Boston, June 12,1861.
I have just seen Lothrop Motley (Dutch Republic), who has
landed from the steamer this morning, and gives very brilliant accounts of our
English relations.
This is all very well while we are strong, and there is a
prospect of our whipping the rebels before the next cotton crop; but I have
seen letters from well-informed sources, not diplomatic, which have another
color.
The aristocratic rulers of England do not like us, and the
middle classes want cotton, and our safety lies, while talking smoothly of
peace, and believing all we choose of their fair professions, in taking the
most vigorous measures to strengthen our navy. . . . We can get some weapons forged for those
domestic enemies which will be useful for foreign ones, in case they get hungry
for cotton, and try to bully us next fall. I hope you will not relax one iota
for all the peace talk. France will act with England if we are caught weak next
fall.
SOURCE: Sarah Forbes Hughes, Letters and
Recollections of John Murray Forbes, Volume 1, p. 220-1
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