The naked narrative
will present it truly to his mind, and the more strongly, from its
moderation, as he will perceive that no exaggeration is aimed
at. Rubbing down these roughnesses (and they are neither many nor
prominent), and preserving the original date, might, I think, remove all
the offensiveness, and give more effect to the publication. Indeed,
I think that a soothing postscript, addressed to the interests,
the prospects, and the sober reason of both nations, would make it
acceptable to both. The trifling, expense of reprinting it ought not
to be considered a moment. Mr. Gallatin could have it translated into
French, and suffer it to get abroad in Europe without either avowal or
disavowal. But it would be useful to print some copies of an appendix,
containing all the documents referred to, to be preserved in libraries,
and to facilitate to the present and future writers of history, the
acquisition of the materials which test the truths it contains.
I sincerely congratulate you on the peace, and more especially on the
eclat with which the war was closed. The affair of New Orleans was
fraught with useful lessons to ourselves, our enemies, and our friends,
and will powerfully influence our future relations with the nations of
Europe. It will show them we mean to take no part in their wars, and
count no odds when engaged in our own. I presume, that, having spared
to the pride of England her formal acknowledgment of the atrocity of
impressment in an article of the treaty, she will concur in a convention
for relinquishing it.
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