2678. ENGLAND, Punic faith of.—
What
is to be our security, that when embarked for
her [Great Britain] in the war [with Bonaparte],
she will not make a separate peace,
and leave us in the lurch? Her good faith!
The faith of a nation of merchants! The
Punica fides of modern Carthage! Of the
friend and protectress of Copenhagen! Of
the nation who never admitted a chapter of
morality into her political code! And is now
boldly avowing that whatever power can
make hers, is her's of right. Money, and
not morality, is the principle of commerce and
commercial nations.—
To John Langdon. Washington ed. v, 513.
(M.
March. 1810)
