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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