in Europe?  Or will such disgraces have no consequences?  Is not America lost to us?  Shall we offer up more human victims to the demon of obstinacy; and shall we tax ourselves deeper to furnish out the sacrifice?  These are thoughts I cannot stifle at the moment that enforces them; and though I do not doubt but the same spirit of dissipation that has swallowed up all our principles will reign again in three days with its wonted sovereignty, I had rather be silent than vent my indignation.  Yet I cannot talk, for I cannot think, on any other subject.  It was not six days ago, that in the midst of four raging wars I saw in the papers an account of the Opera and of the dresses of the company; and thence the town, and thence of course the whole nation were informed that Mr. Fitzpatrick had very little powder in his hair.(459) Would not one think that our newspapers were penned by boys just come from school for the information of their sisters and cousins?  Had we had Gazettes and Morning Posts in those days, would they have been filled with such tittle-tattle after the battle of Agincourt, or in the more resembling weeks after the battle of Naseby?  Did the French trifle equally even during the ridiculous war of the Fronde?  If they were as impertinent then, at least they had wit in their levity.  We are monkeys in conduct, and as clumsy as bears when we try to gambol.  Oh! my lord!  I have no patience with my country! and shall leave it without regret!—­Can we be proud when all Europe scorns us?  It was wont to envy us, sometimes to hate us, but never despised us before.  James the First was contemptible, but he did not lose an America!  His eldest grandson sold us, his younger lost us—­but we kept ourselves.  Now we have run to meet the ruin—­and it is coming!

I beg your lordship’s pardon, if I have said too much—­but I do not believe I have.  You have never sold yourself, and therefore have not been accessary to our destruction.  You must be happy now not to have a son, who would live to grovel in the dregs of England.  Your lordship has long been so wise as to secede from the follies of your countrymen.  May you and Lady Strafford long enjoy the tranquillity that has been your option even in better days!—­and may you amuse yourself without giving loose to such reflections as have overflowed in this letter from your devoted humble servant!

(458) The fatal intelligence of the surrender of the British forces at Yorktown, under the command of Lord Cornwallis, to the combined armies of America and France, under General Washington, had reached England on the 25th.-E.