2694. ENGLAND, Unfaithful to alliances.—
The nature of the English government
forbids, of itself, reliance on her engagements;
and it is well known she has been
the least faithful to her alliances of any nation
of Europe, since the period of her history
wherein she has been distinguished for
her commerce and corruption, that is to say,
under the houses of Stuart and Brunswick.
To Portugal alone she has steadily adhered,
because, by her Methuin treaty, she had made
it a colony, and one of the most valuable to
her.—
To John Langdon. Washington ed. v, 313.
(M.
1810)
