On April 12, 1782,
Rodney met Grasse in a terrible naval battle in the West Indies.
Some five thousand in both fleets perished. When night came
Grasse was Rodney's prisoner and Britain had recovered her
supremacy on the sea. On returning to France Grasse was tried by
court-martial and, though acquitted, he remained in disgrace
until he died in 1788, "weary," as he said, "of the burden of
life." The defeated Cornwallis was not blamed in England. His
character commanded wide respect and he lived to play a great
part in public life. He became Governor General of India, and was
Viceroy of Ireland when its restless union with England was
brought about in 1800.
Yorktown settled the issue of the war but did not end it. For
more than a year still hostilities continued and, in parts of the
South, embittered faction led to more bloodshed. In England the
news of Yorktown caused a commotion. When Lord George Germain
received the first despatch he drove with one or two colleagues
to the Prime Minister's house in Downing Street. A friend asked
Lord George how Lord North had taken the news. "As he would have
taken a ball in the breast," he replied; "for he opened his arms,
exclaiming wildly, as he paced up and down the apartment during a
few minutes, 'Oh God! it is all over,' words which he repeated
many times, under emotions of the deepest agitation and
distress.
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