2658. ENGLAND, Madison, Jefferson and.—
Her ministers have been weak enough
to believe from the newspapers that Mr.
Madison and myself are personally her enemies.
Such an idea is unworthy a man of
sense; as we should have been unworthy our
trusts could we have felt such a motive of
public action. No two men in the United
States have more sincerely wished for cordial
friendship with her; not as her vassals or
dirty partisans, but as members of coequal
States, respecting each other, and sensible of
the good as well as the harm each is capable
of doing the other. On this ground, there
was never a moment we did not wish to embrace
her. But repelled by their aversions,
feeling their hatred at every point of contact,
and justly indignant at its supercilious manifestations,
that happened which has happened,
that will follow which must follow, in progressive
ratio, while such dispositions continue
to be indulged. I hope they will see
this, and do their part towards healing the
minds and cooling the temper of both nations.—
To Mr. Maury. Washington ed. vi, 468.
(M.
1815)
See Friendship with England.
