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York by Dearborne and Pike； the capture of Fort George by Dearborne
also； the capture of Proctor's army on the Thames by Harrison； Shelby
and Johnson； and that of the whole British fleet on Lake Erie by
Perry。 The third year has been a continued series of victories；
to…wit： of Brown and Scott at Chippewa； of the same at Niagara； of
Gaines over Drummond at Fort Erie； that of Brown over Drummond at the
same place； the capture of another fleet on Lake Champlain by
M'Donough； the entire defeat of their army under Prevost； on the same
day； by M'Comb； and recently their defeats at New Orleans by Jackson；
Coffee and Carroll； with the loss of four thousand men out of nine
thousand and six hundred； with their two Generals； Packingham and
Gibbs killed； and a third； Keane； wounded； mortally； as is said。
This series of successes has been tarnished only by the
conflagration at Washington； a _coup de main_ differing from that at
Richmond； which you remember； in the revolutionary war； in the
circumstance only； that we had； in that case； but forty…eight hours'
notice that an enemy had arrived within our capes； whereas； at
Washington； there was abundant previous notice。 The force designated
by the President was double of what was necessary； but failed； as is
the general opinion； through the insubordination of Armstrong； who
would never believe the attack intended until it was actually made；
and the sluggishness of Winder before the occasion； and his
indecision during it。 Still； in the end； the transaction has helped
rather than hurt us； by arousing the general indignation of our
country； and by marking to the world of Europe the Vandalism and
brutal character of the English government。 It has merely served to
immortalize their infamy。 And add further； that through the whole
period of the war； we have beaten them single…handed at sea； and so
thoroughly established our superiority over them with equal force；
that they retire from that kind of contest； and never suffer their
frigates to cruize singly。 The Endymion would never have engaged the
frigate President； but knowing herself backed by three frigates and a
razee； who； though somewhat slower sailers； would get up before she
could be taken。 The disclosure to the world of the fatal secret that
they can be beaten at sea with an equal force； the evidence furnished
by the military operations of the last year that experience is
rearing us officers who； when our means shall be fully under way；
will plant our standard on the walls of Quebec and Halifax； their
recent and signal disaster at New Orleans； and the evaporation of
their hopes from the Hartford convention； will probably raise a
clamor in the British nation； which will force their ministry into
peace。 I say _force_ them； because； willingly； they would never be
at peace。 The British ministers find in a state of war rather than
of peace； by riding the various contractors； and receiving _douceurs_
on the vast expenditures of the war supplies； that they recruit their
broken fortunes； or make new ones； and therefore will not make peace
as long as by any delusions they can keep the temper of the nation up
to the war point。 They found some hopes on the state of our
finances。 It is true that the excess of our banking institutions；
and their present discredit； have shut us out from the best source of
credit we could ever command with certainty。 But the foundations of
credit still remain to us； and need but skill which experience will
soon produce； to marshal them into an order which may carry us
through any length of war。 But they have hoped more in their
Hartford convention。 Their fears of republican France being now done
away； they are directed to republican America； and they are playing
the same game for disorganization here； which they played in your
country。 The Marats； the Dantons and Robespierres of Massachusetts
are in the same pay； under the same orders； and making the same
efforts to anarchise us； that their prototypes in France did there。
I do not say that all who met at Hartford were under the same
motives of money； nor were those of France。 Some of them are Outs；
and wish to be Inns； some the mere dupes of the agitators； or of
their own party passions； while the Maratists alone are in the real
secret； but they have very different materials to work on。 The
yeomanry of the United States are not the _canaille_ of Paris。 We
might safely give them leave to go through the United States
recruiting their ranks； and I am satisfied they could not raise one
single regiment （gambling merchants and silk…stocking clerks
excepted） who would support them in any effort to separate from the
Union。 The cement of this Union is in the heart…blood of every
American。 I do not believe there is on earth a government
established on so immovable a basis。 Let them； in any State； even in
Massachusetts itself； raise the standard of separation； and its
citizens will rise in mass； and do justice themselves on their own
incendiaries。 If they could have induced the government to some
effort of suppression； or even to enter into discussion with them； it
would have given them some importance； have brought them into some
notice。 But they have not been able to make themselves even a
subject of conversation； either of public or private societies。 A
silent contempt has been the sole notice they excite； consoled；
indeed； some of them； by the _palpable_ favors of Philip。 Have then
no fears for us； my friend。 The grounds of these exist only in
English newspapers； endited or endowed by the Castlereaghs or the
Cannings； or some other such models of pure and uncorrupted virtue。
Their military heroes； by land and sea； may sink our oyster boats；
rob our hen roosts； burn our negro huts； and run off。 But a campaign
or two more will relieve them from further trouble or expense in
defending their American possessions。
You once gave me a copy of the journal of your campaign in
Virginia； in 1781； which I must have lent to some one of the
undertakers to write the history of the revolutionary war； and forgot
to reclaim。 I conclude this； because it is no longer among my
papers； which I have very diligently searched for it； but in vain。
An author of real ability is now writing that part of the history of
Virginia。 He does it in my neighborhood； and I lay open to him all
my papers。 But I possess none； nor has he any； which can enable him
to do justice to your faithful and able services in that campaign。
If you could be so good as to send me another copy； by the very first
vessel bound to any port in the United States； it might be here in
time； for although he expects to begin to print within a month or
two； yet you know the delays of these undertakings。 At any rate it
might be got in as a supplement。 The old Count Rochambeau gave me
also his _memoire_ of the operations at York； which is gone in the
same way； and I have