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from time to time published by the head of the confederation. When this business has become Universal, the guardian of the law will reside at Jerusalem, and all the questions of the Intercourse between Nations will be referred to him, and his decision will be final. At present people are classing into parties upon this very question. One party looks with horror upon the European Confederation, while the other party thinks a law of nations to be precisely what is wanting to secure the freedom of the seas. But a law without any officer having authority to execute it, is an absurdity. Hence arises the need of an Universal Government, and as I read the prophecies such an one we shall have in about half a century. The Judgment on the Ancient establishments is now far advanced, and reckoning the fall of Antichrist as the signal, the time fast approaches for the triumph of the saints.

But I shall tire your patience, and must therefore conclude with adding the wishes of Mrs. Hilliard to my own that your health and enjoyment may still remain an happiness to those who are already advanced in life, and a light to those who are advancing. I am, Madam, very respectfully Your most obedient servant, JAMES WINTHROP

JAMES WINTHROP TO JAMES Warren

CAMBRIDGE, II Nov., 1810

DEAR SIR, I thank you for your appendix to Madam's letter. If I can learn what book or kind of book you wish to read, it will part of my happiness to help you to it. It is diverting to see Great Britain nestling in a distress of her own creating. When her orders in Council were made, it was with an evident view to monopolize all the trade of the World; but if she had, it could not have supported her. It is true that the trade of neutrals was cramped, and by the countervailing orders of France nearly annihilated. Very little trade was carried on with France, except by English vessels specially licensed by both governments, and the case was the same in England. Thus these two powers excluded neutrals and paid each other for making war. They have

now got to understand it. The neutrals have begun to establish manufactures for their own supply, the English have found so little vent for their fabrics, especially woollen, that they sell for little more than half the usual price, and when we take into consideration the improvement made by their importation of Spanish sheep, the cloths do not probably sell for a quarter of the price, that cloth of equal goodness would have borne two years ago. Ça ira, they fall into a pit of their own digging. Yours sincerely, JAMES WINTHROP

JAMES WINTHROP TO MERCY WARREN

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CAMBRIDGE, Decr. 14, 1810

MADAM, At the end of the College Vacation in February, I received from you Mr. Baldwin's books, accompanied by your charming letter. I immediately returned the books to the owner and delivered him your message. He desired me to make his respects to you, and to say that whenever he goes to Plymouth he will not fail to wait upon you. He was gratified with the idea of having rendered a service, tho' a small one, to a person of your eminence in the literary as well as polite world.

I have not seen the Ægis. Nobody here takes it. I take the Chronicle and other Democratic papers from Boston, except the Patriot which did not need aid. The eastern papers I took while they continued democratic. When they apostatised, they lost me for a customer. I do not now take the Boston papers for the sake of reading them, but it is necessary to contribute toward public information, and I have chosen the democratic side. The federals are willing to read if they are not called upon to pay. By this means readers are found. They do not however always read with judgment. An instance I recollect. One of my federal neighbors with whom the Democrat was left, sent it home after he had read it and sent me word that there was a most excellent speech of Mr. Otis in it. I a little wondered at the intelligence, and on searching for the speech found only the remarks upon it. It happened to be on the opposite side of the question from my

federal neighbor. To return, not having seen the Ægis I am unable to give any opinion of the review.

Though in a former letter I mentioned your friendly remarks as an inducement to try to justify indulging in light and trivial conversation, it was not done on any supposition of deficiency of candor on your part. So far from it, that if I had suspected any want of candor, I should not have given any reasons at all. But knowing the high value you set upon that virtue, I was willing to inform you of all the operations of my own mind, so far as they influence my outward conduct. The reasons did not arise from pique, but from confidence.

All this winter I have been occupied, except when engaged in business, in peeping into the Russian language. As I could not buy a dictionary, I have been engaged in epitomizing a borrowed one. It seems to be an odd pursuit for a person just compleating his fifty-eighth year; but it is not so bad as Cato the censor, who learned greek at upward of eighty. But the more languages we learn, the easier new ones become. We see more of their resemblance in construction and learn to apply general principles, as we do in other branches of knowledge. It every day becomes more evident, that all languages are branches of one original, as Moses has declared.

Mrs. Hilliard and Harriet send their respects, and thanks for your congratulations. The occasion however has not yet fully matured, but it is apprehended will take place.

I am glad to learn by Mr. Warren's letter, that your health continues as good as usual.1 I am, Madam, with great respect Your most obedient servant,

JAMES WINTHROP

1 A letter from Elbridge Gerry to Mrs. Warren, November 7, 1811, is in 5 Collections, IV. 499.

JAMES WINTHROP TO MERCY WARREN

CAMBRIDGE, 8 Feb., 1812

MADAM, -This morning I was honored with the receit of your letter of the 5th. inst. inclosing one of 31 Aug., 1811, intended to have been delivered by Mr. Judson Jr. When last at Plymouth I had the pleasure of seeing him, and the pleasure would have been renewed and heightened by his bringing your letter. I do not know how long it is since any communication has passed between us, but it is very long; and give me leave to add, that it has not been owing to neglect or forgetfulness on my part; but to the want of any other matter, than such as we suppose always exists in the minds of those, who are in the habit of friendly intercourse.

I should have been glad to have seen Mr. Judson 1 before his departure from his own country to Calcutta, but as by this time he has probably gone, the attempt to see him would be vain, and writing would be little if any better. I wish him all the success, that the nature and importance of his Enterprise deserve. As it respects Christianity, this is an eventful and interesting time. The Exertions made in England and in this country to propagate the knowledge of the Bible in the most remote and benighted corners of the earth, are so great and at present so prosperous; that a very few years will probably shew Christianity to be the prevailing religion all over the World. At present it is the only one of any note in America. In Russia it is the religion of the Government and generally predominant among the people. In India and the Islands, so far as they have been subjected by the English or Dutch, it is the religion of the Government and common among the people. In China and Persia the Government has little to do with it, but a large proportion of the people adopt it, and an enterprising Christian probably would not be without supporters. China and Japan still reject it. But as the power of the Christians prevails in India, it will not be long before some question arises between them and the Chinese, which may require force to determine. In that case the resistance of China would be very

I Adoniram Judson (1788-1850), whose life was written by Francis Wayland (1853) and his son Edward Judson (1883).

short. These things will all be done within half a century. And about 1866 Mahometanism will be diverted, and the Messiah's Kingdom established at Jerusalem and the Arabian peninsula will be his Domicil of Empire. I wish Mr. Judson would send me a catalogue of the books printed in the Oriental languages at Calcutta with their prices, including bibles, dictionaries and grammars. They are printed to be sold cheap, but we want to regulate our expence, and not run into a thoughtless expenditure. If he has not already gone, I shall be obliged to you to get him to make a memorandum of my wish and as soon as he can after his ar rival to transmit it to me. It is a branch of learning in which I am at present interested. If he has already gone, his father will have no objection to inserting such a clause in his first letter. If there be any expence in procuring such a catalogue, I will gladly defray it, but without it I know not what books to try for. Dr. Marchman the Baptist Missionary at Serampore, and one of their principal translators, will easily help him in this respect.

I hope your health remains good, and that your eyes have amended. Let me hear from you soon. My best regards to your children. I am with much respect, Madam, Your most obedient Servant,

JAMES WINTHROP

JAMES WINTHROP TO MERCY WARREN

CAMBRIDGE, 13 Decr., 1812

MADAM, I hope your health continues as good as it has been for some time past. It is long since I have heard directly from Plymouth. Has any communication been yet received from Mr. Judson in India. How does his father bear his absence?

Two events have, since the Commencement of the French Revolution, taken place, which have satisfied me of the detestable maxims of the old governments of Europe, and convinced me that they ought to be extirpated. One of them was that Louis 16th. paid two armies at the same time for fighting with each other. As King of France he was commander in chief of all the armies

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