ABSTRACT
Mr. James has talked, and perhaps written much of the King's suspicion, but we must contend that much of this is misnamed, and is no more than that deliberate policy which is a pledge of the durability of the confidence it precedes. Certainly there has been suspicion, but not more than must have been expected, not more than was commensurate with the important novelty which challenged it. It has been confessed here, that our political rival has exerted all his address to vitiate our objects in the eyes of the King, to convince him our ostensible views were pretences; our real ones dangerous and unjust ; that we sought sovereignty, not commerce. 'The Moorish chiefs and dignitaries by whom the King is surrounded, whose influence is powerful, not only from· their rank but their repute, naturally urged these arguments against unbelie\'ers and competitors in trade, and their extensive intercourse has unfortunately possessed them of facts to the point of our ambition. Let these considerations be weighed, let our account of the King's general deportment be again referred to; let us impress, that he has never once adverted to our destruction of his
troops before Annamaboe, or of the critical situation of the fort ; that he has evinced a disposition to a sound understanding, by veiling every irritating retrospect, by acknowledging every conciliatory circumstance.
