2640. ENGLAND, Hatred of United States.—
In spite of treaties, England is still
our enemy. Her hatred is deep rooted and
cordial, and nothing is wanting with her
but the power, to wipe us and the land we
live in out of existence. Her interest, however,
is her ruling passion; and the late
American measures have struck at that so
vitally, and with an energy, too, of which she
had thought us quite incapable, that a possibility
seems to open of forming some arrangement
with her. When they shall see decidedly,
that, without it, we shall suppress
their commerce with us, they will be agitated
by their avarice on the one hand, and their
hatred and their fear of us, on the other.
The result of this conflict of dirty passions is
yet to be awaited.—
To John Langdon. Washington ed. i, 429.
(P.
1785)
