Page:The Marquess Cornwallis and the Consolidation of British Rule.djvu/15

Rh minor actions against the French. On his return home he continued to pay attention to his military duties and was stationed with his regiment at Dublin, Derby, Gloucester, and Gibraltar. In July, 1768, he married Jemima, daughter of Colonel Jones of the third regiment of Foot Guards. He seems to have been constantly in his place in the House of Peers, and to have voted usually with Lord Shelburne, who eventually became the first Lord Lansdowne, and with Earl Temple. It is significant that notwithstanding the political opinions of his predecessors he was steadily opposed to the scheme for taxing the American colonists, and though he held divers Ministerial appointments he voted against the Ministry of the day on more than one occasion. In 1770 he was violently denounced by Junius, and by that venomous writer was credited with the intention of 'retiring into voluntary banishment in the hope of recovering some of his reputation.'

This attack rests on no more basis of truth than many of the accusations of Junius. But so far from retiring from public life into social exile, it was the fate of Cornwallis from this date to take a decided and prominent part in most important events in America, in India, in Ireland, and on the Continent. Practically, his public career may be divided into four portions. He commanded a division of Royal troops and saw much service in the American War of Independence. He was Governor-General and