sit, those two gentlemen will not be set at liberty, neither will any apology be made for the taking of the Trent. If the English want to fight, why, they will fight. Where one volunteer presents himself to defend the flag against the rebels of the South, twenty will come forward with eagerness to march against the English.
I am expressing to you the pure American thought. With regard to France joining with England - which seems likely enough - it should not be forgotten what France was able to do alone against the European coalition. Not only did she manage to defend herself against all the countries united, but she beat them on their own ground and besieged them in their capitals. " Surely," say our Americans, " we need not be frightened nor discouraged at the idea of a coalition of two powers who will have to send their armies 3,000 miles across the ocean to attack us."
St. Louis University, February, 1863.
Mr. JOS. VAN JERSEL, Utenhout, Holland.'
Very Worthy and Respectable Monsieur.- " Better late than never " says the old proverb. I shall say little by way of excuse for my delay in writing you. My occupations have been numerous and my journeys long; that is all that I can advance as an appeal to your indulgence and charity. To atone for my apparent negligence, I propose to write you a rather long letter. A few details regarding political matters in the United States, which the entire world is now watching, may perhaps be agreeable to you.
I will begin at the beginning: that is, since I had the honor of paying you a visit at Utenhout, in the midst of the snow toward the end of December, I86o. On the 27th of March, 1861, I said farewell to my brothers in religion and to my
7 From the French.