8047. SPAIN, Perfidy of.—
Never did a nation act towards another with more perfidy
and injustice than Spain has constantly practiced
against us; and if we have kept
our hands off her till now, it has been purely
out of respect to France, and from the value
we set on the friendship of France. We expect,
therefore, from the friendship of the Emperor,
that he will either compel Spain to do
us justice, or abandon her to us. We ask but
one month to be in possession of the city of
Mexico.—
To James Bowdoin. Washington ed. v, 64.
Ford ed., ix, 40.
(W.
April. 1807)