_Notices of the War of 1812. By John Armstrong. New York: George
Dearborn._
These “Notices,” by the former Secretary of War, are a valuable
addition to our history, and to our historical literature—embracing a
variety of details which should not have been so long kept from the
cognizance of the public. We are grieved, however, to see, even in the
opening passages of the work, a piquancy and freedom of expression, in
regard to the unhappy sources of animosity between America and the
parent land, which can neither to-day nor hereafter answer any
possible good end, and may prove an individual grain in a future
mountain of mischief. At page 12, for example.
Still her abuse of power did not stop here: it was not enough that she
thus outraged her rights on the ocean; the bosoms of our bays, the
mouths of our rivers, and even the wharves of our harbors, were made
the theatres of the most flagitious abuse; and as if determined to
leave no cause of provocation untried, the personal rights of our
seamen were invaded: and men, owing her no allegiance, nor having any
connexion with her policy or arms, were forcibly seized, dragged on
board her ships of war and made to fight her battles, under the
scourge of tyrants and slaves, with whom submission, whether right or
wrong, _forms_ the whole duty of man.
We object, particularly here to the use of the verb _forms_ in the
present tense.
Mr. Armstrong's publication will extend to two volumes—the second
following as soon as possible. What we have now is mostly confined to
the operations on the frontier. The subjects of main interest are the
opposition to the War—Hull's Expedition—Loss of
Michilimackinac—Surrender of Detroit—Militia operations in the
West—Harrison's Autumnal and Winter Campaigns—the Partial
Armistice—the attack on Queenstown, by Van Rensselaer—the invasion of
Canada, by Smith—the campaign against the British advanced posts on
Lake Champlain, by {451} Dearborn—Chauncey and Dearborn's
Expedition—the reduction of York and Fort George—the affair of
Sackett's Harbor—the first and second investments of Fort Meigs—and
the defeat of the British fleet on Lake Erie. The Appendix embraces a
mass of official and other matter, which will prove of great service
to the future historian. What follows has with us a deep interest, and
we know many who will understand its origin and character.
The ministry of the elder Adams in England, began on the 10th of June,
1785. In a letter to the American Secretary of Foreign Affairs, on the
19th of July following, he says—“The popular pulse seems to beat high
against America; the people are deceived by numberless falsehoods
circulated by the Gazettes, &c. so that there is too much reason to
believe, that if the nation had another hundred million to spend, they
would soon force the ministry into a war against us. Their present
system, as far as I can penetrate it, is to maintain a determined
peace with all Europe, in order that they may war singly against
America, if they should think it necessary.”
In a second letter of the 30th of August following, he says—“In short,
sir, America has no party at present in her favor—all parties, on the
contrary, have committed themselves against us—even Shelburne and
Buckingham. I had almost said, the friends of America are reduced to
Dr. Price and Dr. Jebb.”
Again, on the 15th of October, 1785, he informs the American
Secretary—“that though it is manifestly as much the interest of Great
Britain to be well with us, as for us to be well with them, yet this
is not the judgment of the English nation; it is not the judgment of
Lord North and his party; it is not the judgment of the Duke of
Portland and his friends, and it does not appear to be the judgment of
Mr. Pitt and the present set. In short, it does not at present appear
to be the sentiment of any body; and I am much inclined to believe
they will try the issue of importance with us.”
In his two last letters, the one dated in November, the other in
December, 1787, we find the following passages—“If she [England] can
bind Holland in her shackles, and France, from internal dissension, is
unable to interfere, she will make war immediately against us. No
answer is made to any of my memorials, or letters to the ministry, nor
do I expect that any thing will be done while I stay.”