The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-10-27

about tins British quarters. when Washing
ton ns "a matter ~ fact had at Morristo~n
scafccly troops %sufiicien to mount the
ordinary guards. after having lost "
battles Philadelphia in the following
campaign for wunt Of numbers and the
degree ~ discipline which ws might have
acquired by n psrr'anent force IN the first
instance. Ia hat u cruel and perilous situa-
ton did we again find ourselves In tbs
winter OF i777-7s mt Valley Forge. within a
days march Of the enemy. with a little
more than a third OF their strength. unable
20 defend our position or retreat from 10
Tor want OF the means Of transportation"
BY h end Of May, 1878, tho military
situation at Philadelphia had become for
the British very bad; and to those who ooked
below the surface the social and political
conditions which prevailed in the district
occupied by the royal army were still more
ominous for the royal cause. Sir william
Howe's campaign had been undertaken on
the theory that a great majority OF Penn
.sylvanians and Marylanders and New
Jerseymen were sincere we'll wishers to the
English Crow n-ready and willing to de-
clare themselves against the Revolution al
soon as Washington was defeated and driven
pusrhf' h''NN N-VEu-srs FES'n Sattt s@tt,t-aL
forward the rich and populous central
colonies. administered by a stable and
vigorous government Of prominent loyal
lists. would be . citadel OF royalism In the
sense that New England was a citadel OF 70
belion. These hopes were soon dispelled.
The relations between the British General
and tho American Tories were uncomfort-
able n mutually improbable from the
very first. and both parties grew less and
less satisfied with each other a. the war
went on. Sir William Howe's cherished
project for increasing and perhaps even
doubling the strength OF his army by tho
aid Of local levies ended In fat disappoint-
ment. In May, i77s." he wrote, when
! left America. s7% men constituted all tho
force that could be collected In Pennsyl-
vania, after the most indefatigabie exertions
made during eight months; whereas more
than ten times that number Of New England
farm ers and frontiersmen in half as many
weeks had shouldered their weapons and
marched forth to oppose Burgoyne.
VI.
It 10 we'll known that soon after the be-
ginning Of ITS the Government OF Lord
North. fearing that IN open breach with
France was a matter OF a few weeks only,
undertook TO recover America by political
and diplomatic measures. TIL Prime Min
lister proposed to repeal the tea duty and
to paas an act removing all doubts and
spprehensions concerning taxation by the
Parliament Of Great Britain in any Of the
provinces OF plantations Of North America.
Lord North announced himself as prepared
20 expunge from the statute book the law
which had closed the port Of Boston. the
law which had destroyed the charter Of
Massachusetts and the laws which excluded
New England mariners from the Newfound-
land fisheries and which prohibited trade
and intercourse between Great Britain MI
America. Moreover, a full pardon was
offered 10 all who had been engaged In
rebellion; and the Home Government
definitely and finally renounced the power
Of bringing political prisoners across the
sea TO be tried for treason In England.
No bill enacting In alteration in the Ton
stitution OF any colony was henoefor-
ward to be laid before Parliament save at
the request Of the colony itself. The
practice in American courts Of Justice
and the tenure OF Office Of the Judges
were to be regulated in accordance with
colonial opinion: and the royal governors
and civil and judicial magistrates were
be elected by the local population subject
to the approval OF the King. The credit Of
the British treasury should be employed to
the withdrawal Of the largo guam
tity Of paper currency issued by the Con-
tinental Congress for the purpose Of de-
fraying the expenses Of a wal against the
British Crown.
-- g.u- "a A. ~z-ztt.A--- -.
posals was the declaration that any eS-
preston OF a desire on the art Of the colo-
nists to have a reasonable number OF repre-
sentatives in the Parliament at Westminster
would be deliberately and very amicably
considered. A royal commission headed
by the Earl OF Carlisle was 20 visit America
IN order TO arrange the details OF p~acifcstion
the spot; and the commissioner would
char god specifically to address the Com
mander in Chief Of the American force. and
all other members OF the American Govern
ment by any style or title which the per-
sonsges in question might sec III to assume.
In q word. every point In dispute, whether
or great. ceremonial or essential.
between the British Cabinet and the Cont
mental Congress was surrendered without
ambiguity and without reserve. Most
Americans forget hat such amazing terms
Of Cancellation we're offered TO the colonies
In the spring OF IT'S.
As q matter of fact all hope Of a successful
issue had vanished before Lord Carlisle
and his fellow commissioners set foo upon
Pennsylvania soil. Acts of Parliament. az
Horace Walpole said at the time, had made
q rebellion. but acts Of Parliament could not
IL. The concessions offered by the
mother country came too late. The treaty
Of alliance betweeO the United States and
France had now been signed. and instead Of
a peace with her own colonies England
henceforwsrd. as Wslpole put the case.
must expect ~ with the High Allies
The cleverest OF Lord North's parliament
supporters. Edward Gibbon. was forced
to admit that tho two great countries in
Europe we're fairly running Il race for the
favor Of America" and that En- sland was
not the winner. VI. W. H.
The Newer Egypt