By the bye, I have not had any letters from home for more than a month.  It seems the Americans are all united and we shall now have war in earnest.  I am glad of it for many reasons; I think it will not only get us a more speedy and permanent peace, but may tend to crush the demon of party spirit and strengthen our government.

I am done painting the gallery, and have finished my drawings for the frieze.  Thank you for your good wishes.

I thought Mr. Allston knew how proud I am of being considered his student.  Tell him, if he thinks it worth while to mention me at all in his letter to Delaplaine, I shall consider it a great honor to be called his student.

The father, in a letter of December 6, 1814, after again urging him to leave politics alone, adds this postscript: 

“P.S.  If you can make up your mind to remain in London and finish your great picture for the exhibition; to suppress your political feelings, and resolutely turn a deaf ear to everything which does not concern your professional studies; not to talk on politics and preserve a conciliating course of conduct and conversation; make as many friends as you can, and behave as a good man ought to in your situation, and put off going to France till after your exhibition,—­this plan would suit us best.  But with the observations and advice now before you, we leave you to judge for yourself.  Let us early know your determination and intended plans.  You must rely on your own resources after this year.”

The following letter is from his warm friend, the Reverend Samuel F. Jarvis, written in New York, December 14, 1814:—­

“I am not surprised at the feelings you express with regard to England or America.  The English in general have so contemptuous an opinion of us and one so exalted of themselves, that every American must feel a virtuous indignation when he hears his country traduced and belied.  But, my dear sir, it is natural, on the other hand, for an exile from his native land to turn with fond remembrance to its excellences and forget its defects.  You will be able some years hence to speak with more impartiality on this subject than you do at present.

“The men who have involved the country in this war are wicked and corrupt.  A systematic exclusion of all Federalists from any office of trust is the leading feature of this Administration, yet the Federalists comprehend the majority of the wealth, virtue, and intelligence of the community.  It is the power of the ignorant multitude by which they are supported, and I conceive that America will never be a respectable nation in the eyes of the world, till the extreme democracy of our Constitution is done away with, and there is a representation of the property rather than of the population of the country.  You feel nothing of the oppressive, despotic sway of the soi-disant Republicans, but we feel it in all its bitterness, and know that it is far worse than that of the most despotic sovereigns in Europe.  With such men there can be no union.