Читать книгу The Life of John Graves Simcoe - William Renwick Riddell - Страница 18

ADDITIONAL NOTE

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In 1787, Simcoe wrote a criticism on the Marquis de Chastellux’s “Voyage dans l’Amérique”, which he read in the English translation, “Travels in North America in the Years 1779-82”, published in two volumes, 8vo., in 1787 (an edition appeared in London and another in Dublin the same year). Chastellux had served in the Revolutionary War under Rochambeau with some credit; and this work was largely an account of men and things as he saw them there. He was not complimentary to the Americans, and his book never was a favourite in the United States: he was still less complimentary to the British and the Hessians; and Simcoe thought he should take him to task.

Simcoe’s work is very rare (the last price I have seen quoted is £3 3s.): it bears the title—Remarks on the Travels of the Marquis de Chastellux in North America. London. Printed for G. and T. Wilkie, in St. Paul’s Church Yard. MDCCLXXXVII. (Price Two Shillings) Cr. 8vo., 2-80 pp.

(In Ink on the Title Page “By John Graves Simcoe”)

In the “Advertisement” prefixed, the critic says:—“On reading the Travels of the Marquis de Chastellux I offer some remarks upon them to the public: his account of America strengthens many assertions relative to the late War that have hitherto been disbelieved; points out who were the enemies of Great Britain; what instruments separated her from her colonies; and produces the most ample evidence in favour of the military talents of the British Generals.”

The critic says of the Marquis what the Marquis said of Lafayette:—“He was a Gascon as well as the rest of them”. He agrees with Chastellux in his criticism of Washington’s course at “German Town”; and disagrees with him as to the conduct of the Hessians for “even the Allied Army when it drove the French marauders from Hesse pillaged the Hessians more than the Hessians or British did America”. It sounds strange, but the critic and the Marquis agreed that Washington’s Army “was composed of all nations, not of native Americans .... under a more severe systematic and uniform mode of discipline .... than any European potentate in the time of war can avail himself of”.

“The American buzzard should be stripped of the eagle’s plumage .... the capture of Lord Cornwallis’ army was the effect of joint operation and French cannon. The surprize of Washington at Brandywine and defeat of German Town have not added to his reputation, and the terming his repulse at Monmouth a defeat of the British Army .... the army knew .... to be a dishonorable gasconade.”

Lafayette’s claim to any military reputation is absolutely denied: “General Wayne was indefatigable, active and brave”: “As an American soldier, Lee was the most injured man in the universe”: “General Gates .... is no hypocrite but real in his love for liberty”; “Boston, Philadelphia, Newport and Charles Town acquit them (the British Generals) of unnecessary destruction.”

“There is in general but one sentiment relative to America throughout Great Britain: she regrets only her national debt and not the loss of her colonies. Some are not wanting to say that even that debt is cheaply purchased if Great Britain is wise enough to attend to her internal advantages and to prefer the certainty of their cultivation to all foreign and precarious emoluments .... the sole object of the inhabitants of Great Britain is the preservation of peace.”

A very modern touch concludes the book. “As far as the interests of nations are superior to those of Kings, a Family Company in greater lustre and more extensive meaning would be created by an union of force and of commerce between Great Britain, Ireland and America. No unnecessary wars would disturb the world at this junction .... Away then with the remembrance of the late war and its individual miseries .... let all retrospect be avoided: let all harsh and aggravating expressions cease and such incendiaries as the Translator of the Marquis de Chastellux’s Memoirs be treated with deserved contempt. This conduct, religion recommends and history points out in the most forcible manner to Britons and their American descendants.”

Exeter Grammar School

As indicating the esteem in which Simcoe was held by those who knew him, may be read Dr. Hugh Downman’s tribute. Hugh Downman, M.D., (1740-1809), physician and poet, was born in Exeter and educated in the Exeter Grammar School. He entered Balliol College, Oxford, in 1758, and after taking Holy Orders in Exeter, studied medicine in Edinburgh University. After graduating there he “walked” the Hospitals in London and in 1770 after taking his M.A. in Cambridge settled down to the practice of medicine in Exeter. He wrote plays published in 1792 at Exeter in 8vo., Tragedies by H.D., M.D., and many poems of some merit, amongst them Poems to Thespia, Exeter, 1781, 8vo. In this volume appear the following lines:

To Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe,

XVII

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Simcoe, howe’er in weak illiberal days

Merit may toil in vain, and valour bleed,

Denied by prejudice their well-earn’d meed;

Yet, mindful of her office high of yore,

The Muse her vivid garland shall prepare

And gird the intwined foliage round their hair:

Tune with sincerest voice her notes of praise,

Bid Glory open her refulgent store,

While Truth and Virtue sanctify her lays,

Read and approved till time shall be no more.

Thy gallant acts, and each intrepid deed

’Tis hers to adorn. Nor thou, each softer air

Refuse; the strains which she to love could yield,

While thou wert harrass’d in strifeful field.