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
confidence, and affection, which has greatly changed the habits of the
Americans in this respect.
The third material, of which the general barrier is created, is
language. This, no doubt, occasions many difficulties in the
communication between the allies; but it is lessening every day.
Perhaps no language was ever studied at once by so many persons at a
time, in proportion, as the French is now studied in America. And it
is certain, that English was never so much studied in France as since
the revolution; so that the difficulties of understanding one another
are lessening every day.
Religion is the fourth part of the barrier. But let it be considered,
first, that there is not enough of religion of any kind among the
great in England to make the Americans very fond of them. Secondly,
that what religion there is in England, is as far from being the
religion of America as that of France. The hierarchy of England is
quite as disagreeable to America as that of any other country.
Besides, the Americans know very well, that the spirit of propagating
any religion by conquest, and of making proselytes by force or by
intrigue, is fled from all other countries of the world, in a great
measure, and that there is more of this spirit remaining in England
than anywhere else. And the Americans had, and have still, more reason
to fear the introduction of a religion that is disagreeable to them,
at least as far as bishops and hierarchy go, from a connexion with
England, than with any other nation of Europe.
The alliance with France has no article respecting religion. France
neither claims nor desires any authority or influence over America in
this respect; whereas, England claimed and intended to exercise
authority and force over the Americans; at least, so far as to
introduce bishops; and the English Society for Propagating Religion in
Foreign Parts, has, in fact, for a century, sent large sums of money
to America to support their religion there, which really operated as a
bribe upon many minds, and was the principal source of toryism. So
that upon the whole, the alliance with France is in fact more natural,
as far as religion is concerned, than the former connexion with Great
Britain, or any other connexion that can be formed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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