THE WRITINGS OF GEORGE WASHINGTON VOL. XIII, I 794--1798 OF THIS LETTER-PRESS EDITION 75 ° COPIES HAVE BEEN PRINTED FO_ SALE yuly, _892 i J THE WRITINGS OF GEORGE WASHINGTON COLLECTED AND EDITED By WORTHINGTON CHAUNCEY FORD VOL. XIII. 1794-I 798 NEW YORK AND LONDON" O. P. PUTNAM'S SONS _ _k_rbo_ _r_ I89_ Press cf G, P. PUTNAM'S SONS New York CONTENTS OF VOL. XIII. I794. PAG_ To Tobias Lear, December 2ISt I The Virginia legislature and the navigation company--Weston and Clalborne on locks--His tobacco in the warehouses. To Henry Knox, December 3oth 5 His retirement from office. To William Pearce, January-December 6 Restoring lands--A break in the rotation--Meal and flour-- Carpenters' and Green's unfitness--Increase of lambs--Neglect of overseers--The renting of the fisheries--Prices of provisions and the embargo--Green's rascally conduct--Corn supply-- Grasses---Drilled wheat--Sickness of the hands--Disappoint- ments and losses-The care of lambs--Stuart's conduct--Quarry- ing stone at Mount Vernon--Abuse of mules and horses--Death --His objects in conducting the plantation--Bonus to Johnm Deceit of the hands--Policy in caring for the land--Small re- salts of carpenters' work--A granny--Sale and rental of his landsmErection of a still--A road through the estate---Green and his family--Servlng wine at Mount Vernon--Matter of accounts---Clearlng woodland--Consumption of corn on the estate. I795- To Daniel Carroll, January 7th • . 24 Greenleaf's purchases in the federal city intended as specula- tions--Is opposed to any more large sales---Profit should be reaped by the commissioners. To Tobias Lear, January I2th 26 Finances of the navigation company--Measures to be taken for their adjustment--Claiborne's engineers--His tobacco. To Eleanor Parke Custis, January I6th 29 The Georgetown ball--A hint on assumed insensibility-- Love not an involuntary passion--Questions to be asked--The declaration must proceed from the man--Marriage of her sister. V vi CONTENTS O.F VOL. XIII. PAGE To Edmund Pendleton, January 22d 32 His age and desire for retirement--The spirit of anarchy in Pennsylvania subdued--Ready response of the militia--Favor- able aspects of Indian affairs--Policy towards the trtbes_Land speculators, settlers, and traders at fault--3ay's mission. To the Commissioners of the Federal District, Janu- ary 28th 36 A university in the federal city--Objects to be attained by its institution--Offers his Potomac River shares_'_Vhy he writes to them on the matter. To Alexander Hamilton, February 2d 39 Final words on his retirement from the Treasury. To Robert Lewis, February 22d 4o Collection of rents--Bad character of under-sheriffs--Mrs, Haynie--Purchase of leases--Leases for lives. To Joseph Ceracchi, March 9th . 43 His scheme for a national monument--klis complaint of de- ception and ill-treatment--His bust of the President--Attitude of the President--Busts of Bacchus and Ariadne. To Charles Carter, March Ioth . 47 Is not able to lend money--Conditions under which he will contribute. To Thomas Jefferson, March I5th 48 His idea of a national university--Reasons for selecting the federal city--A second institution to be in Virginia--As to im- porting professors--The plans may be united. To Robert Brooke, March I6th. 52 The James River shares offered for a Virginian institution of learning. To Daniel Morgan, March 27th. 55 Trial of John Mitchell--Good conduct of the army--Mere agent of the civil power. TO Alexander White, May ITth 56 Desires his residence to be in the federal city-Comparison of the old board of commissioners with the new--Necessity for pressing on the work. To the Secretaries of State, Treasury, and War, and the Attorney-General, June 29th . 59 Resolution of the Senate advising that the treaty with Great Britain be ratified--Questiom suggested by the resolution. CONTENTS OF VOL. Xfll. vii PAGE To Alexander Hamilton, July 3d 61 Publication of the treaty--Desires the opinion of dispassionate men upon it--Asks for his views. To Alexander Hamilton, July I3th 63 Has received his examination of the treaty--Articles twelve and three open to objection--The Hudson's Bay Company-- Restraints on traders--If twelfth article is suspended, will it be necessary to submit again to the Senate ?--Query as to the fifteenth article. To Alexander Hamilton, July I4th 67 His opinion on re-submission of treaty in direct opposition to those of the Cabinet--Has called for new opinions. To Edmund Randolph, July 22d 68 Proceedings at Boston on the treaty--His opinion on the raft- fication--The French decrees. To Edmund Randolph, July 24th 7I His readiness to return to Philadelphia--Opinions on the treaty--Monroe's introduction of Archibald Rowan Hamilton. To Timothy Pickering, July 27th 72 Conference with the Indians--Higginson on the Boston meeting--Fierceness of party disputes. Address to the Selectmen of Boston, July 28th 74 His policy in the matter of the treaty. TO -Alexander Hamilton, July 29th 76 Wishes to know the real temper of the people towards the treaty--Difference in opinions displayed--Alleged violation of our engagements with France---The essays of Camdlus--Aefivity of the opposition. To Edmund Randolph, July 29th 79 His intention to return to Philadelphla--Importance of the public papers on the treaty requires it--Serious aspect of the opposition in its relation to France---Never was a crisis so pregnant of interesting events--Reply to the Boston selectmen ---Chancellor Livingston's letter. To Edmund Randolph, July 3ISt . 83 Return of some letters--His jouxney to Philadelphia-- Prejudices against the treaty more extensive than is generally imagined--Ratification or rejection brings dangers--A full examination of the subject necessary--The memorial on the treaty, viii CONTENTS Off"VOL. XIII. PAGI_ To Edmund Randolph, August 3d 85 Interruption of the mails--Baltimore and Richmond resolu- tions-His determination unshaken. To Oliver Wolcott, August 87 Questions on the intercepted despatch of Fauchet. To Edmund Randolph, August 2oth 9° The story of Fauchet's despatch--Its contents will not be divulged by him--A copy of the despatch will be sent to him. To John Adams, August 2oth 9x Prospects of John Quincy Adams--Reply to the Boston re- monstrance--Meetings in opposition to the constituted authori- ties uselesdangerous,s, andimproper. To Robert R. Livingston, August 2oth 93 ttis objections to the treaty--Reasons of his polity. To James Ross, August 22d 94 Opposition of the seaport towns to the treaty--Logical result of the meetings. To Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, August 24th . 95 An offer of the Secretaryship of State--Duty should impel him to accept. To Alexander Hamilton, August 3Ist 96 The British provision order--No reply given to questions for information--Matters to be considered in a new negotiation-- Wishes an expression of his views. To John Jay, August 3ISt 99 Treaty ratified by him as far as is in his power--Unfortunate revival of the domineering spirit in Great Britain--What points should be covered in a future friendly negotiation. To George Cabot, September 7th • Ioo Arrival of young Lafayette and his tutor---Will be the friend of Lafayette---Regard for his official position will prevent an open recognition--Suggests his entrance to the university at Cambridge--Inclination to serve him will be evidenced by his conduct--An assumed name. To Timothy Picketing, September 9th , IO3 Sailinofg theFrench and English vessels--Interpretation that may be put upon the order_Necessity of counteractingtlm story to be told by Fauchet. CONTENTS O.F VOL. XIII. ix PAGIt To Henry Knox, September 2oth .... IO 5 His settlement in Maine--No inf#ble opinion among mortals--Upright intentions and close "investigation his rule of conduct--Results of misrepresentation on the public view of the treaty. To Timothy Pickering, September 27th lO6 The Directorship of the Mint--Samuel Dexter and the orifice of Attorney-General--To bring into office one opposed to the measures of the government, a sort of political suicide. To Edmund Randolph, September 27th lO8 His signature necessary--Some questions on Fauchet's de- spatch answered. To Oliver Wolcott, October 2d . • Io 9 Delay in Randolph's statement--Some correspondence that has passed between them--His questions framed with an in- sidious tendency--A hint that might be thrown out to him. To Thomas Jefferson, October 4th xI I Madame de Chastellux's application misplaced--Difficulty of introducing a new crop--Agriculturai matters---Buckwheat dressing--Potatoes as an improving crop--The wcavil and rains. To Edward Carrington, October 9th . 114 Difficulty met in filling the office of State---Where it has been offered--Reasons for not having offered it to Mr. Henry--Innes for Attorney-General--A letter to Henry--Marshall to be con- sulted--Contingency of Henry's refusing to serve. To Patrick Henry, October 9th . 118 The office of State--Wishes him to take it--His wishes in the conduct of the foreign relations of the government--An Ameri- can character. To Timothy Pickering, October 12th . 12o Fatality attending Pinckney's negotiations--An extraordinary inattention to ciphers--Undignified and insulting COUrSeof the Spanish court--His return to Philadelphia. To Edmund Randolph, October 2Ist . I22 His letter to the P_ilaa_l_Ma Gazette--Full permission to use private and confidential, written and oral com'_hunicationsq His conduct on the treaty_Wilt r*ceive his vindication through the press--A request that this letter be includedqThe public will decide between them. X CONTENTS OF VOL. XIII. PAGE To Edmund Randolph, October 25th I25 No apprehension from any disclosure whatsoever--Posing as a martyr to partisan spirit--Motive for giving him the papers he requires--Can see no relation between the treaty with Great Britain and the intercepted letter of Fauehet--Itas created no necessity for his disclosures.