5. There is another prophecy, at once definite and broad, which proceeded from the same eminent quarter. In a letter _dated London, 17th October, 1785_, and addressed to John Jay, who was at the time Secretary for Foreign Affairs under the Confederation, John Adams reveals his conviction of the importance of France to us, "while England held a province in America";[30] and then, in another letter, _dated 21st October, 1785_, reports the saying of people about him, "_that Canada and Nova Scotia must soon be ours_; there must be war for it; they know how it will end, but the sooner the better. This done, we shall be forever at peace; till then, never."[31] These intimations foreshadow the prophecy which will be found in the Preface to his "Defence of the American Constitutions," written in London, while he was Minister there, and _dated at Grosvenor Square, 1st January, 1787_:-- "The United States of America have exhibited, perhaps, the first example of governments erected on the simple principles of nature.... Thirteen governments thus founded on the natural authority of the people alone, without a pretence of miracle or mystery, and _which are destined to spread over the northern part of that whole quarter of the globe_, are a great point gained in favor of the rights of mankind. The experiment is made, and has completely succeeded."[32] Here is foretold nothing less than that our system of government is to embrace the whole continent of North America. GALIANI.--1776, 1778. Among the most brilliant persons in this list is the Abbé Galiani, a Neapolitan, who was born in 1728, and died at Naples in 1787. Although Italian by birth, yet by the accident of official residence he became for a while domesticated in France, wrote the French language, and now enjoys a French reputation. His writings in French and his letters have the wit and ease of Voltaire.