THE
LOYALISTS OF AMERICA
AND
THEIR TIMES,
FROM 1620 TO 1816.
CHAPTER XXVII.
The War of the American Revolution after the Declaration of Independence—The Alliance between the Congress and King of France—The Alliance not Productive of the Effects Anticipated—Efforts of the British Government for Reconciliation with the Colonies not Successful.
It was supposed, both in America and France, that when the alliance between the King of France and Congress, referred to in the last chapter of the previous volume, became known in England, though it was not publicly avowed until February, 1778, England would be weakened and discouraged from further warlike effort, and immediately offer terms of peace, upon the ground of American independence; but the reverse was the case.
The alliance between Congress and the King of France was kept in abeyance by the latter during more than a twelvemonth after it was applied for by the agents of Congress, until after the defeat and capture of General Burgoyne and the refusal of Congress to confer with Lord and General Howe, as British Commissioners, without the previous acknowledgment by the Commissioners of the independence of the United States.[1]