2697. ENGLAND, United States, France and.—
We learn that Thornton thinks we are not as friendly now to Great Britain as before
our acquisition of Louisiana. This is
totally without foundation. Our friendship
to that nation is cordial and sincere. So is
that with France. We are anxious to see
England maintain her standing, only wishing
she would use her power on the ocean
with justice. If she had done this heretofore,
other nations would not have stood
by and looked on with unconcern on a conflict
which endangers her existence. We are
not indifferent to its issue, nor should we
be so on a conflict on which the existence of
France should be in danger. We consider each
as a necessary instrument to hold in check
the disposition of the other to tyrannize over
other nations.—
To James Monroe.
Ford ed., viii, 291.
(W.
Jan. 1804)
