The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 05
History
The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 05
United States -- Foreign relations -- 1775-1783; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Sources
conduct so unjust, and without example, the principal officers find
themselves ruined, and the inferior officers and soldiers are dying
with hunger. There was scarcely an English vessel upon the coast, and
the price of all the necessaries of life were raised more than an
hundred per hundred. What defence could be made by people in such a
situation, if attacked by the French, who burn with a desire of
forming an establishment upon that coast."
The losses in Africa are considerable, and the English are threatened
with more considerable in India, where the natives of the country
begin to be weary of the vexation of foreigners, who come from Europe
to subject them to the yoke. The Emperor of Mogul threatens them in
Bengal, the Marattas at Bombay, and the famous Hyder Aly upon the
coast of Coromandel, and the domestic troubles which have arisen in
the bosom of their establishments, may put them out of a condition to
defend them. All Europe prays for the liberty of the seas, and waits
with impatience the effects of the union of the maritime powers, which
must put a bridle upon the violent and arbitrary proceedings of the
English.
On the 18th and 19th of May there were warm debates in the House of
Commons of Ireland, where the patriotic party carried a duty of twelve
shillings per quintal on sugars imported from England. On the 22d, it
was resolved by an hundred and forty voices against eighteen, that a
bill should be brought in for the punishment of mutiny and desertion,
and to establish better regulations for the land forces. This is a
decisive measure, and if it is admitted, it concedes the principle,
that the British Parliament has no authority over Ireland.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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