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CHAPTER XXII: England

It is not within the province of this article to enter into a detailed account of the magnificent achievements of the little half-starved American army under George Washington-France now entered the lists as the ally of the Americans; and Spain no less blindly followed the example . But England had augmented the number of her troops, and placed them under the command of lords Cornwallis and Rawdon, who defeated the American general Washington; while admiral Rodney displayed his superiority in a naval engagement with the Spaniards. But it was not merely the hostility of the French and Spaniards that the English had to cope with: the jealousy of the continental powers displayed itself by their entering into an armed neutrality, the avowed object of which was to resist the right of search which England's long established naval superiority had taught her to exercise as a right over the vessels of other nations. Holland was now added to the list of enemies, the faithless conduct of that state having induced the British government to declare war against it; and many of the Dutch possessions in South America and the West Indies were taken from them. Meantime the war in America, as well as on its coasts, was carried on with increased vigor; the French exerting themselves not as mere partisans in the cause, but as principals. It was evident that, although the war might be long protracted, the recovery of the North American colonies was not likely to be accomplished: and as the English had been several times out-generaled, and the last loss on their part consisted of 6000 men at Yorktown, under Cornwallis, who had been compelled to surrender to a powerful combined French and American army commanded by Washington, England began to think seriously it was high time to make up the quarrel with her rebellious sons.

During the latter part of the war admiral Rodney gave the French fleet, commanded by count de Grasse, a memorable defeat in the West Indies; whilst general Elliot showed the French and Spaniards how futile were their attempts against Gibraltar. In short, great as were the disadvantages which the English had to contend, the energies and resources of the nation were still equal to the task of successfully coping with its enemies in Europe; while in the vast empire of British India fresh laurels were continually gathered, and the French were there dispossessed of all their settlements. On the 20th of January, 1783, the independence of the United States was formally acknowledged by England and George Washington, the man who led the armies and directed the councils of America, was chosen president.