The depression was in the first moment gloomy and
portentous. But it has been succeeded by a revived animation, and a
determination to meet the occurrence with increased efforts; and I have
so much confidence in the vigorous minds and bodies of our countrymen,
as to be fearless as to the final issue. The treachery of Hull, like
that of Arnold, cannot be matter of blame on our government. His
character, as an officer of skill and bravery, was established on the
trials of the last war, and no previous act of his life had led to doubt
his fidelity. Whether the Head of the war department is equal to his
charge, I am not qualified to decide. I knew him only as a pleasant,
gentlemanly man in society; and the indecision of his character rather
added to the amenity of his conversation. But when translated from
the colloquial circle to the great stage of national concerns, and the
direction of the extensive operations of war, whether he has been able
to seize at one glance the long line of defenceless border presented by
our enemy, the masses of strength which we hold on different points of
it, the facility this gave us of attacking him, on the same day, on
all his points, from the extremity of the lakes to the neighborhood
of Quebec, and the perfect indifference with which this last place,
impregnable as it is, might be left in the hands of the enemy to fall
of itself; whether, I say, he could see and prepare vigorously for
all this, or merely wrapped himself in the cloak of cold defence, I
am uninformed.
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