The sun., 1903-12-06

| If during the summer Of the year named HI
had met and talked with Samuel Adams
who, from the date of the Battle OF Bunker
Hill, had convinced himself that the inde
pendence OF America should be declared
forthwith
In the second chapter Of the first volume
the fact, generally overlooked, is brought
out that could George ILL., have had his
way the British troops would have been
assisted in their attempt to conquer the
colonies by Russians instead OF Hessans.
| 1t is we'll known that the Car Alexa 1er
| III, declined to cooperate with Napoleon III
in recognizing the independence OF the
Southern Confederacy. It is known that
| Alexander l. showed himself well disposed
toward the United States Immediately
before the invasion Of Russia by Napoleon L..
and again during the War OF 1921 be-
tween this country and Great Britain. 1t
is also known that Catherine H.. by join
ing the so-called League of Neutrals, con-
tributed to the pressure which eventually
Obliged Great Britain to acknowledge the
Independence Of the thirteen American
Colonies. On the other hand, compare
lively few Americans know or remember
that Catherine ~. refused to lend her
soldiers for the subjugation OF our fore
fathers. II was no secret in European
chancelrles that England had run short OF
soldiers, for Lord Darlington, the head OF
the War ONCE, had told the French Am
bassador at st. Jamess that, while from
40 900 to so 900 men would be needed Eng
land herself could not produce an active
force of more than $4,000 rank and file.
1t was therefore evident that foreigners
would have to be hired for fighting purposes.
Sir Robert Cunning, the British Envoy to
Russia. who was personally favorite
with the Empress Catherine H., persuaded
himself and his employers that 10000 disci-
plined Russian infantry, fully equipped,
would sail for Canada as soon as the Baltic
should be open in the spring of l77e Burke
was shocked by the proposal. Il am on
thorns," he wrote. II cannot at my ease
zee Russian barbarism let loose to wnste the
most beautiful object that ever appeared
upon this globe Gibbon, on the other
hand, familarized by his studies on the
Decline of the Roman Empire with the idea
of paying outlandish tribes to defend
civilized commonwealth, took the matter
more lightly. When the Russians arrive
so he asked friend, If they refresh them
selves in England or Ireland, will you 20
TO see their camp? We have great hopes Of
getting a body OF these barberians In
consequence of some very plain advances.
George with his own hand wrote very
polite episte to Slater Kittie requesting her
friendly assistance" No sooner was the
despatch of George Ills letter known than
the Russian Court was besieged by expostu-
lations from the capital OF every country
which feared or hated or envied Britain.
There is reason to believe that the renon-
STRANGE of Frederick the Great was particu-
larly effective. In September, l77o, the
female autocrat of Russia adjured Gum
ming, the envoy OF q constitutional sover-
eign. to see that his royal master settled the
dispute with America by peaceful methods.
.You know she said, 'that my situation
has been full "a embarrassing. and. believe
me, did not rest my assurance OF success
upon one mode of action. There are
moments when we must not be too rigor Gus"
Some weel,s afterward Catherine ri. gave
George III. her final answer. There was,
the Empress said in letter, an impropriety
in employing her troops in another hemi-
sphere, at the disposal of foreign Govern
ment, and at a distance removed from all
correspondence with their own sovereign.
Besides she added, -she had not only her
own dignity to consider, but that of his
Majesty also. 1t would be an i'll compli-
ment from her TO him that she should con-
sent to a course of action implying that he
was one Of those monarchs that could not
put down their own rebellions.' Thus
rebuffed, George III. had to apply to Ger
many.
American historians have imperfectly
recognized the extent to which the war
was unpopular in the mother country.
Sir George Trevelyan devotes chapter
to the subject. Throughout the first three
quarters OF the eighteenth century the
C,t; of London, whenever England was
engaged in war, had been centre OF war
lie feeling. During the Seven Years
War tic corporation had supported Chat
ham Wit enthusiasm In 1875, on the
ctnor hand, the attempt to coerce Massa-