that we shall soon be rid of their neighborhood. Cuba alone seems at
present to hold up a speck of war to us. Its possession by Great Britain
would indeed be a great calamity to us. Could we induce her to join us
in guarantying its independence against all the world, except Spain, it
would be nearly as valuable to us as if it were our own. But should she
take it, I would not immediately go to war for it; because the first war
on other accounts will give it to us; or the island will give itself to
us, when, able to do so. While no duty, therefore, calls on us to take
part in the present war of Europe, and a golden harvest offers itself in
reward for doing nothing, peace and neutrality seem to be our duty and
interest. We may gratify ourselves, indeed, with a neutrality as partial
to Spain as would be justifiable without giving cause of war to her
adversary; we might and ought to avail ourselves of the happy occasion
of procuring and cementing a cordial reconciliation with her, by
giving assurance of every friendly office which neutrality admits, and
especially, against all apprehension of our intermeddling in the quarrel
with her colonies. And I expect daily and confidently to hear of a spark
kindled in France, which will employ her at home, and relieve Spain from
all further apprehensions of danger.

That England is playing false with Spain cannot be doubted. Her
government is looking one way and rowing another. It is curious to look
back a little on past events. During the ascendancy of Bonaparte, the
word among the herd of Kings was, '_Sauve qui peut_.' Each shifted
for himself, and left his brethren to squander and do the same as they
could. After the battle of Waterloo, and the military possession of
France, they rallied and combined in common cause, to maintain each
other against any similar and future danger. And in this alliance,
Louis, now avowedly, and George, secretly but solidly, were of the
contracting parties; and there can be no doubt that the allies are bound
by treaty to aid England with their armies, should insurrection take
place among her people. The coquetry she is now playing off between
her people and her allies is perfectly understood by the latter,
and accordingly gives no apprehensions to France, to whom it is all
explained. The diplomatic correspondence she is now displaying, these
double papers fabricated merely for exhibition, in which she makes
herself talk of morals and principle, as if her