That from York, a day or two before I commenced a journey for Philadelphia on the 4th of November, and the other from London, a few days after my return from thence, on the 20th of December.

For the details contained in these several letters, I pray you to accept my thanks; and congratulations on your safe arrival in England, although the Passage, on the whole, was not altogether as expeditious and agreeable as you expected. To this prayer, let me add my best wishes for the perfect restoration your health, and the accomplishment of such other objects as might have induced you to undertake the Voyage. After which it would give your friends in this Country much pleasure to hail your return.

of

For your care of the letters I took the liberty of committing to you, my grateful acknowledgments are offered.

When I presented my Valedictory address to the People of the United States, in September 1796, I little thought that any event would occur in my day that could again withdraw me from the Retirement after which I had been so long panting; but we know little of ourselves, and still less of the ways of Providence. The injurious treatment this Country had received from France, in an open violation of the Treaty between the two Countries, and of the Laws of Nations. The Insults and Indignities with which all our Overtures for an amicable adjustment of the disputes were treated. The increasing depredations on our Commerce, accompanied with outrage and threats, if we did not comply with their demands, leaving no hope of obtaining restitution for the past, or preserving the little that remained, or the Country from Invasion, but by the adoption of vigorous measures for self-defence having come fully to the view of the People, their resentments have been roused, and with one voice as it were, have made a tender of

1799]

PARTY OF OPPOSITION

3335

93

their lives and fortunes to repel any attempts which may be made on the Constitution or Government of their Country. In consequence of which, and to be prepared for the dernier resort, if unhappily we shall be driven to it, Troops are to be raised, and the United States placed in a Posture of defence. Under these circumstances, and it appearing to be the wish of my Countrymen, and the request of the governing Powers that I should take charge of their Armies, I am embarked so far in the business as will appear by my letter to the President of the 13th. of July last; which, as it has run through all the Newspapers here and Published in many of the Foreign Gazettes, you probably may have seen; and though still at home, where indeed I hope to remain, under a persuasion that the French will discover the injustice and absurdity of their conduct, I hold myself in readiness to gird on the Sword, if the immergency shall require it.

Notwithstanding the Spirit of the People is so animated, that party among us who have been uniform in their opposition to all the measures of Government; in short to every Act, either of Executive or Legislative Authority, which seemed to be calculated to defeat French usurpations, and to lessen the influence of that Nation in our Country, hang upon, and clog its wheels as much as in them lye; and with a rancour, and virulence which is scarcely to be conceived. torturing every act, by unnatural construction, into a design to violate the Constitution, Introduce monarchy, and to establish an Aristocracy, and what is more to be regretted, the same Spirit seems to have laid hold of the major part of the Legislature of this State, while all the other States in the Union (Kentucky, the child of Virginia, excepted) are coming forward with the most unequivocal evidences of their approbation of the measures which have been adopted by both, for self preservation. In what such

a spirit, and such proceedings will issue, is beyond the reach of short sighted man to predict, with any degree of certainty. I hope well; because I have always believed, and trusted, that that Providence which has carried us through a long and painful War with one of the most powerful Nations in Europe, will not suffer the discontented among ourselves, to produce more than a temporary interruption to the permanent Peace and happiness of this rising Empire. That they have been the cause of our present disquitudes, and the means of Stimulating (by mis-representing the Sentiments of the mass of Citizens of this Country) the Directory of France to their unwarrantable Acts, not from more real affection to the Nation than others possess, but to facilitate the design of subverting their own government, I have no more doubt than that I am now in the act of writing you this letter.

It was at the request of the Secretary of War, my Journey to Philadelphia was undertaken, to assist in the formation of the Augmented Force and to effect some other Military arrangements; and although your letter from York of the 7th. of September came to hand before I set out, and was taken with me to be acknowledged from thence, yet my time, and attention, was so much occupied with the business that carried me there, that I never found leisure to do it.

Lady Huntington as you may have been told was a correspondent of mine, and did me the honor to claim me as a relation; but in what degree, or by what connexion it came to pass, she did not inform me, nor did I ever trouble her Ladyship with an enquiry. The favourable sentiments which others, you say, have been pleased to express respecting me, cannot but be pleasing to a mind [sic] who always walked on a straight line, and endeavoured as far as human frailties, and perhaps strong passions, would enable him, to discharge the relative duties to his

1799]

ENGLISH GRASS SEED

95

Maker and fellow-men, without seeking any indirect or left handed attempts to acquire popularity.

Our Crops of Wheat and Indian Corn last year (except in places) were extremely short. The drought of the Autumn exceeded any thing that has been recollected, insomuch that the Mills were scarcely able to work before New Years day, and the Fly has again begun its ravages on the Wheat in the Counties above us. This calamity, with the severity of the Drought on the Fall seeding, has given a discouraging aspect to the ensuing Crop of Wintr Grain.

We have the pleasure, frequently, of seeing or hearing from Mrs. Fairfax; and on Wednesday last, Mrs. Washington and myself took a family dinner at Mount Eagle, and left all the family in good health and Spirits in the afternoon. Miss Custis was, at that time, with her Mother at Hope Park, or she would have accompanied us on that visit. She is now returned, and unites with Mrs. Washington and myself in offering best wishes for your health and safe return. And with very great, and sincere esteem etc.

P. S. Finding that I could not comprise what I had to say in one sheet of Paper, I have rambled on until I have almost filled a second.

*To CLEMENT BIDDLE

Mount Vernon, January 20, 1799. Dear Sir: Your letter of the 13th. Inst. has been duly received. It would oblige me very much if you could procure, and send me by the first opportunity which may offer, One bushel of English, or blue grass seeds, Fresh and good, without which, or if it be defective, or foul, my purpose, which is to sow a Lawn before my door, would not be answered.

If Blue grass-seeds cannot be obtained, send white Clover seed, if to be had, of equal quantity as above.

From Mr. Parish I expected two Hats, which may come with the Boots and Book case; the last of which it would be pleasing to receive. Mrs. Washington unites with me in offering the complimts. of the Season to Mrs. Biddle yrself and family. I

am etc.

*To SIR JOHN SINCLAIR

Mount Vernon, January 20, 1799. Sir: On the 10th. of last July I had the honor to write you a pretty long letter on various subjects, and hearing, some considerable time afterwards, that the Ship (Suffolk) by which it had been sent, was Captured by a French Cruiser, from whence none of my letters ever reach their Address, I did, not long since, transmit a duplicate; which, though unaccompanied with the early Wheat that the above Vessel contained, I hope has met a better fate.

I wish also that the proceedings of the National Board of Agriculture, which you informed me It had the goodness to direct should be neatly bound, and sent to me, may not have fallen into the same rapacious hands; as they have never been received.

It is now sometime since I had the honor to receive your favor of the 6th. of June, accompanying the history of the origin and "progress of the Statistical account of Scotland" for which I pray you to accept my best thanks. That letter should not have remained so long unacknowledged had it not been received a few days before I commenced a journey to Philadelphia on business with the Secretary of War, where I was detained near seven weeks, and so closely occupied in the matters which carried me there, as to render all Minor considerations inadmissible.