ACCOUNT OF BOOKS. 



437 



AuiCiican war, js relieved by the 

 contemplation of those talents and 

 virtues that were eminently dis- 

 played on the side of Great Bri- 

 tain in varioug important though 

 subordinate stations. 



" Although the issue of that war 

 was unfortunate, our national cha- 

 racter was not impaired, nor the 

 contest, while it was maintained, 

 on the whole inglorious. Neither 

 martial ardour was wanting among 

 our countrymen, normilitaiy euter- 

 priy^e, nor patriotic zeah In that 

 rank, and those circumstances of life 

 which are at once a temptation and 

 an apology for dissipation and a love 

 of pleasure, the military spiritof Bri- 

 tain shone with undiminished lustre: 

 and the noblest families exhibited 

 bright examples of true courage, ex- 

 alted genius, and consummate wis- 

 dom. Wiiilst 1 indulge, with ex- 

 ultation, this general reflection, per- 

 mit me to acknowledge that my at- 

 tention is irresistibly drawn towards 

 the earl of Moira. Accept then, 

 my lord, this humble effort to trans- 

 mit to posterity the glorious actions 

 of our countrymen, as a mark of per- 

 sonal rospect for your lordship ; for 

 that h-ppy union of enthusiasm in 

 the cause of virtue, of invention, in- 

 trepidity, and decision of character, 

 with cool reflection, and patient per- 

 verance, which directs the public 

 eye to your lordship as the hope and 

 tlae pride of yourcountry. That your 

 lordship may long. live still to sus- 

 tain, in a frivolous age, the dignity 

 of true nobility, the virtue of chi- 

 valry without its spirit of romance, 

 ss the ardent wish and hope of," otc. 



But the general scope or result of 



the historical 



' tmti 



:)o .ition before us 



is more clearly tHiolded in the.intro- 

 duction, which discovers soundjudg- 

 :pcnt,extensiveknowIedge, and u ca- 



pacity for political and philosophical 

 reflection. — " So natural is the love 

 of liberty, and such the aversion of 

 mankind to restrai nt, that it seem s to 

 be in the very nature of colonies, 

 and all subordinate governments, to 

 seize eveiy favourable opportunity 

 of ass'^rting their independence ; and 

 the external aspect of nature, vari- 

 •egated and broken by mountains, 

 savannahs, rivers, lakes, arid seas, 

 conspires with that noble passion to 

 check the progress of empire,and to 

 manitain an interesting diversity 

 among tribes and nations. 



" But when tin: British colonies, 

 now the Thirteen United States of 

 North America, took up arms, and 

 declared tliemselves free and inde- 

 pendent, they were not encouraged 

 byany conjuncturethat could justify 

 that measure in point of policy, or 

 by ariy circumstances that could 

 yield any reasonable hope of success 

 in the aj-duous strujjgle that was to 

 ensue. On the contrary, if we take 

 a view of the strength and resources 

 of Great Britain at the commence- 

 ment of hostilities, andcontrast these 

 with the weakness, and almost total 

 inability of the revolting colonies, 

 v^'e shall have reason to conclude, 

 that the termination of the war in 

 favour «f the latter, with their final 

 separation from th^- British empire, 

 was one of thoseextraordinary and 

 unexpectejl eve.-.ts which, in the 

 courseof iuiman affairs, rarely occur, 

 and which bid deliance to' all hti nan 

 foresight and calculation. A peo- 

 ple, not excc'" ii.ig two mil'ions of 

 souls, widely scattered over hplf the 

 hemisphere ; in the peaceable occu- 

 pations of lishiiig. agriculture and 

 commi rce ; divided into many dis- 

 tinct governments, differing froni 

 each other in manners, religion, ainl 

 interests, ;:ot entirely litiitcd in po- 



Ff3 ' lined 



