Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1884-11-20
LIGHT ON AN OLD STORY.

Some English Documents on the American
War of Independence.
From the London Globe.
One of the most interesting finds of
the Historical Manuscripts Commission
is the large collection of Mrs. StOpfOrd
Sackville's papers at DraytOn House,
Northamptonshire, of which an account
is given in part 3 of the commissioners
report, In one series there are cOmpris-
ed papers of the greatest value, extend
ing over the whole period of the Ameri-
can war OF independence, and including
letters end documents written by Lord
North, Lord George German, William
Eden, afterward Lord Auckland; Admir-
nj Sir George Rodney, and others init
mately connected with the government
of the day and the conduct OF the war.
A large proportion of the the papers are
communications to Lord George GEL
main, who became Secretary of the colo
MES in November 1775, about six months
after the fighting at Lexington. indie
pendent accounts of that action, which
was fought in April, had reached Lon
don in June, and Lord Suffolk, writing
to Lord George Germain, says that the
counts than those furnished by the
commanders. He adds: "They don't do
much credit to the discipline of our
troops, but do not impeach their readi-
uess and intrepidity."
The war had been entered upon with
light heart, and the consequences were
soon apparent, General BurgOyne,
writing from Boston on the Goth of
August, says that all parties in England
had contributed to foster the growth of
tho rebellion, and latter fatal pr0cras:
tinatiOn, not only of vigorous measures.
but Of preparation for such, we took a
step as decisive as the passage Of the
rubicOn, and now find ourselves plunged
at once into most serious war, without
single equisite-gunpOwder excepted
for carving it on" The General criti-
cises with great freedom the action Or
lnactiOn, Of his naval colleague. 1t
might be asked in England what the
Admiral was doing 81 wish" said Gener
al BurgOyne "Iwas able to answer that
question satisfactorily, but can only
say what he is not doing. That he is
not supplying the troops with sheep and
oxen, the dinners of the best of us bear
meager testimony; the want of broth in
the hospitals bears more melancholy
One." He was doing, in fact, all he
ought not to have done. "The British
thunder is diverted or controlled by pit
iful attentions and qUakerlike scruples,
and under such influences insult and
impunity, like Righteousness and peace,
have kissed each other" When to the
Admirals supineness were added the
shortcomings of Quartermaster GEN.
erals, Adjutant Generals and other func-
tiOnariss, there resulted a mass of in
sufficiencT' that in General BurgOynes
opinion "woutd cOunteraet and disap-
point the ablest cOnnsels in the world"
A month later Eden wrote to Lord Geo.
German. by Lord NOrth's desire, letter
in which he, on the part Of the Prime
Minister, thus summed up the situation:
"A worthy General [Gagel with parts
inferior to his situation and corrupt
admiral without any shadow OF capacity
have jointly contributed to increase the
strength and numbers OF the armed
rebels in a very great degree, and to rem
der the avowal OF rebellion general over
the whole Of the American continent"
The public were less we'll informed Of
what was going on than ministers and
those honOred with their confidence, and
the first news of disasters appears to
have been received with considerable
Lord Suffolk wrote in June
ITS, that Americans on this side Of the
Atlantic were active and Jealous to
make the most of what had occurred on
the other, but they could raise no alarm.
"The stocks are unaffected, and the
respectable part of the city is in very
proper sentiments. Everything is right
at this end of the tewu 1.-THE letter is da-
ted from st. James, and l neither per-
ceive Discrimination to persevere nor diff
fidenee in the success Of perseverance
anywhere" Loyal addresses were sent
up from the provinces, and Eden
writing apparently in October, 1775,
thought the documents contained the
genuine and general sentiment Of the
nation. Tho wonder" he adds, that
80 sprite people shOnld be so civil after
so dispiriting campaign" Even those
who were in the best position to form an
accurate judgment were 10th to admit
the possibility of ultimate failure to
subdue the rebelli0us cOlOnists, and Gag
erlv fastened upon every circumstance
which appeared to show that they were
becoming exhausted. In 1879, as far as
appears-the letter is undatsd-Eden
finds indubitable proof in an enclosure
he has received from America "that the
credit Of the rebel Congress Is at its
utmost stretch, and actually BREAKING"
They were calling upon the eOiOnists to
furnish SIS, 100000 month, which adds
the writer, amount to nearly e40.00OO00
At the same time they were Offering to
receive the hard dollar in lieu of forty
paper dollars.
A curiosity among the correspondence
examined Is a letter from Admiral Sir
George Rodney to Lord George German,
marked "private" and dated Aug. 1880.
The Admiral was so anxious to obtain