If our rulers had any modesty, they would blush at the idea of calling in foreign aid! 'Tis really abominable that we should send to France for soldiers when we have so many sons of America idle. Such a step ought not... to have been taken until the strength of the country had been nearly exhausted, and our freedom tottering on the brink of ruin. Let us be indebted to France, Spain or even the Devil himself, if he could furnish it, for a navy, because we cannot get one reasonably among ourselves. But let us, unless we are contented to be transmitted to posterity with disgrace, make an exertion of our own strength by land, and not owe our independence entirely to our allies.
John Lamb, via Redcoats and Rebels by Christopher Hibbert.
A reminder that the alliance with France was not always as cheerful as it’s sometimes made out to be. Through you get people like Lafayette who were well-liked on both continents, and helped bridge that gap, the Americans often saw the French as extravagant, pompous outsiders and resented the aid they were getting, especially when a naval battle with the British didn’t work out for D’Estaing at sea. There were actual riots in Boston, and demonstrations in New York. Ironically enough, John Lamb here doesn’t seem unhappy about receiving funding from the French... but in the end French support was absolutely pivotal, especially at sea, as they had a proper navy.