“The newspapers which I shall send with this will inform you of the state of our public affairs.  We have high hopes that Governor Strong will be our governor next year.  I have no belief that our war hawks will be able to involve the country in a war with Great Britain, nor do I believe that the President really wishes it.  It is thought that all the war talk and preparations are intended to effect the reelection of Mr. Madison.  The Henry Plot is a farce intended for the same purpose, but it can never be got up.  It will operate against its promoters.”

While the father was thus writing, on March 21, of the political conditions in America from his point of view, almost at the same moment the son in England was expressing himself as follows:—­

“March 25, 1812. With respect to politics I know very little, my time being occupied with much pleasanter subjects.  I, however, can answer your question whether party spirit is conducted with such virulence here as in America.  It is by no means the case, for, although it is in some few instances very violent, still, for the most part, their debates are conducted with great coolness.

“As to the Prince Regent, you have, perhaps, heard how unpopular he has made himself.  He has disappointed the expectations of very many.  Among the most unpopular of his measures may be placed the retention of the Orders in Council, which orders, notwithstanding the declarations of Mr. Perceval [the Prime Minister] and others in the Ministry to the contrary, are fast, very fast reducing this country to ruin; and it is the opinion of some of the best politicians in this country that, should the United States either persist in the Non-Intercourse Law or declare war, this country would be reduced to the lowest extremity.[1]

[Footnote 1:  Orders in Council were issued by the sovereign, with the advice of the Privy Council, in periods of emergency, trusting to their future ratification by Parliament.  In this case, while promulgated as a retaliatory measure against Bonaparte’s Continental System, they bore heavily upon the commerce of the United States.]

“Bankruptcies are daily increasing and petitions from all parts of the Kingdom, praying for the repeal of the Orders in Council, have been presented to the Prince, but he has declined hearing any of them.  Also the Catholic cause remains undecided, and he refuses hearing anything on that subject.  But no more of politics.  I am sure you must have more than sufficient at home.

“I will turn to a more pleasant subject and give you a slight history of the American artists now in London.

“At the head stands Mr. West.  He stands and has stood so long preeminent that I could relate but little of his history that would be new to you, so that I shall confine myself only to what has fallen under my own observation, and, of course, my remarks will be few.

“As a painter Mr. West can be accused of as few faults as any artist of ancient or modern times.  In his studies he has been indefatigable, and the result of those studies is a perfect knowledge of the philosophy of his art.  There is not a line or a touch in his pictures which he cannot account for on philosophical principles.  They are not the productions of accident, but of study.