LETTER VIII.

OF all national powers, that which is chiefly

derived from commercial resources, seems to be the most precarious. It depends too much on extraneous support. It must be exercised not only with great wisdom, but also with great virtue; that is, it must be beneficial to others, as well as profitable to the people possessing it, or it cannot be permanent. Our Creator never made individuals or nations, to be kind to themselves only. When attended with eminent success, it is apt to generate a spirit of pride, dissipation, insolence, rashness, ra. paciousness, and cruelty. The eagerness for wealth, increases with amassment. It rages. It is a pes, tilence. Altered nations preserve scarcely a resemblance of themselves. Hardly a feature of their promising youth, remains in their debauched manhood. They, who were worthily diligent and decently frugal, become wickedly active and impudently avaricious: and, they who nobly defended their own liberty, deem it glorious to destroy the liberty of others. With them, justice is a restraint: benevolence a weakness. To use an expression

of Thucydides "Nothing is thought dishonorable that is pleasing, nothing iniquitous, that is gainful."

LET us. bestow our attention for a moment, on Athens, Carthage, Venice, and Holland. Each of these states, by the force of commerce, has been predominant over considerable tracts of the world; and to each of them might many nations say, with the old Roman" By our wretchedness thou art. great." Thus commerce calculated by its nature to be an instrument for increasing the felicity of mankind, (0) has in many instances become a

scourge.

Hea? Ir a conclusion may be drawn from a multitude of events delivered down to us by unprejudiced historians, the monitory result is that the con

duct just mentioned will be found ultimately to produce consequences, directly the reverse of the purposes intended by the short-sighted perpetrators

and that where nations raise themselves, by proudly trampling upon others, although they may by bravery and management obtain the most conspicuous eminence, yet, by the immutable law of our nature that forbids the existence of happiness without virtue, the causes of declension constantly intermingle with their criminal successes

"BUT

there are multitudes of disaffected persons in France, who wish for peace at any

rate."

So there were among us; and so there have been, and will be in all nations under the like circumstances. Great-Britain trusting in such tales, was encouraged to continue her work of desolation in this land, till news more strange and true, baffled fleets and captured armies, convinced her that her reliance was illusion.

If a man had conversed with people in many parts of this country during our last war, he might have been induced to believe, that America was ready for unconditional submission. But that would have been a mistake. The impulse was given, and operating according to the laws of nature; but, it was looked for in wrong places: just as if one should judge of the tide in a river, by observing the eddies at its sides, and believe it was running down, when in the channel it was flowing up with a strong stream.

"IT is said the finances of France are quite deranged.'

SHE Confesses it.

So are the finances of her enemies. They deny it. Yet they beg for peace; she prefers a con

tinuance of the war.

ther and

"Ir is also said

Let us put these things toge

-think.

the war is continued, because her rulers are averse to peace, through fear of losing their offices at its restoration."

THAT is to say, that men certainly of eminent talents, appointed by and dependent upon the people, with recent and terrible examples before them, would risk their lives to save their posts. The fact is, that France applauds the conduct of her government in breaking off the late negociation with GreatBritain, and so general and so warm is this sentiment, that individuals who loudly arraigned the haughtiness displayed at its commencement, with impassioned praises celebrate the firmness manifested in its dissolution.

"IT is further said--if the armies should be disbanded, and the soldiers return to their homes, there will be a hideous explosion."

THAT is to say--that bodies of men, who have given every demonstration men could give, of PUBLIC SPIRIT and LOVE OF COUNTRY, 2 B

VOL. II.

when received with transports of gratitude on their natal soil, the sweet remembrancer of their earliest and purest pleasures; where the tenderest affections shielded their helpless infancy, where all the charities of life with untutored eloquence plead their gentle rights, and where even every tree, stone, and brook claims kindred--will instantly be transformed into villains and traitors, and destroy those very objects, for the defence of which they had so long offered themselves to die.

FABIUS.