George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 6, 10th edition.

[140]

Du Chatelet,¹ in England, having made his inqui-

Chap. XXXII.} 1768. March

ries into the resources of America, was persuaded that even if the detailed statements before him were one half too large, England could not reduce her Colonies should they raise the standard of rebellion. ‘Their population is so great,’ said he to Choiseul, ‘that a breath would scatter the troops sent to enforce obedience. The ever existing attractions of an entire independence and of a free commerce, cannot fail to keep their minds continually in a state of disgust at the national subjection. The English Government may take some false step, which will in a single day set all these springs in activity. A great number of chances can hasten the revolution which all the world foresees without daring to assign its epoch. I please myself with the thought that it is not so far off as some imagine, and that we should spare neither pains nor expense to co-operate with it. We must also nourish his Catholic Majesty's disposition to avenge his wrongs. The ties that bind America to England are three fourths broken. It must soon throw off the yoke. To make themselves independent, the inhabitants want nothing but arms, courage, and a chief. If they had among them a genius equal to Cromwell, this republic would be more easy to establish than the one of which that usurper was the head. Perhaps² this man exists; perhaps nothing is wanting but happy circumstances to place him upon a great theatre.’