8965. WAR OF 1812, Victory and defeat.—[continued].
I rejoice exceedingly
that our war with England was single-handed.
In that of the Revolution, we had France,
Spain, and Holland on our side, and the credit
of its success was given to them. On the late
occasion, unprepared, and unexpecting war, we
were compelled to declare it, and to receive the
attack of England, just issuing from a general
war, fully armed, and freed from all other enemies,
and have not only made her sick of it,
but glad to prevent by peace, the capture of her
adjacent possessions, which one or two campaigns
more would infallibly have made ours.
She has found that we can do her more injury
than any other enemy on earth, and henceforward
will better estimate the value of our peace.—
To Thomas Leiper. Washington ed. vi, 466.
Ford ed., ix, 521.
(M.
1815)
See Impressment.
