The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-11-13
Englishman Wrote Best History of
Revolution, Roosevelt Thought
(Kansas City Star.)

(Kansas City star.)
In one Of Theodore Roosevelt's let
tiers to his son. "Ted'-these letters
that are so full of the spirit of pa
ternal companionship-he recon-
mends for the boys reading a history
of the American revolution written by
an Englishman-Sir George Trevel-
yam.
Il wonder" he wrote, IF you are
old enough to care for a good history
Of the American revolution. If so,
think I shall give you mine by Sir
George Trevelyan; although 1t is by
an Englishman, I really think it on
read. If I give it to you, you must
be very careful of it because he sent
1t to me himself"
Sir George Trevelyan-now a man
past his eightieth year and who COM
pleted his American history after he
was seventy-was a nephew of Lord
Macauley. the great English historian
and essayist; his mother was Macau-
ley's sister. Like most distinguished
men of letters, he combined politics
with literature, and during the Glad
stone period was quite active in pub
lie and parliamentary life. Under the
Gladstone ministry he was appointed
civil lord OF the admiralty and later
secretary for Scotland. In parliament
he was rated as a radical reformer.
lie advocated sweeping reforms IN the
army, including the abolition OF the
purchase of commissions, supported
woman suffrage at a time when the
cause had few friends, proposed extern
sive reforms in the government of
cities and favored the abolition OF
the house of lords.
His life, however, was mainly de-
voted to literature. His history Of the
American revolution was an Outgrowth
of bis Early History of Charles
James Fox-that stanch friend Of the
American patriOts-over the revolu-
'ionary period with which his activ.
tiles as an English statesman were
60 closely woven
A Friend Of Roosevelt.
Between Roosevelt and Trevelyan
4 strong friendship spring up, which
was cemented by a literary corresDon-
dence between the two, beginning
while Roosevelt was governor OF New
York, and continuing over period CT
twenty years. On receipt OF the copy
Of the history referred to in his letter
10 lea, ROOSSFel NlOte " iio'ei
yam:
Il feel that it. is far and away the
best account of the revolution written
by anyone. For interest, for delight
1ul humor. for absolute fair minded
ness. for exactness of narrative, Tor
profound insight (and for Englisho
why, my dear sir no other book on
the revolution so much as approaches
it. You are one of the few blessed
exceptions to the rule that the read
able historian is not truthful. think
that in combining literary interest
with historical accuracy you must
come near satisfying even MI Fred
eric Harrison"
And in December, 1907, while presi-
dent, Mr.. Roosevelt united with Sec
retary Root and Senator Lodge in
further token of his appreciation OF
Trevelyan's contribution to American
history. the present Of a silver loving
cup, bearing the inscription: TO the
Historian of the American Revolution
from His Friends, Theodore Roosevelt
Henry Cabot Lodge and Elihu Root
The following extract from Trevel
vans account of the battle OF Bunker
Hill, taken from his history, will serve
not only as an example OF Trevclyan
graphic and brilliant style OF nara
tive, but as striking Illustration OF
his fairness in treating a historic
event which few British historians
have handled with good grace. 1t VII
also be interesting from the stand
poiu, of a British view of the signif
1cance OF Bunker Hill, as foreshad
owing the end. and its effect upon the
morale of the British war party ant
,ne spirit of the invading armies:
Battle Of Bunker Hill.
On the 18th of June the COMMITTEE
Of safety Of the Massachusetts con
aress unanimously resolved to advIs
the council of war that possession
the hill called Bunker's hill, i
tharlestown, should be securely KEEP
and defended by sufficient forces
Next evening 1900 New Highlander
were paraded on Cambridge commo
and listened to the president OF Hal
ward college while he invoked d
vine blessing on An enterprise the M
,ure Of which was still secret fro:
almost all his hearers. They wer
under the command of Colonel Pre-
colt. who was old enough to have ser'
cd at Cape Breton. where he had e.
hibited qualities which procured hl1
The offer from the British military al
tnOrltleS or commission III tllt ~
ua- army. When night fell the expod
1ion started: the colonel in 'front.' an
carts filed with intrenching tools TO
lowing in the rear. The men had thel
weapons. their blankets. and one day
lations; loose powder in their horn
but not very much Of it: and in the,
pouches bullets which they had ca!
themselves.
Both officers and soldiers wo7
their own clothes: nor were any CO
ors to their regiments visible. The
firelOcks seemed unwiedly. and som
were of extraordinary length; but tn
men were mostly robust and large
than the English. II must be remer
bered. too. that the clumsy gun was a
old friend. with whose good and ba
qualities they were intimately a
quaint cd.
"PrescOtt made his way by the al
Of dark lanterns over Bunker's Hi
which. a. the highest point rose II
fee: above the level Of the sea. f
halted his men further to the eastwa,
on a still lower spur Of the same u