AMERICAN REVOLUTION. 27

CHAPTER IV.

The Court of France intrigues with the Colonists to bring about :1 Separation from Great Britain—Character of the Colonists who conducted the Revo- lution—Remonstrances to the King and People of England—Conciliatory Plan of Earl Chatham—Mr Burke’s Motion in Parliament—Independence of the United States, 8w.

IT was a fact well known, that from the time France lost Canada, secret intrigues were put in ope- ration by that government, for the purpose of shaking the allegiance of the British American colonists. That they aided in effecting and carrying on the revolu- tionary war, is certain ; but other causes, more pow- erful than all the address and assistance of France could bring about, governed the colonies, and enabled them finally to establish their independence.

The inhabitants of the four New England pro- vinces were principally the descendants of those stubborn republicans who fled from England to enjoy their own ideas of politics and religion. They retained the hatred of their ancestors to kingly authority, and the strongest aversion to the Church of England. These people were the life and prime

support of that opposition,~which did not abate until America was lost to Great Britain.

The inhabitants of the other colonies, though num- bers of them were of foreign extraction, were more