The Correspondence of Thomas Jefferson
By Subject
FOREIGN RELATIONS / BRITAIN AND FRANCE AT WAR
The war between France and England seems to be producing an effect
not contemplated. All the old spirit of 1776, rekindling the
newspapers from Boston to Charleston, proves this; and even the
monocrat papers are obliged to publish the most furious philippics
against England. A French frigate took a British prize off the capes
of Delaware the other day, and sent her up here. Upon her coming into
sight, thousands and thousands of the
yeomanry of the city crowded and covered the wharves. Never
before was such a crowd seen there; and when the British colors were
seen reversed, and the French flying above them, they burst into peals
of exultation. I wish we may be able to repress the spirit of the
people within the limits of a fair neutrality. In the meantime, H. is
panic-struck, if we refuse our breech to every kick which Great
Britain may choose to give it. He is for proclaiming at once the most
abject principles, such as would invite and merit habitual insults;
and indeed every inch of ground must be fought in our councils to
desperation, in order to hold up the face of even a sneaking
neutrality, for our votes are generally two and a half against one and
a half. Some propositions have come from him which would astonish Mr.
Pitt himself with their boldness. If we preserve even a sneaking
neutrality, we shall be indebted for it to the President, and not to
his counsellors.
to James Monroe, 5 May 1793
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