807

TO WILLIAM DUANE.

Washington, July 20, 1807.

Sir,

Although I cannot always acknowledge the receipt of communications, yet
I merit their continuance by making all the use of them of which they
are susceptible. Some of your suggestions had occurred, and others will
be considered. The time is coming when our friends must enable us to
hear every thing, and expect us to say nothing; when we shall need all
their confidence that every thing is doing which can be done, and when
our greatest praise shall be, that we appear to be doing nothing. The
law for detaching one hundred thousand militia, and the appropriation
for it, and that for fortifications, enable us to do every thing for
land service, as well as if Congress were here; and as to naval matters,
their opinion is known. The course we have pursued, has gained for our
merchants a precious interval to call in their property and our seamen,
and the postponing the summons of Congress will aid in avoiding to give
too quick an alarm to the adversary. They will be called, however,
in good time. Although we demand of England what is merely of right,
reparation for the past, security for the future, yet as their pride
will possibly, nay probably, prevent their yielding them to the extent
we shall require, my opinion is, that the public mind, which I believe
is made up for war, should maintain itself at that point. They have
often enough, God knows, given us cause of war before; but it has been
on points which would not have united the nation. But now they have
touched a chord which vibrates in every heart. Now then is the time to
settle the old and the new.

I have often wished for an occasion of saying a word to you on the
subject of the Emperor of Russia, of whose character and value to us, I
suspect you are not apprized correctly. A more virtuous man, I believe,
does not exist, nor one who is more enthusiastically devoted to better
the condition of mankind. He will probably, one day, fall a victim to
it, as a monarch of that principle does not suit a Russian noblesse.
He is not of the very first order of understanding, but he is of a
high one. He has taken a peculiar affection to this country and its
government, of which he has given me public as well as personal proofs.
Our nation being like his, habitually neutral, our interests as to
neutral rights, and our sentiments, agree. And whenever conferences
for peace shall take place, we are assured of a friend in