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address himself in his prayers for his own safety on the voyage； and
that of his people during his absence。 His sounding voice； distinct
articulation； animated actions； and the solemn silence of his people
at their several fires； filled me with awe and veneration； altho' I
did not understand a word he uttered。 That nation； consisting now of
about 2000。 wariors； and the Creeks of about 3000。 are far advanced
in civilisation。 They have good Cabins； inclosed fields； large herds
of cattle and hogs； spin and weave their own clothes of cotton； have
smiths and other of the most necessary tradesmen； write and read； are
on the increase in numbers； and a branch of the Cherokees is now
instituting a regular representative government。 Some other tribes
were advancing in the same line。 On those who have made any
progress； English seductions will have no effect。 But the backward
will yeild； and be thrown further back。 These will relapse into
barbarism and misery； lose numbers by war and want； and we shall be
obliged to drive them； with the beasts of the forest into the Stony
mountains。 They will be conquered however in Canada。 The possession
of that country secures our women and children for ever from the
tomahawk and scalping knife； by removing those who excite them： and
for this possession； orders I presume are issued by this time； taking
for granted that the doors of Congress will re…open with a
Declaration of war。 That this may end in indemnity for the past；
security for thefuture； and compleat emancipation from Anglomany；
Gallomany； and all the manias of demoralized Europe； and that you may
live in health and happiness to see all this； is the sincere prayer
of Yours affectionately。
WAR WITH ENGLAND
_To General Thaddeus Kosciusko_
_Monticello； June 28； 1812_
Nous voila donc； mon cher ami； en guerre avec l'Angleterre。
This was declared on the 18th instant； thirty years after the
signature of our peace in 1782。 Within these thirty years what a
vast course of growth and prosperity we have had！ It is not ten
years since Great Britain began a series of insults and injuries
which would have been met with war in the threshold by any European
power。 This course has been unremittingly followed up by increasing
wrongs； with glimmerings indeed of peaceable redress； just sufficient
to keep us quiet； till she has had the impudence at length to
extinguish even these glimmerings by open avowal。 This would not
have been borne so long； but that France has kept pace with England
in iniquity of principle； although not in the power of inflicting
wrongs on us。 The difficulty of selecting a foe between them has
spared us many years of war； and enabled us to enter into it with
less debt； more strength and preparation。 Our present enemy will
have the sea to herself； while we shall be equally predominant at
land； and shall strip her of all her possessions on this continent。
She may burn New York； indeed； by her ships and congreve rockets； in
which case we must burn the city of London by hired incendiaries； of
which her starving manufacturers will furnish abundance。 A people in
such desperation as to demand of their government _autparcem； aut
furcam_； either bread or the gallows； will not reject the same
alternative when offered by a foreign hand。 Hunger will make them
brave every risk for bread。 The partisans of England here have
endeavored much to goad us into the folly of choosing the ocean
instead of the land； for the theatre of war。 That would be to meet
their strength with our own weakness； instead of their weakness with
our strength。 I hope we shall confine ourselves to the conquest of
their possessions； and defence of our harbors； leaving the war on the
ocean to our privateers。 These will immediately swarm in every sea；
and do more injury to British commerce than the regular fleets of all
Europe would do。 The government of France may discontinue their
license trade。 Our privateers will furnish them much more abundantly
with colonial produce； and whatever the license trade has given them。
Some have apprehended we should be overwhelmed by the new
improvements of war； which have not yet reached us。 But the British
possess them very imperfectly； and what are these improvements？
Chiefly in the management of artillery； of which our country admits
little use。 We have nothing to fear from their armies； and shall put
nothing in prize to their fleets。 Upon the whole； I have known no
war entered into under more favorable auspices。
Our manufacturers are now very nearly on a footing with those
of England。 She has not a single improvement which we do not
possess； and many of them better adapted by ourselves to our ordinary
use。 We have reduced the large and expensive machinery for most
things to the compass of a private family； and every family of any
size is now getting machines on a small scale for their household
purposes。 Quoting myself as an example； and I am much behind many
others in this business； my household manufactures are just getting
into operation on the scale of a carding machine costing 60 only；
which may be worked by a girl of twelve years old； a spinning
machine； which may be made for 10； carrying 6 spindles for wool； to
be worked by a girl also； another which can be made for 25； carrying
12 spindles for cotton； and a loom； with a flying shuttle； weaving
its twenty yards a day。 I need 2；000 yards of linen； cotton and
woollen yearly； to clothe my family； which this machinery； costing
150 only； and worked by two women and two girls； will more than
furnish。 For fine goods there are numerous establishments at work in
the large cities； and many more daily growing up； and of merinos we
have some thousands； and these multiplying fast。 We consider a sheep
for every person as sufficient for their woollen clothing； and this
State and all to the north have fully that； and those to the south
and west will soon be up to it。 In other articles we are equally
advanced； so that nothing is more certain than that； come peace when
it will； we shall never again go to England for a shilling where we
have gone for a dollar's worth。 Instead of applying to her
manufacturers there； they must starve or come here to be employed。 I
give you these details of peaceable operations； because they are
within my present sphere。 Those of war are in better hands； who know
how to keep their own secrets。 Because； too； although a soldier
yourself； I am sure you contemplate the peaceable employment of man
in the improvement of his condition； with more pleasure than his
murders； rapine and devastations。
Mr。 Barnes； some time ago； forwarded you a bill of exchange for
5；500 francs； of which the enclosed is a duplicate。 Apprehending
that a war with England would subject the remittances to you to more
casualties； I proposed to Mr。 Morson； of Bordeaux； to become the