The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-01-26
Bicentenary of Lord
Germaine, the Arch Foe
Of the Americans

Although to-day marks the r2OOth
anniversary of the birth of Lord
George Germaine, Viscount Sackville,
it is not likely that Englishmen. any
more than Americans, viii iXdulge
in any jubi1attons over the -bicenten-
airy. Britain has had few if any
statesmen who were more unpopular
than Lord, Germaine, and certainly
none more cordially hated and exc
Grated by Americans. AS colonial
secretary during the American revo-
luton, Lord Germaine evinced the
the most vindictive spirit against the
rebels" and as he enjoyed the favor
"of George III, he was able to WELD
q. great influence. He was no more
popular at hcme than in America, and
during the London riots in 1880 the
vengefu1 mob was so insistent in de-
manding his blood that he had to bar
ricade his house and call for the pro-
lection of soldiers He constantly
complained to the King of the human
ity of the English generals in Amer
of savage Indians in the war against
the co1onists.
Lord qermaine was the third son
of the first Duke of Dorset, and was
born Jan. 26, 1716. He was educat-
ed at Trinity College in Dublin where
tenant Of Ireland, and entered the
army. He rose to the rank of
lieutenant general during the Seven
Years War, commanding the allied
cavalry at the battle Of Minden. For
disobedience of orders he was recall
ed, court martia1ed and dismissed
from the service in disgrace. At the
accession of George III, his friend
and boon companion, in 1850, Lord
Germaine was restored to favor, and
entered Parliament His influence
over the young monarch was so well
known, and so unpopular, that hand
bills were spread over London read
ing, mo Lord George SackviIle! No
Petticoat government "-the latter
phrase abiding to the influence of the
mother.
In 1775 he was made colonial sec
rotary in Lord North's cabinet, a post
he retained throughout the period of
the American revolution. He was the
inp1acab1e enemy of the ab1est of the
British generals in America, Sir Guy
Canada, and Caar1eton's best efforts
were continually hampered and often
brought to nought by the Colonial
Lord Germaine constant
ly complained to the. King of the hui
mainly of Carleton, and he reproved
and sought the downfall of every gen
eraI who showed signs OF mercy in
his conduct of Indian warfare. 1t
was the agents sent out by Gern1aine
who melted the Indians to scalp and
murder the white settlers, without dis
tinction of age or sex, all along the
line from New York to Geor-
gia- He was very proud of his re-
for this bloody business,
and his acts brought down upon his
head the execrations of a greater part
of his countrymen.
Lord Germaine assumed that name
in ITO upon inheriting the estates of
Lady Germaine, and was created Wis
count Sackville in 1892, three years
before his death. He was one of
the tfirty-seven persons to whom the
authorship of the immortal 'sLetters of
Junius'' have been attributed, but his
was scarcely in keeping
with the sentiments expressed in those
which were uncompromising
in supporting popular rights. It is
utterly unlikely that Germaine, the
Kings favorite, should have chided
the monarch for his personal favof1te-
ism, or called upon George iii to put
aside .tthe wretched RormaHty of a
King. and speak to your subjects with
the spirit of q man and in the lam
guage of a, gentleman"