Yacht Azalea, Off Naushon, September 11, 1863.
I have yours of the 19th of August. The issue of 5-20's is
not officially announced. . . .
The editorial of the “Times” on ironclads works well; when
you see that question settled, I think you can make money by buying the bonds
left with you.
I have no fear of any early collision with your country, if
the North succeeds, without compromise, in whipping the scoundrels. If we could
ever be so weak as to give in to them and degrade our present government in the
eyes of the people, — the slaveholders, coming back with their power for
mischief remaining, might join the tail of the sham democracy who have always
been willing to coalesce with the sham aristocracy, and this combination might
use the joint armies and the Irish to pitch into you. If we put the
slaveholders under, as we mean to do, with their beautiful institution
destroyed, there will be no danger of war with England until some new
irritation comes up; we shall be sick of war. . . .
I wish you would pull up in time! Then we could join you in
putting Napoleon out of Mexico, and in stopping French colonization in that
direction. We ought to be allies! and Mexico gives us another chance to become
so.
With best regard to Mr. Bates, and others round you.
N. B. My young soldier continues well, thank you. I have
just sent him his eighth horse, so you may judge he has not been idle!
SOURCE: Sarah Forbes Hughes, Letters and
Recollections of John Murray Forbes, Volume 2, p. 55-6
