This done, England would be but a breakfast:
and although I am free from the visionary fears which the votaries of
England have affected to entertain, because I believe he cannot effect
the conquest of Europe; yet put all Europe into his hands, and he might
spare such a force, to be sent in British ships, as I would as lieve
not have to encounter, when I see how much trouble a handful of British
soldiers in Canada has given us. No. It cannot be our interest that all
Europe should be reduced to a single monarchy. The true line of
interest for us is, that Bonaparte should be able to effect the complete
exclusion of England from the whole continent of Europe, in order, as
the same letter said, 'by this peaceable engine of constraint, to make
her renounce her views of dominion over the ocean, of permitting no
other nation to navigate it but with her license, and on tribute to her,
and her aggressions on the persons of our citizens who may choose to
exercise their right of passing over that element.' And this would be
effected by Bonaparte's succeeding so far as to close the Baltic against
her. This success I wished him the last year, this I wish him this
year; but were he again advanced to Moscow, I should again wish him
such disasters as would prevent his reaching Petersburg. And were the
consequences even to be the longer continuance of our war, I would
rather meet them, than see the whole force of Europe wielded by a single
hand.
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