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JAY TO JUDGE PETERS. 427
more intelligence than the writers meant to convey.
As almost every vagrant leaf we pick up will inform
us of the kind of tree which produced it, so these
traits discover the feelings which originated them.
It is a pity that such feelings should exist; but they
are the offspring of human nature, which is not what
it should be, nor what it once was. That Britons
should reflect on our former and present state and
condition, without regret, without mortification, and
without apprehensions of rivalry and perhaps of
danger, can hardly be expected. A doubt whether
Britannia will always " rule the waves," cannot have
a welcome reception in her mind. Our rapid progress
in trade, navigation, and the arts cannot correspond
with her views and wishes. The strength resulting
from our increasing resources and population recommends a kind of policy and a degree of accommodation not congenial with the temper and propensities
of such a nation. Superiors seldom see with complacency inferiors rising towards equality, and by
means which may not improbably carry them beyond
it. There is, nevertheless, great worth in Britain.
I have not seen Dr. Franklin's Life. As he concurred in the opinion of Count de Vergennes, that we
should proceed to treat for peace with Great Britain
without a previous admission of our independence,
he may, in his own mind, have acquitted the Count of
the motives to which I ascribed his giving us that
opinion ; and also have considered his subsequent explanations on that and certain other topics as satisfactory. After my return in 1784, I was informed of
| Title | The correspondence and public papers of John Jay - 4 |
| Creator | Jay, John |
| Publisher | G.P. Putnam's Sons |
| Place of Publication | New York, London |
| Date | [1890-93] |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Title | 00000454 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | JAY TO JUDGE PETERS. 427 more intelligence than the writers meant to convey. As almost every vagrant leaf we pick up will inform us of the kind of tree which produced it, so these traits discover the feelings which originated them. It is a pity that such feelings should exist; but they are the offspring of human nature, which is not what it should be, nor what it once was. That Britons should reflect on our former and present state and condition, without regret, without mortification, and without apprehensions of rivalry and perhaps of danger, can hardly be expected. A doubt whether Britannia will always " rule the waves," cannot have a welcome reception in her mind. Our rapid progress in trade, navigation, and the arts cannot correspond with her views and wishes. The strength resulting from our increasing resources and population recommends a kind of policy and a degree of accommodation not congenial with the temper and propensities of such a nation. Superiors seldom see with complacency inferiors rising towards equality, and by means which may not improbably carry them beyond it. There is, nevertheless, great worth in Britain. I have not seen Dr. Franklin's Life. As he concurred in the opinion of Count de Vergennes, that we should proceed to treat for peace with Great Britain without a previous admission of our independence, he may, in his own mind, have acquitted the Count of the motives to which I ascribed his giving us that opinion ; and also have considered his subsequent explanations on that and certain other topics as satisfactory. After my return in 1784, I was informed of |
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