Page:The Hessians and the other German auxiliaries of Great Britain in the revolutionary war.djvu/43

 Rh to all Europe that Great Britain was unable, either from want of men, or disinclination to this service, to furnish a competent number of natural-born subjects to make the first campaign. It was a melancholy consideration that the drawing off the national troops (though feeble for the unhappy purpose on which they were employed) would yet leave Great Britain naked and exposed to the assaults and invasion of powerful neighboring and foreign nations.

The document then pointed out that a reconciliation with the colonies would be preferable to the employment of foreigners, who, when they were at so great a distance from their own country, and suffering under the distresses of a war wherein they had no concern, with so many temptations to exchange vassalage for freedom, would be more likely to mutiny or desert than to unite faithfully and co-operate with his Majesty's natural-born subjects.

After showing the danger of foreign troops being brought into the realm, and complaining that they had already been introduced into two of the strongest fortresses, the protest continues: “We have, moreover, just reason to apprehend that when the colonies come to understand that Great Britain is forming alliances, and hiring foreign troops for their destruction, they may think they are well justified by the example, in endeavoring to avail themselves of the like assistance; and that France, Spain, Prussia, or other powers of Europe may conceive that they have as good a right as Hesse, Brunswick, and Hanau to interfere in our domestic quarrels.”