The Cornhill Magazine (vol. XLII, no. 247 new series, January 1917) — John Shaqi
The Cornhill Magazine (vol. XLII, no. 247 new series, January 1917)Various
History
The Cornhill Magazine (vol. XLII, no. 247 new series, January 1917)
Various
England -- Periodicals; English literature -- Periodicals; Short stories, English -- Periodicals
in the middle years of the eighteenth century.
In the Seven Years’ War, when, in the words of Frederick the Great,
England, having been long in labour, had at length brought forth a man,
that man, William Pitt, set himself to fight France in America, and
sent out what were for the time comparatively large armies to conquer
Canada. He called upon the British North American colonies to co-operate
and raise their levies; and inasmuch as his appeal was made in wise and
tactful terms, and the colonies realised that for once England would not
leave them in the lurch, they, or some of them, answered to the call with
patriotism and goodwill. Thus regular soldiers from England, in greater
numbers than ever before, came among the colonists, and provincial
regiments were raised to march and fight side by side with the troops of
the line. Then was seen and felt in its fullest extent the difference
between the home Briton and his brother beyond the seas, at a time when
the divergence was most pronounced. The regulars were very regular, the
Provincials were very provincial; from a military point of view the two
bodies of men were at opposite poles. The Provincials knew nothing of
training or discipline; they were nondescript, temporary soldiers of
small democracies; they were farmers enlisted for the campaign, their
term of service in any case not exceeding one year: few had uniforms,
some brought guns with them, some had none to bring: the officers were
in effect chosen by the men. The troops of the line, on the other hand,
imported into the backwoods of North America the stiffness and rigidity
of European dress, discipline, and tactics in the eighteenth century,
and between the officers and soldiers there was a great gulf fixed, as
between the ranks of society in Europe.
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