enemies; and our navigation completely crushed, and by the unwise
and unpatriotic conduct of those engaged in it. Should the orders prove
genuine, which are said to have been given against our fisheries, they,
too, are gone: and if not true as yet, they will be true on the first
breeze of success which England shall feel: for it has now been some
years, that I am perfectly satisfied her intentions have been to claim
the ocean as her conquest, and prohibit any vessel from navigating it,
but on such a tribute as may enable her to keep up such a standing navy
as will maintain her dominion over it. She has hauled in, or let herself
out, been bold or hesitating, according to occurrences, but has in
no situation done any thing which might amount to an acknowledged
relinquishment of her intentions. I have ever been anxious to avoid
a war with England, unless forced by a situation more losing than war
itself. But I did believe we could coerce her to justice by peaceable
means, and the embargo, evaded as it was, proved it would have coerced
her, had it been honestly executed. The proof she exhibited on that
occasion, that she can exercise such an influence in this country, as to
control the will of its government and three fourths of its people,
and oblige the three fourths to submit to one fourth, is to me the most
mortifying circumstance which has occurred since the establishment of
our government. The only prospect I see of lessening that influence,
is in her own conduct, and not from any thing in our power. Radically
hostile to our navigation and commerce, and fearing its rivalry, she
will completely crush it, and force us to resort to agriculture,
not aware that we shall resort to manufactures also, and render her
conquests over our navigation and commerce useless, at least, if not
injurious to herself in the end, and perhaps salutary to us, as removing
out of our way the chief causes and provocations to war.

But these are views which concern the present and future generation,
among neither of which I count myself. You may live to see the change in
our pursuits, and chiefly in those of your own State, which England will
effect. I am not certain that the change on Massachusetts, by driving
her to agriculture, manufactures, and emigration, will lessen her
happiness. But once more to be done with politics. How does Mrs.
Dearborn do? How do you both like your situation? Do you amuse yourself
with a garden, a farm, or what? Tha