During the summer of 178o, Washington was prevented from accomplishing anything in the north by the de moralized condition of the finances and by the decline of public spirit. It was very difficult to secure recruits or supplies. The pay of the troops had fallen so into arrears that some of them had already begun to mutiny. A second French squadron and military force, under De Ternay and Rochambeau, landed at Newport, but they were at once shut up there by the British. Clinton and Corn wallis were now planning that Cornwallis, having put down resist ance in the remote south, should march through. North Carolina and Virginia to Baltimore and Philadelphia and that a junction of the two British forces should be effected which, it was believed, would complete the ruin of the American cause. But the turn of the tide in favour of the Americans began with the partisan warfare in South Carolina, which delayed the northward march of Cornwallis, who retired to Wilmington and thence marched north with a small force into Virginia, and in July retired to Yorktown, in the peninsula of Virginia. Washington and Rocham beau had meantime been planning a joint move against the British at New York, or possibly in Virginia, and a letter was sent to De Grasse, the French admiral in the West Indies, sug gesting his co-operation. De Grasse replied that he would sail for the Chesapeake. This confirmed Washington and Rochambeau in the opinion that they should march at once for Virginia and, after junction with the force of Lafayette, co-operate with De Grasse against Cornwallis. By well-timed movements the forces were brought together before Yorktown and Cornwallis was forced to surrender on Oct. 19, 1781.
This proved to be the last important operation of the war in America. The King was compelled to give way. Rockingham was called into office at the head of a cabinet which considered the recognition of American independence to be indispensable. The negotiations fell into the hands of Shel burne, the friend of Franklin and disciple of Adam Smith. Rich ard Oswald was the leading British agent, while Franklin, Jay, John Adams and Henry Laurens were the American negotiators. From the first the acknowledgment of independence, the settle ment of the boundaries and the freedom of fishing were insisted on as necessary terms by the Americans. The three points were
early conceded by the British. They also agreed to restrict Can ada to its ancient limits. But discussions later arose over the right to dry fish on the British coasts, over the payment of debts due to British subjects prior to the war and over the compensation of the loyalists. Adams vigorously insisted upon the right to dry and cure fish on British coasts, and finally this concession was secured. Franklin was opposed to the demands of the loyalists, and they had to be content with a futile recommendation by Congress to the States that their claims should be adjusted. It was also agreed that creditors on either side should meet with no lawful impediment to the collection of their debts. Both France and Spain considered the claims of the Americans to be excessive, and were not inclined to yield to them. But the Americans nego• tiated directly with the British and the articles were signed with out consultation with the French government. Peace was for mally ratified on Sept. 3, 1783.
The American army was now disbanded. Since the close of active military operations both officers and men had been striving to secure their pay, which was hopelessly in arrears. Congress had voted half-pay to the officers for life, and many had agreed to accept a commutation of this in the form of full pay for a certain number of years. Certificates for these amounts were issued. But in this, as in other cases, it was found impossible to procure the money for the purpose from the States. Parts of the army re peatedly mutinied, and it was only the influence of Washington which prevented a general outbreak. When the disbandment was finally effected the officers found their certificates depreciated in value and the States indisposed to honour them. They consequently received only a small part of their due, and the privates scarcely anything. The country was left in a most demoralized condition, the result of the long war and the general collapse of public and private credit which had accompanied it. (H. L. O.)