The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-11-21

numerous interested patriots for the
purpose of raising revenue; and from
the complex mass one is selected to
show to what extreme lengths they
were willing to go, in order to sue
coed in their war for liberty. 1t seems
absurd to-day, but Mr.. Deane was very
much in earnest when he wrote: II
trace the Ohio river from its junction
to its head, to Lake Erie, Fort Detroit,
thence west to the Mississippi and
return to the place of departure.
These three lines of near thousand
miles each include an immense terri
tory, in fine climate, we'll watered
and, by accounts, exceedingly fertile;
it is not inhabited by any Europeans of
are inconsiderable, and will decrease
faster than the lands can possibly be
called for cultivation"
The vast empire is thus we'll de-
scribed, and then he proceeds to give
it away, give away Illinois, Indiana
and Ohio, or parts OF those magnificent
sovereign states: ITO this ask your
attention as resource amply ade.
quate, under proper regulations, for
defraying the expense of the whole
war" Then he proceeds to tell how
company should be formed, the con.
| gress retaining one-ffth interest in
the scheme. He says:
'These are the outlines of pro-
posed grant, which, you see, contains
more than 25,O00,OOO acres of land, the
one-fifth of which, if a settlement is
carried on vigorously, will soon be Of
prodigious value. At this time COM
| pany might be formed in France, Ger
many, ETC., who would form a stock
of 100000 to defray the expense Of
this settlement. You want money,
and by holding up thus early to view
certain fund on which to raise it.,
even the most certain in the world,
that of land security, you may obtain
the loan and engage the moneyed in
terests of Europe in your favor. I
have spoken with many persons of
good sense on this subject, which
makes me the more sanguine."
Wouldn't it jar you, just to think
of selling off three sovereign states
for 100000? In Chicago, or in any
one of a score of cities now flourish
ing in that domain. are hundreds Of
men who can write their checks for
that amount of money; and there are
several men there now who would
cheerfully give that amount to their
country, if it were needed. But hon
est old Silas Deane could not foresee,
nor even imagine, what tremendous
probab ilities there were in that 25,.
100000 acres.
Arthur Lee, while at Berlin, June
Is, 1777, wrote that his bureau had
been broken open and some papers
stolen. He fixes the crime upon the
English ambassador: Upon being
informed that I was gone to the gov
ernor, and thatsuspicion fell upon one
of his servants, the ambassador went
away in great confusion, and in half an
hour the port feuille, with all the pa
pers, was laid down at the door and
the person ran off undisturbed. The
examinations taken show that his
servant repeatedly told other servants
at the hotel that his master would give
1000 ducats for my papers. The whole
is before the king. The return of the
papers. Chose which he particularly
wanted not having been left in the
bureau) disappointed him of his OBJ
ject, while the whole odium rests upon
him. He will do better next time. and
his court will no doubt encourage him.
Public ministers have been regarded
rs spies. Mr.. Elliott british ambas-
sador) will give them the title of rob-
bers."
The scoundrel did not dare to lool,
an American citizen iz the face. Two
years later Paul Jones wrote to La
Fayette: II must tell you that Mr..
Elliott was furious when he found nv
business at Copenhagen, and that I
was received with great distinction t
court and in all the best societies in
Denmark. Every time l was invited
to sup with the king Elliott made an
apology; he shut himself up for more
than month, and then left town. u
These interesting excerpts from the
diplomatic history of the revolution
but slightly set forth tbs value of
! the rare publication; and the volumes
can only be secured by congressional
enactment for additional printing.
sMITH d. FRY.