No. 12.
BOSTON, _April_ 26, 1809.
SIR: Since my letter No. 11, I have had but little to
communicate.
I have not yet been able to ascertain, with sufficient
accuracy, the relative strength of the two parties in the
legislative bodies in New England.
In all these States, however, Governors have been elected out
of the Federal party, and even the Southern papers indicate an
unexpected augmentation of Federal members in the next Congress.
The correspondence between Mr. Erskine and the Secretary of
State at Washington you will have seen before this can reach
you. It has given much satisfaction to the Federal party here,
because it promises an exemption from the evil most feared, (a
war with England,) and justifies their partiality towards Great
Britain, which they maintain was founded upon a full conviction
of her justice, and sincere disposition to preserve peace. Even
the Democrats affect to be satisfied with it; because, as they
insist, it proves the efficacy of the restrictive system of Mr.
Jefferson.
But the great benefit that will probably result from it will
be, that Bonaparte may be induced to force this country from
her neutral position. Baffled in his attempts to exclude from
the continent the manufactures of Great Britain, he will most
likely confiscate all American property in his dominions and
dependencies, and declare war. Nothing could more than this
contribute to give influence and stability to the British
party. The invidious occurrences of the rebellion would be
forgotten in the resentment of the people against France, and
they would soon be weaned from that attachment to her which
is founded on the aid that was rendered to separate from the
mother country. While Great Britain waits for this natural, I
might say necessary, result of the negotiation, would it not be
extremely inexpedient to conclude a treaty with the American
Government? Every sort of evidence and experience prove that
the Democrats consider their political ascendency in a great
measure dependent on the hostile spirit that they can keep
alive towards Great Britain, and recent events demonstrate
that their conduct will be predicated upon that conviction; it
is, therefore, not to be expected that they will meet, with
corresponding feelings, a sincere disposition on the part of
England to adjust all matters in dispute. They are at heart
mortified and disappointed to find that Great Britain has been
in advance of the French Government, in taking advantage of
the provisional clauses of the non-intercourse law; and if
they show any spirit at the next session of Congress towards
France, it will be only because they will find Bonaparte deaf
to entreaty and insensible of past favors; or that they may
think it safer to float with the tide of public feeling, which
will set strongly against him unless he keep _pari passu_ with
England in a conciliatory policy. I am, &c.