No. 15.
MONTREAL, _June_ 12, 1809.
SIR: I have the honor to inform your Excellency that I
received, through Mr. Secretary Ryland, your Excellency's
commands to return to Canada; and after the delay incident to
this season of the year, in a journey from Boston, arrived here
yesterday.
Your Excellency will have seen, by the papers of the latest
dates from the United States, that a formidable opposition
is already organized in Congress to the late measures of Mr.
Madison; and it is very evident that if he be sincere in his
professions of attachment to Great Britain, his party will
abandon him. Sixty-one members have already voted against a
resolution to approve of what he has done; and I have no doubt
the rest of the Democratic party will follow the example as
soon as they recover from the astonishment into which his
apparent defection has thrown them.
The present hopes of the Federalists are founded on the
probability of a war with France; but, at all events, this
party is strong and well organized enough to prevent a war with
England.
It would be now superfluous to trouble your Excellency with
an account of the nature and extent of the arrangements made
by the Federal party to resist any attempt of the Government
unfavorable to Great Britain. They were such as do great credit
to their ability and principles; and, while a judicious policy
is observed by Great Britain, secure her interests in America
from decay. My fear of inducing a false security on the part
of His Majesty's Government in their efficiency and eventual
success, may have inclined me to refrain from doing them that
justice in my former letters which I willingly take the present
occasion to express.
I trust your Excellency will ascribe the style and manner of
my communications, and the frequent ambiguities introduced in
them, as arising from the secrecy necessary to be observed, and
my consciousness that you understand my meaning, on the most
delicate points, without risking a particular explanation.
I lament that no occasion commensurate to my wishes has
permitted me to prove how much I value the confidence of your
Excellency, and the approbation already expressed by His
Majesty's Minister. I have the honor to be, &c.