I am not without hopes that matters will soon take a favourable turn in the federal constitution.

The discerning part of the community have long since seen the necessity of giving adequate powers to congress for national purposes, and those of a different description must yield to it ere long." [Sidenote: Discontents of the Americans against the commercial regulations of Britain.] While the recommendation of the 30th of April, 1784, was before the states, many causes contributed to diffuse through the community such a general dissatisfaction with the existing state of things, as to prepare the way for some essential change in the American system.

In the course of the long war which had been carried on in the bosom of their country, the people of the United States had been greatly impoverished.

Their property had been seized for the support of both armies; and much of their labour had been drawn from agriculture for the performance of military service.

The naval power of their enemy had almost annihilated their commerce; from which resulted the two-fold calamity, that imported commodities were enhanced to an enormous price, while those for exportation were reduced much below their ordinary value.