1788:
French colonial authorities in New France send a strong recommendation to Paris that relations with the Indians be foot on a more secure footing. With the continuing expansion of the French population (which passes the one million mark in 1788), the Indians are becoming increasingly concerned about encroachments on their land. The colonial governor recommends creating a system of association with the tribes, recognizing their rights while having the Indians become “associated tribes” of New France.
In the Pacific, French expeditions are carefully mapping New Zealand and the eastern coast of Australia, while the British are taking the lead in exploring the western Australian coast. Meanwhile, French ships are scouring the coast of North America in the search for the Northwest Passage (having the advantage of being able to resupply at Spanish ports in Mexico).
La Perouse, after a great deal of difficulty, gains an audience with the Chinese Emperor. Unlike other Europeans, the French are not particularly bothered by the traditional requirements of kowtowing before the Emperor. Still, La Perouse does not achieve his objective, being told by the Chinese that they have no need of European goods. The best he can get is an agreement by the Chinese to allow the French to open a trading post in Canton in order to buy Chinese products, but only if they are paid directly with gold or silver.
In London, Talleyrand is anxious that the expansion of the Holy Alliance and potential colonial altercations not spark a conflict between France and Britain. Above all, he wants the status quo to be maintained as long as possible, though he recognizes that another conflict is only a matter of time. Among the agreements he is able to arrange is a treaty by which neither side will sell weapons to Native Americans within the other’s territory.
The Committee for Inter-Colonial Defense petitions the British Parliament to abolish the Navigation Acts. Parliament responds by asking why they are making recommendations on matters beyond the purview of their committee. This leads to a series of newspaper articles throughout the colonies expressing confusion over exactly what their political relationship with Great Britain is. No question of independence is raised, particularly as they need the power of Britain to defend against the French threat. But there is clearly a desire for a more appropriate constitutional framework.
1789:
In India, Tippu Sultan of Mysore renews his alliance with the French by signing another treaty of friendship and commerce. But he insists that French troops not be stationed within his territory itself, and that Mysore receive a proportionate amount of profits from the territories where it has committed troops on behalf of the French. He recognizes that the French need the alliance as much as he does, for without his troops they would be unable to mount the punitive expeditions which are becoming a general part of the political process. He is determined to use this as leverage and not to become a mere puppet of the French.
In addition, Tippu sends large numbers of young Mysorean boys to be educated in European schools, particularly in technical fields with military applications.
On opposite sides of Australia, two colonizing fleets arrive. The French settle an excellent bay on the southeastern coast, creating a colony called Vergennes (ironically, on the same day the colony is established, the old statesman died in Paris). On the western coast, the British establish a colony of roughly similar size, naming it New Edinburgh. The distances between the two colonies are so vast that there is no contact between them.
Upon the death of Comte de Vergennes, Talleyrand is appointed by King Louis XVI to replace him as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He returns to Paris and immediately celebrates his new position with a massive (and massively expensive) soiree.
1790:
A joint appeal is made by the colonial assemblies to the British Parliament, asking for a clarification of their constitutional relationships to one another and to Great Britain itself. In London, the decision is made to form a committee to investigate the matter, and invitations to various colonial leaders go out to come to London and hammer out the issue. News of this development is give to Benjamin Franklin shortly before his death.
Talleyrand reasons that Britain will not risk another war with France unless it was strong enough, by itself or through alliances, to have a realistic chance of success. Therefore, the best way to prevent another war with Britain would be to diplomatically isolate Britain, while somehow convincing Britain that it has nothing to fear from France.
Talleyrand therefore convinces King Louis XVI to accept the earlier Dutch proposal to make Flanders an independent duchy and a demilitarized area, which will alleviate tensions with both Britain and the Netherlands. He area will remain a
de facto part of France, and he will be allowed to add “Duke of Flanders” to his list of titles. In addition, it might help appease the developing nationalist movement within Flanders, which could conceivably cause trouble in the future.
In September, France and the Netherlands signs the Treaty of Calais, setting out the new arrangement. Talleyrand took the opportunity to settle several other issues, which he feared might eventually lead to problems down the road, although he also took care to protect the interests of French colonial merchants, who were paying Talleyrand hefty bribes.
- Flanders is recognized as an independent duchy rather than being an integral part of France, with King Louis XVI recognized as the Duke of Flanders.
- French military forces shall not be stationed in Flanders and French fortifications there shall be demolished.
- The Netherlands shall not enter into any alliance directed against France, and shall withdraw from any such alliance it is already party to.
- French merchants in India and other parts of Asia shall be allowed free access to Dutch territories, and Dutch merchants shall have similar access to French territories.
With the stroke of a pen, Talleyrand pulled the Dutch away from the British and drew them into the French orbit. The British are aghast at the treaty, but are powerless to prevent it.
1791:
In New France, numerous tribes sign necessary treaties with the French in order to be recognized as “associated tribes.” From the French point of view, this legally makes the Indians French subjects, though the Indians themselves didn’t particularly understand this concept and wouldn’t have cared if they did. The agreements require France to protect the tribes in the event of an attack by the British or another tribe. If two associated tribes come into conflict, the authorities in New France are expected to mediate the dispute. It encourages trade and respects Indian land, with the Indians understanding that certain areas (such as St. Louis and Montcalm) are to be colonized by the French themselves.
At the same time, with a booming population and the possibility of new territory being acquired to the West, it is recognized in Paris that New France is simply too big to be governed as one entity. It is therefore split into two colonies, Canada being ruled from Quebec and Louisiana being ruled from New Orleans. “New France” simply becomes a general term for the French North American colonies.
In London, British politicians and colonial leaders attempt to work out a new constitutional framework for the American colonies. The colonial leaders are lead by Massachusetts lawyer John Adams, who alternately amazes everyone with his intelligence and irritates everyone with his stubbornness and lack of tact. The work continues throughout the year.
The British are particularly anxious to create a constitutional framework that will allow the colonies to function more effectively while remaining solidly within the British Empire. It is felt that doing so will strengthen their power in the face of the collapse of the Dutch alliance.
In America, a new style of architecture, based on the Neoclassical and Palladian schools, is being pioneered by Thomas Jefferson, a sometime lawyer and member of the Virginia House of Burgesses. The “Jeffersonian” style of architecture becomes representative of Enlightenment ideals in America.
Talleyrand, having diplomatically isolated Britain, now wishes to alleviate Austrian apprehensions of French expansion. The center to this problem is Italy, where France and Austria have conflicting interests. Talleyrand’s solution to this problem is to attempt to shift Austria’s attention to the east and he begins to calculate how he might engineer a conflict between the Austrians and the Turks.
French merchants in Canton are now regularly purchasing Chinese goods, paying only in specie, and shipping them back to France. About a quarter of the products are re-exported to other European countries, adding to France’s already immense reputation as the cultural center of Europe. The French are still endeavoring to open up China as a market for French exports, but utterly without success.