upon the surface. Little indication can now be traced of the intrigues of that day to increase the power of France on the continent. There was no want of will on Adet's part to carry out the policy he had conceived, but there was much against the probability of its consummation. Prominent in the adverse influences which thwarted his pretensions was the unfriendly relationship which had arisen between France and the United States government; a relationship embittered by Adet's singular imprudence and neglect of diplomatic caution. He placed himself without any reservation in the hands of Jefferson and the republican party, avowedly the supporters of an intimate union with France, hoping by those means to accomplish his purpose.

After Jefferson's retirement from the position of French minister in Paris, Gouverneur Morris had been appointed to the post. With great generosity, during the reign of terror, he had endeavoured to aid many of the unfortunate

prisoners; among his imputed crimes was that of having assisted British subjects. He became extremely unpopular with the ruling government; the report even reached the United States that he had been guillotined. When Washington's government demanded the recall of Genet, the French government asked for the removal of Morris. In 1794 James Monroe, afterwards president, was sent to replace him. It was the year of Jay's treaty. Reports had reached France of the acceptance of the treaty, and great dissatisfaction was felt; for the treaty was regarded as a sacrifice of French interests. When the conditions became known, Monroe was informed that, so soon as the treaty received the president's approval, the alliance between France and the United States was at an end. This intimation was made in February, 1796; the directory was then in power. The news was at once despatched to America to heighten the agitation directed against its ratification. Independently of the expression of bad feeling, which Jay's treaty specially led to on the part of France, the old causes of quarrel of the days of Genet and Fauchet were renewed. Complaint was made that the United States had violated the treaty of 1778, by directing the courts to exercise jurisdiction over French prizes, and that they were violating the convention of 1788, by failing to recognise French consular authority. With regard to the treaty, the pretension was advanced that in every particular it discriminated in favour of England to the disadvantage of France.

So much dissatisfaction was felt by the United States executive with Monroe, for not pressing upon the directory with vigour and earnestness the arguments which had been supplied to him in favour of Jay's treaty, that he was recalled in 1796, and replaced by C. C. Pinckney. Adet was recalled by the directory in October, 1796. His last effort was to write four letters, with the design of influencing the popular vote in favour of Jefferson. They followed each other with rapidity, and, so soon as an official letter was despatched, a copy for publication was sent to the scurrilous newspaper,

1796]

ADET'S LETTERS.

447

Jefferson's organ, the Aurora. His policy was to make it a matter of belief that a war with France was imminent, and that the sole means of avoiding so great a disaster was to elect Jefferson as president. His first letter declared that France would extend to neutral nations the treatment they were receiving from England. The second, addressed to Frenchmen, called upon them to mount the French cockade. This counsel was accepted not only by Adet's countrymen, but by the supporters of Jefferson. The French cockade became the badge of his party, worn by men who could not have correctly pronounced two French words to save themselves from being hanged; hence with them a strange shibboleth! A few days later, Adet announced that he had been recalled. The fourth letter, addressed to the secretary of state, had primarily in view to exercise influence on the public mind. Like the other communications it was sent to the Aurora, but even the editor, Mr. Benjamin Franklin Bache, known in those times as "Lightning-rod, junr.,” and remembered, if at all, by his insolent abuse of Washington, found the length and tediousness of the rodomontade too extreme for publication. It was a letter of reproach on the part of France which had assured the existence of the United States, at the same time complaining of the treatment French privateers had received and of the failure to observe past treaties. The document ends with praise of the conduct of Jefferson, whose patriotism he instanced by name.

These letters called forth stormy replies from the federalist party, the most savage of which were by the pen of the celebrated William Cobbett, who wrote under the name of " Peter Porcupine." The object of these letters was clearly shewn and was apparent in every second paragraph. The effect of the presumption of Adet had directly the contrary effect to what he anticipated. In the coming election, every state north of Philadelphia voted for Adams, against Jefferson. The contest was close. Adams, 71; Jefferson, 68. Adet may be said at that date to have lost Jefferson his election.