the retention of the colonies, and, indeed, it is not likely that they would have persevered long in the attempt. In the very act of taking New York they all but annihilated the American nation at one blow, missing by a mere chance the capture of Washington's whole army; and thereafter for a dreary period the distinguishing phases of the War of Independence were complete British prestige and almost as complete American confusion, relieved only by masterly retreat, brilliant triumph in a few minor engagements, and heroic fortitude. Finally the destruction of Burgoyne's army gave an altered aspect to the unequal warfare But this did not at all reverse conditions. It merely established for the Americans a fighting chance, and decided France to espouse their cause. The principal element of the situation remained the possession of New York by the British. That overwhelming disadvantage could only be neutralized by consecutive successes in campaigns large and small elsewhere, whose net result would be to convince the British statesmen that they could never conquer America. It was a disadvantage that could not be eliminated by the reduction of New York itself, which was never attempted and probably never seriously thought of. On the other hand, if New York had continued American, the British would have been left without any assured standing as combatants. They might have taken the Revolutionary capital, Philadelphia, but that would have been an utterly ridiculous proceeding in view of its untenability as a primary base compared with New York. In such an event, or in any other except the mastery of New York, which, with its inevitable consequences, seemed to establish the supremacy of Great Britain beyond the possibility of dispute, the French alliance would have been a matter of months instead of years. After the evacuation of New York by its small British garrison, in •Tune, 177."), the city, although in fact fully controlled by the patriot party, remained nominally for a brief time under a divided authority.