1799]

UNIFORM

127

I am sorry to hear that Mr. Gerry is pursuing a mischevous path. That he was led astray by his own vanity and self importance and was the dupe of Diplomatic Skill, I never had a doubt; but these doubts were accompanied by feint hopes (feint indeed they were) that he possessed candour, fortitude and manliness enough to have come forward with an open declaration that, he had been practised upon, and was deceiv'd. But Mr. Gerry's mind is not enlarged enough for such conduct as this; especially, assailed as I presume it was on his arrival, by those whose labours are unceasing, to inculcate their doctrines of hostility against the proceedings of their own government. The Session of Congress is drawing fast to a close; what traits it will leave behind of strong, and energetic measures, remains to be seen: Such I hope as will shew that, we are ready at all times to negociate upon, fair and honorable terms, but never to be bullied or duped. With very great esteem etc.

*To THE SECRETARY OF WAR

(Private)

Mount Vernon, February 10, 1799.

My dear Sir: Your letter of the Ist. instant is received. Whatever appearance, or shape, the Uniform intended for me, may take, by your direction, will be entirely agreeable to my taste. It being the commencement of a distinguishing dress for the Commander in Chief of the Armies of the United States (whomsoever he may be) and probably will be a permanent one, my wish (although as it respects myself personally I have no choice) is, that it may be correctly executed; for which reason I thought it more aligable, in the first instance, that the

directions concerning it should proceed from the Department of War, than from myself.

I hope it will be made and sent to me by the time mentioned in my last; accompanied with the Cockades, and Stars for the Epaulets; without the whole of which, the Dress will not comport with the order; of course must be incomplete.

If my Nephew Mr Bushrod Washington should not have left Philadelphia before the above articles are ready, and is certain of being here by the 22d. instant, it would afford a good and safe opportunity for the conveyance of them to me; but if he has doubts on this head, I would not hazard the receipt of them by him, by that time; as you will perceive by the enclosed letter to Mr. McAlpin left open for your perusal; and with an excuse for troubling you with these small matters, at a time when I presume you are pressed by important ones, I am With esteem etc."1

*To JAMES MCALPIN

91

Mount Vernon, February 10, 1799Sir: Having requested in a former letter, that you would make me a Uniform suit of cloaths by such directions as the Secretary of War would give; of such kinds of cloth as I mentioned to you in that letter; and moreover, that they might be with me by the 22d. of the present month; I hope my desire in all these particulars will be complied with.

If Mr. Washington, one of the Judges, has not left Philadelphia before you receive this letter, and is certain of doing it, so as to be here (where he means to call on his return) by the time above mentioned, he wd. afford a good, and safe opportunity by whom to send them.

21 From the McHenry Photostats in the Library of Congress.

1799]

FRENCH NEGOTIATIONS

129

Let them be packed in a Portmanteau to be made for that, and occasional uses thereafter, of very stiff and thick leather of the following size, viz, two feet in length and two feet nine inches round, with a flap for the convenience of brushes, blacking &ca., and an iron bar (running through staples) and a good lock, for its security. A workman in that line, will be at no loss in discovering what kind of a Portmanteau it is I want, from what is here said.

Transmit your account of the cost of all the articles required, and the amount shall be remitted to you, by Sir Your etc.92

*To JAMES LLOYD 93

92

Mount Vernon, February 11, 1799. Sir: Your favor of the 28th. Ulto. enclosing Mr. Gerry's correspondence with M. Talleyrand, came safe; but not so soon after its date as might have been expected; or an earlier acknowledgment thereof would have been returned. For your kind, and polite attention to me in sending me this curious interchange, with the Secretary of State's Report thereon, I pray you to accept my best thanks.

It is not surprising that the latter should not prove agreeable to the taste of some Gentlemen in the Ho. of R-p-s. It served to place the views and objects of the Fr: Government in too conspicuous a light to be mistaken; and of course did not accord with their purposes. I wish, however, they were in every man's hand, for I am persuaded the great mass of our Citizens require only to understand matters rightly, to form right decisions; whilst the business of some among us seems to be, to

92 From a photostat of the original through the kindness of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union.

Senator from Maryland.

pervert, and lead their judgments astray by false alarms, and a misrepresentation of facts.

I recollect well, having received a letter from you sometime in July last on the Subject of Kentucky politics; but as it was in answer to my queries, and knowing that you wd. have left Philadelphia, or in other words that the Session of Congress was about to close, and that an acknowledgment of it was not likely to reach that City 'ere this would happen, I did not reply to it. This is offered as my apology for not writing to you on that Session. With esteem etc.

*To JOHN TAYLOE

Mount Vernon, February 12, 1799.

Dear Sir: By your Servant, I have this moment (on my return from Alexandria) been favoured with your two letters of the roth. instant.

For the compliment you have been pleased to pay me, in asking my opinion of the eligibility of accepting your late appointment in the Army of the United States, I pray you to accept my thanks.

However desirous I might have been of seeing you engaged in that line, candour requires I should declare, that under your statement of the circumstances of the case, I am inclined to believe that your Services in the civil line, in the present crisis of our affairs, and the temper in which this State in particular, appears to be (if it be fair to form a judgment from the Acts of its Legislature) would be more important: The first is contingent, of course may, or may not be called for, according to our doings in the latter. The second is in existence, and requires the active (and I will venture to add) the immediate, and unremitting exertions of the friends of Order and good

1799]

PURCHASE OF CORN

131

government; to prevent the evils which it is but too apparent another description of men, among us, are endeavouring to involve the United States.

94

No evil, that I perceive, can result at this State of the Recruiting Service, from the postponesment of a final decision, respecting your appointment to a Majority in the Regiment of light Dragoons; ** and as you have it in contemplation (as appears by your letter to the Secretary of War) to visit Philadelphia shortly, I will suspend a further expression of my sentiments on this subject until I have the pleasure of seeing you at this place. With best respects to Mrs. Tayloe, in which Mrs. Washington and Miss Custis unite I am etc.

*To WILLIAM AUGUSTINE WASHINGTON

Mount Vernon, February 14, 1799.

95

My dear Sir: Mr. H: Washington " affords me a very good opportunity to inform you, that if your Crop enables you to supply me with a hundred Barrels of Corn over and above the quantity Contracted for, I shall be willing to take it on the terms I do the Five hundred Barrels; and that I shall be willing to receive a part of the whole at any time you may find it convenient to forward it, as the danger of Frost, and shutting up my Creek, I hope is passed for this Season.

I am sorry to hear of your confinement, and trust if it is not quite at an end, that it cannot be far from it.

Mrs. Washington unites with me in best wishes for you, and I am etc."

96

Tayloe declined his commission as second major of Light Dragoons.

"Son of John Washington, of King George County, Va.

"From a photostat of the original through the kindness of Dr. A. S. W. Rosenbach, of New York City.