ange in our respective
countries; and that your thousand ships, your vast commerce, and your
immense (factitious) riches cannot alter it. This inclination, or
disposition, growing up in the hearts of that class of your subjects
who are more disposed to follow the bent of their natural appetites
than to cultivate patriotic opinions, will one day hoist our "_bits of
striped bunting_" over those of your now predominating flag, and you
long sighted politicians, see it as well as I do. The hard fare of
your sailors and soldiers, the scoundrelism of _some_ of your
officers, especially those concerned in your provision departments;
but above all, your _shocking cruel punishments_ in your navy and in
your _army_, have lessened their attachment to their native country.
England has, from the beginning, blundered most wretchedly, for want
of consulting the human heart, in preference to musty parchments; and
the equally useless books on the law of nations. Believe me, ye great
men of England, Scotland, Ireland and Berwick upon Tweed! that one
chapter from the _Law of Human Nature_, is worth more than all your
libraries on the _law of nations_. Beside, gentlemen, your situation
is a new one. No nation was ever so situated and circumstanced as you
are, with regard to us, your descendants. The history of nations does
not record its parallel. Why then have recourse to books, or maritime
laws, or written precedents?--In the code of the law of nations, you
stand in need of an entirely _New Chapter_. We Americans, we despised
Americans, are accumulating, as fast as we well can, the materials for
that chapter. Your government began to write this chapter in blood;
and for two years past we co-operated with you in the same way.
Nothing stands still within the great frame of nature. On every
sublunary thing _mutability_ is written. Nothing can arrest the
destined course of republics and kingdoms.

"WESTWARD the course of empire takes its way."... _Dean Berkley._

It is singular that while the Englishman and Irishman are disposed to
abandon their native countries to dwell with us in this new world, the
Scotchman has rarely shown that inclination. No--_Sawney_ is loyal,
and talks as big of _his_ king and his _country_, as would an English
country squire, surrounded by his tenants, his horses, and his dogs.
It is singular that the Laplander, and the inhabitant of Iceland, are
as much attached to their frightful countries, as the inhabitant