The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-11-15
Something New In History,


Something New In Histery.
A Mr.. MASSEY, IL seems, AN Ensiishman, is
publishing in London history of Engiand.-
He has gotten down as low as 1893, the last
volume including all the events between i9so
and that year. The Wtstmiastu Rsritm, speak
ing of this last volume, says: Opening Win
an account OF the military operations In the
Csroiinas, OF the treason OF ARNOLD, and the
execution of the compromised though gallant
and ps,rto,ic ASpRs, the historian relates the
vs,,ysyae., of Lord CORVALLIS into Virginia,
hi. occupation of Yorktown and Gloucester,
al, f.souesi rsrnls,s oftht easniy, and finally.
inter- yainiy awaiting the arrival of Sir HENRY
CLINroN, his capitulation to General WASH
,neroN. This capitula,ion was the farming
point of the American war. A year AFTER inc
surrender at Yorktown the preiiminaries o.
peace were signed. The treaty cohoiooe"' mo-
without some sharp practice on ING pA,' "
the American Commissioners, between "te"'
Britain aud the United S'ates,was al anse" !"
entire independence of France ana spain' the
nvoxed Allie. of the insurgent eoionissih theii
s,rursls for liberty. RopNEI's briiiiantvic
compelled the French to lower their amoi-
,,ous demands; aud as after Americas defec-
zion from the common cause neither France
nor Spain had any motive or pretext for
continuation of hostilities, treaties with both
these countries were shortly after concluded,
on the basis of the peace Of 1853"
II the above is a fair synopsis of Mr. MAS
sEY's account of the closing scenes OF the
American Revolution, his book must be a GU
viosity. We never heard before that CORN
WALLIS retired into Virginia. After the battle
of G. uildford, (I5th March, 17sl,) ne retired, 1t
is true, to Wilmington, although be claimed
the victory, aud GREENE pursued him, al
though he wrote home that he had demolished
GREENE. The victor retiring before the van
Quished two hundred miles, and breaking
down bridges TO prevent or retard pursuit,
was locked upon as something of novelty in
war and Fox said in the House OF Commons,
he was afraid another such triumph would
hand his lordship in Florida. or words to that
effect. But nobody ever said before that the
British General retired to Virginia. On the
contrary ne invaded Virginia, In opposition
10 the opinions of the majority of his ohcers
and in spite of the cehennent Temonstranees OF
TARLros, who urged him to return to South
Carolina. Nor did we ever hear before mat
CoRNwALLIs repealed any attack OF the Anne
ricsns at Yorktown. Indeed, the allies de-
Hyered but one assault during the whole siege,
that upon the two redoubts on the extreme
left of the British position, which was joint
affair. both French and Americans partaking
an II. The English themselves made sortie
and spiked several pieces OF cannon, but they
were soon repulsed and the cannon again
rendered fit for service
The latter portion of the above extract
would seem to imply that in making her treaty
If md ha nd Fran Al
Spain in dishonest and disreputable man
uer. What new lights Mr. MASSEY may have
upon that subject, we do not profess to know
The general understanding upon the subject
has always been as follows:
After the capture of CORVALLIS, the Eng
iish abandoned all hope of re-conquering the
colonies and withdrew all their troops from
the country into the seaport towns A change
OF ministry soon followed, and with that
change a different system altogether. 1t was
now determined to acknowledge the indepen-
dence OF America, and as the first step, Sir
GUY CARLTON, whose humane conduct as
Governor of Canada had made him popular
with the Americans, was appointed to sue
coed Sir HENRY CLINTON as CCmmander-in-
Chief This officer Immediately set to work
TO dissolve the coalition against Great Britain,
by endeayoring to en- tice the Americans from
IT, Similar attempts had been made upon
Holland, but without success. The British
government wished TO have a clear field with
France and Spain alone for enemies. CARLE-
TON did not succeed any better with the Con.
Sress than his brother negotiatOrs had sue
ceeded with the States General. On the con-
trary, the Congress declared, by resolution,
that they would not enter into any negotia-
ZION to which France was not party. Eng
land then applied to France and Spain; but
France was, at the time, in expectation of
making great conquests in the West indies
and Spain could not resign her hope OF
regaiuing Gibraltar. The defeat however, of
Count DE GRAssR by Admiral RODNEY, and
the repulse of the great attack upon Gibral-
tar by General ELLIOTT, caused all parties TO
lower their tone. All had suffered severely ;
Great Britain by losses in the West Indies
and the destruction of a whole army at York
town, France by RoDNRY's victory and
disasters in the East Indies, and Spain
by the destruction of the enormous arma-
ment she had prepared against Gibraltar
All were exhausted by the prodigious efforts
they had made, and all were anxious for peace.
Under such distances, the British minis
try sent commits sioners to Paris to treat for
peace. The basis was the acknowledgment of
American independence. That was all that
France had taken up arms for, and that being
obtained she had no pretext for continuing the
war. The American Commissioners were al
Paris, as well as those of Spain and Holland.
Each understood perfectly what the others
were about, and each acted with the consent OF
the other. The English and Americans,
first came 10 terms, and signed proSl-
sional treaty, which was not to be considered
defnitiye until France and Great Britain mad
settled their differences. Does that look ike
deserving an ally This provisional treaty
was signed both November, 1852. The defini-
tive treaty was signed September Sd, 1873. On
the same day and at the same place, the treaty
between France and Spain on the one part
and Great Britain on the other, was signed
From the concurrence of date and place, it is
obvious that every thing was done understand
ingly, and that no party made move with
out letting the others know of it. A separate
treaty with Holland was signed the day after,
t4th September)
VntA voLe eli