The one is like a
young heir coming to a large improvable estate; the other like an
old man whose chances are over, and his estate mortgaged for half
its worth.
In the second number of the Crisis, which I find has been
republished in England, I endeavored to set forth the impracticability
of conquering America. I stated every case, that I conceived could
possibly happen, and ventured to predict its consequences. As my
conclusions were drawn not artfully, but naturally, they have all
proved to be true. I was upon the spot; knew the politics of
America, her strength and resources, and by a train of services, the
best in my power to render, was honored with the friendship of the
congress, the army and the people. I considered the cause a just
one. I know and feel it a just one, and under that confidence never
made my own profit or loss an object. My endeavor was to have the
matter well understood on both sides, and I conceived myself tendering
a general service, by setting forth to the one the impossibility of
being conquered, and to the other the impossibility of conquering.
Most of the arguments made use of by the ministry for supporting the
war, are the very arguments that ought to have been used against
supporting it; and the plans, by which they thought to conquer, are
the very plans in which they were sure to be defeated. They have taken
every thing up at the wrong end. Their ignorance is astonishing, and
were you in my situation you would see it. They may, perhaps, have
your confidence, but I am persuaded that they would make very
indifferent members of Congress.
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