900. BONAPARTE (N.), United States, Russia and.—
There cannot, I think, be a
doubt as to the line we wish drawn between
Bonaparte's successes and those of Alexander.
Surely none of us wish to see Bonaparte
conquer Russia, and lay thus at his feet the
whole continent of Europe. This done, England
would be but a breakfast: and although
I am free from the visionary fears which the
votaries of England have affected to entertain.
because I believe he cannot effect the conquest
of Europe; yet put all Europe into his hands,
and he might spare such a force, to be sent
in British ships, as I would as lief not have
to encounter, when I see how much trouble a
handful of soldiers in Canada has given us.
No. It cannot be to our interest that all
Europe should be reduced to a single monarchy.
The true line of interest for us, is,
that Bonaparte should be able to effect the
complete exclusion of England from the whole
continent of Europe, in order, by this peaceable
engine of constraint to make her renounce
her views of dominion over the ocean,
of permitting no other nation to navigate it
but with her license, and on tribute to her,
and her aggressions on the persons of our
citizens who may choose to exercise their
right of passing over that element. And this
would be effected by Bonaparte succeeding
so far as to close the Baltic against her. This
success I wished him the last year, this I wish
him this year; but were he again advanced
to Moscow, I should again wish him such
disasters as would prevent his reaching St.
Petersburg. And were the consequences even
to be the longer continuance of our war, I
would rather meet them than see the whole
force of Europe wielded by a single hand.—
To Thomas Lieper. Washington ed. vi, 283.
Ford ed., ix, 445.
(M.
Jan. 1814)
