Preface 



"monsieur, c'est bien vrai; nous avons mal calcule!" 

 But the die is cast, and it is too late to moralize. 

 The reader will doubtless be surprised, when the 

 Author declares, that he has not altered his senti- 

 ments since the year 1775, in regard to the American 

 war and its consequences. He still thinks, that the 

 separation might, in the first instance, have been 

 prevented: that coercive measures, when resolved 

 upon, might have been enforced, comparatively 

 speaking, without bloodshed; and with great prob- 

 ability of success: that the present union of the 

 American States will not be permanent or last for 

 any considerable length of time: that that extensive 

 country must necessarily be divided into separate 

 states and kingdoms: and that America will never, 

 at least for many ages, become formidable to Europe; 

 or acquire, what has been so frequently predicted, 

 universal empire. The Author thinks he could as- 

 sign plausible reasons at least for these various 

 opinions; but it is better that they should be con- 

 signed to oblivion. The wise Disposer of events 

 has decreed, that America shall be independent of 

 Great Britain; that she is so, may ultimately perhaps 

 be advantageous to both countries; at least it will be 

 owing to excess of folly if it be highly disadvan- 

 tageous to either. Let us supplicate Heaven to 

 unite them in permanent friendship and affection; 

 and to preserve inviolate that alliance, that harmony 

 and connection, which religion, moral habits, lan- 



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