The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 05
History
The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 05
United States -- Foreign relations -- 1775-1783; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Sources
Upon my arrival here, some gentlemen were inquisitive about our forms
of government. I asked if they had seen them in print; I was answered,
no. Upon this I made it my business to search in all the booksellers'
shops for a collection of American Constitutions, which was published
in French two or three years ago, but could find only two copies,
which I presented to the gentlemen who made the inquiry. Nothing would
serve our cause more than having a complete edition of all the
American Constitutions correctly printed in English at Philadelphia,
by order of Congress, and sent to Europe, as well as sold in America.
The Rhode Island and Connecticut Constitutions ought not to be
omitted, although they have undergone no alteration; and it would be
well to print the Confederation in the same volume. This volume would
be read by everybody in Europe who reads English, and could obtain it,
and some would even learn English for the sake of reading it; it would
be translated into every language of Europe, and would fix the opinion
of our unconquerability more than anything could, except driving the
enemy wholly from the United States.
There has been nobody here of sufficient information and consideration
to turn the attention of the public towards our affairs, to
communicate from time to time to the public, in a language that is
understood, intelligence from England, France or America; but on the
contrary, there have been persons enough employed and well paid by our
enemies, to propagate misinformation, misrepresentation, and abuse.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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