Reformation, a few people
came over into this New World for conscience' sake. Perhaps this
apparently trivial incident _may transfer the great seat of empire to
America. It looks likely to me_; for if we can remove the turbulent
Gallics, our people, according to the exactest computations, will, in
another century, become more numerous than England itself. Should this
be the case, since we have, I may say, all the naval stores of the
nations in our hands, it will be easy to obtain the mastery of the seas;
and then the united force of all Europe will not be able to subdue us.
The only way to keep us from setting up for ourselves is to disunite us.
_Divide et impera._ Keep us in distinct colonies, and then, some great
men in each colony desiring the monarchy of the whole, they will destroy
each others' influence, and keep the country _in equilibrio_."[23]

On this letter his son, John Quincy Adams, remarks:--

"Had the political part of it been written by the minister of state of a
European monarchy, at the close of a long life spent in the government
of nations, it would have been pronounced worthy of the united wisdom of
a Burleigh, a Sully, or an Oxenstiern.... _In one bold outline he has
exhibited by anticipation a long succession of prophetic history, the
fulfilment of which is barely yet in progress, responding exactly
hitherto to his foresight_, but the full accomplishment of which is
reserved for the development of after ages. The extinction of the power
of France in America, the union of the British North American Colonies,
the achievement of their independence, and the establishment of their
ascendency in the community of civilized nations by the means of their
naval power, are all foreshadowed in this letter, with a clearness of
perception and a distinctness of delineation which time has done little
more than to convert into historical fact."[24]

2. The Declaration of Independence bears date 4th July, 1776, for on
that day it was signed; but the vote which determined it was on the 2d
July. _On the 3d July_, John Adams, in a letter to his wife, wrote as
follows:--

"Yesterday the greatest question was decided which ever was debated in
America, and a greater, perhaps, never was nor will be decided among
men.... I am surprised at the suddenness as well as greatness of this
revolution. Britain has been filled with folly, and America with wisdom.
At least this is my judgment. Time must determine. _It is the will