Clearly Pownall was not understood in his time; but it is evident that he understood our country as few Englishmen since have been able to understand it.

How few of his contemporaries saw America with his insight and courage!

The prevailing sentiment was typified in the conduct of George the Third, so boldly arraigned in the Declaration of Independence.

This revolution is, then, the most fortunate event which could happen to the human species in general and to all the States in particular.

Englishmen! you must needs submit to your destiny, and renounce a people who do not wish longer to recognize you.

What glory for you to have labored first for this interesting revolution!

Nothing can be happier than the thought that Perpetual Peace would be accelerated by American freedom, thus enhancing even this great boon.

To all these accomplishments add the glowing emotions of his noble nature, his love of virtue, his devotion to freedom, his sympathy for the poor and downtrodden.

Truth, Justice, Reason, Valor, with them fly To seek a purer soil, a more congenial sky.

Commerce with fleets shall mock the waves, And Arts, that flourish not with slaves, Dancing with every Grace and every Muse, Shall bid the valleys laugh and heavenly beams diffuse.

Till, mocked and jaded with the puppet play, Old England’s genius turns with scorn away, Ascends his sacred bark, the sails unfurled, And steers his state to the wide Western World.

From the beginning, France has acted contrary to her true interests in encouraging and seconding this independence: I have often so declared to the ministers of this nation.

The antipathy which reigns between France and England blinded the French Cabinet; it forgot that its interest consisted in remaining a tranquil spectator of this conflict; and, once launched in the arena, it dragged us, unhappily, and by…

This Federal Republic is born a pygmy, so to speak.

It required the support and the forces of two powers as great as Spain and France in order to attain independence.

A day will come when it will be a giant, even a colossus, formidable in these countries.

Liberty of conscience, the facility for establishing a new population on immense lands, as well as the advantages of the new government, will draw thither agriculturists and artisans from all the nations: for men always run after Fortune.

And in a few years we shall see with true grief the tyrannical existence of this same colossus of which I speak.

The first movement of this power, when it has arrived at its aggrandizement, will be to obtain possession of the Floridas, in order to dominate the Gulf of Mexico.

After having rendered commerce with New Spain difficult for us, it will aspire to the conquest of this vast empire, which it will not be possible for us to defend against a formidable power established on the same continent, and in its…

These fears are well founded, Sire; they will be changed into reality in a few years, if, indeed, there are not other disorders in our Americas still more fatal.

This observation is justified by what has happened in all ages, and with all nations which have begun to rise.

Man is the same everywhere; the difference of climate does not change the nature of our sentiments; he who finds the opportunity of acquiring power and of aggrandizing himself profits by it always.

How, then, can we expect the Americans to respect the kingdom of New Spain, when they shall have the facility of possessing themselves of this rich and beautiful country?

The clear vision with which he saw the enormity of Slavery was not disturbed by any prevailing interest at home, and he constantly testified against it.