Washington, at this time, regarded as the only probable motive of a war on the part of France with the United States, their "possession of Louisiana and the Floridas;" and when the prospect of a war with that power was imminent, this became a leading motive both in his and Hamilton's mind to the organization of an army. Early in the following year,* Hamilton will be seen to have advised the taking possession of the Floridas and Louisiana, to obviate the mischief of their falling into the hands of an active foreign power, and at the same time to secure to the United States the advantage of keeping the key of the Western country. "I have been long," he wrote, "in the habit of considering the acquisition of those countries as ESSENTIAL TO THE PERMANENCY OF THE UNION; which, I consider, as very important to the welfare of the whole."

Each revolving year the more indicates the justness of this opinion; for as the great North Western States increase in population, in that degree is increased the impossibility of the States lying on the Gulf of Mexico being permitted to constitute an independent power-and without these, the other Southern Atlantic States would be too weak to form a separate Confederacy. Thus Providence has interposed in the outlet of the Mississippi a great necessity stronger than all possible motives to disunion, while the Northern Atlantic States in their maritime strength are not less essential to "the common defence and general welfare."

The liberation of South America had also early attracted Hamilton's attention, as it had that of distinguished minds in Europe. Miranda, a native of Caraccas, before reaching manhood, was commissioned as a captain in the

* January 26, 1799. Hamilton's Works, vi. 402.

Spanish army. In this situation he came to the United States with the auxiliaries of France; became familiar with American ideas, and saw in the success of the British colonies a precedent for those of Spain. He disclosed his views, among others, to Hamilton, upon whom he fixed his eyes as a coadjutor in the great purpose of his life. Nor was Hamilton slow to perceive its importance and its advantages. It was, in this view, while urging the adoption of the Federal Constitution upon the people of the several States, he pointed to the extension of liberty to the southern portion of this continent, as one of the consequences to be hoped from an "unity of government." "Our situation invites," he wrote in the Federalist, "and our interests prompt us to aim at an ascendant in American affairs."

It was the sequel to be sought to the acquisition of the Floridas and Louisiana. When the prospect of a war between England and Spain in relation to Nootka Sound was near, Hamilton was not in error in supposing that the wresting of her American colonies from Spain was contemplated. For Miranda, after having traversed several kingdoms of Europe, and having received from the Empress of Russia assurances of support in case of success, had repaired in haste to London. Here he opened his plans to Pitt, who, at his instance, invited several Jesuits from Italy, in order to prepare the minds of the South Americans for the contemplated revolution. The pacification of England with Spain put an end to the project, but Miranda was assured by Pitt, that Great Britain would still hold it in view.

Disappointed in this quarter, he now resorted to Paris, to unfold to bosoms warm in pursuit of freedom, his plans and his hopes, the soldiers who had served in the United States. The idea was not new to France, always alive

to grand thoughts and bold undertakings. The philosophic essayist, Montaigne, depicting the arts, the culture, and the mild virtues of the South Americans, more than two centuries before, pointed to the reparation due to these injured peoples. Nor had their future escaped the vision of the far-seeing Montesquieu. Brissot seized the brilliant thought. He urged the employment of a body of troops then in St. Domingo. "The name of Miranda," he wrote, "is worth an army. His talents-his courage —his genius—all assure success.”

Alarmed and disgusted with the excesses of revolutionary France, Miranda withheld from them his countenance. Soon after, he narrowly escaped the axe of the guillotine, and then publicly avowed in Paris the moderation of his opinions. Commissioners from the regions of America lying near the Equator now met him there; and, with their concert, he again proceeded to London, where was presented a remarkable document, stating the terms on which the aid of England was expected. Among them were these stipulations: An alliance between England, the United States, and South America, as insuring to her moderate governments, and as a counterpoise to "the destructive ambition of the French system "-The opening of navigation between the Atlantic and Pacific, by the isthmus of Panama and the lake of Nicaragua, and the guarantee of its freedom to Great Britain-The cession of the Floridas and of Eastern Louisiana to the United States in consideration of a small military aid from the United States in the establishment of their independence, and the resigning of all the Spanish islands, excepting Cuba. This document bears date the twenty-second of December, seventeen hundred ninety-seven. Early in the following month, the general terms of the agreement were arranged with Pitt; and, on the fourth of March,

Miranda addressed a despatch to Adams, in which, anticipating their rupture with France, he urged the co-operation of the United States, in securing "the absolute independence of the entire continent of the New World," and gave an outline of the contemplated form of government. With this despatch, the previous document, formally executed by certain Commissaries of South America, was transmitted.* It was followed by a communication from Miranda to Hamilton, introducing a person charged to present this despatch to the President.†

Some time after, two despatches were received by the Secretary of State from the American Ambassador at London; the former, stating the purpose of England, in case the apprehended movement of France upon Spain and Portugal should take place, to commence the execution of this plan, and to propose the co-operation of the United States; the latter, that it would not be pursued, in case Spain should be able to save herself from an overthrow, which was not thought probable; and that an expedition had been prepared to commence the revolution of South America. Pickering communicated these despatches to the President, informing him, that the letters were enclosed which he had sent forward—one to Hamilton, the other to Knox.‡

* Adams's Works, viii. 569. Ibid, 583.

A paragraph of this letter (not among Hamilton's papers) is published in the Edinburgh Review, xiii. 291. "This will be delivered to you, my dear and respectable friend, by my compatriot, Don *******, charged with despatches of the highest importance for the President of the United States; he will inform you confidentially what you would desire to learn on this subject. It appears that the moment of our emancipation approaches, and that the establishment of liberty over the whole Continent of the new world is confided to us by Providence. The only danger that I foresee is the introduction of French principles, which would poison liberty in her cradle, and finish by destroying also yours." April 6th, 1798.

Adams's Works, ix. 216. August 11, 1798.

Soon after the receipt of this letter from Miranda, the relations of the United States with France had assumed a most threatening aspect, and the President publicly alluded to the advantages of "a prudent and well-guarded concert with others, exposed to common dangers; " declaring, that "he had no hope the French republic would soon return to a sense of justice."

Hamilton had also been raised to a high military command. The enterprise which he had long beheld at a distance in its mighty bearings, now assumed a near and a direct importance. Regions the most beautiful of earth; half a continent, whose summits, in successive grandeur, touched the skies; whose feet bathed in two mighty oceans; over whose bosom unceasing summers shed their fragrant luxuriance, wafted to the ocean by rivers of unparalleled magnificence; while beneath lay unexhausted richest ores in massive piles, and fields of jewelled wealth -to be rescued from bondage and made the abode of the virtuous joys of regulated freedom.

Spain still continued a satellite of France. With all the disposition, but without the ability to aid her by her fleet, she was nevertheless her most useful ally. The treasures of her American mines were made to contribute to the vast expenses of the French Government, and were surrendered to its use at its mere fiat.† Her ports were the resort of French privateers-her tribunals the ready instruments of French rapacity. Such was the bigoted devotion of her feeble monarch to France, and such his hatred of Great Britain, that he shed tears on receiving

* Adams's Works, ix. 219.

Talleyrand, desiring to obtain a large amount of specie from Hamburg, offered, in payment, cedulas of the King of Spain on his officers in South America for bars and ingots of go:d and silver, with safe conducts for neutral vessels to proceed to her ports and convey the specie!