be some
things in the pamphlet which may perhaps irritate. The characterizing
every act, for example, by its appropriate epithet, is not necessary to
show its deformity to an intelligent reader. The naked narrative
will present it truly to his mind, and the more strongly, from its
moderation, as he will perceive that no exaggeration is aimed
at. Rubbing down these roughnesses (and they are neither many nor
prominent), and preserving the original date, might, I think, remove all
the offensiveness, and give more effect to the publication. Indeed,
I think that a soothing postscript, addressed to the interests,
the prospects, and the sober reason of both nations, would make it
acceptable to both. The trifling, expense of reprinting it ought not
to be considered a moment. Mr. Gallatin could have it translated into
French, and suffer it to get abroad in Europe without either avowal or
disavowal. But it would be useful to print some copies of an appendix,
containing all the documents referred to, to be preserved in libraries,
and to facilitate to the present and future writers of history, the
acquisition of the materials which test the truths it contains.

I sincerely congratulate you on the peace, and more especially on the
eclat with which the war was closed. The affair of New Orleans was
fraught with useful lessons to ourselves, our enemies, and our friends,
and will powerfully influence our future relations with the nations of
Europe. It will show them we mean to take no part in their wars, and
count no odds when engaged in our own. I presume, that, having spared
to the pride of England her formal acknowledgment of the atrocity of
impressment in an article of the treaty, she will concur in a convention
for relinquishing it. Without this, she must understand that the present
is but a truce, determinable on the first act of impressment of an
American citizen, committed by any officer of hers. Would it not be
better that this convention should be a separate act, unconnected with
any treaty of commerce, and made an indispensable preliminary to all
other treaty? If blended with a treaty of commerce, she will make it the
price of injurious concessions. Indeed, we are infinitely better without
such treaties with any nation. We cannot too distinctly detach ourselves
from the European system, which is essentially belligerent, nor too
sedulously cultivate an American system, essentially pacific. But if we
go into commercial treatie