The sun., 1916-04-09


ticipation OF lack Of the strong mill
tary support which he believed TO be
essential.
Gen. Gage boasted that four
regiments would he enough to bring
the New Enganders to their senses.
Amherst knew better than that. Yet
It was reported. and the report was
widely circulated In the Colonies. that
Sir Jeffery had said that with 5000
English regulars he could march
from one end to the other Of North
America" And the ridiculous report
was followed by another attributing
to Col. Washington the retort that
with 1000 Virginians he would en-
gage to stop Sir Jeffery Amherst's
march,"
Staying at home. Sir Jeffery. as
"the Nestor of English Generals at that
time.'' became the recognized military
adviser to the Cabinet. Lord Dart
mouth, Secretary for the Colonies. re-
signed his office in the fall Of 11,5.
and Lord George German took his
place. German. younger and less ex-
perienced than Amherst. turned con-
stantly 20 Sir Jeffery for advice. and
Sir Jeffery played his part we'll: "He
recommended this mans promotion
and that mans leave Of absence. delay
here and reinforcement there. until
IL seems as II the Administration
never took a step without first dis
covering Amherst's opinion Of the pro-
posed move In t171. for instance.
ne gave an estimate Of the rebels
strength which is proved to have been
remarkably accurate. and which is
adduced as all example OF the correct
ness of his deductions from data
bearing upon campaigns in a theatre
of war from which he was so far re-
moved. His services were so we'll ap-
preciated as to win for him the peeragc
which he had coveted. and which in
1868 he had demanded" after lit
tie disagreement with the Ministry.
in which "Junius" had championed
his cause.
In the autumn of 17I1 King George
supported the employment Of Indians
in the American war Chatham asked
in the Lords: "Who is the man that
has dared to authorize and associate
to our arms the tomahawk and scalp
ing knife of the savage" His de-
nunciation Of the Ministry. a scathing
attack. rang with such phrases as
"the mercenary spirit OF robbery and
rapine.' "horrid scenes of savage
cruelty" the army that could "no
longer boast Of the noble and gem
erous principles which dignity a
soldier" nor "symmthiZe with the
dignity Of the royal banner. nor feel
the pride. pomp and circumstance Of
glorious war that makes ambition
virtue" Earl Cover retorted that II
was strange that they who had the
conduct Of the last war should forget
the means by which Z was conducted.
and now condemn the measures they
had formerly authorized" Lord AM
herst. called upon to confirm the as
serton that Pitts Administration
had never justified or authorized"
employment OF Indian warriors. con-
fessed that he had had Indian aid in
his campaigns. but managed TO avoid
expression Of Ministerial responsible
ity. But few weeks later Chatham
repeated his unhappy assertions. and
again called upon Amherst:
with evident reluctance the General
| arose and declared that the English had
followed the example Of the French
but he was sure he never would have ven
| tured to do so II h. had not received or
ders. Amherst denied his lord. but under
| the circumstances, how could he have done
| otherwise' lie knew that Pitt had been
perfectly cogn!zant OF every detail OF til"
| campaign in America, and that he had
| specifically commented the conduct OF the
| faithful Indian allies upon at least one
| occasion.
Burgoync's surrender and the
apathy of Howe renewed the demand
that Amherst so to America TO erd the
war. but he again saw the King and
again positively refused. NJ Cabi-
net meeting in January. l77S. his
views were presented by one Of the
Ministers. Hc thought the Colonies
could not be brought to subiectiou
without reinforcement of the British
armies by 10000 or 10000 men, and
advised naval programme. lr
March. when news came of the
! Franco American treaty OF commerce
and friendship. reconstruction Of plans
was in order, and Sir Jeffcry advised
that the troops I've withdrawn at once
from Philadelphia. where they had
been idle all winter. and stationed al
New York; that forces be sent fai
south: that New York be III de a nava
base and the fleet sent to destroy
American vessels in harbor. and that
the machinery Of war be concentrated
upon France. As Mr.. Mayo says
rounding up big events In the light u
his interest in the personal fortunes %
an individual concerned in them. III.
French alliance AT last made Am
herst. Chatham and George III, at one
in their attitude toward tho American
war" March -. l1,S. King George
made Amherst comma nder in chic
of all British forces in England.
Walpole was prcjudiccd against Am
herst, because Of his devotion to hi
4 cousin. Henry Seymour Conwa", Am
hersts natural rival and his sue
cessor as commander in chief; ou
even he placed Lord Amherst amoni
those men who, in particular in
stances in one period of their life
not only have performed great &C
tions but have conducted them Will
consummate sense and address. an,
who in the rest of their lives haV'
been able t. display no symptoms o
genius Walpolc did, however, Civ,
fortune superior place IT, foresight il
shaping Amhcrst's career. The hiog
raphcr will have none OF il: Am
herst was from first to last a solde
Of extraordinary ability" lie says
"The perihclion of his orbit wa
} reached in September, 1850. when b.