Thesearemyviewsofthewar。Theyembraceagreatdealofsufferance，tryingprivations，andnobenefitbutthatofteachingourenemythatheisnevertogainbywantoninjuriesonus。Tomethisstateofthingsbringsasacrificeofalltranquillityandcomfortthroughtheresidueoflife。Foralthoughthedebilityofagedisablesmefromtheservicesandsufferingsofthefield，yet，bythetotalannihilationinvalueoftheproducewhichwastogivemesubsistenceandindependence，IshallbelikeTantalus，uptotheshouldersinwater，yetdyingwiththirst。Wecanmakeindeedenoughtoeat，drinkandclotheourselves；butnothingforoursalt，iron，groceriesandtaxes，whichmustbepaidinmoney。Forwhatcanweraiseforthemarket?Wheat?wecanonlygiveittoourhorses，aswehavebeendoingeversinceharvest。Tobacco?itisnotworththepipeitissmokedin。SomesayWhiskey；butallmankindmustbecomedrunkardstoconsumeit。Butalthoughwefeel，weshallnotflinch。
　　Wemustconsidernow，asintherevolutionarywar，thatalthoughtheevilsofresistancearegreat，thoseofsubmissionwouldbegreater。
　　Wemustmeet，therefore，theformerasthecasualtiesoftempestsandearthquakes，andlikethemnecessarilyresultingfromtheconstitutionoftheworld。Yoursituation，mydearfriend，ismuchbetter。For，althoughIdonotknowwithcertaintythenatureofyourinvestments，yetIpresumetheyarenotinbanks，insurancecompanies，oranyotherofthosegossamercastles。Ifinground-rents，theyaresolid；ifinstockoftheUnitedStates，theyareequallyso。Ioncethoughtthatintheeventofawarweshouldbeobligedtosuspendpayingtheinterestofthepublicdebt。Butadozenyearsmoreofexperienceandobservationonourpeopleandgovernment，havesatisfiedmeitwillneverbedone。Thesenseofthenecessityofpubliccreditissouniversalandsodeeplyrooted，thatnoothernecessitywillprevailagainstit；andIamgladtoseethatwhiletheformereightmillionsaresteadfastlyappliedtothesinkingoftheolddebt，theSenatehavelatelyinsistedonasinkingfundforthenew。ThisisthedawnofthatimprovementinthemanagementofourfinanceswhichIlooktoforsalvation；andItrustthatthelightwillcontinuetoadvance，andpointouttheirwaytoourlegislators。Theywillsoonseethatinsteadoftaxesforthewholeyear’sexpenses，whichthepeoplecannotpay，ataxtotheamountoftheinterestandareasonableportionoftheprincipalwillcommandthewholesum，andthrowapartoftheburthensofwarontimesofpeaceandprosperity。Asacredpaymentofinterestistheonlywaytomakethemostoftheirresources，andasenseofthatrendersyourincomefromourfundsmorecertainthanminefromlands。
　　SomeapprehenddangerfromthedefectionofMassachusetts。Itisadisagreeablecircumstance，butnotadangerousone。Iftheybecomeneutral，wearesufficientforoneenemywithoutthem，andinfactwegetnoaidfromthemnow。Iftheiradministrationdeterminestojointheenemy，theirforcewillbeannihilatedbyequalityofdivisionamongthemselves。TheirfederalistswillthencallintheEnglisharmy，therepublicansours，anditwillonlybeatransferofthesceneofwarfromCanadatoMassachusetts；andwecangettenmentogotoMassachusettsforonewhowillgotoCanada。Everyone，too，mustknowthatwecanatanymomentmakepeacewithEnglandattheexpenseofthenavigationandfisheriesofMassachusetts。Butitwillnotcometothis。Theirownpeoplewillputdownthesefactionistsassoonastheyseetherealobjectoftheiropposition；
　　andofthisVermont，NewHampshire，andevenConnecticutitself，furnishproofs。
　　YouintimateapossibilityofyourreturntoFrance，nowthatBonaparteisputdown。Idonotwonderatit，France，freedfromthatmonster，mustagainbecomethemostagreeablecountryonearth。
　　Itwouldbethesecondchoiceofallwhosetiesoffamilyandfortunegivesapreferencetosomeotherone，andthefirstofallnotunderthoseties。YetIdoubtifthetranquillityofFranceisentirelysettled。IfherPretorianbandsarenotfurnishedwithemploymentonherexternalenemies，Ifeartheywillrecalltheold，orsetupsomenewcause。
　　Godblessyouandpreserveyouinbodilyhealth。Tranquillityofminddependsmuchonourselves，andgreatlyonduereflection”howmuchpainhavecostustheevilswhichhaveneverhappened。”
　　Affectionatelyadieu。
　　WAR，REVOLUTION，ANDRESTORATION
　　_ToLafayette_
　　_Monticello，February14，1815_
　　MYDEARFRIEND，——YourletterofAugustthe14thhasbeenreceivedandreadagain，andagain，withextraordinarypleasure。Itisthefirstglimpsewhichhasbeenfurnishedmeoftheinteriorworkingsofthelateunexpectedbutfortunaterevolutionofyourcountry。Thenewspaperstoldusonlythatthegreatbeastwasfallen；butwhatpartinthisthepatriotsacted，andwhattheegotists，whethertheformersleptwhilethelatterwereawaketotheirowninterestsonly，thehirelingscribblersoftheEnglishpresssaidlittleandknewless。Iseenowthemortifyingalternativeunderwhichthepatriotthereisplaced，ofbeingeithersilent，ordisgracedbyanassociationinoppositionwiththeremainsofBonapartism。Afullmeasureoflibertyisnotnowperhapstobeexpectedbyyournation，noramIconfidenttheyarepreparedtopreserveit。Morethanagenerationwillberequisite，undertheadministrationofreasonablelawsfavoringtheprogressofknowledgeinthegeneralmassofthepeople，andtheirhabituationtoanindependentsecurityofpersonandproperty，beforetheywillbecapableofestimatingthevalueoffreedom，andthenecessityofasacredadherencetotheprinciplesonwhichitrestsforpreservation。Insteadofthatlibertywhichtakesrootandgrowthintheprogressofreason，ifrecoveredbymereforceoraccident，itbecomes，withanunpreparedpeople，atyrannystill，ofthemany，thefew，ortheone。Possiblyyoumayremember，atthedateofthe_jeudepaume_，howearnestlyIurgedyourselfandthepatriotsofmyacquaintance，toenterthenintoacompactwiththeking，securingfreedomofreligion，freedomofthepress，trialbyjury，_habeascorpus_，andanationallegislature，allofwhichitwasknownhewouldthenyield，togohome，andlettheseworkontheameliorationoftheconditionofthepeople，untiltheyshouldhaverenderedthemcapableofmore，whenoccasionswouldnotfailtoariseforcommunicatingtothemmore。ThiswasasmuchasIthenthoughtthemabletobear，soberlyandusefullyforthemselves。Youthoughtotherwise，andthatthedosemightstillbelarger。AndIfoundyouwereright；forsubsequenteventsprovedtheywereequaltotheconstitutionof1791。Unfortunately，someofthemosthonestandenlightenedofourpatrioticfriends，butclosetpoliticiansmerely，unpractisedintheknowledgeofman，thoughtmorecouldstillbeobtainedandborne。Theydidnotweighthehazardsofatransitionfromoneformofgovernmenttoanother，thevalueofwhattheyhadalreadyrescuedfromthosehazards，andmightholdinsecurityiftheypleased，northeimprudenceofgivingupthecertaintyofsuchadegreeofliberty，underalimitedmonarch，fortheuncertaintyofalittlemoreundertheformofarepublic。Youdifferedfromthem。
　　Youwereforstoppingthere，andforsecuringtheconstitutionwhichtheNationalAssemblyhadobtained。Here，too，youwereright；andfromthisfatalerroroftherepublicans，fromtheirseparationfromyourselfandtheconstitutionalists，intheircouncils，flowedallthesubsequentsufferingsandcrimesoftheFrenchnation。Thehazardsofasecondchangefelluponthembytheway。Theforeignergainedtimetoanarchisebygoldthegovernmenthecouldnotoverthrowbyarms，tocrushintheirowncouncilsthegenuinerepublicans，bythefraternalembracesofexaggeratedandhiredpretenders，andtoturnthemachineofJacobinismfromthechangetothedestructionoforder；and，intheend，thelimitedmonarchytheyhadsecuredwasexchangedfortheunprincipledandbloodytyrannyofRobespierre，andtheequallyunprincipledandmaniactyrannyofBonaparte。Youarenowridofhim，andIsincerelywishyoumaycontinueso。Butthismaydependonthewisdomandmoderationoftherestoreddynasty。Itisforthemnowtoreadalessoninthefatalerrorsoftherepublicans；tobecontentedwithacertainportionofpower，securedbyformalcompactwiththenation，ratherthan，graspingatmore，hazardalluponuncertainty，andriskmeetingthefateoftheirpredecessor，orarenewaloftheirownexile。Wearejustinformed，too，ofanexamplewhichmerits，iftrue，theirmostprofoundcontemplation。ThegazettessaythatFerdinandofSpainisdethroned，andhisfatherre-establishedonthebasisoftheirnewconstitution。Thisorderofmagistratesmust，therefore，see，thatalthoughtheattemptsatreformationhavenotsucceededintheirwholelength，andsomesecessionfromtheultimatepointhastakenplace，yetthatmenhavebynomeansfallenbacktotheirformerpassiveness，butonthecontrary，thatasenseoftheirrights，andarestlessnesstoobtainthem，remaindeeplyimpressedoneverymind，and，ifnotquietedbyreasonablerelaxationsofpower，willbreakoutlikeavolcanoonthefirstoccasion，andoverwhelmeverythingagaininitsway。Ialwaysthoughtthepresentkinganhonestandmoderateman；andhavingnoissue，heisunderamotivethelessforyieldingtopersonalconsiderations。Icannot，therefore，buthope，thatthepatriotsinandoutofyourlegislature，actinginphalanx，buttemperatelyandwisely，pressingunremittinglytheprinciplesomittedinthelatecapitulationoftheking，andwatchingtheoccasionswhichthecourseofeventswillcreate，maygetthoseprinciplesengraftedintoit，andsanctionedbythesolemnityofanationalact。
　　Withustheaffairsofwarhavetakenthemostfavorableturnwhichwastobeexpected。Ourthirtyyearsofpeacehadtakenoff，orsuperannuated，allourrevolutionaryofficersofexperienceandgrade；andourfirstdraughtinthelotteryofun-triedcharactershadbeenmostunfortunate。ThedeliveryofthefortandarmyofDetroitbythetraitorHull；thedisgraceatQueenstown，underVanRensellaer；themassacreatFrenchtownunderWinchester；andsurrenderofBoerstlerinanopenfieldtoone-thirdofhisownnumbers，weretheinauspiciousbeginningsofthefirstyearofourwarfare。ThesecondwitnessedbutthesinglemiscarriageoccasionedbythedisagreementofWilkinsonandHampton，mentionedinmylettertoyouofNovemberthe30th，1813，whileitgaveusthecaptureofYorkbyDearborneandPike；thecaptureofFortGeorgebyDearbornealso；thecaptureofProctor’sarmyontheThamesbyHarrison，ShelbyandJohnson，andthatofthewholeBritishfleetonLakeEriebyPerry。Thethirdyearhasbeenacontinuedseriesofvictories，to-wit：ofBrownandScottatChippewa，ofthesameatNiagara；ofGainesoverDrummondatFortErie；thatofBrownoverDrummondatthesameplace；thecaptureofanotherfleetonLakeChamplainbyM’Donough；theentiredefeatoftheirarmyunderPrevost，onthesameday，byM’Comb，andrecentlytheirdefeatsatNewOrleansbyJackson，CoffeeandCarroll，withthelossoffourthousandmenoutofninethousandandsixhundred，withtheirtwoGenerals，PackinghamandGibbskilled，andathird，Keane，wounded，mortally，asissaid。
　　ThisseriesofsuccesseshasbeentarnishedonlybytheconflagrationatWashington，a_coupdemain_differingfromthatatRichmond，whichyouremember，intherevolutionarywar，inthecircumstanceonly，thatwehad，inthatcase，butforty-eighthours’
　　noticethatanenemyhadarrivedwithinourcapes；whereas，atWashington，therewasabundantpreviousnotice。TheforcedesignatedbythePresidentwasdoubleofwhatwasnecessary；butfailed，asisthegeneralopinion，throughtheinsubordinationofArmstrong，whowouldneverbelievetheattackintendeduntilitwasactuallymade，andthesluggishnessofWinderbeforetheoccasion，andhisindecisionduringit。Still，intheend，thetransactionhashelpedratherthanhurtus，byarousingthegeneralindignationofourcountry，andbymarkingtotheworldofEuropetheVandalismandbrutalcharacteroftheEnglishgovernment。Ithasmerelyservedtoimmortalizetheirinfamy。Andaddfurther，thatthroughthewholeperiodofthewar，wehavebeatenthemsingle-handedatsea，andsothoroughlyestablishedoursuperiorityoverthemwithequalforce，thattheyretirefromthatkindofcontest，andneversuffertheirfrigatestocruizesingly。TheEndymionwouldneverhaveengagedthefrigatePresident，butknowingherselfbackedbythreefrigatesandarazee，who，thoughsomewhatslowersailers，wouldgetupbeforeshecouldbetaken。Thedisclosuretotheworldofthefatalsecretthattheycanbebeatenatseawithanequalforce，theevidencefurnishedbythemilitaryoperationsofthelastyearthatexperienceisrearingusofficerswho，whenourmeansshallbefullyunderway，willplantourstandardonthewallsofQuebecandHalifax，theirrecentandsignaldisasteratNewOrleans，andtheevaporationoftheirhopesfromtheHartfordconvention，willprobablyraiseaclamorintheBritishnation，whichwillforcetheirministryintopeace。Isay_force_them，because，willingly，theywouldneverbeatpeace。TheBritishministersfindinastateofwarratherthanofpeace，byridingthevariouscontractors，andreceiving_douceurs_
　　onthevastexpendituresofthewarsupplies，thattheyrecruittheirbrokenfortunes，ormakenewones，andthereforewillnotmakepeaceaslongasbyanydelusionstheycankeepthetemperofthenationuptothewarpoint。Theyfoundsomehopesonthestateofourfinances。Itistruethattheexcessofourbankinginstitutions，andtheirpresentdiscredit，haveshutusoutfromthebestsourceofcreditwecouldevercommandwithcertainty。Butthefoundationsofcreditstillremaintous，andneedbutskillwhichexperiencewillsoonproduce，tomarshalthemintoanorderwhichmaycarryusthroughanylengthofwar。ButtheyhavehopedmoreintheirHartfordconvention。TheirfearsofrepublicanFrancebeingnowdoneaway，theyaredirectedtorepublicanAmerica，andtheyareplayingthesamegamefordisorganizationhere，whichtheyplayedinyourcountry。TheMarats，theDantonsandRobespierresofMassachusettsareinthesamepay，underthesameorders，andmakingthesameeffortstoanarchiseus，thattheirprototypesinFrancedidthere。
　　IdonotsaythatallwhometatHartfordwereunderthesamemotivesofmoney，norwerethoseofFrance。SomeofthemareOuts，andwishtobeInns；somethemeredupesoftheagitators，oroftheirownpartypassions，whiletheMaratistsaloneareintherealsecret；buttheyhaveverydifferentmaterialstoworkon。TheyeomanryoftheUnitedStatesarenotthe_canaille_ofParis。WemightsafelygivethemleavetogothroughtheUnitedStatesrecruitingtheirranks，andIamsatisfiedtheycouldnotraiseonesingleregimentgamblingmerchantsandsilk-stockingclerksexceptedwhowouldsupporttheminanyefforttoseparatefromtheUnion。ThecementofthisUnionisintheheart-bloodofeveryAmerican。Idonotbelievethereisonearthagovernmentestablishedonsoimmovableabasis。Letthem，inanyState，eveninMassachusettsitself，raisethestandardofseparation，anditscitizenswillriseinmass，anddojusticethemselvesontheirownincendiaries。Iftheycouldhaveinducedthegovernmenttosomeeffortofsuppression，oreventoenterintodiscussionwiththem，itwouldhavegiventhemsomeimportance，havebroughtthemintosomenotice。Buttheyhavenotbeenabletomakethemselvesevenasubjectofconversation，eitherofpublicorprivatesocieties。A
　　silentcontempthasbeenthesolenoticetheyexcite；consoled，indeed，someofthem，bythe_palpable_favorsofPhilip。Havethennofearsforus，myfriend。ThegroundsoftheseexistonlyinEnglishnewspapers，enditedorendowedbytheCastlereaghsortheCannings，orsomeothersuchmodelsofpureanduncorruptedvirtue。
　　Theirmilitaryheroes，bylandandsea，maysinkouroysterboats，robourhenroosts，burnournegrohuts，andrunoff。ButacampaignortwomorewillrelievethemfromfurthertroubleorexpenseindefendingtheirAmericanpossessions。