and reflection, I have a strong
conviction that the Declaration of American Independence, in 1776, was a
great mistake in itself, a great calamity to America as well as to
England, a great injustice to many thousands on both sides of the
Atlantic, a great loss of human life, a great blow to the real liberties
of mankind, and a great impediment to the highest Christian and
Anglo-Saxon civilization among the nations of the world.

In this summary statement of opinion--so contrary to the sentiments of
American historians and to popular feeling in the United States--I mean
no reflection on the motives, character, patriotism, and abilities of
those great men who advocated and secured the adoption of the
Declaration of Independence in the General Congress of 1776. I believe
America has never produced a race of statesmen equal in purity of
character, in comprehensiveness of views, in noble patriotism and moral
courage, to "the Fathers of the American Revolution." Their discussions
of public questions, during the eleven years which preceded the
Declaration of Independence, evince a clearness of discernment, an
accuracy of statement, a niceness of distinction, a thorough knowledge
of the principles of government, and the mutual relation of colonies and
the parent State, elegance of diction, and force of argument, not
surpassed in discussions of the kind in any age or country; their
diplomatic correspondence displays great superiority in every respect
over the English statesmen of the day, who sought to oppress them; the
correspondence of Washington with General Gage commanded alike the
admiration of Europe and the gratitude of America; the memorials and
other public papers transmitted to England by the American Congress, and
written by Jay and other members, drew forth from the Earl of Chatham,
in the House of Lords, January 20th, 1775, the following eulogy: "When
your lordships look at the papers transmitted to us from America--when
you consider their decency, firmness, and wisdom, you cannot but respect
their cause, and wish to make it your own. For myself, I must avow that
in all my reading--and I have read Thucydides, and have studied and
admired the master States of the world--for solidity of reason, force of
sagacity, and wisdom of conclusion under a complication of difficult
circumstances, no nation or body of men can stand in preference to the
General Congress at Philadelphia. The histories of Greece and Rome give
us not