COpyRiGHT DEPOSIT. 
 
^ 
 
THOMAS JEFFERSON'S 
 GERMANTOWN LETTERS 
 
Five Hundred Copies of this book 
 have been printed from type 
 
 No. ^M-Y'^'^P^ 
 

JEFFERSON'S 
 
 Germantown Letters 
 
 Together with Other Papers Relating 
 
 to His Stay in Germantown During 
 
 the Month (j/^ Nov EMiBER, 1793 
 
 BY 
 
 Charles Francis Jenkins 
 
 PRESIDENT OF 
 THE SITE AND RELIC SOCIETY 
 OF GERMANTOWN 
 
 ^ 
 
 PHILADELPHIA 
 
 William J. Campbell 
 1906 
 

 LIBaARY of CONGRESS 
 Two Copies Received 
 
 MAR ? 1907 
 
 CopyrieM Entry , 
 CLASS /f XXC., Ne, 
 COPY i3. 
 
 copyright, 1906, by 
 Charles Francis Jenkins 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Introduction .._-.-. 1 1 
 
 Part I. 
 
 The Germantown Letters - - - 27 
 
 Part II. 
 
 Germantown Cabinet Meetings - - 131 
 
 Part III. 
 
 Cabinet Decisions - - - - - 153 
 
 Part IV. 
 
 The Financial Diary - - - - 159 
 
 State Department Expenses - - - 165 
 
 Part V. 
 
 The Oration - - - - - - 169 
 
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 PORTRAIT OF JEFFERSON 
 
 Painted by Gilbert Stuart in 1804. From the 
 
 ORIGINAL portrait NOW IN THE POSSESSION OF BoWDOIN 
 
 College, Maine Frontispiece ^ 
 
 KING OF PRUSSIA TAVERN 
 
 The home of Jefferson during a portion of his stay in 
 Germantown. Now Nos. 5516-18-20 Main Street, 
 Germantown. This is a rear view of the old inn. 
 From a photograph taken about 1896 - Opposite page 33. 
 
 FIRE PLACE IN THE KING OF PRUSSIA 
 
 Germantown was so crowded when Jefferson arrived 
 November ist, 1793, that he was almost compelled to 
 
 WRAP himself in HIS CLOAK AND SLEEP BEFORE THE OPEN FIRE. 
 
 From a photograph taken about 1896 
 
 Opposite page 49 • 
 
 FACSIMILE OF LETTER FROM JEFFERSON TO 
 HERMAN Le ROY 
 
 Photographed from the original in possession of the 
 Pennsylvania Historical Society . Opposite page 97 ' 
 
 HOUSE OCCUPIED BY JEFFERSON 
 
 After leaving the King of Prussia Tavern, on the 
 authority of John F. Watson, Jefferson occupied the 
 house NOW Nos, 5275 — 5277 Main Street, German- ^ 
 
 TOWN. From a photograph, 1906 - Opposite page 129 ' 
 
 FACSIMILE OF PAGE FROM THE FINANCIAL DIARY 
 Photogravure from the original in the possession of 
 the Lenox Library, New York - Opposite page 161 '^ 
 
 GERMANTOWN ACADEMY 
 
 Founded 1760. Offered by the Trustees as a meeting 
 place for Congress. From an old photograph 
 
 Opposite page 177 < 
 
 STAIRWAY OF THE GERMANTOWN ACADEMY 
 
 Walter R. Johnson, who delivered the oration on the 
 death of Jefferson, was the principal of the Academy 
 
 AND THE eulogy WAS PROBABLY DELIVERED THERE. FrOM 
 
 A RECENT PHOTOGRAPH - - OpPOSITEPAGE I93 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 THOMAS JEFFERSON, while Secretary 
 of State in Washington's cabinet, spent 
 the month of November, 1793, in Ger- 
 mantown. In August of that year the first 
 great epidemic of yellow fever visited Philadel- 
 phia, and the President, the members ot his 
 cabinet and nearly every government official 
 sought safety outside the stricken city. Wash- 
 ington and his household set out for Mount 
 Vernon on September 9th. Jefferson in the spring 
 had taken a house on the east bank of the 
 Schuylkill, within sight of Bartram's and Gray's 
 gardens. Here he spent the heated days with his 
 daughter Maria as companion, living in the open 
 air and enjoying the broad prospect, and partic- 
 ularly the shade of the high plane trees which 
 entirely embosomed the house. Under them he 
 breakfasted, dined, wrote, read and received his 
 company. Situated as he was, there was little 
 
xii INTRODUCTION 
 
 to fear from the yellow fever, but by the 15th 
 of September every official matter having been 
 disposed of, and all the clerks in his office but 
 one having fled the city, Jefferson concluded to 
 return home. The start from Philadelphia was 
 made on September 15th, and the party reached 
 Monticello on the 22nd of that month. 
 
 Here he remained until late in October, 
 when the President having selected Germantown 
 as a convenient and safe gathering point for the 
 members of Congress and the cabinet, Jefferson 
 set out for this place. 
 
 The Secretary of State during the summer 
 had resigned his office to take effect December 
 31st. Relinquishing his post in mid- winter 
 would compel him, should he return imme- 
 diately to Virginia, to plough through the 
 heavy, muddy roads, and for this reason he did not 
 wish to use his own horses and carriage, and the 
 journey from Monticello to Germantown was 
 therefore made by horseback and the public 
 stage. The start was made on October 25th, 
 with two servants, James and Bob. The latter 
 
INTRODUCTION xiii 
 
 returned with the horses from Fredericksburg, 
 which was reached on the 27th. The next 
 day's journey was a stage ride to Alexandria, and 
 the second day of stage riding brought them to 
 Bahimore. Here Jefferson joined the President, 
 who had left Mount Vernon on the 28th, and 
 here they found the stages had not resumed 
 running to Philadelphia, and that it was conse- 
 quently necessary to hire a private conveyance. 
 
 The united party came by way of Elkton 
 and Wilmington, spending two nights on the 
 road, and reaching Germantown about noon on 
 November ist. Jefferson paid Hartman Elliot 
 for six days' service, three each going and com- 
 ing from Baltimore to Germantown, thirty dol- 
 lars. In addition there were ferriage charges, 
 which amounted to $3.18. The total expense 
 from Fredericksburg to Germantown was 
 $77.65, of which Jefferson bitterly complained 
 when writing to his family and his Virginia 
 friends, and warned them of the ** harpies" 
 who were preying on unfortunate travellers. 
 
 Arriving in Germantown, the President 
 
xiv INTRODUCTION 
 
 was quartered in a house occupied by the Rev. 
 Frederick Herman, now number 130 West 
 School House Lane, while Jefferson found 
 shelter at the King of Prussia tavern, an import- 
 ant hostelry still standing, but now used for 
 other purposes, Nos. 5516-18-20 Main Street. 
 Although the yellow fever by this time had al- 
 most entirely disappeared in Philadelphia, the 
 suburbs were still crowded with refugees. Every 
 inn, of which there were quite a number in 
 Germantown, was filled to its capacity and 
 the Secretary of State found great difficulty in 
 obtaining accommodations. A bed in the corner 
 of the public room of the King of Prussia was 
 the best he could obtain, the alternative being 
 to wrap himself in his cloak and sleep before 
 the open fire. Little rooms in the tavern, which 
 Jefferson describes as ** cuddies," without a bed, 
 and without a chair or table cost four to eight 
 dollars a week, and at the time there was 
 not a single lodging house offering accommo- 
 dations. By the 9th of the month, however, 
 the refugees began flocking back to the city, 
 
INTR OD UCTION x v 
 
 and Jefferson was able to engage beds at the 
 tavern for his friends, Madison and Monroe, 
 whom he momentarily expected. They did 
 not, however, come to Germantown, but later 
 went directly to Philadelphia. By the 14th of 
 November the Secretary of State and Thomas 
 Lapsley, the "office keeper," who had been with 
 him at the King of Prussia, were able to obtain 
 rooms elsewhere for the accommodation of them- 
 selves and of the office. Just where these were is 
 not definitely known. Watson in his Annals states 
 that the house now numbered 5275 and 5277 
 Main Street was the one occupied by Jefferson 
 and by Edmund Randolph, the Attorney General. 
 In 1793 this property belonged to Matthew 
 Clarkson, then Mayor of Philadelphia, and at 
 that time valiantly fighting the yellow fever in 
 the stricken city. When the annalist recorded 
 the tradition the building was occupied by him- 
 self and the Bank of Germantown, of which he 
 was the cashier. If Edmund Randolph shared 
 the house with the Secretary of State, it was 
 only to maintain an office there as he was quar- 
 
xvi INTR OD UCTION 
 
 tered at the home of Nathan Spencer, nearly a 
 mile from the centre of the town, out what is 
 now Church Lane. 
 
 Jefferson writing to Madison on November 
 1 7th says, " I have got good lodgings for Monroe 
 and yourself, that is to say, a good room with a 
 fire place and two beds, in a pleasant and con- 
 venient position, with a quiet family. They 
 will breakfast you, but you must mess in a 
 tavern. There is a good one across the street. 
 This is the way all must do, and all I think will 
 not be able to get even half beds." It, of 
 course, does not necessarily follow that this 
 double room was in the same house where Jef- 
 ferson was lodging. Indeed, the presumption 
 is that it was not, but that it was near by. 
 
 With all the accumulated business to 
 master, amidst the cramped quarters, the con- 
 stant bustle and the coming and going of 
 the saddened citizens, Jefferson worked away, 
 not without some physical discomfort, for he 
 was troubled with the toothache. On the 13th 
 he paid Dr. Gilliams for drawing a tooth and 
 
INTRODUCTION xvii 
 
 again a week later records another payment to 
 the dentist for further services. The servant 
 James, whom he had brought with him, was 
 the almoner for the household, and the financial 
 diary on another page discloses various charges 
 for housekeeping expenses, including fuel and 
 groceries, which would seem to indicate that 
 some meals at least were provided in the rented 
 rooms. " Hiccory" wood was bought in con- 
 siderable quantities, half of it for personal use 
 and half properly chargeable to office expenses. 
 Thomas Lapsley, the " office keeper," was 
 boarded by a neighbor, Weiss. On November 
 30th a Mr. Crosby furnished "waggonage" from 
 Germantown to Philadelphia and the first Secre- 
 tary of State of the United States shook the dust, 
 or more probably the mud, of Germantown's 
 unpaved Main Street from his feet and went into 
 the city for his last month of service as a mem- 
 ber of the cabinet. 
 
 As complete an account of the movements 
 of the President and his circle of official advisors 
 in Germantown, including those of Thomas 
 
xviii INTRODUCTION 
 
 Jefferson, as was obtainable at the time, was 
 given in the author's " Washington in German- 
 town," published in 1905. The information 
 relating to Jefferson's movements here gathered 
 is largely in addition to what was there pre- 
 sented. But two of the letters in this volume 
 were printed in the previous work. 
 
 Three editions of the letters and writings 
 of Thomas Jefferson have so far been issued. 
 The first, the Memoirs, Correspondence and 
 Miscellanies, edited by his grandson, Thomas 
 Jefferson Randolph, and published in Charlottes- 
 ville, Va., in 1829. This edition contains two of 
 the letters written from Germantown. The next 
 edition of Jefferson's writings was authorized 
 by Congress, and usually called the Congress 
 edition ; edited by H. A. Washington. This 
 was published in 1853 and contains seven of the 
 letters written during November 1793, includ- 
 ing the two published in the earlier edition. 
 In 1892 the third edition. The Writings of 
 Thomas Jefferson, was edited by Paul Leicester 
 Ford, and this contains thirteen Germantown 
 
INTRODUCTION xix 
 
 letters, including four published in the earlier 
 editions. It will thus be seen that in the three 
 essays to print the letters of Thomas Jefferson, 
 but sixteen of the sixty-three letters included in 
 the present volume have been brought to light. 
 In the case of Mr. Ford, this was entirely a 
 matter of selection, for the originals of nearly 
 all these letters were accessible to him in the 
 Library of Congress, and as a matter of fact all the 
 letters in this volume, except where noted, are 
 copied from the originals or copies of the Jef- 
 ferson manuscripts in that library. 
 
 While it is quite likely that this collection, 
 which includes every letter obtainable at the 
 present time, will be valuable mainly as stimu- 
 lating interest in the local history of German- 
 town, still it is hoped by the compiler that 
 many of the letters will be of interest to the 
 student of general history. They will at least 
 disclose the great activity of the office of the 
 Secretary of State during this busy month. 
 
 The letters naturally group themselves in 
 two classes, those concerning the Secretary of 
 
XX INTRO D UCTION 
 
 State's private affairs and the official correspond- 
 ence of the department. Of the former, none 
 are more interesting and lively than the letters 
 to his two daughters, Martha Jeff^erson Ran- 
 dolph and Miss Maria Jeff'erson at Monticello. 
 Filled as they are with little personal concerns, 
 with information of a domestic character, with 
 the interest of an absent father in the affairs and 
 doings of his home, they yet convey considera- 
 ble information of a public character. The letter 
 to his son-in-law, Thomas Mann Randolph, 
 offering him his horse, Ferguson, is a model of 
 tact and kindliness. The other private letters 
 cover all the fields of Jefferson's activities. His 
 devotion to science is disclosed by the importa- 
 tion of the orrery and the telescope, his practical 
 knowledge and personal management of his 
 farm is shown by the purchase of sheep and 
 clover seed, and the terms of employment of his 
 supervisor ; his desire for the general promotion 
 of agriculture is displayed in his solicitude for 
 the safety of the model of the threshing machine, 
 sent at considerable trouble and expense from 
 
INTRODUCTION xxi 
 
 England, and his immediate interest in the prac- 
 tical possibilities of Whitney's invention of the 
 cotton gin. Then, too, there are the many let- 
 ters of financial matters, shadowing in a way the 
 saddest chapter in the great man's life. As late 
 as 1823 Jefferson was still writing to Herman 
 LeRoy, of New York, on the subject of an in- 
 debtedness which there is every reason to be- 
 lieve was the same as is disclosed in the letter of 
 November 17, 1793. No letter is more char- 
 acteristic than that to his Rhode Island friend, 
 David Howell, showing the desire of the man 
 for his home, his books and his farm, a longing 
 which possessed him through his public life. 
 The letters to James Madison bespeak the 
 warm friendship which existed between these 
 two remarkable Virginian neighbors, a friendship 
 which death alone could sever. Perhaps it 
 would be hard to find correspondence of any 
 other month which so fully covers the many- 
 sided interests and activities of the Sage of 
 Monticello, or which in the official letters dis- 
 close more of the wide outlook and ability of 
 the statesman. 
 
xxii INTRODUCTION 
 
 The correspondence with Genet, the Min- 
 ister of France, relates entirely to the contro- 
 versies and troubles which the Revolution in 
 France and the intemperate conduct of the 
 French envoy brought upon this govern- 
 ment. The correspondence with George Ham- 
 mond, the Minister of Great Britain, covers the 
 difficulties with that country, growing out of 
 the yet unfulfilled terms of the Treaty of Peace 
 and the complications occasioned by the war 
 with France. Both of these matters are treated 
 at length in the general histories covering this 
 troubled period of our nation's life and the 
 latter correspondence has been published com- 
 plete in book form. 
 
 Another official letter of particular interest 
 is that to the District Attorneys of the United 
 States, explaining the limit of jurisdiction 
 claimed by this government in the waters 
 bordering our seaboard. Throughout many of 
 the letters considerable local information is dis- 
 closed in little references here and there. All 
 in all, the compiler hopes that the reader will 
 
INTR OD UCTION xxiii 
 
 agree with him that the collection is of perma- 
 nent value, that it is worth publishing both as 
 giving to Germantown the credit which is its 
 due as being the temporary capital of the 
 United States, and as a permanent contribution 
 to an important period of our nation's history. 
 
 In addition to the letters a number of 
 separate and original documents germane to the 
 subject of Jefferson's stay in Germantown have 
 been included. The extracts from the financial 
 diary, covering the expenses of the trip from 
 Monticello and the stay in Germantown, con- 
 tain much accurate personal information. Jef- 
 ferson's graphic account of the Germantown 
 cabinet meetings is very properly included, 
 while the eulogy delivered by Walter R. John- 
 son on the death of Jefferson and Adams has 
 been added that it may be available for present day 
 readers, A careful search fails to disclose a copy 
 of this booklet in any of the Philadelphia libraries 
 or in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 
 
 In concluding, expressions of obligation 
 for assistance should be made to Mr. Wilber- 
 
xxiv INTRODUCTION 
 
 force Eames of the Lenox Library, New York 
 City, to Mr. Edward H. Bonsall, Philadelphia, 
 and to Mr. S. M. Hamilton of the Library of 
 the Department of State, Washington, D. C, 
 Dr. John W. Jordan of the Historical Society 
 of Pennsylvania and Dr. Naaman H. Keyser of 
 Germantown. 
 
PART I. 
 
 THE 
 
 GERMANTOWN 
 
 LETTERS 
 
The Germantown Letters 
 
 JEFFERSON TO MADISON (?)» 
 
 Germantown Nov. 2, 1793. 
 Sir 
 
 I overtook the President at Baltimore, & we 
 arrived here yesterday, myself fleeced of seventy odd 
 dollars to get from Fredricksburg here, the stages 
 running no further than Baltimore. I mention this to 
 put you and Mr. Monroe on your guard, the fever 
 in Philadelphia has so much abated as to have almost 
 disappeared, the inhabitants are about returning. It 
 has been determined that the President shall not 
 interfere with the meeting of Congress. R.[andolph] 
 H.[amilton] & K.[nox] were of opinion he had 
 a right to call them to any place but that the 
 occasion did not call for it. I think the President 
 
 *While no name is given it is supposed this letter was addressed 
 to James Madison. 
 
28 THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 
 
 inclined to the opinion. I proposed a proclam. 
 notifying that the Executive business would be done 
 here till further notice, which I believe will be agreed. 
 H. R. Lewis, Rawle* & all concur in the neces- 
 sity that Congress should meet in Phila. & vote 
 there their own adjournment, if it shall then be neces- 
 sary to change the place, the question will be between 
 N. Y. & Lancaster, the Pensylv. members are very 
 anxious for the latter, & will attend punctually to sup- 
 port it as well as to support Muhlonburg & oppose 
 the appointment of Smith (S. C.) speaker, which is 
 intended by the Northern members, according to 
 present appearances this place cannot lodge a single 
 person more, as a great favor I have got a bed in the 
 corner of the public room of a tavern :f and must so 
 continue till some of the Philadelphians make a 
 
 *William Rawle then U. S. District Attorney for Pennsylvania. 
 
 fThis was the King of Prussia tavern. No. 5516-18-20 Main 
 Street, perhaps in that day the leading tavern of Germantown, cer- 
 tainly the most centrally located. A drive-way at the south end of 
 the King of Prussia leads into what at one time were the extensive 
 back buildings and stables. An examination of the south gable of the 
 old tavern and the building the other side of the drive-way would 
 seem to indicate that at one time joists had been thrown across between 
 the two houses. The writer has speculated as to whether this might 
 not have been done when Germantown was so over-crowded with the 
 yellow fever refugees from Philadelphia and rooms were at a great 
 premium. 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 29 
 
 vacancy by removing into the city. Then we must 
 give from 4 to 6 or 8 dollars a week for cuddies with- 
 out a bed, and sometimes without a chair or table, 
 there is not a single lodging-house in the place. — Ross * 
 & Willing^ are alive. Hancock:§ is dead. Johnson || 
 of Maryld. has refused. Ru. L. & McL.J in con- 
 templation, the last least.. — you will have seen 
 Genet's letters to Moultrie & to myself, of the last I 
 know nothing but from the public papers ; and he 
 published Moultrie's letter & his answer the moment 
 he wrote it. you will see that his inveteracy against 
 the President leads him to meditate the embroiling 
 him with Congress, they say he is going to be mar- 
 ried to a daughter of Clinton's** if so, he is afraid 
 
 *John Ross, a prominent merchant of Philadelphia. 
 
 ■{•Thomas Willing, President of the United States Bank. 
 
 §john Hancock, the first signer of the Declaration of Indepen- 
 dence, at this time Governor of Massachusetts. He died October 
 8th, 1793. 
 
 1 1 The proffered office of Secretary of State to succeed Jefferson. 
 This was Thomas Johnson a leading statesman of Maryland and ex- 
 Justice of the Supreme Court. 
 
 I Ru [tledge] L [ivingston] , and McL [urg] ? 
 
 **Edmond Charles Edouard Genet minister of France in the 
 United States married the daughter of Governor George Clinton of 
 New York and located permanently in the United States. His con- 
 troversies with the United States authorities constituted a large part of 
 the diplomatic activity of the summer and fall of 1793. A number 
 
30 THE GERMANTOfVN LETTERS 
 
 to return to France. Hamilton* is ill, & suspicious 
 he has taken the fever again by returning to his house, 
 he of course could not attend here to-day, but the 
 President showed me his letter on the right of calling 
 Congress to another place. Adieu. 
 
 JEFFERSON TO THOMAS MANN RANDOLPHf 
 
 Germantown Nov. 2, 1793. 
 
 Dear Sir 
 
 After having experienced on my journey the 
 extremes of heat, cold, dust & rain, I arrived here 
 yesterday. I found at Baltimore that the stages run 
 no further North, and being frpm that circumstance 
 into the hands of the harpies who prey upon travellers, 
 
 of letters in this collection and a good part of the deliberations of the 
 cabinet in Germantown were devoted to the problems which arose 
 through the intemperate speech and actions of the French minister. 
 
 *Both Alexander Hamilton and his wife were taken down with 
 the yellow fever early in the contagion. They recovered and on 
 their return from a visit to New York state, occupied Fair Hill, the 
 Norris mansion, on the Germantown road, about half way between 
 that town and the city. Hamilton apparently was unwell through 
 the month of November, as he was absent from a cabinet meeting late 
 in the month on account of ill health. 
 
 ■{•Son-in-law of Jefferson, the husband of his daughter Martha, to 
 whom he had been married February 23d 1790. 
 
THE GERMANTOfVN LETTERS 31 
 
 was pretty well fleeced to get here. I think from 
 Fredericksburg here with a single servant cost me up- 
 wards of seventy dollars, before this change in the 
 weather the fever had much abated in Philadelphia, & 
 at this time it has almost entirely disappeared, 
 insomuch that the inhabitants are very many of them 
 returning into the city, this is very necessary for our 
 accommodation here, as this place is so full that I have 
 been able to obtain a bed in the corner of a public 
 room of a tavern only, and that is a great favor, the 
 other alternative being to sleep on the floor in my 
 cloak before the fire, in this state I am waiting till 
 some Philadelphians may take courage to go into the 
 city, & make a vacancy here. Nothing will be done 
 by the President as to the meeting of Congress, it is 
 imagined that knowing he is here, and after settling 
 informally to what place they will remove, they will go 
 into the fields of the city and pass a regular vote, the 
 pure blacks have been found insusceptible of the 
 infection, the mixed blood has taken it. what is more 
 singular is that tho' hundreds have been taken with 
 the disease out of Philadelphia, have died of it after 
 being well attended, yet not a single instance has 
 occurred of any body's catching it out of Philadelphia^ 
 the question for the session of Congress will lie 
 between Philadelphia, New York & Lancaster. — 
 
32 THE GERMANTOJVN LETTERS 
 
 Freneau's paper* is discontinued. I fear it is for the 
 want of money, he promises to resume it before the 
 meeting of Congress. 1 wish the subscribers in our 
 neighborhood would send on their money, my love 
 to my dear daughters & am with sincere esteem Dr. Sir 
 
 Yours affectionately 
 
 Th : Jefferson. 
 
 P. S. Mr. Hollingsworth at the Head of Elk thinks 
 he can immediately send me on a good overseer in the 
 place of Rogers. 1 authorised him to allow exactly 
 the same as to Biddle.-j- Consequently on his arrival 
 I must get you to give him orders on Watson & Colo. 
 Bell for the same necessaries which I had furnished to 
 Biddle. 
 Mr. Randolph. 
 
 *Phi]ip Freneau, one of the early recognized poets of America, 
 {o\xn(itdi ih.t National Gazette va. Philadelphia in October 1791, and 
 continued its publication until October 26, 1793, when on account of 
 the yellow fever and perhaps the lack of support, as Jefferson intimates, 
 the project was abandoned. Freneau was employed as a clerk of 
 foreign languages in the State Department, and his retention and pro- 
 tection by Jefferson, in spite of the bitter attacks of the National 
 Gazette on the President and his policies was warmly criticized by 
 friends of the Administration. He resigned the office of translator 
 October ist, 1793. 
 
 "I" The terms under which Samuel Biddle, the overseer, had been 
 engaged will be found in a letter to Jacob Hollingsworth on a later 
 page. 
 
p 
 t 
 « 
 
 >^^ 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS ^2 
 
 JEFFERSON TO RICHARD DODSON. 
 
 Germantown, Nov. 3. 93. 
 Sir 
 
 In my letter of Aug. 20. 1 asked the favor of you 
 to furnish me a statement of the paiments made on my 
 bill of exchange — & bond and of the balance due, & 
 to have the same lodged at Monticello, where I pro- 
 posed being during the month of October, that I 
 might give definite directions for the payment of it. 
 not having received it while there, I have now to ask the 
 favor of it's being lodged there at any time before the 
 beginning of January when I shall return there, to re- 
 main, and will then take measures for the discharge of 
 it. I am Sir 
 
 Your very humble servt 
 
 Th : Jefferson 
 Mr. Richard Dodson 
 
 JEFFERSON TO EDMOND GENET.* 
 
 Germantown, November 5th 1793. 
 Sir, 
 
 I have the honor the inclose you the copy of a 
 Letter from Mr. Moissonier Consul of France at Bal- 
 
 *Minister of France to the United States. See foot note page 29. 
 
34 THE GERMANTOJVN LETTERS 
 
 timore to the Governor of Maryland, announcing that 
 Great Britain is about to commence hostilities against 
 us, and that he purposes to collect the Naval force of 
 your Republic in the Chesapeak and to post them as a 
 Van-guard to derange the supposed designs of the 
 enemy. 
 
 The bare suggestion of such a fact, however im- 
 probable, renders it a duty to inquire into it ; and I 
 shall consider it as a proof of your friendship to our 
 nation, if you have it in your power, and will be pleased 
 to communicate to me the grounds of Mr. Moisson- 
 ier's assertion, or any other respectable evidence on 
 the part of Great Britain. 
 
 In the mean while as we have reason to believe it 
 unfounded, as they have in no instance as yet violated 
 the sovereignty of our rights by any commitment of 
 hostilities even on their enemies within our jurisdiction, 
 we presume with confidence that Mr. Moissonier's 
 fears are groundless. I have it therefore in charge to 
 desire you to admonish Mr. Moissonier against the 
 parade he proposes of stationing an advanced guard in 
 the bay of Chesapeak, and against any hostile array, 
 which under the profession of defensive operations may 
 in fact generate those offensive. I flatter myself, Sir, 
 that you will be so good as to join the effect of your 
 authority of our government to prevent measures on 
 
THE GERMANTOJVN LETTERS 2S 
 
 the part of this Agent of your Republic which may 
 bring on disagreeable consequences. 
 
 I have the honor to be with great respect, 
 
 Sir 
 
 Your most obedient & 
 
 most humble servant — 
 Th : Jefferson 
 
 JEFFERSON TO EDMOND GENET. 
 
 Germantown Nov. 5. 1793. 
 Sir, 
 
 I shall be late in acknowledging the receipt of your 
 
 several letters written since my departure from Phila- 
 delphia, not having received any of them till the 24th 
 ult : and most of them only the last night. I have 
 already laid some of them before the President and 
 shall lay the others successively before him at as early 
 moments as the pressure of business will permit. 
 
 That of September 20. with the decree of the 
 national convention of March 26. 1792 on the subject 
 of a treaty of commerce was laid before him yesterday, 
 and will be considered with all the respect & interest 
 which its object necessarily requires. In the mean 
 time, that I may be enabled to present him a faithful 
 translation of the decree, I take the liberty of returning 
 the copy to you with a prayer that you will have it ex- 
 amined by your original, and see whether there is not 
 
36 THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 
 
 some error in the latter part of the 2d. article, page 2 
 where the description of the cargo to be re-exported 
 from the Islands is so unusual as to induce me to sus- 
 pect an error in the copyist. Having to return the 
 decree for re-examination, I take the liberty of doing 
 the same by the letter covering it, as in the first lines 
 of the 7th page the sense appears to me incomplete, 
 and I wish to be able to give it with correctness. 
 
 I am able at present to acknowledge the receipt 
 of your letter of October 19. desiring Exequaturs for 
 Messrs. Runevert & Chervi, but not inclosing their 
 original commissions. It is of indispensable necessity 
 that these originals be produced to the President & 
 copies of them filed of record in my office; because 
 occasions may sometimes occur where authentic copies 
 of them may be required which cannot be furnished 
 but after an exhibition of the original itself. An ex- 
 hibition of a copy & a copy from that would not be 
 received as evidence by our courts in any case where it 
 should be called for. 
 
 I must therefore trouble you to find me the 
 originals. 
 
 I have the honor to be with sentiments of respect 
 Sir, Your obedient & most humble servant 
 
 Th : Jefferson 
 
THE GERMANTOJVN LETTERS 37 
 
 THOMAS JEFFERSON TO TOBIAS LEAR.* 
 
 Germantown Nov. 5. 1793. 
 Dear Sir 
 
 Your favor of Oct. 10. reached me at Monticello 
 on the night before my departure ; that of Nov. i. last 
 night. 1 have thrown upon paper very roughly such 
 notes as my memory enables me to make, for my 
 papers are not at present at this place. — I also inclose 
 letters to such acquaintances of mine as I think may be 
 most useful to you. there are none to London, be- 
 cause I have none there, & you will easily get them 
 from everybody ; and only one to Dumas, at Amster- 
 dam, because Mr Greenleaf will so perfectly introduce 
 you there. I could only have given you letters to the 
 V. Staphorsts & Hubbard, with whom Mr Greenleaf 
 is particularly connected. I have given you none to 
 political men in Paris, because all my friends there have 
 been turned adrift in the different stages of the pro- 
 gression of their revolution. I add my sincere wishes 
 for your success & safety, and assurances of perfect 
 esteem & attachment from Dear Sir 
 
 Your friend & servt 
 P S. I retire decidedly Th: Jefferson 
 
 the 1st day of January next. 
 
 Mr Lear. 
 
 ^Tobias Lear was formerly private secretary to President Wash- 
 ington, and was then about embarking for Europe. 
 
38 THE GERMANTOIVN LETTERS 
 
 JEFFERSON TO DAVID RITTENHOUSE.* 
 
 Germantown Nov. 6. 1793. 
 Dear Sir 
 
 You will receive herein inclosed the bill of lading 
 & invoice for between 9. & 10. tons of copper shipped 
 by Mr. Pinckneyf on board the Pigon for the use of 
 the mint, for the reception & charges of which you 
 will be pleased to give proper orders. 
 
 It has been understood that Mr. WrightJ our 
 engraver is dead, if this be the fact, will you be so 
 good as to recommend for the office such person as 
 you think, best qualified to execute. 
 
 I hope Mrs. Rittenhouse & yourself have enjoyed 
 good health during the late trying season and am with 
 great & sincere esteem Dr. Sir 
 
 Your friend & servt. 
 
 Th : Jefferson 
 Mr. Rittenhouse. 
 
 *David Rittenhouse was appointed director of the Mint of the 
 United States April 14, 1792, although he did not enter upon the 
 duties of his office until July ist, 1793. He resigned the office on 
 June 30, 1795. 
 
 -f-Thomas Pinckney then U. S. Minister to Great Britain. 
 
 IJoseph Wright, a portrait painter, had been appointed by 
 Washington first designer and die sinker in the United States Mint. 
 He and his wife both died of the yellow fever during the epidemic. 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 39 
 
 JEFFERSON TO MESSRS. VIAR & JAUDENES.* 
 
 Germantown Nov. 6. 1793. 
 
 Gentlemen 
 
 It was not till the 24th of October that I received 
 your favor of the 2d of that month, informing me that 
 the four Frenchmen therein named & described had 
 set out from Philadelphia for Kentucky furnished with 
 money, commissions, & instructions to proceed with a 
 hostile enterprise from our territories against those of 
 Spain. I took the first opportunity of laying the same 
 before the President and was in consequence charged 
 by him to communicate it to the Governor of Ken- 
 tucky, with instructions to prevent such an enterprise 
 by such peaceable means as the laws have provided if 
 sufficient, but if insufficient to suppress it by the mili- 
 tary force of his state: and I flatter myself that these 
 measures will have the desired effect, the laws of our 
 country do not permit us to seize the papers of individ- 
 uals until they shall have done some act which subjects 
 their persons to be arrested, for this reason no order 
 can be given to violate the secrecy of their papers. 
 
 *Don Joseph De Viar and Don Joseph De Jaudens were the joint 
 commissioners from Spain to the United States. At a later date the for- 
 mer was made Consul General and the latter Envoy Extraordinary, etc. 
 
40 THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 
 
 I have the honor to be with great esteem & re- 
 spect, Gentlemen, 
 
 Your most obedient 
 
 & most humble servant 
 
 Th : Jefferson. 
 Messrs. Viar & Jaudenes. 
 
 JEFFERSON TO GENERAL HENRY KNOX. * 
 
 Germantown Nov. 6. 1793. 
 Dear Sir 
 
 As it is possible that the measures complained of 
 by the representatives of Spain as meditated to be pur- 
 sued by la Chaise & others for attempting hostilities 
 from Kentucky against the Spanish settlements, may 
 require the employment of military force by the Gover- 
 nor of Kentucky, I have the honor to inclose you my 
 letter to the Governor, stating the facts handed me by 
 the Spanish gentlemen, & submit to yourself whether 
 instructions from yourself to him may not be necessary 
 with respect to the use of military force if necessary. 
 
 * General Henry Knox, the Secretary of War, was quartered at 
 this time at the country home of the Rev. William Smith, near the 
 Falls of the Schuylkill. He was frequently in Germantown during the 
 month of November 1793, attending cabinet meetings and conferences 
 with other members of the goverment. 
 
THE GERMANTOJVN LETTERS 41 
 
 my letter gives none on that subject. I have the hon- 
 or to be with great esteem & respect Dear Sir 
 
 Your most obedt. servt. 
 
 Th : Jefferson 
 
 P. S. be so good as to forward 
 my letter with your own. 
 The Secretary at War. 
 
 GEORGE TAYLOR* TO JEFFERSON 
 
 New York Nov. 8. 1793. 
 i^ past II AM. 
 Dear sir, 
 
 Your favor of the 3rd. instant I have had the 
 honor to receive a few moments ago. Ever willing to 
 fulfil my duty to the utmost of my power I shall take 
 immediate steps for complying with your desire to take 
 arrangements for resuming the Business of the office. 
 To this end I shall set off with my little family in the 
 first days of next week. 
 
 From the present state of the weather and of the 
 disorder in Philadelphia, communicated thro' the 
 medium of the public prints, it would seem rather im- 
 prudent to risk a residence in that city. I should 
 
 *Chief clerk of the Department of State, Blackwell and Bankson, 
 mentioned in this letter, were also clerks in that office. 
 
42 THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 
 
 therefore give a preference to Germantown for the 
 present, tho' the expense should be greater than my 
 circumstances will afford ; being convinced that on this 
 occasion Congress will readily allow any extraordinary 
 expenses necessarily incurred in prosecuting the public 
 Business. 
 
 I shall immediately forward a copy of your letter 
 to Mr. Blackwell, who I am informed is on Long 
 Island. As to the other Gentlemen, I am totally ig- 
 norant of their places of Residence. I have not reed, 
 a line from Mr. [Benjamin] Bankson since the 7. of 
 Octr. last, tho' I have written three letters to him since 
 that date. 
 
 Apprehensive that I may miss this days post I 
 must close. 
 
 With every sentiment of Respect and sincere Re- 
 gard, I have the honor to be 
 
 Dr. Sir, Your mo. ob. & 
 Mo. humble servt. 
 
 Go. Taylor. 
 Mr. Jefferson. 
 
 JEFFERSON TO THE BRITISH MINISTER. 
 
 (George Hammond) 
 
 Germantown, Nov. 8, 1793. 
 Sir, — The President of the United States thinking 
 that before it shall be finally decided to what distance 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 43 
 
 from our sea shores the territorial protection of the 
 United States shall be exercised, it will be proper to 
 enter into friendly conferences & explanations with the 
 powers chiefly interested in the navigation of the seas 
 on our coast, and relying that convenient occasions 
 may be taken for these hereafter, finds it necessary in 
 the mean time, to fix provisionally on some distance 
 for the present government of these questions. You 
 are sensible that very diflferent opinions & claims have 
 been heretofore advanced on this subject. The greatest 
 distance to which any respectable assent among nations 
 has been at any time given, has been the extent of the 
 human sight, estimated at upwards of 20. miles, and 
 the smallest distance I believe, claimed by any nation 
 whatever is the utmost range of a cannon ball, usually 
 stated at one sea-league. Some intermediate distances 
 have also been insisted on, and that of three sea leagues 
 has some authority in its favor. The character of our 
 coast, remarkable in some parts of it for admitting no 
 vessels of size to pass near the shores, would entitle us 
 in reason to as broad a margin of protected navigation 
 as any nation whatever. Reserving however the ulti- 
 mate extent of this for future deliberation the President 
 gives instructions to the officers acting under his 
 authority to consider those heretofore given them as 
 restrained for the present to the distance of one sea- 
 
44 THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 
 
 league or three geographical miles from the sea shore. 
 This distance can admit ot no opposition as it is 
 recognized by treaties between some of the powers 
 with whom we are connected in commerce and naviga- 
 tion, and is as little or less than is claimed by any of 
 them on their own coasts. For the jurisdiction of the 
 rivers and bays of the United States the laws of the 
 several states are understood to have made provision, 
 and they are moreover as being landlocked, within the 
 body of the United States. 
 
 Examining by this rule the case of the British 
 brig Fanny, taken on the 8th of May last, it appears 
 from the evidence that the capture was made four or 
 five miles from the land, and consequently without the 
 line provisionally adopted by the President as before 
 mentioned.* 
 
 JEFFERSON TO THE FRENCH MINISTER. 
 (Edmond Charles Genet.) 
 
 Germantown, November 8, 1793. 
 Sir, — I have now to acknowledge and answer your letter 
 of September 13, wherein you desire that we may de- 
 
 *A letter identical with the above, omitting the last paragraph 
 was sent to the representatives of Holland and Spain. On the 
 draft, Jefferson has endorsed: ** These two drafts were shown to the 
 Atty Genl. & approved without alterations. The fair copies were 
 shown to Colo. Hamilton & Genl. Knox before dinner at Bockius' 
 inn, Germantown & approved." 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 45 
 
 fine the extent of the line of territorial protection 
 on the coasts of the United States, observing that 
 Governments and jurisconsults have different views on 
 this subject. 
 
 It is certain that, heretofore, they have been much 
 divided in opinion as to the distance from their sea 
 coasts, to which they might reasonably claim a right of 
 prohibiting the commitment of hostilities. The great- 
 est distance, to which any respectable assent among 
 nations has been at any time given, has been the extent 
 of the human sight, estimated at upwards of twenty 
 miles, and the smallest distance, I believe, claimed by 
 any nation whatever, is the utmost range of a cannon 
 ball, usually stated at one sea league. Some inter- 
 mediate distances have also been insisted on, and that 
 of three sea-leagues has some authority in its favour. 
 The character of our coasts, remarkable in considerable 
 parts of it for admitting no vessels of size to pass near 
 the shores, would entitle us, in reason, to as broad a 
 margin of protected navigation, as any nation whatever. 
 Not proposing, however, at this time, and without a 
 respectful and friendly communication with the Powers 
 interested in this navigation, to fix on the distance to 
 which we may ultimately insist on the right of protec- 
 tion, the President gives instructions to the officers, 
 acting under this authority, to consider those heretofore 
 
46 THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 
 
 given them as restrained for the present to the distance 
 of one sea-league, or three geographical miles from the 
 sea-shore. This distance can admit of no opposition 
 as it is recognized by treaties between some of the 
 Powers with whom we are connected in commerce and 
 navigation, and is as little or less than is claimed by 
 any of them on their own coasts. 
 
 Future occasions will be taken to enter into ex- 
 planations with them, as to the ulterior extent to which 
 we may reasonably carry our jurisdiction. For that of 
 the rivers and bays of the United States, the laws of 
 the several States are understood to have made pro- 
 vision, and they are, moreover, as being landlocked, 
 within the body of the United States. 
 
 Examining by this rule, the case of the British 
 brig Fanny, taken on the 8th of May last, it appears 
 from the evidence, that the capture was made four or 
 five miles from the land, and consequently without the 
 line provisionally adopted by the President as before 
 mentioned. 
 
 I have the honor to be, with sentiments of respect 
 
 and esteem. Sir 
 
 Your most obedient, 
 and humble servant, 
 
 Th : Jefferson* 
 
 *In Jefferson's dr^ft of this letter is tound at the end a paragraph 
 queried and struck out, as follows : 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 47 
 
 JEFFERSON TO MADISON. 
 
 Germantown, Nov. 9, '3. 
 
 The stages from Philadelphia to Baltimore are to be 
 resumed to-morrow, the fever has almostdisappeared. 
 the Physicians say they have no new subject since the 
 rain, some old ones are still to recover or die, & it is 
 presumed that will close the tragedy, the inhabitants, 
 refugees, are now flocking back generally ; this will 
 give us accommodation here, the Pres. sets out to- 
 morrow for Reading, & perhaps Lancaster to return 
 in a week.''' he will probably remain here till the 
 meeting of Congress, should Philadelphia become ever 
 so safe, as the members may not be satisfied of that 
 point till they have time to inform themselves. Toulon 
 
 "With respect to the British ship William taken on the 3d of 
 May last, the testimony as to the place of seizure varies from 2 to 5, 
 miles from the sea shore. The information of a certain Peter Dalton 
 stated in the paper inclosed in your letter of Oct. 19. extends the dis- 
 tance from 14. to 16. miles. But his evidence not having been given 
 before a magistrate legally qualified to place him under the solemnity 
 of an oath & bound to cross examine him, I am to desire that his evi- 
 dence, if it is to be insisted on may be taken in legal form, and for- 
 warded for the consideration of the President." 
 
 *Before starting on his trip to Reading and Lancaster Washington 
 went into Philadelphia, much against the advice of some of his cabinet. 
 This fact was published in many of the papers of the day in nearly 
 identical words, the item having been copied from one of the Phila- 
 delphia papers. The following is from " Herald of the United 
 
48 THE GERMANTOW.N LETTERS 
 
 has surrendered to Engld. & Spain. Grandanse in 
 St. Domingo to England, the British have received 
 a check before Dunkirk, probably a great one, but the 
 particulars cannot yet be depended on. it happened 
 about the 5th of September, when Monroe & your- 
 self arrive here, come to Bockeas's tavern (sign the 
 K. [ing] of Prussia) I will have engaged beds there 
 for you for your temporary accommodation. Adieu. 
 
 EDWARD RUTLEGE TO JEFFERSON. 
 
 Dear Sir 
 
 I have been requested by the Gentlemen who 
 have signed the within memorial, to place it under your 
 Protection, & I do so, with the greatest chearfulness, 
 because I know full well, that the sole motive by which 
 they were actuated, was. Humanity. The People of 
 St. Domingo, came to our Shores, in such Numbers, 
 & in so destitute a Condition, & the Funds of our 
 Citizens were so unequal to their comfortable Support, 
 that the Memorialists, who are Respectable Merchants, 
 & among the foremost in relieving the distressed, pre- 
 vailed on poor Thompson (who felt as they did, for 
 the Wretched) to take the Command of a small vessel. 
 
 States", published at Warren, R. I., Saturday Nov. 23d, 1793 : 
 "Philadelphia Nov. iith. With pleasure we mention the arrival of the 
 President of the United States in town this day from Germantown." 
 
y 
 
 
THE GERMANTOJVN LETTERS 49 
 
 & sail for the Island of St. Domingo, expressly for the 
 Purpose, which is mentioned in the Dispatch. 
 
 I know you to well to doubt of your assisance, if 
 it can be effectually applied — The Method I must 
 leave to yourself 
 
 With Sentiments of real Affection I am 
 
 My dear Sir, your sincere & obliged Friend 
 
 Ed : Rutledge 
 The Honble. 
 
 T. Jefferson Esqr. &c. &c. 
 
 Charleston, Novr. 9th. 1793. 
 
 JEFFERSON TO HENRY REMSEN JR. * 
 
 Germantown Nov. 9, 1793 
 Dear Sir 
 
 I am returned to this place about a week ago, the 
 President having concluded to fix the Executive here 
 until the meeting of Congress or till we shall see 
 whether Philadelphia becomes safe, it is believed to be 
 so now, insomuch that the refugee inhabitants are flock- 
 ing into it. it is said there are no new subjects in the 
 hands of the Physicians since the great rains, some 
 of those before infected are still sick. I therefore think 
 it probable that Congress will find it safe to sit there. 
 
 * Henry Remsen Jr. was a leading merchant of New York. 
 
50 THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 
 
 we expect that knowing the President to be here it will 
 be an evidence to them that this place is safe, that they 
 will therefore gather here, consult informally together 
 as to the place of their session, & having made up their 
 minds on that point, will go into the fields of Phila- 
 delphia (if they think the Congress house not safe) and 
 there adjourn by a vote, their next meeting having 
 been fixed by a joint vote ( which is a law as to this 
 matter) it is understood that they cannot be a legal 
 body, till they shall legally change the place. 
 
 I am to acknowledge the receipt of your favors 
 of Oct. I. 7. 12. and 1 thank you for your care of the 
 letters, and the box containing my model of the thresh- 
 ing machine.* about this machine I am most anxious, 
 
 ^'' My threshing machine is arrived at New York. Mr. Pinck- 
 ney writes me word that the original from which this model is copied 
 threshes 150. bushels of wheat in 8. hours, with 6. horses and 5. 
 men. It may be moved either by water or horses. Fortunately the 
 workman who made it (a millwright) is come in the same vessel to 
 settle in America. I have written to persuade him to go on im- 
 mediately to Richmd, offering him the use of my model to exhibit, 
 and to give him letters to get him into immediate employ in making 
 them. 1 expect an answer before I write to you again. I under- 
 stand that the model is made mostly in brass, & in the simple form in 
 which it was first ordered, to be worked by horses. It was to have 
 cost 5. guineas, but Mr. Pinckney having afterwards directed it to be 
 accommodated to water movement also, it has made it more compli- 
 cated, and costs 13. guineas. It will "thresh any grain from the 
 Windsor bean down to the smallest." Jefferson to Madison, Septem- 
 ber 1st, 1793. 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 51 
 
 as its most precious to my future occupation as a farmer. 
 I will therefore pray you to send it by some American 
 vessel going to Richmond, & not to any other place in 
 Virginia, because were it landed at Norfolk, or any- 
 where else I know from experience the certainty of 
 losing it. great pains have been taken by Mr. Pinck- 
 ney to procure the model & get it out to me, & it has 
 cost 13. guineas. I will bear in mind the price of the 
 [word obliterated] & send it by the first person I see 
 going to New York : in the mean time should we go 
 into Philadelphia and you should fulfill your purpose 
 of visiting that place I shall be very happy to see you 
 should I be still there as I shall be to the close of the 
 year. I am with great and sincere esteem Dr. Sir 
 
 Your friend & sert 
 
 Th : Jefferson. 
 P. S. be pleased to direct 
 
 the box to the care of Colo. 
 
 Robert Gamble merchant 
 
 Richmd. 
 
 JEFFERSON TO EDMOND GENET. 
 
 Germantown, Novr. lOth 1793. 
 Sir, 
 
 As in cases where vessels are reclaimed by the 
 subjects or citizens of the belligerent powers as having 
 been taken within the jurisdiction of the United States, 
 
52 THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 
 
 it becomes necessary to ascertain that fact by testimony 
 taken according to the laws of the United States, The 
 Governors of the several States to whom the applica- 
 tions will be made in the first instance, are desired im- 
 mediately to notify thereof the Attornies of their 
 respective districts, The Attorney is thereupon in- 
 structed to give notice to the principal Agent of both 
 parties who may have come in with the prize, and also 
 to the Consuls of the Nations interested, and to recom- 
 mend to them to appoint, by mutual consent, arbiters 
 to decide whether the captures were made within the 
 jurisdiction of the United States, as stated to you in 
 my letter of the 9th inst. according to whose award the 
 Governor may proceed to deliver the Vessel to the 
 one or the other party. But in case the parties or 
 Consul shall not agree to receive arbiters, then the 
 Attorney, or some person substituted by him, is to 
 notify them of the time and place when and where he 
 will be, in order to take the depositions of such wit- 
 nesses as they may cause to come before him, which 
 depositions he is to transmit for the information & 
 decision of the President. 
 
 It has been thought best to put this business 
 into such a train as that the examination of the fact 
 may take place immediately and before the witnesses 
 may have again departed from the United States, 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS ^3 
 
 which would too frequently happen, & especially in 
 the distant States, if it should be deferred till informa- 
 tion is sent to the Executive, and a special order awaited 
 to take the depositions, 
 
 I take the liberty of requesting that you will be 
 pleased to give such instructions to the Consuls of 
 your nation as may facilitate the object of this regula- 
 tion. I urge it with the more earnestness, because as 
 the Attornies of the districts are for the most part 
 engaged in much business of their own, they will rarely 
 be able to attend more than one appointment, and 
 consequently the party who should fail from negligence 
 or other motives to produce his witnesses at the time 
 & place appointed, might lose the benefit of their testi- 
 mony altogether. This prompt procedure is the more 
 to be insisted on as it will enable the President by an 
 immediate delivery of the Vessel and Cargo to the 
 party having title, to prevent the injuries consequent 
 on long delay. 
 
 I have the honor to be with great respect. Sir, 
 Your most obedient & 
 
 Most humble servant — 
 
 Th : Jefferson. 
 
 JEFFERSON TO GENERAL KNOX. 
 
 Th : Jefferson presents his compliments to Gen- 
 eral Knox, & sends him some papers received last 
 
54 THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 
 
 night by the President from the Govr. of North Caro- 
 lina, requesting the money & vessel taken from the 
 Spaniards by the sloop I'Amee Marguerite (formerly 
 the British sloop Providence prisoner to the Vainqueur 
 de la Bastille, armed in the U S.) it would seem from 
 this as if both vessels should be given up, 
 Nov. lo. 1793. 
 
 JEFFERSON TO PETER CARR.* 
 
 Germantown, Nov. 10, 1793. 
 Dear Sir 
 
 I received yours of Oct, 22, a little before bed- 
 time of the same evening, and being to set out early 
 the next morning it was impossible for me to answer 
 it. it was the less material, as I had written some 
 days before, and left in the hands of Mr. Jeffersonf a 
 letter to my sister on the same subject. I had before 
 imagined that the present state of her family would 
 render it convenient to receive now the money which 
 had remained so long in my hands, & which I im- 
 agined was till then a convenient occasional resource 
 
 *Peter Carr was a nephew of Jefferson, being the son of his 
 sister Martha and Dabney Carr. The latter died in early manhood 
 and his widow and her children made their home at Monticello. 
 
 ■j-This was George Jefferson, a cousin, living in Richmond, Va. 
 He was a man of such high ideals that he refused to be a candidate for 
 an office under President Jefferson on account of their relationship. 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS ^^ 
 
 for bad crops, unexpected calls &c. I therefore des- 
 tined to discharge it out of the proceeds of an execution 
 
 of Mr. , representives against the estate of Colo. 
 
 Gary, which should have been received in February 
 
 last. Mr. has thro' the summer been giving 
 
 me constant expectations from Carter Page of receiving 
 a good part of the money. I flatter myself it cannot 
 fail to be received in time for the demands you speak 
 of. I have no speedier resource for it, as all others at 
 my command will be requisite to clear me out here. 
 
 We may soon ask you how like your new course 
 of life, the account I received of your debut in Al- 
 bemarle was flattering for you, & very grateful to me. 
 I think you have your fortune in your own hands, 
 and that nothing is necessary but the will to make it 
 what you please, your father's plan of a laborious & 
 short course, rather than a languid & long one, was 
 certainly the wisest. 1 wish you may adopt the same, 
 no one on earth being more anxious for your success 
 than, Dear Sir, Yours affectionately 
 Mr. P. Carr Th: Jefferson. 
 
 JEFFERSON TO MARTHA JEFFERSON RANDOLPH. 
 
 Germantown, Nov. lo, 1793. 
 I wrote, my dear Martha, by last week's post to 
 Mr. Randolph. Yesterday I received his of Oct. 31. 
 
S6 THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 
 
 The fever in Philadelphia has almost entirely disap- 
 peared. The Physicians say they have no new infec- 
 tions since the great rains which have fallen. Some 
 previous ones are still to die or recover, and so close 
 this tragedy. I think however the Executive will re- 
 main here till the meeting of Congress, merely to 
 furnish a rally point to them. The refugee inhabitants 
 are very generally returning into the city. Mr. T. 
 Shippen and his lady are here. He is very slowly 
 getting better. Still confined to the house. She well 
 & very burly. I told her of her sister's pretentions 
 to the fever & ague at Blenheim. She complained of 
 receiving no letter. Tell this to Mrs. Carter, making 
 it the subject of a visit express, which will be an act of 
 good neighbor. — The aflfairs of France are at present 
 gloomy. Toulon has surrended to England & Spain. 
 So has Grandanse and the country round about in St. 
 Domingo. The English however have received a 
 check before Dunkirk, probably a smart one,tho' the par- 
 ticulars are not yet certainly known. I send Freneau's 
 papers. He has discontinued them, but promises to 
 resume again. I fear this cannot be till he has collected 
 his arrearages. My best regards to Mr. Randolph. 
 Accept my warmest love for yourself and Maria, com- 
 pliments to Miss. Jane, kisses to the children, friendly 
 affections to all. Adieu. 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 57 
 
 JEFFERSON'S DRAFT OF A REPLY TO TRUSTEES OF THE 
 SCHOOL AT GERMANTOWN.* 
 
 Gent. 
 
 The readiness with which the Trustees ot the 
 school of German, tender the buildings under their 
 charge for the use of Congress, is a proof of their 
 zeal for furthering the public good. and doubt- 
 less the other inhabitants actuated by the same motives 
 will feel the same dispons. to accomodate if necessary 
 those who assemble but for their service & that of 
 their fellow citizens. 
 
 Where it may be best for Congress to remain 
 will depend on circumstances which are daily unfold- 
 ing themselves, & for the issue of which we can but 
 offer up our prayers to the sovereign disposer of life 
 & health. 
 
 His favor too on our endeavors, the good sense & 
 firmness of our fellow citizens & fidelity in those they 
 employ will secure to us a permanence of good gov- 
 ernment 
 
 *This is Jefferson's draft of reply to a letter received by the Presi- 
 dent from the Trustees of the school. The letter as it was sent fol- 
 lows showing that Jefferson or more likely the President added another 
 paragraph. 
 
58 THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 
 
 WASHINGTON'S COMPLETED LETTER TO THE TRUSTEES,* 
 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 The readiness with which the Trustees of the 
 Public School of Germantown tender the buildings 
 under their charge, for the use of Congress, is a proof 
 of their zeal for furthering the public good ; and 
 doubtless the Inhabitants of Germantown generally, 
 actuated by the same motives, will feel the same dis- 
 positions to accomodate, if necessary, those who as- 
 semble but for their service & that of their fellow 
 citizens. 
 
 Where it will be best for Congress to remain will 
 depend on circumstances which are daily unfolding 
 themselves, & for the issue of which, we can but offer 
 up our prayers to the Sovereign Dispenser of life & 
 health. His favor too on our endeavours — the good 
 sense and firmness of our fellow citizens, & fidelity in 
 
 *At eleven o'clock in the morning of Wednesday, November 
 6th, the Trustees of the Public School of Germantown, now the 
 Germantown Academy, with Henry Hill at their head, waited on the 
 President and offered through him the use of their buildings as a meet- 
 ing place for Congress. They presented him with an address to 
 which the President later sent the reply given above. The question 
 as to how much Washington was indebted to Hamilton and Jeffer- 
 son in the preparation of state papers and letters is one that has 
 been discussed at some length and with some degree of warmth by 
 various biographers and historians. 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 59 
 
 those they employ, will secure to us a permanence of 
 good government. 
 
 If I have been fortunate enough, during the 
 vicissitudes of my life, so to have conducted myself, as 
 to have merited your approbation, it is a source of 
 much pleasure ; & should my future conduct merit a 
 continuance of your good opinion, especially at a time 
 when our country, & the city of Philadelphia in par- 
 ticular, is visited by so severe a calamity, it will add 
 more than a little to my happiness. — 
 
 Go. Washington. 
 
 COMMISSION OF DAVID AUSTIN. 
 
 Germantown Novemr. 11. 1793. 
 Sir, 
 
 The President of the United States, desiring to 
 avail the public of your services as Collector for the 
 Port of New Haven, I have now the honor of inclos- 
 ing you the Commission, and of expressing to you the 
 Sentiments of perfect Esteem with which I am Sir, 
 Your most Obedt. & 
 most hum. sert. 
 Commission dated Nov. 11. 1793. Th : Jefferson 
 Mr. David Austin. 
 
6o THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 
 
 COMMISSION OF VINCENT GRAY. 
 
 Germantown Novemr. nth. 1793. 
 Sir, 
 
 The President of the United States, desiring to 
 
 avail the public of your services as Surveyor for the 
 
 Port of Alexandria, I have now the honor of inclosing 
 
 you the commission, and of expressing to you the 
 
 sentiments of perfect esteem with which I am Sir, 
 
 Your most obedt. & 
 
 most hum. sert. 
 
 Commission dated 11. nov. 1793. Th : Jefferson 
 
 Mr. Vincent Gray. — 
 
 THOMAS JEFFERSON TO DISTRICT ATTORNEYS. 
 
 Germantown, Nov. 11. 1793. 
 Sir 
 
 The war at present prevailing among the European 
 
 Powers producing sometimes captures of vessels in the 
 
 neighbourhood of our sea coast and the law of nations 
 
 admitting as a common convenience that every nation 
 
 inhabiting the sea coast may extend its jurisdiction & 
 
 protection some distance into the sea, the President 
 
 has been frequently appealed to by the subjects of the 
 
 belligerent Powers for the benefit of that protection. 
 
 To what distance from the coast this may be extended 
 
 is not precisely ascertained either by the practice or 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 6i 
 
 consent of nations or the opinions of the jurists who 
 have written on the subject. The greatest distance to 
 which any respectable assent seems to have been given, 
 is the extent of the human sight, estimated at some- 
 thing more than 20 miles. The least claimed by any 
 nation is the utmost range of cannon shot, usually 
 stated at one sea league, or three sea miles which is a 
 very small portion less than 31^ statute or american 
 miles. Several intermediate distances have been insisted 
 on under different circumstances, & that particularly of 
 3 sea leagues has the support of some authorities which 
 are recent. However as the nations which practice 
 navigation on our coast are interested in this question, 
 it is thought prudent not to assume the whole distance 
 which we may reasonably claim, until some opportunity 
 shall occur of entering into friendly explanations and 
 arrangements with them on the subject, but as in the 
 mean time it is necessary to exercise the right to some 
 distance, the President has though it best, so far as 
 shall concern the exercise of the executive Powers, to take 
 the distance of a sea league, which being fitted by treaty 
 between some of the belligerent Powers, and as little 
 as any of them claim on their own coasts, can admit of 
 no reasonable opposition on their part. The executive 
 officers are therefore instructed to consider a margin of 
 one sea league on our coast as that within which all hos- 
 
62 THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 
 
 tilities are interdicted for the present, until it shall be 
 otherwise signified to them. The rivers and bays as 
 being land locked, are of course by the law of nations, 
 and I presume by the laws of most of the states, within 
 the body of the United States, and under the same 
 protection from hostilities. 
 
 As the question whether a capture has been made 
 within these limits is a question of fact to be decided 
 by witnesses, it becomes necessary to take measures for 
 the examination of these witnesses in the different states 
 where captures may happen, and the laws of the union 
 having as yet made no provision for this purpose, the 
 President considers the attornies of the several Districts 
 as the persons the most capable of discharging the 
 office with knowledge, with impartiality, and with that 
 extreme discretion which is essential in all matters 
 wherein foreign nations are concerned. I have the 
 honor therefore. Sir, to inclose you a paper expressing 
 the desire of the President on this subject — You will 
 see by that that whenever a capture is suggested to 
 have been made within the limits above mentioned, 
 so far as they are within your state, the Governor to 
 whom the first application will be made is desired to 
 give you notice thereof, whereupon it is hoped you will 
 proceed as the paper points out. The representatives 
 here of the different Powers are informed of this ar- 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 63 
 
 rangement, and desired to instruct their consuls to 
 
 facilitate the proceedings as far as shall depend on 
 
 them; and it is unnecessary for me to suggest what 
 
 your own judgment and disposition would dictate that 
 
 the same object will be promoted by a certain degree 
 
 of respect to which the Consuls are entitled, and a just 
 
 and friendly attention to their convenience. 
 
 I have the honor to be with sentiments of respect 
 
 Sir, 
 
 Your most obedt. servt. 
 
 Th : Jefferson 
 
 TENCH COXE TO THOMAS JEFFERSON. 
 
 Mr. T. Coxe requests that Mr. Jefferson will do 
 him the honor to inform him, whether it appears by 
 the records of the Department of State that a com- 
 mission, as Inspector of the Revenue for the port of 
 Bake., has been transmitted to Danl. Delogier, lately 
 appointed Surveyor of that port. Mr. Coxe can not 
 find that such a commission has ever been reed, by the 
 officer, or by the Treasury. In the confusion produced 
 by the late malady in Philada. it is possible it may not 
 have occurd. that two Commissions were necessary. 
 The late Mr. Ballard held both, and it has been almost 
 an universal course in the appointments to those two 
 offices in the other ports. 
 Chestnut Street Novr. nth. 1793. 
 
64 THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 
 
 THOMAS JEFFERSON TO ROBERT MORRIS. 
 
 Germantown, Nov. 13. 1793. 
 
 S 
 
 ir 
 
 I am instructed by the President of the US. to 
 forward to you the inclosed petition* from Ezra Fitz 
 Freeman, on behalf of his son Clarkson Freeman, and 
 to ask the favor of your information of the circum- 
 stances of the case of the sd. Clarkson Freeman therein 
 referred to, & your opinion on the different considera- 
 tions weighing for and against the pardon therein 
 prayed for. I have the honor to be with great respect 
 
 Sir 
 
 Your most obedt. 
 
 & most humble servt. 
 To honble. Robert Morris Th : Jefferson 
 
 the District judge of the US. for N. Jersey. 
 
 JEFFERSON TO PATRICK KENNON. 
 
 Germantown, Nov. 13, 1793. 
 Sir 
 
 I have duly received your favor of Sept. 19. with 
 
 the copy of your account shewing the amount of stock 
 
 *This was a petition from Clarkson Freeman, who had been 
 imprisoned in New Jersey for aiding in counterfeiting public securities. 
 He had fled to Canada and asked to be pardoned and allowed to return 
 to his home. Judge Morris replied November 25th, representing 
 Freeman's conduct in an unfavorable light. 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 6s 
 
 which you hold for Mr. Short, as also a balance of 
 50.17 cash and a further sum of 100.83 ^^^ quarter's 
 interest then due. finding that Mr. Short possesses 
 stock in Richmond also, & concluding it best to bring 
 the whole to Philadelphia, I have lodged in the Treas- 
 ury office there the original power of attorney under 
 which I act for Mr. Short,* & of which, for your justi- 
 fication, 1 send you a copy authenticated by the 
 Secretary of the Treasury, and have now to ask the 
 favor of you to apply to the office of the Commission- 
 ers of loans at New York, and to have the necessary 
 acts done there and forwarded here, for transferring 
 the said stock from the banks of that office to those of 
 the general office here, with as little delay as possible, 
 and to remit to me the two sums of cash above men- 
 tioned in safe paper, on the receipt of which I will send 
 you a sufficient voucher. 
 
 I am with esteem Sir 
 
 Your most obedt. sert 
 
 Th : Jefferson. 
 Mr. Patrick Kennon. New York. 
 
 *WilHam Short had been private secretary to JefFerson while the 
 latter was minister to France. After Jefferson's return he had re- 
 mained as charge d' affaires, but later he had been appointed minister 
 at The Hague. 
 
66 THE GERMANTOJVN LETTERS 
 
 JEFFERSON TO MR. HOPKINS. 
 
 Germantown, Nov. 13, 1793. 
 Sir 
 
 Your favor of the 1 5th of October with the state- 
 ments of the different species of stock standing on the 
 books of your office to the credit of WilHam Short es- 
 quire, came to hand on the 24th of the same month, 
 being the eve of my departure for this place, finding 
 that Mr. Short has stock also at New York, I have 
 thought it best to bring the whole to one place, & that, 
 all circumstances considered, Philadelphia will be the 
 best place of deposit, having therefore lodged in the 
 Treasury office there the original power of attorney 
 under which I act for Mr. Short, and of which, for 
 your justification I send you a copy authenticated by 
 the Secretary of the Treasury, I have now to ask the 
 favor of you to do what is necessary & proper to be 
 done on your part for transferring all Mr. Short's stock 
 on your books to those of the Treasury at Philadel- 
 phia, should the certificates be in the hands of Mr. 
 Brown, will you have the goodness to ask for them & 
 to forward them or any other papers to me which may 
 be necessary to complete the operation herewith as little 
 delay as possible? your attention herein will oblige Sir 
 
 Your most obedt. sert 
 
 Th : Jefferson. 
 
 Mr. Hopkins, Commr. of loans, Richmd. 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 67 
 
 JEFFERSON TO MR. HOMASSEL. 
 
 Germantown, Nov. 13, 1793. 
 Sir 
 
 Mr. DeVieux, my neighbor in Virginia having 
 received information that some goods were sent for 
 him from France to this port, authorised Mr. Vaughan 
 to receive & sell them, he afterwards learnt they had 
 been sent to you, and now understands they were sold 
 by you. it is very important to him to receive the 
 money, but more pressingly so to know the clear 
 amount of the sales, that he may by that clear amount 
 regulate his engagements, not knowing to what place 
 Mr. Vaughan retired on the late disorder in Philadel- 
 phia, I ask the favor of you to enable me if you can 
 to inform Mr. DeVieux of the nett amount of the 
 whole sum which will be coming to him from the sale 
 of the said goods. 
 
 I am sir 
 
 Your very humble sert 
 
 Th : Jefferson. 
 Mr. Homassel. 
 
68 THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 
 
 JEFFERSON TO GEORGE HAMMOND.* 
 
 Germantown Nov. 13. 1793. 
 Sir 
 
 In a letter which I had the honor of addressing 
 
 you on the 19th of June last, I asked for information 
 when we might expect an answer to that which I had 
 written you on the 29th of May was twelvemonth, on 
 the articles still unexecuted of the treaty of peace be- 
 tween the two nations. 
 
 In your answer of the next day, you were pleased 
 to inform me that you had forwarded the letter of the 
 29th of May 1792. in the course of a few days after 
 it's date, & that you daily expected instructions on the 
 
 *The answer to the above is as follows : 
 
 Lansdown, 2 2d November, 1793. 
 Sir, 
 
 In answer to your letter of the 13 th current, I have the honor ot 
 informing you, that I have not yet received such definite instructions, 
 relative to your communication of the 29th of May, 1792, as will 
 enable me immediately to renew the discussions upon the subject of it, 
 which have been for some time suspended. 
 
 I can, however, repeat with confidence, my conviction, that the 
 continuance of the cause, to which I alluded in my letter of the 20th 
 of June last, and no other, has protracted this delay to the present period. 
 I have the honor to be. 
 
 With sentiments of great respect. 
 Sir, 
 Your most obedient, 
 humble servant, 
 
 Geo : Hammond 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 69 
 
 subject ; that you presumed these had been delayed in 
 consequence of the very interesting events which had 
 occurred in Europe & which had been of a nature so 
 pressing and important as probably to have attracted 
 the whole attention of your ministers, & thus to have 
 diverted it from objects more remote, & that might 
 perhaps have been regarded as somewhat less urgent. 
 
 I have it again in charge from the President of 
 the United States to ask whether we can now have an 
 answer to the letter of May 29. before mentioned ? 
 
 I have the honor to be with great respect Sir 
 
 Your most obedient 
 
 & most humble servt 
 
 Th : Jefferson 
 The Minister Pleny. of Gr. Britain. 
 
 JEFFERSON TO GOVERNOR MOULTRIE.* 
 
 Germantown Nov. 13. 1793. 
 Sir 
 
 In a letter of the 2d. instant which I have re- 
 ceived from Mr. Genet, Minister Plenipy. of the re- 
 public of France here, is the following paragraph. 
 
 " I have received a charge against two persons of 
 
 *Governor William Moultrie of South Carolina. 
 
70 THE GERMANTOJVN LETTERS 
 
 the name of Bouteille and Carvin, as equipping at this 
 time in Charleston a strong vessel, on which they are 
 to embark a number of people whose object is to go & 
 posess themselves of Turtle island, distant from the 
 Cape seven leagues, and there to put to death all the 
 French who shall remain faithful to their country. I 
 pray you to be so good as to inform the Governor of 
 Charleston of this accusation." 
 
 The same line of conduct being proper for us be- 
 tween parties of the same nation engaged in civil war, 
 as between different nations at war with each other, I 
 have it in charge from the President of the US. to 
 draw your Excellency's attention to the information 
 above stated, & to express his confidence that you will 
 exert the powers with which you are invested to pre- 
 vent every preparation of hostilities which shall be 
 attempted to be made and carried on from any part of 
 your state against countries or people with which we 
 are at peace, and I will ask the favor of any informa- 
 tion you may be able to give me of the fact above 
 stated, and it's issue. I have the honor to be with 
 great respect, your Excellency's 
 
 most obedt. & most humble sert 
 H.E. Governor Moultrie. Th : Jefferson 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 71 
 
 JEFFERSON TO COLONEL ROBERT GAMBLE.* 
 
 Th : Jefferson presents his compliments to Colo. 
 Gamble & takes the liberty of putting under cover to 
 him a letter to Mr. Newbernf of Richmond, with a 
 request to have it handed him if he arrived from Lon- 
 don, or if not, to let it lie by, till his arrival. Th : J. 
 thinks he must be arrived as he sailed from London 
 Aug. 30. he has the pleasure to inform Colo. Gamble 
 that after the great rains which fell the first three or 
 four days of this month, not a single new infection of 
 the yellow fever took place, that those then ill of it are 
 either dead or recovered, and that there is the most 
 respectable assurance that there is not at this time a 
 single subject remaining under that disorder, the 
 refugee inhabitants have been returning in to the city 
 ever since the rain, without incurring any accident, 
 some who had returned before the rains caught the 
 disease, it is probable that in the course of this week 
 or the next 99. out of 100. of those who had left the 
 city, will be returned into it. as the members of 
 Congress, coming from a distance, may be uninformed 
 
 *An answer to this letter will be found on a subsequent page. 
 
 Colonel Robert Gamble was a Revolutionary soldier who came 
 originally from Staunton, Augusta County, and thus in a way a 
 neighbor of Jefferson's. In 1793 he removed to Richmond and be- 
 came a prominent merchant of that city. He was killed in 18 10 by 
 a fall from his horse. 
 
 •j-See the following letter. 
 
72 THE GERMANTOJVN LETTERS 
 
 of the real state of things, the President will probably 
 remain here (tho' he has been into the city) to form a 
 point of union for them to assemble at & decide on 
 their own view of things. J 
 
 Germantown, Nov. 14, 1793. 
 
 JEFFERSON TO MR. NEWBERN, 
 
 Germantown near Philadelphia, Nov, 14, 1793. 
 Sir 
 
 Mr. Donald of London, in a letter of Aug. 30. 
 
 informs me you had been so kind as to take charge of 
 a telescope for me. not knowing whether you are yet 
 arrived, and apprehending, if you were, that you might 
 forward the glass on to this place, I take the liberty of 
 lodging the present letter at Richmond, to desire you, 
 instead of sending it on here to deliver it to Mr. Ran- 
 dolph my son in law whenever he may happen to be 
 in Richmond, or to his order, any duty or other charge 
 which may have been paid on it shall be thankfully re- 
 paid as soon as made known, returning you many 
 thanks for the obliging office you have done, I remain 
 
 with esteem Sir 
 
 Your most obedt. sert. 
 Mr. Newbern. Th: Jefferson. 
 
 |The information contained in this letter was deemed of such 
 public interest that it, except the first few lines, was printed in the 
 Virginia Chronicle of November 30th, 1793. 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 73 
 
 JEFFERSON TO WILLIAM AST. 
 
 Germantown near Philadelphia, Nov. 14, 1793. 
 
 Sir 
 
 Your favor of the 6th inst, conveys to me the 
 
 first information of your establishment in this country, 
 in which I wish you every success, with respect to 
 the application you propose to Congress on the subject 
 of insurances, I am not able to say what may be its 
 effect, we are little habituated to these speculations 
 here, & therefore the less likely to estimate their true 
 value, instead however of asking a provisional decree, 
 which is not consonant with our usage, I would advise 
 you to propose, in your petition, the communication of 
 your plan to such committee of their house as they 
 shall appoint, these will of course be persons of con- 
 fidence, & on their report the house will act. I would 
 also recommend to you to have your petition drawn by 
 some gentleman of the law, who is acquainted with our 
 forms, since it is of considerable advantage to good 
 ideas to be presented to those for whom they are in- 
 tended in a dress to which they are accustomed, as I 
 mean shortly to retire to Virginia and shall chiefly be 
 connected with Richmond in such matters of business 
 as a farmer may have, I shall hope an opportunity of 
 renewing my acquaintance with you there, unless your 
 movements should sooner lead you into the neighbor- 
 
74 THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 
 
 hood of Monticello, where I shall be very happy to 
 see you; accept assurances of my attachment. 
 
 Th: Jefferson. 
 
 Mr. William Ast. 
 
 JEFFERSON TO PATRICK HART. 
 
 Germantown near Philadelphia, Nov. 14, 1793. 
 Sir 
 
 Understanding that there was a box containing an 
 
 Orrery for me at the Custom-house at the Hundred, 
 I had asked the favor of Mr. David Randolph to take 
 it out and pay the duty, which I suppose small, as the 
 machine cost but about 2^2 guineas, he writes me 
 word that before he received my letter, you had been 
 so kind as to liberate it from the custom-house, with 
 a view of sending it on to me. the object of this let- 
 ter is to return you my thanks for this kind attention, 
 and instead of forwarding it to me here, to ask you to 
 be so good as to deliver it to Mr. Randolph my son 
 in law, to be forwarded to my own house in Albemarle 
 where I shall be within a few weeks, be pleased at the 
 same time to let either him or me know what you have 
 been so good as to pay on it, and it will be immediately 
 replaced, with repeated thanks for the civility, I am 
 
 with esteem, Sir 
 
 Your most obedt. sert 
 
 Mr. Patrick Hart. Th : Jefferson. 
 
THE GERMANTOfVN LETTERS js 
 
 JEFFERSON TO GIUSEPPE CERACCHI.* 
 
 Philadelphia, Nov. 14. 1793. 
 Dear Sir 
 
 I have received the favor of your letter of May 
 
 27. from Munich, & it was not till then that I knew 
 to what place or through what channel to direct a let- 
 ter to you. the assurances you received that the mon- 
 ument of the President would be ordered at the new 
 election, were founded in the expectation that he meant 
 then to retire, the turbid affairs of Europe however, 
 & the intercessions they produced prevailed on him to 
 act again, tho' with infinite reluctance. You are sen- 
 sible that the moment of his retirement, kindling the 
 enthusiasm for his character, the affections for his 
 person, the recollection of his services, would be that 
 moment in which such a tribute would naturally be 
 resolved on. this of course is now put off the end of 
 the next bissextile : but whenever it arrives, your title 
 to the execution is engraved in the minds of those 
 who saw your works here, your purpose with respect 
 to my bust is certainly flattering to me. my family 
 
 *For an interesting account of the sculptor Ceracchi and his 
 desire to execute a monument of Washington commemorative of 
 the Revolution, see Randall's life of Jefferson, Vol. 11, page 199. 
 The artist chiseled a magnificent bust of Jefferson, which was obtained 
 by Congress, placed in its library and afterwards destroyed by the fire 
 of 1 85 1. Unfortunately there is no existing engraving or other 
 reproduction of this beautiful bust. 
 
76 THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 
 
 has entered so earnestly into It that I must gratify them 
 with the hope, and myself with the permission to make 
 a just indemnification to the author. I shall be happy 
 at all times to hear from you, and to learn that your 
 successes in life are as great as they ought to be. ac- 
 cept assurances of my sincere respect & esteem. 
 
 Th : Jefferson 
 Mr. Ceracchi, at Munich. 
 
 JEFFERSON TO GEORGE HAMMOND. 
 
 Germantown Nov. 14. 1793. 
 Sir, 
 
 I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter 
 
 of the 7th. instant, on the subject of the British ship 
 Rochampton, taken and sent into Baltimore by the 
 French privateer the Industry, an armed schooner of 
 St. Domingo, which is suggested to have augmented her 
 force at Baltimore before the capture. On this circum- 
 stance a demand is grounded that the prize she has 
 made shall be restored. 
 
 Before I proceed to the matters of fact in this case, 
 I will take the liberty of calling your attention to the 
 rules which are to govern it. These are 
 
 1st. That restitution of prizes has been made by 
 the Executive of the United States only in the two cases 
 I. of capture, within their Jurisdiction, by armed vessels 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 
 
 11 
 
 originally constituted such without the limits of the 
 United States; or 2d. of capture, either within or with- 
 out their jurisdiction, by armed vessels, originally con- 
 stituted such within the limits of the United States, 
 which last have been called proscribed vessels. 
 
 iind. That all military equipments within the 
 ports of the United States are forbidden to the vessels 
 of the Belligerent powers, even where they have been 
 constituted vessels of war before their arrival in our 
 ports; and where such equipments have been made 
 before detection, they are ordered to be suppressed 
 when detected, and the vessel reduced to her original 
 condition. But if they escape detection altogether, 
 depart and make prizes, the Executive has not under- 
 taken to restore the prizes. 
 
 With due care, it can scarcely happen that mili- 
 tary equipments of any magnitude shall escape discov- 
 ery, those which are small may sometimes, perhaps, 
 escape, but to pursue these so far as to decide that the 
 smallest circumstance of military equipment to a vessel 
 in our ports shall invalidate her prizes through all 
 time, would be a measure of incalculable consequences. 
 And since our interference must be governed by some 
 general rule, and between great and small equipments 
 no practicable line of distinction can be drawn, it will 
 be attended with less evil on the whole to rely on the 
 
78 THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 
 
 efficacy of the means of prevention, that they will 
 reach with certainty equipments of any magnitude and 
 the great mass of those of smaller importance also : 
 and if some should in the event, escape all our vigi- 
 lance, to consider these as of the number of cases 
 which will at times baffle the restraints of the wisest 
 and best guarded rules which human foresight ever 
 devise. And I think we may safely rely that since the 
 regulations which got into a course of execution about 
 the middle of August last, it is scarcely possible that 
 equipmentsof any importance should escape discovery. 
 
 These principles shewing that no demand of 
 restitution lies on the ground of a mere military alter- 
 ation or an augmentation of force, I will consider your 
 letter only as a complaint that the orders of the Presi- 
 dent prohibiting these, have not had their effect in the 
 case of the Industry, and inquire whether, if this be 
 so, it has happened either from neglect or connivance 
 in those charged with the execution of these orders. 
 For this we must resort to facts which shall be taken 
 from the evidence furnished by yourself, and the 
 British vice Consul at Baltimore, and from that which 
 shall accompany this leter. 
 
 About the beginning of August the Industry is 
 said to have arrived at Baltimore with the French fleet 
 from St. Domingo, the particular state of her arma- 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 79 
 
 ment on her arrival is lately questioned, but it is not 
 questioned, that she was an armed vessel of some 
 degree. The Executive having received an intimation 
 that two vessels were equipping themselves at Balti- 
 more for a cruize, a letter was on the 5th. of Augt. 
 addressed by the Secretary of war to the Governor of 
 Maryland, desiring an inquiry into the fact. In his 
 absence, the Executive Council of Maryland charged 
 one of their own Party, the honorable Mr. Killy, with 
 the inquiry. He proceeded to Baltimore, and after two 
 days examination found no vessels answering the 
 description of those which were the objects of his in- 
 quiry. He then engaged the British Vice Consul in 
 the search, who was not able, any more than himself 
 to discover any such vessels. Captain Killy, however, 
 observing a Schooner, which appeared to have been 
 making some equipments for a cruize to have added 
 to her guns, and made some alteration to her waist, 
 thought these circumstances merited examination, 
 though the rules of August had not yet appeared. 
 Finding that his inquiries excited suspicion, and fear- 
 ing the vessel might be withdrawn, he had her seized, 
 and proceeded in the investigation. He found that 
 she was the Schooner Industry, Captain Carver, from 
 St. Domingo, that she had been an armed vessel 
 for three years before her coming here, and as late as 
 
8o THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 
 
 April last had mounted i6 Guns, that she now mounted 
 only 12. and he could not learn that she had pro- 
 cured any of these or done any thing else, essential to 
 her as a prisoner, at Baltimore. He therefore dis- 
 charged her, and on the 23d. of August, the Executive 
 Council made the report to the Secretary at war, of 
 which I enclose you a copy. 
 
 About a fortnight after this (Sep. 6.) you added 
 to a letter on other business a short paragraph saying 
 that you had lately received information that a vessel 
 named the Industry had within the last 5 or 6 weeks 
 been armed, manned, and equipped in the port of Bal- 
 timore. The proceedings before mentioned having 
 been in another department, were not then known to 
 me. I therefore could only communicate this para- 
 graph to the proper Department. The separation of the 
 Executive within a week after prevented any explana- 
 tions on the subject ; and without them it was not in 
 my power either to controvert or admit the information 
 you had received. Under these circumstances I think 
 you must be sensible. Sir, that your conclusions from 
 my silence, that I regarded the fact as proved, was not 
 a very necessary one. 
 
 New inquiries, at that time, could not have pre- 
 vented the departure of the privateer, or the capture of 
 the Rochampton ; for the privateer had then been out 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 8i 
 
 some time, the Rochampton was already taken and 
 was arriving at Baltimore ; which she did about the day 
 of the date of your letter, after her arrival, new wit- 
 nesses had come forward to prove that the Industry 
 had made some military equipments at Baltimore be- 
 fore her cruise, the affidavits taken by the British 
 Vice Consul are dated about 9 or lo days after the 
 date of your letter and arrival of the Roechampton : 
 and we have only to lament that those witnesses had 
 not given their information to the Vice Consul when 
 Mr. Killy engaged his aid in the inquiries he was 
 making, and when it would have had the effect of our 
 detaining the privateer till she should have reduced 
 herself to the condition in which she was when she 
 arrived in our ports, if she had really added any thing 
 to her then force. But supposing the testimony just 
 and full (tho' taken ex parte^ and not under the legal 
 sanction of an oath) yet the Governor's refusal to re- 
 store the prize, was perfectly proper, for, as has been 
 before observed, restitution has never been made by the 
 Executive, nor can be made on a mere clandestine 
 alteration or augmentation of military equipment, which 
 was all that the new testimony tended to prove. 
 
 Notwithstanding, however that the President 
 thought the information obtained on a former occasion 
 had cleared this privateer from any well grounded cause 
 
82 THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 
 
 of arrest, yet that which you have now offered opens 
 a possibiHty that the former was defective. He has 
 therefore desired new inquiry to be made before a 
 magistrate legally authorized to administer an Oath, 
 and indifferent to both parties, and should the result 
 be that the vessel did really make any military equip- 
 ments in our ports, instructions will be given to re- 
 duce her to her original conditions, whenever she shall 
 again come into our ports. 
 
 On the whole, Sir, I hope you will perceive that 
 on the first intimation, thro' their own channels, and 
 without waiting for information on your part, that a 
 vessel was making military equipments at Baltimore, 
 the Executive took the best measures for inquiring 
 into the fact in order to prevent or suppress such equip- 
 ments, that an officer of high respectability was 
 charged with the inquiry and that he made it with 
 great diligence himself, and engaged similar inquiries 
 on the part of your Vice Consul, that neither of them 
 could find that this privateer had made any such equip- 
 ments, or of course that there was any ground for re- 
 ducing or detaining her ; that at the date of your letter 
 of Sep. 6 (the first intimation reed, from you) the Pri- 
 vateer was departed, had taken her prize, and that prize 
 was arriving in port, that the new evidence taken lo 
 days after that arrival can produce no other effect than 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 83 
 
 the institution of a new inquiry, and a reduction of the 
 force of the privateer, should she appear to have made 
 any military alterations or augmentations, on her re- 
 turn into our ports, and that in no part of this procedure 
 is there the smallest ground for imparting either negli- 
 gence or connivance to any of the officers who have 
 acted in it. 
 
 I have the honor to be, with much respect 
 Sir, 
 
 Your most obedient and 
 
 most humble servant, 
 
 Th : Jefferson 
 Minister plenipo. of Great Britian. 
 
 JEFFERSON TO DAVID HOWELL. 
 
 Germantown, Nov. 14, 1793. 
 Dear Sir 
 
 I have duly received your two favors of Octob. 
 3. & 4. with that signed by Messrs. Brown & others.* 
 I have communicated the contents to the President, 
 and added my own testimony, derived from former 
 acquaintance, to the recommendations of those gentle- 
 
 *A petition from John Brown and other citizens, recommend- 
 ing the appointment of David Howell as District Attorney for Rhode 
 Island as successor to William Channing. 
 
84 THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 
 
 men. no appointment is as yet made, and the Presi- 
 dent is absent on a short tour. In this as in every 
 other pursuit, I sincerely wish you success, and shall 
 be greeted with the tidings of it in the retirement into 
 which I mean to withdraw at the close of the present 
 year, it will be the second time my bark will have 
 put into port with a design not to venture out again ; 
 & I trust it will be the last, my farm, my family & 
 my books call me to them irresistably. I do not know 
 whether you are a farmer, but I know you love your 
 family & your books, and will therefore bear witness 
 to the strength of their attractions, accept assurances 
 
 of my constant esteem & respect. 
 
 Th : Jefferson. 
 David Howell esq. Providence. 
 
 JEFFERSON TO WILLIAM RAWLE. 
 
 Germantown Nov. 15. 1793. 
 Sir, 
 
 You will doubtless recollect the case of the British 
 
 ship William, taken by the Privateer Citoyen Genet, 
 
 before the 5th. of June and within the limits of our 
 
 Jurisdiction, as was alleged. On this allegation she 
 
 was libelled in the district Court of Pennsylvania, and 
 
 discharged by the Judge on the ground of incompetence 
 
 of Jurisdiction. It then became the duty of the Ex- 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 85 
 
 ecutive to interfere. The British Minister exhibited 
 affidavits taken exparte which gave reason to believe 
 that the capture was made within our jurisdiction, and 
 the french Minister was desired to shew cause against 
 it, the vessel being in the mean time put into the 
 Hands of the French Consul, in an assurance that she 
 should be forth coming to answer the determination 
 of the President. The French Minister has now 
 given in contrary evidence, but taken ex parte also. 
 The limits of Jurisdiction having been provisionally- 
 settled for Executive cases, and the mode of taking 
 regular testimony, as stated in the letter I had the 
 honor of writing you on the loth. instant, I have now 
 to ask the favor of you to proceed with respect to the 
 ship William according to what was provided in that 
 letter for such cases generally. By a letter of the 
 present date I notify the two Ministers of the reference 
 now made to you, relying that they will instruct their 
 Consuls to pay requisite attention to it. 
 
 I have the honor to be with great esteem 
 Sir, 
 
 Your most obedient and 
 
 most humble servant 
 Wm. Rawle Esq. Th : Jefferson 
 
 Attorney of the U. S. for the district of 
 
 Penna. 
 
86 THE GERMANTOJVN LETTERS 
 
 JEFFERSON TO GEORGE HAMMOND. 
 
 Germantown Nov. 15. 1793. 
 Sir, 
 
 I have the honor to inform you that the district 
 
 Attorney of Pennsylvania is this day instructed to take 
 measures for finally settling the cases of the British Ship 
 William captured by the French privateer the Citoyen 
 Genet, and reclaimed (?) as taken within the Jurisdic- 
 tion of the United States, in which he will proceed as 
 I had the honor of stating to you in my letter of Nov. 
 10. 
 
 I have the honor of being with respect & esteem Sir, 
 
 Your most obdt. 
 mo. humble servant 
 
 Th : Jefferson 
 The Minister plenipy. of Gt. Britain. 
 
 JEFFERSON TO EDMOND C. GENET. 
 
 Th : Jefferson with his respectful compHments to 
 Mr. Genet has the honor to inform him that his letter 
 of the 3d. inst. on the subject of an advance of money, 
 came to hand on the day the President had set out on 
 a journey to Reading, that of yesterday, on the same 
 subject, is received this day. both shall be laid before 
 him on his return. 
 Nov. 15. 1793. Germantown. 
 
THE GERMANTOfVN LETTERS 87 
 
 JEFFERSON TO GENERAL HENRY KNOX. 
 
 Th : Jefferson, with his respect to Genl Knox, has the 
 honor to inclose for his examination & amendmt. a letter 
 to Mr Hammond on the subject of the Rochampton, 
 which has already been examined & approved by the 
 Secy, of the Treasury & Atty. Genl. should Genl. 
 Knox propose no amendment, Th: J. will be obliged 
 to him to stick a wafer in the cover, & send it on to 
 the post office, should he think it of any consequence 
 to send a copy to Govr. T. Lee, in order to explain to 
 him & the council the reason of the new enquiries to 
 be made into the condition of the Industry, Genl. Knox's 
 clerk shall have the press copy retained here, to take 
 a copy from, 
 Nov. 15. 1793. 
 
 After writing the above & inclosing the letter to 
 Mr. H. it was recollected that Genl. Knox was to set 
 out this day Friday for Trenton, this note was there- 
 fore opened & the letter sent to Mr. Hammond, to 
 avoid the delay which would be occasioned [the rest 
 of the manuscript is torn off.] 
 
 JEFFERSON TO WASHINGTON. 
 
 Th: Jefferson with his respects to the President 
 has the honor to inclose for his information the follow- 
 
88 THE GERMJNTOIVN LETTERS 
 
 ing letters written in consequence of the last consult- 
 ation preceding his departure, there being quadrupli- 
 cates of most of them, the trouble of looking over them 
 will be proportionably diminished to the President. 
 Nov. 8. four letters to the foreign ministers on the ex- 
 tent of our jurisdiction. 
 lO. Circular to the district-attornies on the same 
 subject and on the mode of settling the cases 
 which arise, 
 do. four letters to the foreign ministers on the 
 mode of settling the cases which arise of cap- 
 tures within our jurisdiction 
 
 *do. to Messrs. Viar & Jaudenes, covering answer 
 of Govr. of Kentucky as to military enter- 
 prises projected there, & the information of 
 the Govr. of N. Carolina as to the Spanish 
 prize carried in there. 
 X 13. to Mr. Hammond on the inexecution of the 
 
 treaty. 
 X to Govr Moultrie, on Mr. Genet's suggestion of 
 military enterprises projected 
 
 * to Judge Morris, inclosing Fitz Freeman's 
 petition. 
 
 14. to Mr. Hammond on the Rochampton & 
 Industry. 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 8g 
 
 to the District Atty. of Maryland on the 
 
 brig Coningham. 
 to do. on the condemnation of the Rochamp- 
 
 ton & Pilgrim by the Fr. Consul. 
 15. to do. of Pennsylva. on the Ship William. 
 
 to Mr. Genet, on same subject 
 
 to Mr. Hammond on same subject. 
 
 * these are subjects not referred to our consultations. 
 
 X these were in consequence of determination at our 
 consultations, but the letters, being in plain 
 cases, were not communicated for inspection 
 to the other gentlemen, after they were 
 written, 
 there are some other letters agreed on, but not yet 
 copied. 
 
go THE GERMANTOJVN LETTERS 
 
 JEFFERSON TO ELI WHITNEY.* 
 
 Germantown, Nov. i6, 1793. 
 Sir, — Your favor of Oct. 15 inclosing a drawing of 
 your cotton gin, was received on the 6th inst. The 
 only requisite of the law now uncomplied with is the 
 forwarding a model, which being received your patent 
 may be made out & delivered to your order im- 
 mediately. 
 
 As the state of Virginia, of which I am, carries 
 on household manufactures of cotton to a great extent, 
 as I also do myself, and one of our great embarrass- 
 ments is the clearing the cotton of the seed, I feel a 
 
 *JefFerson is universally recognized as the father of the patent 
 system of the United States, and this letter, together with the reply 
 of Whitney given on a later page, is of unusual interest. 
 
 The original act creating what is now the Patent Office provided 
 that the Secretary of State, the Secretary at War and the Attorney 
 General should constitute a board to pass upon the invention and issue 
 the patent. This no doubt proved a cumbersome arrangement for in 
 February 1793, a new law was enacted giving the power of 
 issuing patents to the Secretary of State alone, who submitted the 
 papers when they were prepared to the Attorney General. If he 
 found them conformable to the law, he returned the patent to the 
 Secretary of State, who presented the document to the President for 
 his signature, and afterwards affixed the official seal. The inventor 
 was required to produce a model provided the Secretary asked for it. 
 As will be seen, Jefferson did ask for the model of the cotton gin. 
 This patent was issued to Whitney, March 14th, 1794. During the 
 year 1793 twenty patents had been issued. 
 
THE GERMANTOJVN LETTERS 91 
 
 considerable interest in the success of your invention, 
 for family use. Permit me therefore to ask informa- 
 tion from you on these points. Has the machine 
 been thoroughly tried in the ginning of cotton, or is it 
 as yet but a machine of theory ? What quantity of 
 cotton has it cleaned on an average of several days, & 
 worked by hand, & by how many hands ? What will 
 be the cost of one of them made to be worked by 
 hand ? Favorable answers to these questions would 
 induce me to engage one of them to be forwarded to 
 Richmond for me. Wishing to hear from you on the 
 subject I am &c. 
 
 P. S. Is this the machine advertised the last 
 year by Pearce at the Patterson manufactory ? 
 
 JEFFERSON TO GEORGE TAYLOR. 
 
 T\\ : Jefferson presents his compliments to Mr. 
 Taylor, thinking it possible that the members of 
 Congress, retaining the horrors of the yellow fever 
 which prevail at a distance, may remove to Lancaster, 
 & on so short notice as to prevent Th : J. from set- 
 tling his affairs in Philadelphia, to which place he 
 should not return again, Lancaster being so far on his 
 way home, he thinks it best to do that while he has 
 time, & for that purpose it would be convenient for 
 
92 THE GERMANTOJVN LETTERS 
 
 him to command his salary of the present quarter, as 
 the rules of the bank require an endorser he begs the 
 favor of Mr. Taylor to endorse the inclosed note for 
 him, and to put it under cover to Mr. Kean, with 
 the note directed to him, & to send it to him im- 
 mediately. 
 
 Th : J. had received Mr. Wythe's money, on 
 which fund he will furnish office expenses here.* 
 Germantown Nov. i6, 1793. 
 
 Nov. 18, 1703. 
 Sixty days after date 
 
 I promise to pay to George Taylor or 
 order eight hundred & seventy five doUarsf at the 
 bank of the United States for value received 
 
 Th : Jefferson. 
 
 *For a list of the expenses in Germantown see the extracts from 
 Jefferson's financial diary given on a later page. 
 
 fThe salary of the Secretary of State at this time was ^3500.00 
 per annum, the amount stated in the note would therefore be payment 
 for the last three months of Jefferson's term of service as he retired 
 December 3 i st. 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS <^2> 
 
 JEFFERSON TO JOHN KEAN* 
 
 Th : Jefferson presents his compliments to Mr. 
 Kean & congratulates him sincerely on his and Mrs. 
 Kean's having escaped the dangers of the season. 
 
 Thinking it possible that the members of Con- 
 gress (retaining the horrors of the yellow fever which 
 prevail at a distance) may remove to Lancaster, & on 
 so short notice as to prevent Th : J. from settling his 
 affairs in Philadelphia, he thinks it best to do that 
 while he has time, & for that purpose it would be con- 
 venient for him to command his salary of the present 
 quarter, he therefore begs the favor of Mr. Kean to 
 put the note which accompanies this note into the 
 proper channel for discount ; and if he will be so kind, 
 when it is decided on, as to send a line of information 
 tor Th : J. to his office on Market street he will be 
 much obliged to him. 
 
 Will the form of this note render an order from 
 Mr. Taylor requisite to authorize Th : J. to receive 
 the money .'' 
 
 Germantown Nov. i6. 1793. 
 
 *From the original letter in the Lenox Library, New York city. 
 John Kean was cashier of the Bank of the United States. 
 
94 THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 
 
 JEFFERSON TO HERMAN LE ROY* 
 
 Germantown Nov. 17. 1793. 
 Dear Sir 
 
 I have duly received your favor of the 13th and 
 learn from it a very different state of things from what 
 either my son in law or myself were apprized of. 
 however, tho' the debt be much greater than I had 
 understood, the coupling of Dover in the mortgage is 
 a more than proportionate increase of the security, 
 all I have therefore to wish at present is that the pro- 
 ceeds of the protested bill may be first applied in 
 diminution of the debt, and Dover be applied before 
 
 *From the original in the possession of the Pennsylvania Historical 
 Society. The letter is addressed to Mr. Herman Le Roy, New 
 York, and is indorsed "Thomas Jefferson. Dated 17 Novem'r. 
 Receiv'd 22 do. Ans'd 26 do." 
 
 Herman Le Roy was the founder of the once noted New York 
 house of Le Roy, Bayard & Co. He was the Consular Agent for the 
 Netherlands for New York and New Jersey from 1789 to 1795. 
 His daughter, Caroline, was the second wife of Daniel Webster. 
 
 This letter relates to a loan obtained in 1790 from Nicholas and 
 Jacob Van Staphorst, bankers of Amsterdam, to whom Jefferson wrote 
 February 28, 1790, stating the need of funds to develop his farms, 
 offering them his bond for the loan and to pay interest at 6 % . Le Roy 
 and Bayard in New York City, apparently had charge of the matter 
 and the correspondence with them reveals the fact that as late as 1823 
 money was still due to the Van Staphorsts and the presumption is it 
 was this debt. 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 95 
 
 Varina* be called on, in which case the latter will be 
 safe, as Dover will sell for the double of the residue of 
 the debt, after the proceeds of the protested bill shall 
 have been applied to it's diminution, in the mean 
 time I advise my son in law to consign his wheat to 
 you, and to proceed in providing all the monies he 
 can in your hands, to remain there as his separate 
 property, subject to be hereafter declared by him to 
 have been a paiment at the time in exoneration of 
 Varina specially, or to any other order of his. this 
 appears to me his safest course, relying at the same 
 time on your indulgence by directing your agent to 
 draw his paiment from the protested bill & Dover as 
 far as they will go, & before he proceeds to levy them 
 on Varina. I am with great regard and with my most 
 friendly respects to mr. Bayard, Dear Sir 
 
 Your most obedt sevt 
 Mr. Le Roy. Th : Jefferson 
 
 *Varina was an extensive plantation belonging to Thomas Mann 
 Randolph, located a few miles below Richmond. 
 
96 THE GERMANTOmN LETTERS 
 
 JEFFERSON TO JAMES MADISON. 
 
 Germantown, Nov. 17, 1793. 
 Dear Sir, — 1 have got good lodgings for Monroe & 
 yourself, that is to say, a good room with a fire-place 
 & two beds, in a pleasant & convenient position, with 
 a quiet family. They will breakfast you, but you must 
 mess in a tavern ; there is a good one across the street. 
 This is the way in which all must do, and all I think 
 will not be able to get even half beds. The President 
 will remain here I believe till the meeting of Congress, 
 merely to form a point of union for them before they 
 can have acquired information & courage. For at 
 present there does not exist a single subject in the dis- 
 order, no new infection having taken place since the 
 great rains the ist of the month, & those before in- 
 fected being dead or recovered. There is no doubt 
 you will sit in Philadelphia, & therefore I have not 
 given Monroe's letter to Sechel. I do not write to 
 him, because I know not whether he is at present mov- 
 ing by sea or by land, & if by the latter, I presume 
 you can communicate to him. — Wayne has had a 
 convoy of 22. wagons of provisions, and 70. men cut 
 off 15. miles in his rear by the Indians. 6. of the 
 men were found on the spot scalped, the rest supposed 
 taken. He had nearly reached Fort Hamilton. R. 
 has given notice that he means to resign. Genet by 
 
• 
 
 (^Jn ''"^ trejiyr. it. ^>>-^ . ^-<*Vv./^£ 
 
 ■7 
 
 
 ^;, 
 
 "I- r,'.u^-n~y y^ {/rt , v >-.^._ . /.«.-»>-^ t i^/a 
 
 ^^^-^^^^ 
 
 ^^>w^ ^^>Y A^y^ ^-^'-^ 
 
 Facsimile of Jefferson's Letter to Herman Le Roy, 
 
 Original in the possession of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 97 
 
 more & more denials of powers to the President and 
 ascribing them to Congress, is evidently endeavoring 
 to sow tares between them, & at any event to curry 
 favor with the latter to whom he means to turn his 
 appeal, finding it was not likely to be well received 
 with the people. Accept both of you my sincere 
 affection. 
 
 JEFFERSON TO MISS MARIA JEFFERSON. 
 
 Germantown, Nov. 17, 1793. 
 
 No letter yet from my dear Maria, who is so 
 fond of writing, so punctual in her correspondencies ! 
 I enjoin as a penalty that the next must be written in 
 French. — now for news, the fever is entirely vanished 
 from Philadelphia, not a single person has taken in- 
 fection since the great rains about the ist of the month, 
 & those who had it before are either dead or recovered, 
 all the inhabitants who had fled are returning into the 
 city, probably will all be returned in the course of the 
 ensuing week, the President has been into the city, 
 but will probably remain here till the meeting of Con- 
 gress to form a point of union for them before they 
 will have had time to gather knowledge and courage. 
 I have not yet been in, not because there is a shadow 
 
98 THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 
 
 of danger but because I am afoot. — Thomas* is re- 
 turned into my service. His wife and child went into 
 town the day we left them, they then had the infec- 
 tion of the yellow fever, were taken two or three days 
 after, and both died, had we staid those two or three 
 days longer, they would have been taken at our house. 
 I have heard nothing of Miss Cropper, her trunk 
 remains at our house. Mrs. Fullerton left Philadel- 
 phia. Mr. & Mrs. Rittenhouse remained there but 
 have escaped the fever. — follow closely your music, 
 reading, sewing, house-keeping, and love me as I do 
 
 you, 
 
 most affectionately, 
 
 Th : Jefferson. 
 
 Tell Mr. Randolph that General Wayne has a convoy 
 
 of 22. waggons of provisions & 70 men cut off in his 
 
 rear by the Indians. 
 
 Miss Maria Jefferson. 
 
 *Thomas Lapsley designated as ** the office keeper." 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 99 
 
 JEFFERSON TO GEORGE TAYLOR.* 
 
 Notes for Mr. Taylor. Nov. 18. 1793. 
 Mr. Chapman to be engaged, by the day, letting 
 him know that the job will probably be only of from 
 2. to 4. weeks. 
 
 some one to come here immediately, it may be 
 any one of the gentlemen who would rather be here 
 than in Philadelphia ; or if none of them would prefer 
 it, it may be Mr. Chapman or any other hired person. 
 
 Mr. Taylor will be pleased to undertake the 
 translating all the French letters of Mr. Genet which 
 made part of the Appendix to the letter to G. Morris, 
 sending me every afternoon his rough translations of 
 the preceding 24. hours, which I will examine & return 
 to him to be fair copied, unless we should have time 
 to copy them here. I have the originals here to 
 examine them by. 
 
 it is extremely desireable that the recording my 
 letters could go on constantly, because they must be 
 brought up to the last day of December next by that 
 
 *Chief Clerk of the Department of State. 
 
 Lore 
 
loo THE GERMANTOJVN LETTERS 
 
 day, and we cannot work double-handed on that, the 
 gentleman hitherto employed in that (I believe it was 
 Mr. Barbour.) should resume it, & not be called off 
 for any thing else. 
 
 three others must be immediately set to work on 
 the letters & Appendix to Mr. Hammond, conse- 
 quently there is a necessity to engage another besides 
 Mr. Chapman, and even two if it can be done, if one 
 of them should understand French well, it would be a 
 favorable circumstance. 
 
 This done, the instructions to Carmichael & 
 Short* will be to be copied twice, & all before Congress 
 meets. 
 
 the person who comes here must bring a provision 
 of copying paper and letter paper, the quality of the 
 last sent me is excellent, but it must be cut down to 
 the regular office size. I send a sample of the paper, 
 the size-board is in the office. 
 
 800. sea letters to be printed & sent here. 
 
 the office to be whitewashed in the course of this 
 week. 
 
 ^Commissioners of the United States at Madrid. 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS loi 
 
 Send me by the return of the rider the date of 
 
 Fulwar Skipwith's appointment to the Consulship of 
 
 Martinique. 
 
 Th: J. 
 
 GEORGE TAYLOR TO THOMAS JEFFERSON, 
 
 G. Taylor Jr. presents his respectful compliments to 
 the Secy, of State — Has the honor to inform him that 
 agreeably to his note of to day he has engaged Mr. 
 Chapman, who cannot conveniently leave the City. 
 That he has examined the letters and reports yet to 
 be recorded, and finds that they will each require one 
 person to be employed at least to the last of Decem- 
 ber next That Mr. Bankson has resumed the former 
 and Mr. Blackwell who arrived here on Saturday is 
 engaged at the latter and is now upon the long letter 
 to Mr. Hammond — The documents to which G. T. 
 purposes giving to Mr. Chapman to morrow. The 
 Dr. is now employed copying the letter to Messrs. 
 Short & Carmichael — That a Mr. Jonathan Smith, 
 who can be recommended by Mr. Kean Cashier of the 
 Bank of the US. but at any rate will engage temporarily 
 only having applied for a berth in the Treasury, will 
 in case the Secretary of State should think proper to 
 employ him, go out to morrow. That should the 
 Secy, think it expedient to take Mr. Blackwell off the 
 
I02 THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 
 
 reports for the present he has not the least objection 
 to go to Germantown. That the office is nearly all 
 cleansed. That the only Credences or powers of Mr. 
 Genet (3 in number) in his possession are herewith 
 sent. None of them seem to give to him those 
 of Consul General. That the date of Fulwar Skip- 
 with's Commission as Consul at Martinique is the 7. 
 June 1790. That G. T. has not been able to translate 
 any of the documents to day, but will begin on them 
 to-night. — 
 
 Mr. Bankson wishes to have the Secy, of States 
 letters for July last, please excuse haste as the rider 
 is waiting 
 Phila. 18. Nov. 1793 
 
 JEFFERSON TO JOHN ROSS.* 
 
 Germantown Nov. 19. 1793 
 Dear Sir 
 
 I sincerely congratulate you on your resurrection, 
 
 on the faith of the newspapers I really lamented you 
 
 *John Ross was a prominent merchant of Philadelphia and a 
 director of one of the banks. Jefferson had arranged the loan with 
 him some two months previously as will be shown by the following 
 letter dated September 13, 1793 : 
 
 Dear Sir, — As all the world is flying, I think to fly too in two 
 or three days, but I am jiioney-bound. I shall have 215. dollars free 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 103 
 
 dead for several days. I hope Mrs. Ross & all your 
 
 family have enjoyed good health during the afflictions 
 
 of the city. 
 
 Not knowing what date was inserted in my note 
 
 for the 100. D. you were so kind as to give me for it, 
 
 nor where to seek the note, as nobody has come to 
 
 seek me about it, I enclose you a check for the sum 
 
 on the bank of the US. with many thanks for the 
 
 friendly accommodation, with my best respects to 
 
 yourself & Mrs. Ross 1 am Dear Sir 
 
 Your friend & sert 
 
 Th : Jefferson 
 John Ross esq. 
 
 out of moneys to be received for me at the Treasury between two and 
 three weeks hence. But, to pay some matters to people in want, and 
 to carry me home also 1 have occasion for loo. Doll. more. Having 
 never had any money connection at Philadelphia, I take the liberty of 
 applying to you rather than to any other person, to enable me to re- 
 ceive immediately the amount of the enclosed order on mr. Bankson 
 (one of my clerks who is to receive the money at the treasury for me) 
 and of my own note for loo D. which I cannot get by discount from 
 the bank till Wednesday next, and my wish is to go on Sunday or 
 Monday. I expect to be absent 7. weeks, but for fear any accident 
 might delay me a few days, I have left the date of my note blank to 
 be filled on the day it shall be lodged in the bank, that I may be the less 
 hurried by this circumstance in my return. I will assuredly see that 
 it be taken up in time. It you can, for this paper, furnish me a 
 check on the bank or its amount otherwise, you will enable my wheels 
 to get into motion, which otherwise stand still. I have the honor to 
 be with great esteem and respect, dear sir, your most obedient servant. 
 
I04 THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 
 
 JEFFERSON TO EDMOND C. GENET 
 
 Th : Jefferson has the honor to present his 
 respects to Mr. Genet & to acknowledge the receipt 
 at the hands of a Courier, of his letter of Nov. 12. and 
 two others of Nov. 16. which shall be immediately 
 communicated to the President. 
 Germantown Nov. 19, 1793. 
 
 JEFFERSON TO MR. SODERSTROM. 
 
 Germantown Nov. 20. 1793. 
 Sir 
 
 I received last night your favor of the i6th No 
 
 particular rules have been established by the President 
 for the conduct of Consuls with respect to prizes, in 
 one particular case, where a prize is brought into our 
 ports by any of the belligerent parties, and is reclaimed 
 of the Executive, the President has hitherto permitted 
 the Consul of the Captor to hold the prize until his 
 determination is known, but in all cases respecting a 
 neutral nation, their vessels are placed exactly on the 
 same footing with our own, entitled to the same remedy 
 from our courts of justice & the same protection from 
 the Executive, as our own vessels in the same situa- 
 tion, the remedy in the courts of justice, the only 
 one which they or our own have access to, is slower 
 than where it lies with the Executive, but it is more 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 105 
 
 complete, as damages can be given by the court, but 
 not by the Executive. 
 
 The President will gladly avail himself of any in- 
 formation you can at any time give him where his 
 interference may be useful to the vessels or subjects of 
 his Danish Majesty, the desire of the US. being to 
 extend to the vessels & subjects of that crown, as well 
 as to those of his Swedish majesty the same protection 
 as is given to those of our own citizens. 
 
 I have the honor to be with much respect Sir 
 Your most obedt. sert. 
 Mr. Soderstrom Consul of Sweden. Th: Jefferson 
 
 ROBERT GAMBLE TO JEFFERSON. 
 
 Richmond, Novemr. 21. 1793 
 Sir 
 
 I have your favor of the 14th. covering a letter to 
 Mr. Newburn. Which is delivered him to night — 
 (he is returned some weeks past) — 
 
 It is with great pleasure I hear from you. That 
 the dreadfui disease which raged in Philadelphia has 
 subsided, — I wish the President may not, have risked 
 too much, by going to the City so soon. — Melancholly 
 would public affairs appear to our Citizens, at this im- 
 portant Crisis ; should he be taken from the Helm of 
 Government — . Shall we have no hopes of your con- 
 
io6 THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 
 
 tinuing in office ? Many of your friends yet flatter 
 themselves you will at last postpone your resignation. 
 
 Since the day after I came to Richmond* I have 
 been confined to my Room & Bed by sickness — And 
 now Just able to sit up. — This, to a poor country-born 
 merchant is a great difficulty, at this particular season 
 of the year. — however, I trust that I feel gratitude to 
 God. That I am in a fair prospect of recovery. — 
 
 I have the pleasure to inform you this. The 
 Honble John Brown is recovered from his sickness on 
 Staunton & will be able to attend Congress early in 
 the session — 
 
 The fellow who brought your wine (in cases) from 
 Baltimore having been pd. the freight there. — did not 
 call on my young man here. — And therefore stored 
 them at Rockets. I believe all is safe. — I understand 
 you have more goods with the same People (Hague 
 & Liester) — And now as I hope to be able in a few 
 days to attend to business — I will select some Careful 
 Waggoner, by whom I can forward the Wine &c.. 
 either to Monticello or Colo Betts at Charlotsville safe. 
 I am with sentiments of esteem 
 and respect, your Mo. ob. H. sert 
 
 Rt. Gamble 
 
 *ColoneI Robert Gamble was a native of Staunton, Va., and had 
 but recently removed to Richmond. 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 107 
 
 JEFFERSON TO JACOB HOLLINGSWORTH.* 
 
 Germantown, near Philadelphia, Nov. 22, 1793. 
 Sir 
 
 When I passed your house last, you told me you 
 
 thought there would be to be bought there red clover 
 
 seed, fresh and cheap. I take the liberty to enclose 
 
 you a twenty dollar bill & to beg the favor of you to 
 
 lay it out for me in as much fresh clover seed as it will 
 
 buy, and to give the seed in charge to the overseer 
 
 whom you shall be so good as to employ for me. to 
 
 be carried on with him. Not having yet heard from 
 
 you on that subject I am apprehensive you have found 
 
 more difficulty than you expected, lest the terms should 
 
 have escaped our memory I was to give Saml. Biddle 
 
 120. dollars a year, & 5 or 600 lbs. of fresh pork. 
 
 when he arrived there, as it had been too far to carry 
 
 heavy things, & to save him the expense of buying, I 
 
 had made for him a half a dozen chairs, table, bedstead 
 
 & such other things as my own workmen could make. 
 
 he carried his own bedding & small conveniences. 
 
 this is sufficient to serve as a guide with the person 
 
 now to be employed. I am with esteem Sir 
 
 Your most obedt. sert 
 
 Th : Jefferson. 
 Mr. Jacob Hollingsworth. 
 
 *He resided near the Head of Elk on the road from Baltimore 
 to Philadelphia. 
 
io8 THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 
 
 JEFFERSON TO EDMOND GENET. 
 
 Germantown Nov. 11. 1793. 
 
 Sir 
 
 In my letter of Oct. 2. I took the liberty of 
 
 noticing to you that the commission of Consul to M. 
 Dannery ought to have been addressed to the Presi- 
 dent of the US. he being the only channel of com- 
 munication between this country and foreign nations 
 or their agents are to learn what is or has been the 
 will of the nation, and whatever he communicates as 
 such they have a right and are bound to consider as 
 the expression of the nation, and no foreign agent can 
 be allowed to question it, to interpose between him & 
 any other branch of government under the pretext of 
 cither's transgressing their functions, nor to make 
 himself the umpire and final judge between them. I 
 am therefore, Sir, not authorized to enter into any 
 discussions with you on the meaning of our constitu- 
 tion in any part of it, or to prove to you that it has 
 ascribed to him alone the admission or interdiction of 
 foreign agents. I inform you of the fact by authority 
 from the President. I had observed to you that we 
 were persuaded that in the case of the Consul Dannery, 
 the error in the address had proceeded from no inten- 
 tion in the Executive Council of France to question 
 the functions of the President, and therefore no diffi- 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 109 
 
 culty was made in issuing the commission, we are 
 still under the same persuasion, but in your letter of 
 the 14th inst. you personally question the authority of 
 the President, and in consequence of that have not 
 addressed to him the commission of Messrs. Pennevert 
 & Chervi. making a point of this formality on your 
 part, it becomes necessary to make a point of it on 
 ours also ; & I am therefore charged to return you 
 those commissions, and to inform you that, bound to 
 enforce respect to the order of things established by 
 our constitution, the President will issue no Exequater 
 to any Consul or Vice Consul not directed to him in 
 the usual form after the party from whom it comes 
 has been apprized that such should be the address. 
 I have the honor to be with respect Sir 
 Your most obdt. 
 
 & most humble sert. 
 
 Th : Jefferson 
 Mr. Genet. 
 
 JEFFERSON TO EDMOND GENET. 
 
 Germantown Nov. 22, 1793. 
 Sir 
 
 Immediately on the receipt of your favor of the 
 
 2d. inst. informing me of a conspiracy among the 
 
 refugees from the French colonies now at Charleston, 
 
no THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 
 
 to undertake an expedition from there against the said 
 colonies, I communicated the information to the Gov- 
 ernor of S. Carolina with a desire that he would pre- 
 vent every enterprize of that nature. 
 
 The other matters contained in the same letter 
 belong of course to the ordinary cognizance of the 
 Judiciary, which is open to the parties interested with- 
 out any interposition of the Executive. 
 
 I have the honor to be with great respect Sir 
 Your most obedt. 
 
 & most humble sert 
 The Min. Pleny. of France. Th : Jefferson 
 
 JEFFERSON TO ROBERT SCOTT. 
 
 Germantown Nov. 23. 1793. 
 Sir, 
 
 The President of the United States desiring to 
 
 avail the Public of your Services as Engraver for the 
 
 Mint,* I have now the honor of enclosing you the 
 
 Commission, and of expressing to you the sentiments 
 
 [of] perfect respect with which, 
 
 I am. Sir, 
 
 Your mo. obedient and 
 
 most humble servant, 
 
 Robert Scott. Th : Jefferson 
 
 *Robert Scott continued engraver of the Mint for many years. 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 1 1 1 
 
 JEFFERSON TO GENET. 
 
 Germantown, November 24th, 1793. 
 
 Sir: 
 
 I have laid before the President of the United 
 States your two letters of the nth and 14th instant, 
 on the subject of new advances of money, and they 
 were immediately referred to the Secretary of the 
 Treasury, within whose department subjects of this 
 nature lie. 1 have now the honor of inclosing you a 
 copy of his report thereon to the President in answer 
 to your letters, and of adding assurances of respect 
 and esteem of, Sir, &c. 
 
 ELI WHITNEY TO JEFFERSON.* 
 
 The Hon. Thomas Jefferson, Esq., Secretary of State 
 for the United States. 
 
 New Haven, Nov. 24th, 1793. 
 Respected Sir, I received your favor of the i6th 
 inst. yesterday, and with pleasure take the earliest op- 
 portunity to answer your enquiries concerning my 
 machine for cleaning cotton. 
 
 It is about a year smce 1 first turned my attention 
 to constructing this machine, at which time I was in 
 
 ^Published in the Massachusetts Historical Collections, Seventh 
 Series, Vol. i, Page 47. 
 
112 THE GERMANTOJVN LETTERS 
 
 the State of Georgia, Within about ten days after my 
 first conception of the plan, I made a small, though 
 imperfect model. Experiments with this encouraged 
 me to make one on a larger scale. But the extreme 
 difficulty of procuring workmen and proper materials 
 in Georgia, prevented my completing the larger one, 
 until some time in April last. This though much 
 larger than my first attempt, is not above one third 
 so large as the machines may be made with conven- 
 ience. The cylinder is only two feet, two inches in 
 length and six inches diameter. It is turned by hand 
 and requires the strength of one man to keep it in 
 constant motion. It is the stated task of one negro 
 to clean 50 wt (I mean fifty pounds after it is separated 
 from the seed) of the green cotton pr day. This 
 task he usually completes by one o'clock in the after- 
 noon. He is paid so much per lb, for all he cleans 
 over and above his task, and for ten or fifteen days 
 successively he has cleared from sixty to eighty wt pr 
 day and left work every day before sunset. The 
 machine cleaned fifteen hundred weight in about four 
 weeks, which cotton was examined in N. York, the 
 quality declared good and sold in market at the highest 
 price. 
 
 I have. Sir, been thus particular in relating the 
 experience I have had of the performance of this 
 
THE GERMANTOJVN LETTERS 113 
 
 machine, and that you may be better able to judge of 
 its utility and success. 
 
 I have not had much experience in cleaning the 
 black seed cotton. 1 only know that it will clean this 
 kind considerably faster than it will the green seeded, 
 but how much I cannot say. 
 
 After the workmen are acquainted with the busi- 
 ness, I should judge, the real expense of one which 
 will clean a hundred wt pr day, would not exceed the 
 price often of those in common use. 
 
 I shall have another person concerned with me in 
 carrying on the business after the patent is obtained.'^' 
 We have not yet determined at what price we shall 
 sell the machines, it will, however, be so low as to in- 
 duce the purchaser to give them a preference to any 
 other. 
 
 We are now erecting one on a large scale, to be 
 turned by horses, for our own use, and I do not think 
 it will be in our power to make any for sale this 
 winter. 
 
 This, Sir, is not the machine advertised by Pearce 
 at the Patterson Manufactory. I never saw a machine 
 of any kind whatever for ginning cotton, until several 
 
 *Phineas Miller, a native of Connecticut. 
 
114 THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 
 
 months after I invented this for which I have applied 
 for a patent. Some time last spring, I saw it men- 
 tioned in a Savannah news-paper that Mr. Pearce of 
 New Jersey had invented a machine for ginning cotton, 
 but there was no mention made of the construction. 
 I have since understood that his improvement was 
 only a multiplication of the small rollers used in the 
 common gins. This is every thing I know concern- 
 ing the machine to which I suppose you allude in 
 your postscript. 
 
 I think the machine is well calculated for family 
 use. It may be made on a very small scale and yet 
 perform in proportion to its size, I believe one might 
 be made within the compass of two cubic feet, that 
 would cleanse all the cotton which any one family 
 manufactures for its own use. The machine itself 
 does considerable towards carding the cotton, and I 
 have no doubt but by leaving out the clearer and add- 
 ing three or four cylinders covered with card-teeth, it 
 would deliver cotton completely prepared for spinning. 
 You will be able to form a more perfect idea of the 
 machine from the model, which will be so complete 
 as to perform the operation of separating the cotton 
 from the seed. 
 
 It is my intention to come to Philadelphia within 
 a few weeks and bring the model myself, but pe(rhaps) 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 115 
 
 it will not be in my power, in which case I s(hall) send 
 forward the model with an order for the patent. 
 I am, respected Sir, your humbl servt 
 
 Eli Whitney 
 The Hon. Thos. Jefferson, Esq. 
 
 JEFFERSON TO ARCHIBALD STUART.* 
 
 Germantown, Nov. 24, 1793. 
 Dear Sir, — When I had the pleasure of seeing you at 
 Monticello you mentioned to me that sheep could be 
 procured at or about Staunton, good & cheap, and 
 were kind enough to offer your aid in procuring them. 
 Reflecting on this subject, I find it will be much better 
 to buy & drive them now, before they have young 
 ones, & before the snow sets in, than to wait till the 
 spring. I therefore take the liberty of enclosing you 
 a 40. Doll, bank post note, which I will beg the favor 
 of you to lay out for me in sheep, taking time between 
 the purchase & delivery, to give notice to Mr. Ran- 
 dolph at Monticello to have them sent for, the letter 
 to be directed to him, or in his absence to Samuel 
 Biddle overseer at Monticello. Your endorsement on 
 the post note will transfer & make it payable to bearer, 
 
 *Original in the possession of the Virginia Historical Society. 
 
ii6 THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 
 
 and consequently will be cash to anybody at Staunton 
 or Richmond who wishes to remit to Philadelphia ; or 
 the custom house officer at Richmond will always be 
 glad to give cash for it. What apology must I make 
 for so free a call on you ? And what thanks & apology 
 for the use I made of your friendly offer as to the 
 potatoes ? But I am again a new beginner in the 
 world, & it is usual for old settlers to help young ones. 
 France is triumphant in the North. Her rebellion 
 also subsides. The affair of Toulon is against her as 
 yet ; but I suspect it is not over, — the yellow fever is 
 entirely vanished in Philadelphia, & all the inhabitants 
 returned to it. The President remains here merely to 
 form a point of union for the members of Congress, 
 who may arrive uninformed of the safety of Philadel- 
 phia ; but nobody doubts that they will immediately 
 go from hence to sit in Philadelphia. I shall be 
 within striking distance of you by the 15th of January. 
 Accept assurances of my respect and affection. 
 
 JEFFERSON TO EDMOND C. GENET. 
 
 Germantown Nov. 24. 1793. 
 Sir 
 
 I am to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 
 the 19th. instant, & to thank you for the information 
 
THE GERMANTOIVN LETTERS 117 
 
 it conveys of the present state of the French islands in 
 the West Indies, their condition must always be inter- 
 esting to the US. with whom nature has connected 
 them by the strong link of mutual necessities, the 
 riot which had been raised in Philadelphia some days 
 ago, by emigrants from St. Domingo, had before ex- 
 cited the indignation & attention of the government, 
 both local & general, it is with extreme concern that 
 they now learn that the respectable strangers whom 
 you mention, were brought into danger by it, and cer- 
 tainly no endeavors will be wanting to bring the 
 offenders to condign punishment. I have the honor 
 to inclose you a proclamation which had been issued 
 immediately by the Mayor of Philadelphia, and to 
 assure you that the efforts he is using will receive from 
 the general government every aid they can give, to 
 make a signal example of those who have thus violated 
 that protection which the laws of the US. extend to 
 all persons within their pale. 
 
 I have the honor to be with great respect Sir 
 Your most obedt. 
 
 & humble servt. 
 
 Th : Jefferson 
 The Min. Plen. of France. 
 
ii8 THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 
 
 JEFFERSON TO THOMAS MANN RANDOLPH. 
 
 Germantown, Nov. 24, 1793. 
 Dear Sir 
 
 I received yesterday your favor of the 14th. 
 mine of the 2d. ought to have been then at hand, & 
 since that those of the loth. & 17th. all will have 
 informed you of my health, & being here. I am 
 happy that you think Ferguson will suit you, and 
 insist on your acceptance of him. and this is no sac- 
 rifice to me, because my sole motive for having 
 thought of parting with him was that he is unnecessary 
 for me, as 1 must keep carriage horses which will do 
 to ride. I insist also as a condition, that you feel 
 yourself perfectly free to part with him whenever he 
 ceases to answer your end or you can by parting with 
 him have your ends better answered. from this 
 moment then he is yours, and I am much happier in 
 it than to have turned him over to any other person. 
 
 I am sorry you have so much trouble with my 
 furniture. However I shall soon be able to relieve 
 you from any drudgery. I enclose you a letter to Mr. 
 Stewart, open, that you may see its contents, & give 
 the necessary directions to Mr. Biddle to go or send 
 for the sheep when notified that they are ready. I 
 think it important they should be fetched before the 
 snows. I am sincerely sorry to hear of the situation 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 119 
 
 of Colo. Randolph, it has been apprehended for 
 some time, should he leave you his executor, it may 
 merit mature consideration whether you will consult 
 your ease (?) or interest in undertaking to act. my 
 love to my dear Martha & Maria, and am Dear Sir 
 affectionately yours 
 
 Th : Jefferson. 
 Mr. Randolph. 
 
 JEFFERSON TO MYERS. 
 
 Germantown Nov. 24. 1793. 
 Sir 
 
 According to my engagement I now inclose you 
 186. Doll, thirty six cents — X55-18-3 Virginia cur- 
 rency to be passed to the credit of Mrs. Carr. you 
 will readily perceive that your endorsement on the in- 
 closed bank note will make it cash to any person will- 
 ing to remit to Philadelphia, the Custom house 
 officers particularly take up these notes by a general 
 arrangement. 
 
 I am Sir 
 
 Your most obedt. sert 
 
 Th : Jefferson 
 Mr. Myers. 
 
I20 THE GERMANTOJVN LETTERS 
 
 JEFFERSON TO THOMAS PINCKNEY.* 
 
 Germantown Nov. 27. 1793. 
 Dear Sir 
 
 My last letters to you were of the iith. & 
 14th. of Sep. since which I have received yours of 
 July 5.8. Aug. I.I 5.27.28. the fever which at that 
 time had given alarm in Philadelphia, became after- 
 wards far more destructive than had been apprehended, 
 & continued much longer, from the uncommon 
 drought & warmth of the autumn. On the ist. day 
 of this month the President & heads of the depart- 
 ments assembled here, on that day also began the 
 first rains which had fallen for some months, they 
 were copious, & from that moment the infection 
 ceased, no new subject took it, & those before infected 
 either died or got well, so that the disease terminated 
 most suddenly, the inhabitants who had left the city,, 
 are now all returned, & business going on again as 
 briskly as ever, the President will be established there 
 in about a week: at which time Congress is to meet. 
 Our negotiations with the North Western Indians 
 have completely failed, so that war must settle our 
 difference, we expected nothing else, & had gone into 
 the negotiations only to prove to all our citizens that 
 
 *Minister of the United States to Great Britain. 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 121 
 
 peace was unattainable on terms which any one of 
 them would admit. 
 
 You have probably heard of a great misunder- 
 standing between Mr. Genet & us. on the meeting 
 of Congress it will be made public, but as the details 
 of it are lengthy, I must refer for them to my next 
 letter when possibly I may be able to send you the 
 whole correspondence in point. we have kept it 
 merely personal, convinced his nation will disapprove 
 him. to them we have with the utmost assiduity 
 given every proof of inviolate attachment, we wish 
 to hear from you on the subject of M. de la Fayette, 
 tho we know that circumstances do not admit sanguine 
 hopes. 
 
 The copper by the Pigon, & Mohawk is received, 
 our coinage of silver has been delayed by Mr. Coxe's 
 inability to give the security required by law. 
 
 I shall write to you again immediately after the 
 
 meeting of Congress. I have the honor to be with 
 
 sentiments of great esteem & respect. Dear Sir 
 
 Your friend & servt. 
 
 Th : Jefferson. 
 Mr. Pinckney. 
 
122 THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 
 
 JEFFERSON TO MRS. CHURCH.* 
 
 Germantown, Nov. 27th, 1793. 
 I have received, my very good friend, your kind 
 letter of August 19th, with the extract from that of 
 Lafayette, for whom my heart has been constantly 
 bleeding. The influence of the United States has 
 been put into action, as far as it could be either with 
 decency or effect. But I fear that distance and differ- 
 ence of principle give little hold to General Washing- 
 ton on the jailers of Lafayette. However, his friends 
 may be assured that our zeal has not been inactive. 
 Your letter gives me the first information that our 
 dear friend Madame de Corny has been, as to her 
 fortune, among the victims of the times. Sad times, 
 indeed! and much-lamented victim! I know no 
 country where the remains of a fortune could place 
 her so much at her ease as this, and where public 
 
 *This was Angelica (Schuyler) Church, daughter of General 
 Philip Schuyler, of New York, and therefore a sister of Mrs. Alex- 
 ander Hamilton. In 1777 she married John Barker Church, an 
 Englishman who had espoused the cause of the Colonies. At the end 
 of the war they returned to England and in 1788 Mr. Church was 
 elected a. member of Parliament. Their home in London was the 
 centre of noted hospitality, particularly to Americans and the French 
 emigres of the Revolution. They were deeply interested in 
 securing the release of Lafayette from his Austrian prison. In 1797 
 they returned to New York. The letter is reprinted from The 
 Domestic Life of Thomas Jefferson, p. 224. 
 
THE GERMANTOJVN LETTERS 123 
 
 esteem Is so attached to worth, regardless of wealth ; 
 but our manners, and the state of our society here, are 
 so different from those to which her habits have been 
 formed, that she would lose more, perhaps, in that 
 scale. And Madam Cosway in a convent ! 1 knew 
 that to much goodness of heart she joined enthusiasm 
 and religion ; but I thought that very enthusiasm 
 would have prevented her from shutting up her adora- 
 tion of the God of the universe within the walls of a 
 cloister ; that she would rather have sought the moun- 
 tain-top. How happy should I be that it were mine 
 that you, she, and Madame de Corny would seek. 
 You say, indeed, that you are coming to America, but 
 I know that means New York. In the mean time, I 
 am going to Virginia. I have at length been able to 
 fix that to the beginning of the new year. I am then 
 to be liberated from the hated occupation of politics, 
 and to remain in the bosom of my family, my farm, 
 and my books, I have my house to build, my fields 
 to farm, and to watch for the happiness of those who 
 labor for mine. I have one daughter married to a man 
 of science, sense, virtue, and competence ; in whom 
 indeed I have nothing more to wish. They live with 
 me. If the other shall be as fortunate, in due process 
 of time I shall imagine myself as blessed as the most 
 blessed of the patriarchs. Nothing could then with- 
 
124 THE GERMJNTOJVN LETTERS 
 
 draw my thoughts a moment from home but a recol- 
 lection of my friends abroad. I often put the question, 
 whether yourself and Kitty will ever come to see your 
 friends at Monticello? but it is my affection, and not 
 my experience of things, which has leave to answer, 
 and I am determined to believe the answer, because in 
 that belief I find I sleep sounder, and wake more 
 cheerful. En attendant^ God bless you. 
 
 Accept the homage of my sincere and constant 
 
 affection, 
 
 Th : Jefferson. 
 
 JEFFERSON TO JOHN NANCARROW.* 
 
 Germantown Nov. 28. 1793. 
 Dear Sir 
 
 Having been sensible that Mrs. Nancarrow 
 
 & yourself were proposing to incommode yourselves 
 
 out of merely friendly dispositions to me, and that I 
 
 could not avoid embarrassing you more than I could 
 
 *John Nancarrow is described in the directory of 1793 as steel 
 manufacturer. His home was 291 High St., but two doors above 
 the office of the Secretary of State. The following letter from the 
 original in the Virginia Historical Society written March 31st 1793 by 
 Jefferson to his friend Archibald Stuart, of Staunton, Va., may perhaps 
 explain why Jefferson did not want to put himself under obligations to 
 the Nancarrows in accepting the hospitality which they had proffered. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 I have written you a line this day by Mr. John Nancarrow to 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 125 
 
 be easy under, I received yesterday with great satis- 
 faction the offer of commodious apartments which I 
 have not hesitated to engage, because it relieves me 
 insomuch as it relieves you from the inconveniences 
 which your friendship disposed you to encounter, 
 accept for Mrs. Nancarrow & yourself my sincere 
 thanks for this proof of your goodness, & assurances 
 of the esteem of Dear Sir 
 
 Your friend & sert 
 
 Th : Jefferson. 
 Mr. Nancarrow. 
 
 recommend him to you as a man of worth and science. What I say 
 therein of him is religiously true, and I recommend him sincerely as a 
 man I esteem, but lest you should be off your guard I mention in this, 
 which goes by post, that I have understood his circumstances here to 
 be bad, so that you must not be led into any money matters on his 
 account. I had avoided saying anything on that subject in my other 
 letter, but apprehensive you might not infer that it was done of design, 
 I have thought it my duty to be more particular in this special letter. 
 I wish Mr. Nancarrow would be persuaded to set up with you some 
 more hopeful business than that of mining. I should imagine his 
 former one of making steel would be gainful. 
 
126 THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 
 
 JEFFERSON TO DISTRICT ATTORNEYS. 
 
 [Copy] 
 To U. S. Attornies 
 
 Germantown, Novr. 29th. 1793. 
 Sir, 
 
 The Minister Plenipo. of France complains that 
 the Consuls of his Nation are exposed to insults, and 
 their persons to danger from the numerous French 
 Refugees, chiefly of the Islands, who are in & about 
 the places of their residence, and are understood to be 
 ill disposed to the Government of France, and those 
 in authority under it. The Consuls are liable to the 
 ordinary laws of the country and entitled to their pro- 
 tection, as other Strangers are, yet, from respect to the 
 Sovereign whose commission they bear, a more atten- 
 tive enforcement of the laws of protection is due to 
 them than to other Strangers. I presume that the 
 laws of all the States have provided proper punish- 
 ment for breaches of the peace committed ; I presume 
 that in all the States some measure oi prevention against 
 threatened danger equivalent to that of binding to the 
 peace, or good behaviour in the English law has pro- 
 vided. — I am therefore to ask the favor of you to in- 
 form the Consul of France, residing in your State, that 
 the federal government respecting his Nation, and at- 
 tentive to the safety of those employed by it here, will 
 
THE GERMANTOWN LETTERS 127 
 
 put into activity all the means of protection for his 
 person which the laws have provided ; — that you will 
 be so good as to explain to him what these provisions 
 are, and how he is to proceed to avail himself of them 
 in case of need — and that you will in the same and all 
 other cases, take any measures which they authorize to 
 prevent or to punish breeches of the peace or good 
 behaviour towards him, which are characterized and 
 forbidden as such by the laws. 
 
 I have the honor to be with great Esteem & respect. 
 Sir, 
 
 Your most Obedient Servant. 
 
 Th: Jefferson 
 
 Chrstopr. Gore j Mass. 
 
 Richd. Harrison f N. York. 
 
 William Rawle > Esqrs. Pennsya. 
 
 Zebulon Hollingsworth. . .1 Ma'y'd. 
 
 Thomas Parker I So. Carolina. 
 
 Attornies of the U. S. 
 

 
PART II. 
 
 GERMANTOWN 
 
 CABINET 
 
 MEETINGS. 
 
132 CABINET MEETINGS 
 
 the whole a ** calm revisal." These memoranda 
 of a widely different character, official opinions, 
 accounts of meetings, gossip, conversations, 
 anecdotes, information, are grouped together in 
 three volumes, now in the possession of the 
 Library of Congress, and called by the author 
 **The Anas of Thomas Jefferson." They were 
 first published in the edition of Jefferson's 
 writings authorized by Congress and edited by 
 H. A. Washington in 1854. They are also 
 included in Ford's Writings of Thomas Jeffer- 
 son, and a separate, complete edition of the 
 Anas was published in New York in 1903. 
 
 In all these editions the notes have been 
 edited, the spelling, punctuating and capitalizing 
 corrected. It was thought by the compiler 
 that as the Anas were readily accessible in other 
 forms, it would add to their interest to give 
 those which are here included, exactly as Jeffer- 
 son jotted them down. The accounts of the 
 cabinet meetings in Germantown are particu- 
 larly full and replete with interest. While it 
 is not likely the questions discussed, questions at 
 
CABINET MEETINGS 133 
 
 that time of weighty importance, will be of 
 much interest to the casual reader, still the dis- 
 cussion cannot fail to be of interest as disclosing 
 the diametrical views held by the two talented 
 men, the leaders of the cabinet, Jefferson and 
 Hamilton. On every important public matter 
 their opinions clashed, Jefferson with a convic- 
 tion that was immovable and Hamilton with a 
 conviction equally strong, but urged with 
 greater impetuousness and warmth. These 
 differences arose almost immediately on Jeffer- 
 son's taking office and by the time we are consider- 
 ing, the cabinet councils had become the scene of 
 perpetual wrangles, which wearing as they must 
 have been to the two principals in the discus- 
 sions, must have been even more so to the 
 President. The Cabinet was frequently evenly 
 divided, then the decision would rest with the 
 President, but in one case at least, as recorded in 
 these notes, Washington stood with Jefferson 
 alone as against the other three. 
 
 Edmund Randolph, the Attorney General, 
 usually sided with Jefferson, while Henry Knox, 
 
134 CABINET MEETINGS 
 
 the Secretary of War, was an adherent of 
 Hamilton's. It must have been a great relief 
 to all concerned when at the end of the year 
 Jefferson retired. The Cabinet notes as re- 
 corded and preserved by Jefferson follow. 
 
 Nov. 15.93. E- ^-^ ^^1^^ "^^ ^^^^ Ham.* in 
 conversn with him yesterday said " Sir, if all 
 the people in America were now assembled & 
 to call on me to say whether I am a friend 
 to the French revolution, I would declare that 
 / have it in abhorrence!' 
 
 Nov. 8. 93. at a conference at the Presi- 
 dent's,t where I read several letters of Mr. 
 Genet, on finishing one of them, I asked what 
 should be the answer ? the Presdt. thereupon 
 
 * Throughout the abbreviations E. R. and R. of course stand 
 for Randolph. H. and Ham. for Hamilton, and K. for Knox. 
 
 •|- The President was then lodging with the Reverend Frederic 
 Herman, pastor of the German Reformed Church at the Market 
 Square and at the same time the German teacher of the Academy, 
 adjoining which grounds was his house, now No. 130 School House 
 Lane. Washington occupied this house from November ist, when 
 he reached Germantown, until November i ith, when he set out on a 
 week's trip to Reading and Lancaster, Pa. 
 
CABINET MEETINGS 135 
 
 took occasion to observe that Mr. Genet's con- 
 duct contind. to be of so extraordr. a nature 
 that he meant to propose to our serious considn. 
 whether he should not have his functions 
 discontd. & be ordd. away ? he went lengthily 
 into observns. on his conduct to raise against 
 the Executive i. the people, 2. the state 
 govmts. 3. the congress, he shewed he felt the 
 venom of Genet's pen, but declared he would 
 not chuse his insolence should be regarded any 
 further than as it might be thought to affect the 
 honor of the country. Hamilton & Knox 
 readily & zealously argued for dismissing Mr. 
 Genet. Randolph opposed it with firmness, & 
 pretty lengthily, the Presid. replied to him 
 lengthily, & concluded by saying he did not 
 wish to have the thing hastily decided but that 
 we should consider of it, and give our opinions 
 on his return from Reading and Lancaster. 
 
 accdly 
 
 Nov. 18. we met at his house,''' read new 
 
 * The President was absent from Germantown from Novem- 
 ber iith to 17 th inclusive, on a trip to the interior of Pennsylvania, 
 on his return he occupied the house now No. 5442 Main Street, 
 
136 CABINET MEETINGS 
 
 volumes of Genet's Ires. reed, since the Presi- 
 dent's departure, then took up the discussion of 
 the subjects of communin. to Congress i. the 
 Proclmn.* E. R. read the statement that he 
 had prepared. Hamilton did not like it, said 
 much about his own views, that the Presidt. 
 had a right to declare his opns. to our citizens 
 & foreign nations— that it was not the interest 
 of this country to join in the war & that we 
 were under no oblign. to join in it, that tho' the 
 declr. would not legally bind Congress, yet the 
 Presidt. had a right to give his opn. of it, and 
 he was agt. any expln. in the speechf which 
 should yield that he did not intend that foreign 
 
 Germantown. Its owner. Colonel Isaac Franks, had taken refuge 
 further from the stricken city, and after considerable negotiation the 
 house, which was superior in location and no doubt in comfort, was 
 secured for the President. A full account of the house and the Presi- 
 dent's occupancy of it will be found in Washington in Germantown. 
 
 * April 23, 1793, Washington had issued a Proclamation of 
 Neutrality in the war which had broken out between England and 
 France. This step was greatly unpopular with a large portion ot the 
 citizens of the United States who thought we should actively aid 
 France, our late ally. It was necessary that the matter should be 
 presented in its best light to Congress. 
 
 •j- This was the speech which the President addressed in person to 
 the newly assembled Congress. 
 
CABINET MEETINGS 137 
 
 nations shd. consider it as a declr. of neutrality 
 future as well as present, that he understood it 
 as meant to give them that sort of assurance & 
 satisfaction & to say otherwise now would be a 
 deception on them, he was for the Pres's using 
 such expressions as should neither affirm his 
 right to make such a declr. to foreign nations, 
 nor yield it. R. & myself opposed the right of 
 the Presidt. to declare anything future on the 
 qu. shall there or shall there not be war ? & 
 that no such thing was intended, that H's 
 constrn. of the effect of the proclam. would 
 have been a determn. of the question of the 
 guarantee^ which we both denied to have in- 
 tended, & I had at the time declared the 
 Executive incompetent to. R. said he meant 
 that forn. natns. should understand it as an 
 intimation of the Pr's opn. that neutrality would 
 be our interest. I declared my meaning to 
 have been that forn. nations should understand 
 
 * This was the guarantee in the Treaty of Alliance with 
 France, by which the United States agreed, in case France became en- 
 gaged in a defensive war, to protect the French West Indies. 
 In this case France had declared war against Great Britain. 
 
138 CABINET MEETINGS 
 
 no such thing, that on the contrary I would 
 have chosen them to be doubtful & to come & 
 bid for our neutrality. I admitted the Presidt. 
 havg. reed, the natn. at the close of Congr. in 
 a state of peace, was bound to preserve them 
 in that state till Congr. shd. meet again, & 
 might proclaim anything which went no farther, 
 the Pres. decld. he never had an idea that he 
 could bind Congress agt. declarg. war, or that 
 anything containd. in his proclmn. could look 
 beyd. the first day of their meeting. his main 
 view was to keep our people in peace, he apolo- 
 gized for the use of the term neutrality in his 
 answers, & justified it by having submitted 
 the first of them (that to the merchts. wherein 
 it was used) to our considn., & we had not 
 objected to the term, he concluded in the end 
 that Colo. H. should prepare a paragraph on 
 this subject for the speech, & it should then be 
 
 considered. we were here called to dinner. 
 
 After dinner the renvoi of Genet was pro- 
 posed by himself. I opposed it on these topics. 
 France the only nation on earth sincerely our 
 
CABINET MEETINGS 139 
 
 friend. - - the measure so harsh a one that no 
 precedt. is producd. where it has not been fol- 
 lowed by war - - our messenger has now been 
 gone 84 days,* conseqiy. we may hourly expect 
 the return & to be relieved by their revocr. of 
 him. were it now resolved on, it would be 8 
 or 10 days before the matter on which the 
 order shd. be founded could be selected, arranged, 
 discussed, & forwarded, this wd. bring us 
 within 4 or 5 days of the meeting of Congress, 
 wd. it not be better to wait & see how the 
 pulse of that body, new as it is, would beat— 
 they are with us now, probably, but such a step 
 as this may carry many over to Genet's side. - - 
 Genet will not obey the order. &c. &c. the 
 Presidt. asked me what I would do if Genet 
 sent the accusn. to us to be communicd, to 
 
 * At a meeting of the cabinet held August 15th the Secretary 
 of the Treasury had been authorized to obtain a vessel either by hire 
 or purchase, to be sent express to France with the dispatches to 
 Gouverneur Morris, U. S. Minister to that country asking France 
 to recall the objectionable minister Genet. The dispatches were 
 ready August 23d. If the eighty-four days absence is correct 
 the messenger must have sailed August 26th. 
 
I40 CABINET MEETINGS 
 
 Congr. as he threatd. in the Ire. to Moultrie ? 
 I sd. I wd. not send it to Congr. but eithr. put 
 it in the newsp. or send it back to him to be 
 publd. if he pleased, other questions & answers 
 were put & answered in a quicker altercation 
 than I ever before saw the President use. - - 
 Hamilton was for the renvoi, spoke much of 
 the dignity of the nation, that they were now 
 to form their character, that our conduct now 
 would tempt or deter other forn. min. from 
 treatg. us in the same manner, touched on the 
 Pr's personal feelings— did not believe Fr. wd. 
 make it a cause of war, if she did we ought 
 to do what was right & meet the consequences. 
 H. Knox on the same side, & said he thot. it 
 very possible Mr. Genet would either declare 
 us a departmt. of France, or levy troops here & 
 endeavor to reduce us to obedce. - - R. of my 
 opn., & argued chiefly on the resurrection of 
 popularity to Genet, which might be prodd. by 
 this measure, that at present he was dead in the 
 public opn. if we would but leave him so. the 
 Presidt. lamented there was not an unanimity 
 
CABINET MEETINGS 141 
 
 among us, that as it was we had left him exactly 
 where we found him. be so it ended. 
 
 Nov. 21. we met at the President's, the 
 manner of explaining to Congress the inten- 
 tions of the Proclmn. was the matter of debate. 
 E. R. produced his way of stating it. this ex- 
 pressed it's views to have been i . to keep our 
 citizens quiet. 2. to intimate to foreign nations 
 that it was the Pr's opn. that the interests & 
 disposns. to this country were for peace. Ham- 
 ilton produced his statement in which he declared 
 his intention to be to say nothing which could 
 be laid hold of for any purpose, to leave the 
 proclamation to explain itself. He entered 
 pretty fully into all the argumentation of 
 Paciticus,''' he justified the right of the Presidt. 
 to declare his opinion for a future neutrality ^ & 
 that there existed no circumstances to oblige 
 the US. to enter into the war on account of 
 the guarantee, and in agreeing to the proclmn. 
 
 * A series of articles defending the power of the President to 
 issue a proclamation of neutrality written by Hamilton under the 
 name Pacificus had been appearing in the Federalist papers. 
 
142 CABINET MEETINGS 
 
 he meant it to be understood as conveying both 
 those declarns., viz, neutrality, & that the casus 
 foederis on the guarantee did not exist, he 
 admitted the Congress might notwithstanding 
 declare war notwithstg. these declrs. of the 
 Presidt., in like manner they might declare war 
 in the face of a treaty, & in direct infraction 
 of it. among other positions laid down by him, 
 this was with great positiveness, that the constn. 
 having given power to the Presidt. & Senate to 
 make treaties, they might make a treaty of 
 neutrality which should take from Congress the 
 right to decalre war in that particular case, and 
 that under the form of a treaty they might 
 exercise any powers whatever, even those ex- 
 clusively given by the constn. to the H. of 
 representatives. R. opposed this position, & 
 seemed to think that where they undertook to 
 do acts by treaty (as to settle a tariff of duties) 
 which were exclusively given to the legislature, 
 that an act of the legislature would be neces- 
 sary to confirm them, as happens in England 
 when a treaty interferes with duties establd. by 
 
CABINET MEETINGS 143 
 
 law. - - I insisted that in givg. to the Prest. & 
 Senate a power to make treaties, the constn. 
 meant only to authorize them to carry into 
 effect by way of treaty any powers they might 
 constitutionally exercise. I was sensible of the 
 weak points in this position, but there were 
 still weaker in the other hypotheses, and if it 
 be impossible to discover a national measure of 
 authority to have been given by this clause, I 
 would rather suppose that the cases which my 
 hypothesis would leave unprovided, were not 
 thought of by the Convention, or if thought 
 of, could not be agreed on, or were thought on 
 and deemed unnecessary to be invested in the 
 government. of this last description were 
 treaties of neutrality, treaties of offensive & de- 
 fensive &c. in every event I would rather 
 construe so narrowly as to oblige the nation to 
 amend and thus declare what powers they could 
 agree to yield, than too broadly & indeed so 
 broadly as to enable the Executive and Senate 
 to do things which the constn. forbid, on the 
 question Which form of explaining the principles 
 
144 CABINET MEETINGS 
 
 of the proclmn. should be adopted ? I declared 
 for R's, tho' it gave to that instrumt. more 
 objects than I had contemplated. K, declared 
 for H's. the Presidt. said he had had but one 
 object, the keeping our people quiet till Con- 
 gress should meet, that nevertheless to declare 
 he did not mean a declr. of neutrality in the 
 technical sense of the phrase might perhaps be 
 crying peccavi, before he was charged, how- 
 ever he did not decide between the two 
 
 draughts. 
 
 Nov. 23. at the President's, present K. 
 R. & Th: J.* subject, the heads of the speech, 
 one was, a proposition to Congress to fortify the 
 principal harbors. I opposed the expediency of 
 the general government's undertaking it, & the 
 expediency of the President's proposing it. it 
 was amended by substituting a proposition to 
 adopt means for enforcg. respect to the jurisdn. 
 of the US. within its waters, it was proposed to 
 recommend the establishmt. of a military 
 academy. t I objected that none of the specified 
 
 * Hamilton was ill and unable, to attend. 
 
 -j- West Point grew out of the movement here given an impetus. 
 
CABINET MEETINGS 145 
 
 powers given by the constn. to Congress would 
 authorize this, it was therefore referred for 
 further considn. & inquiry. K. was for both 
 proposns. R. agt. the former, but said nothing 
 as to the latter, the Presidt. acknold. he had 
 doubted of the expedcy. of undertakg. the 
 former, and as to the latter, tho' it would be a 
 good thing, he did not wish to bring on any- 
 thing which might generate heat & ill humor, 
 it was agreed that Rand, should draw the 
 speech & I the messages. 
 
 Nov. 28. we met at the President's. 
 
 I read over a list of the papers copying to 
 be communicated to Congress on the subject of 
 Mr. Genet, it was agreed that Genet's Ire. of 
 Aug. 13. to the President, mine of Aug. 16. 
 and Genet's of Nov. 1 4'-' to myself & the atty. 
 
 *The following letter is reprinted from the Connecticut Courant of 
 December 2nd, 1793. 
 
 New York, Nov. 14, 1794. 
 
 2nd year of the French Republic. 
 Sir : 
 
 I believe I ought to communicate to you the copy of a letter, 
 
 which I have just written to the Attorney General of the United 
 States, to demand of him, that Messrs. Jay and King, the one Chief 
 
146 CABINET MEETINGS 
 
 genl. desiring a prosecution of Jay & King 
 should not be sent to the legislature: on a 
 general opn. that the discussion of the fact 
 certified by Jay & King had better be left to 
 the channel of the newspapers, & in the private 
 hands in which it now is than for the Presidt. 
 to meddle in it, or give room to a discussion of 
 it in Congress. 
 
 Justice, and the other a Senator of the United States, who have pub- 
 lished in the newspapers a libel against me, should be presented at the 
 Federal Court. I have to this moment omitted nothing to ascertain 
 the falsity of the perfidious imposture, to which the Gentlemen have 
 not been ashamed to add their names. It is with this view, I ventured 
 to write to the President of the United States ; it is with this view 
 that my friends have called in many papers upon Mr. Jay and Mr. 
 King, to produce the proofs of their assertion ; but the answer which 
 you are charged to make me. Sir, being as indecisive as the silence of 
 these Gentlemen was profound, a judicial enquiry alone remains for 
 me to confound those who have traduced me, both as a delegate of the 
 French people, and as an individual. This satisfaction will be the 
 most agreeable I can obtain, for I have only wished for the esteem of 
 a free and virtuous people, of whatsoever country they might be ; it 
 is doubtless grievous to see at this day calumny bent upon persuing me, 
 and the benevolence of a people whom I revere, surprised from me, 
 as well as that of their first magistrate. But what will be my satisfac- 
 tion, when truth alone shall force those, who now misconstrue both 
 my intentions and my principles, to do justice to my courage, my un- 
 shaken patriotism, and the purity of my conduct. 
 
 Accept my respects, 
 Mr. Jefferson, Secretary of State. Genet. 
 
CABINET MEETINGS 147 
 
 E. R. had prepared a draught of the Speech, 
 the clause recommending fortifications was left 
 out, but that for a military academy was inserted. 
 I opposed it, as unauthorized by the constitn. 
 H. & K. approved it without discussion. E. R. 
 was for it, saying that the words of the constn. 
 authorizing Congress to lay taxes &c. for the 
 common defence^ might comprehend it. the 
 President said he would not chuse to recom- 
 mend anything against the constn., but if it was 
 doubtful, he was so impressed with the necessity 
 of this measure, that he would refer it to 
 Congress, & let them decide for themselves 
 whether the constn. authorized it or not. It 
 was therefore left in. I was happy to see that 
 R. had, by accident, used the expression '* our 
 republic " in the speech. the President how- 
 ever made no objection to it, and so as much as 
 it had disconcerted him on a former occasion 
 with me, it was now put into his own mouth to 
 be pronounced to the two houses of legislature. 
 
 No material alterations were proposed or 
 made in any part of the draught. 
 
148 CABINET MEETINGS 
 
 After dinner, I produced the draught of 
 messages on the subject of France & England, 
 proposing that that relative to Spain should be 
 subsequent & secret. 
 
 H. objected to the draught in toto. said 
 that the contrast drawn between the conduct of 
 France & England amounted to a declr. of war. 
 he denied that Fr. had ever done us favors, that 
 it was mean for a nation to acknolege favors, 
 that dispositions of the people of this country 
 towards France he considered as a serious 
 calamity, that the Executive ought not by an 
 echo of this language to nourish that disposn. in 
 the people, that the offers in commerce made 
 us by France were the offspring of the moment, 
 of circumstances which wd. not last, & it was 
 wrong to receive as permanent, things merely 
 temporary, that he could demonstrate that Gr. 
 Br. shewed us more favors than France, in 
 complaisance to him I whittled down the ex- 
 pressions without opposition, struck out that of 
 " favors antient & recent" from France, softened 
 some terms & omitted some sentiments re- 
 
CABINET MEETINGS 149 
 
 specting Gr. Br. he still was against the whole, 
 but insisted that at any rate it should be a 
 secret communication, because the matters it 
 stated were still depending, these were i . the 
 inexecution of the treaty, 2. the restraining our 
 corn commerce to their own ports & those of 
 their friends. Knox joined Hamilton in every- 
 thing. Randolph was for the communications, 
 that the documents respecting the ist. should 
 be given in as public, but that those respecting 
 the 2d. should not be given to the legislature 
 at all but kept secret. I began to tremble 
 now for the whole, lest all should be kept secret. 
 I urged especially the duty now incumbent on 
 the Presidt. to lay before the legislature & the 
 public what had passed on the inexecution of 
 the treaty, since Mr. Hammond's answer of 
 this month might be considered as the last we 
 should ever have ; that therefore it could no 
 longer be considered as a negotiation pending. 
 I urged that the documents respecting the stop- 
 ping our corn ought also to go, but insisted that 
 if it should be thot. better to withhold them. 
 
ISO CABINET MEETINGS 
 
 the restriction should not go to those respecting 
 the treaty : that neither of these subjects was 
 more in a state of pendency than the recall of 
 Mr. Genet, on which nevertheless no scruples 
 had been expressed, the Presidt. took up the 
 subject with more vehemence than I have seen 
 him shew, and decided without reserve that not 
 only what had passed on the inexecution of the 
 treaty should go in as public (in which H. 
 & K. had divided in opinion from R. & myself) 
 but also that those respecting the stopping our 
 corn should go in as public (wherein H. K. & 
 Randolph had been against me) this was the first 
 instance I had seen of his deciding on the opn. 
 of one against that of three others, which proved 
 his own to have been very strong. 
 
PART III. 
 
 CABINET 
 DECISIONS 
 
Cabinet Decisions. 
 
 Nov. 23, 1793. 
 
 AT sundry meetings of the heads of depart- 
 ments & Attorney General from the ist 
 to the 2ist of Nov. 1793, at the President's, 
 several matters w^ere agreed upon as stated in 
 the following letters from the Secretary of 
 
 State, to wit.* 
 
 Nov. 8. Circular letter to the representa- 
 tive of France, Gr. Brit., Spain & the U. 
 Netherlands, fixing provisorily the extent of 
 our jurisdiction into the sea at a sea-league. 
 
 10. Circular d°. to the district attornies, 
 notifying the same, & committing to them the 
 taking depositions in those cases. 
 
 Same date. Circular to the foreign repre- 
 sentatives, notifying how depositions are to be 
 taken in those cases. 
 
 ^These decisions of the Cabinet reached at the meetings held 
 in Germantown are included in the Washington manuscripts in the 
 Library of Congress. They were recorded by Jefferson, who 
 furnished the list to the President for his information and personal use. 
 
154 CABINET DECISIONS 
 
 The substance of the preceding letters 
 were agreed to by all, & the rough draughts 
 were submitted to them & approved. 
 
 Nov. 14. To Mr. Hammond, that the 
 U. S. are not bound to restore the Roehampton. 
 This was agreed by all, the rough draught was 
 submitted to & approved by Col°. Hamilton & 
 Mr. Randolph. Genl. Knox was absent on a 
 visit to Trenton. 
 
 10. Letters to Mr. Genet & Hammond, 
 & the 14. to Mr. Hollingsworth for taking 
 depositions in the cases of the Coningham & 
 Pilgrim. 
 
 15. D°. to Genet, Hammond & Mr. 
 Rawle for deposns. in the case of the William. 
 
 14. D°. to Hollingsworth to ascertain 
 whether Mr. Moissonier has passed sentence 
 on the Roehampton & Pilgrim. 
 
 These last mentd. letters of the loth, 14th 
 & 15 th were as to their substance agreed on by 
 all, the draughts were only communicated to 
 Mr. Randolph and approved by him. 
 
 Nov. 13. To Mr. Hammond, enquiring 
 
CABINET DECISIONS 155 
 
 when we shall have an answer on the inexecu- 
 tion of the treaty. The substance agreed by all. 
 The letter was sent off without communication, 
 none of the gentlemen being at Germantown. 
 
 22. To Mr. Genet, returning the com- 
 missions of Pennevert & Chervi because not 
 addressed to the Presidn. 
 
 Same date. To d°. enquiring whether the 
 Lovely lass, Prince William Henry & Jane of 
 Dublin have been given up, and if not, requir- 
 ing that they be now restored to owners. 
 
 These were agreed to by all as to their 
 matter, and the letters themselves were submitted 
 before they were sent to the President, the 
 Secretary of War & the Attorney General, the 
 Secretary of the Treasury absent. 
 
 Same date. To Mr. Gore for authentic 
 evidence of Dannery's protest on the President's 
 revocation of Duplaine's Exequatur. The sub- 
 stance agreed to by all. The letter sent off be- 
 fore communication. 
 
PART IV. 
 
 THE 
 
 FINANCIAL 
 
 DIARY 
 
 ETC. 
 
The Financial Diary. 
 
 THE so-called " Financial Diary" kept 
 by Thomas Jefferson covers a period 
 from January ist, 1791 to December 
 28th, 1803. It is a combined account book 
 and diary, consisting of 192 pages, filled not 
 only with farm, household and personal expenses, 
 but with a great variety of information and 
 observations on matters which interested the 
 owner. The original is in the possession of the 
 Lenox Library, New York City, having for 
 many years been owned by the late Samuel J. 
 Tilden. The entries here given, which were 
 copied from the original, cover the period from 
 October 25th, when the Secretary of State left 
 Monticello, to December loth, 1793, which 
 was ten days after he had gone into Philadelphia 
 from Germantown. A reproduction of a page 
 from the book will be found on another page. 
 
i6o THE FINANCIAL DIART 
 
 gave Maria* 3. 
 
 put into hands of M Randolph jun'. 20. D. to pay expenses of 
 removing my furniture from Rocket's to Belvedere, 
 left Monticello. 
 Oct. 25. pd. oats at Gordons. ,4-|- 
 
 26. do. at Wright's. .3 
 
 27. dinner lodging etc at Gatewood's 2.1 
 
 Fredsbg. barber . 2 5 ferrge etc Chatham . 2 5 Srvt . I 
 
 gave Bob for his expences 3. 
 
 pd Benson breakft. lodg. etc — 7. 57 
 
 pd. for 2 passages in the stage to Alexandria 6. Serv? . i 
 
 28. ferrge at Falmouth .1 
 Stafford C. H, breakfast .5 
 Colchester, dinner &c. i-i 
 
 Alexandria, barber .25 — lodg. at Wise's, .7 
 2 seats in stage to Baltimore 7.66 
 29 srvt .2 
 
 Georgetown ferrge .2 
 
 Bladenbg. breakfast .62 
 
 Spuryear .1 dinner 1.43 srvt .2 
 30. Baltimore barber .2 srvt .2 
 
 lodging at Storck's 3.66 
 
 Bush, dinner. 1.91 
 
 Susqueha. ferrge and ferrymen .5 
 31 ... Rogers's supper & lodging 1.43 srvt. 125 
 
 Elkton breaktest .73 
 
 * Maria Jefferson, the daughter. 
 
 "fin such entries as this, of which there are many, the figure represents 
 tens and should be read forty cents, thirty cents, two dollars and ten cents, etc. 
 
^4. - - - - - - -^^s-^o.' ,1 
 
 'il- - -- ^ . Xj>^f^ '/ Ju^^yi^^^V Cff-i'^it^ f./il As^n^ ./'i^ 
 
 /•^^ ]at.nxxyf fifr- fi/i^ e^-f^. /. z). 
 
 OP ™e Lenox Libkakv, New York C.tv. 
 
THE FINANCIAL DIART i6i 
 
 Nov. I. Brandy wine, dinner & lodging at Stewart's 1.5 
 Chester, breakfast .69 srvt .25 barber .25 
 Germantown. pd Hartman Elliot for bringing me from Balti- 
 -more 6 days coming & going 30. D. ferriages 3.18=33.18 
 [all the preceding travelling expences amount to 77.65] 
 
 4. pd. James wages 8. D. washing .5 srvt 125 
 
 5 . pd for inkpot . I 8 
 
 12. gave the cook at Bockius'* .5 
 
 pd Bockius's bill 11. days ent'. 29.51 
 
 13. pd Gilliams drawing a tooth 4.66 
 
 14. pd Franks the barber 1.125 washing i. 
 
 pd Bockius', second bill 12.03. ^'^^^ 3-33 ^^^ ^°'' board of 
 Lapseleyf the office keeper. 
 
 15. pdbarber.25 Jameshh'd exp. 3. table 1.33 slippers 1.25 
 
 1 6. pd. for shoe brushes . 3 1 cutting wood . 2 
 
 17. pd. barber .125 
 
 18. paid for mending lock .2 
 
 gave my note to bank of US, for 875. D @ 60. days;]; 
 
 19. have credit at bank for do. 865. 82 
 
 inclosed to John Ross§ ord.on bank for 100. D. note Sep. 13 
 
 20. pd. Dr. Shippen his ace. in full by ord. on bank for 63.67 
 inclosed to mr. Taylor** ord. on bank for 20 D. in a bank bill 
 to be sent to Jacob Hollingworth to buy clover seed. 
 
 pd James for hhd exp i . D 
 pd Gilliams dentist 2.33 
 
 * Bockius was the landlord of the King of Prussia tavern, Germantown. 
 ■f- Thomas Lapsley, office keeper for the State Department. 
 X See letter to John Kean, cashier of the Bank of the U. S. page 93 
 § See letter page 102 
 
 ** See letter to George Taylor, chief clerk of the Department 
 of State page loi. 
 
1 62 THE FINANCIAL DIART 
 
 Nov. 21. inclosed to Jacob HoUingsworth the bank bill for 20. D.* 
 22. gave Philip Freneau order on bank for 18.75 *^° '^^'^ 
 for myself to Oct. z6.<)i.-\ 6. 
 James Madison . . 4.5 
 
 Ambrose Madison . 6. 
 
 for cash I reed, for Jos. Jones 2.25 
 
 18.75 
 gave order on bank for 186.36 to be remitted to 
 Myers in a post bill to pay the order of Mrs 
 Carr. ante. Oct. 19. 
 
 gave order on bank US. for 40. D. in a post bill 
 to be remitted to A. Stewart^ to buy sheep 
 Patrick Kennon remitted to me an order of Charles 
 Smith & CO. on EUiston & Perot for 109.83 due 
 to Wm. Short for which I am to credit W. S. 
 he inclosed me W. Short's certificates of stock in 
 his hands, to be transferred from the office in 
 New York to that in Philade in W. S's own name 
 so these certificates will not enter into acct. 
 between W. S. & myself, 
 they are 2800. 6 percents 
 
 2356. 3 percents 
 
 2150. deferred 
 
 7306 
 
 * The letter to Jacob HoUingsworth on page 107. 
 
 -j- This was in payment of subscriptions to the_ National Gazette. 
 
 It suspended publication October 26th, 1793- 
 X Letter to Stewart in regard to the purchase of sheep 
 will be found on page 1 15. 
 
THE FINANCIAL DIARY 163 
 
 indorsed Smith & co's bill for 109.83 to bank of US. 
 to be collected & entered to my credit, 
 pd Mery for horse hire 1.33 
 pd Jo. for y^ cord hiccory 2.83 of which 
 charge half for the office 
 Nov. 23. pd Ingles* in full by ord. on bank 67.03 pd wash's 1.5 
 pd for cord of wood 5.33 cutting .6 (half to office 
 pd Peter Didierf for 7. pr stock' gs 59 overp'd Jo. on acct 1 1 
 pd James hhd exp. 11/24-3/10 = 2 
 
 24. inclosed to Myer J the bank post note for i 86 D. 36 on acct. of 
 my assumpsit to him for Mrs. Carr. 
 
 inclosed to A.Stewart a bank post note for 40. D. to buy sheep 
 
 25. James for hhd exp .5 
 
 gave Mrs. Fullarton ord. on bank for 66.67 ^" ^^^^ 
 rec'd from bank by Crosby 50. D. 
 
 pd Campbell for books 4. D. pd for lenses 1.5 barber. 375 
 pd Wirtz groceries in full 4.48 
 
 29. pd for horse to Phila. .67 washing .75 
 
 30. Wirtz ^ lb. coffee .09 
 received for wood remaining 4. D. 
 
 pd Weiss for i 5 days board ofThomas Lapsely office keeper 5 . D 
 pd. James hhd exp. 7/2-)- 4 c= i. D 
 pd Dr. Logan** for a plough 8. D. 
 
 * It would seem possible that this was meant for Engle, a prominent family of 
 Germantown since early in its history. 
 
 t Peter Didier was a farmer of Germantown. Nearly every household carried 
 on some industry in addition to the cultivation of the soil and knitting was always an 
 important industry of Germantown. 
 
 \ See letter page 119. 
 
 **Dr. George Logan, of Stenton, on the borders of Germantown, was among 
 other things a progressive agriculturist, and had constructed a plow on some new princi- 
 ple. He obliged his friends by having some made for them. On May 5th, 1793, 
 Jefferson wrote James Madison : ' ' I have seen Dr. Logan. Your plows will be done 
 in a week and shall be attended to." 
 
1 64 THE FINANCIAL DIART 
 
 pd. Crosby for pomatum &c 2.22 
 
 do waggonage Germ. T. .5 
 
 pd. coaches from Germ. Town 2.33 
 
 reed, from I.Bringhurst part of note of Aug 3.23 D. (or of 48 D) 
 
 delivered do. 2 peices of New York gold to be changed. 
 Dec. 6. pd. T. Lapseley wages as office keeper. 6.13 
 
 pd. Richardson for spectacles 7.8 
 
 pd. Blame acct. for porter 2.17 
 Dec. 7. paid coach hire .25 
 
 10. pd. for shaving brush. 125 - salve. 125 
 
Expenses Department of State 
 
 Estimate of the Expenses of the Department of State/'' 
 at Home, for one year, commencing ist. January 1793. 
 
 Dollrs. 
 
 The Secretary of State's salary 3.5°° 
 
 One Chief Clerk's " 800 
 
 3 Clerks — (an additional one will probably be 
 
 requisite) say 2,000 
 
 Clerk for foreign Languages' salary 250 
 
 Office keeper and messenger's '♦ 250 
 
 Stationary of all kinds 240 
 
 Firewood 200 
 
 Office-rent 266, 67 
 
 Newspapers from the different States abt. 20 @ 4 
 
 dollrs 80 
 
 Gazettes from, and Gazettes sent to Am, Ministers 
 
 abroad 25 
 
 Laws of the i Session of the 3d. Congress, to be 
 
 published in 5 newspapers, at about 100 
 
 dollrs. each 500 
 
 Printing an edition of the same, to be distributed 
 
 according to law 700 
 
 For Binding 5° 
 
 Deficiencies in the appropriation of the 
 present year, 
 for Extra Clerks employed preparing documents 
 
 laid & to be laid before Congress day . 600 
 
 For an index to the Laws of the 2d. Congress . 200 
 
 $2,061,67 
 
 800 
 
 9,661,7 
 
 Department of State 
 Deer. 7. 1792. 
 
 Th : Jefferson 
 
 *The above document, found among the Jefferson papers in the Library of Con- 
 gress, is of interest as showing the modest scale of public expense in the State 
 Department in 1793. As this estimate covers the month in which this office was so 
 unexpectedly located in Germantown, it would seem to be appropriately included. 
 
PART V. 
 
 THE 
 ORATION. 
 
The Oration 
 
 THE deaths of John Adams and Thomas 
 Jefferson, occuring as they did on the 
 same day, July 4th, 1826, just fifty 
 years after the Declaration of Independence, the 
 significance of which day was largely due to the 
 acts of these two ex-Presidents, aroused the 
 deepest feeling throughout the nation. In all 
 the leading cities, and in many of the smaller 
 towns, meetings were held where the recog- 
 nized orator delivered an address commemora- 
 tive of the services and virtue of these two 
 fathers of the Republic. 
 
 On July I 5th such a meeting was held in 
 Germantown, a committee of arrangements, of 
 which Benjamin Chew, Jr., was the Secretary, 
 was appointed and Walter R. Johnson, 
 principal of the Germantown Academy, was 
 selected to deliver the address. The public 
 
lyo THE ORATION 
 
 meeting of the citizens of Germantown, Rox- 
 borough, Bristol and Penn townships was held 
 on July 2oth. 
 
 Walter R. Johnson, was a young man, 
 born in Massachusetts June 21, 1795, a gradu- 
 ate of Harvard. He had assumed charge of 
 the Academy in 1 8 2 1 , two years after his 
 graduation, and continued at its head until 
 August 1826. From 1826 to 1836 he was 
 connected with the Philadelphia High School, 
 and later was identified with many educational 
 and scientific projects. He was the first secre- 
 tary of the American Association for the Ad- 
 vancement of Science. He was a prolific 
 writer, having left no less than fifty papers and 
 reports on scientific subjects and twenty or more 
 on matters relating to education. He died in 
 Washington, D. C, April 26th, 1852. A 
 sketch of his life has been published in pamphlet 
 form, being a reprint from Barnard's American 
 Journal of Education for December, 1858. 
 
 The oration delivered in 1826 does not 
 appear among the list of his writings, nor is a 
 
THE ORATION 171 
 
 copy of it to be found in the Pennsylvania 
 Historical Society or our leading Philadelphia 
 libraries. It was published in book form by 
 the committee in charge of the meeting, in 
 1826, and this reprint was made from the copy 
 in the possession of the Boston Public Library.* 
 
 Mr. Johnson spoke as follows: 
 
 An occasion for commemorating departed great- 
 ness, is a solemn admonition to all that live. The 
 reflection that spontaneously rises in every mind, is — 
 if the " wise and reverend head " be laid in the dust, 
 shall the humble, undistinguished individual hope to 
 escape the " numerous ills that flesh is heir to ?" — if he 
 who stands foremost among the benefactors of his race, 
 finds no exemption from the shafts of fate, shall any 
 being of earth count upon the certainty of continued 
 existence? Reason — revelation — experience and uni- 
 versal nature all forbid. All utter a prophetic warning 
 to prepare for the approach o^ the mighty conquer er ! 
 
 But admonitions respecting the shortness of 
 
 * Since the above was written I have found that Dr. William J. 
 Campbell, the publisher of this book, has a perfect copy of the address 
 in his private library. 
 
172 THE ORATION 
 
 human life, and the consequent necessity of a continual 
 preparation for the final change, are not the only 
 duties of one who would do justice to such an occa- 
 sion. It is incumbent on him to reflect, that he 
 stands in the presence of those who have still the 
 prospect of acting some part on the great theatre of 
 human affairs ; — that praise of worth in the deceased, 
 is valuable, only as it tends to foster like worth in the 
 living ; and that as it is no part of his duty to indulge 
 the bitterness of censure, so it is equally inconsistent 
 with his purpose, to rush into the extravagance of 
 encomium ; to place the deceased in an invidious con- 
 trast with their survivors; to "praise the dead out of 
 hatred to the living," or, " to beat the children with 
 the bones of their fathers." He has also to reflect, 
 that the names of men whose walk was that of civil 
 life, and whose glory was in their intellectual power, 
 must be as enduring as the immortal part of their 
 nature, in which that power resided ; — that the memory 
 of such men will "quietly climb to Heaven," whether 
 he, or any of his generation, deign to aid it or not ; — 
 and that every attempt to disparage genuine merit, and 
 every effort to exalt beyond the due degree, will prove 
 alike unavailing. He will recollect that the names of 
 wise and patriotic statesmen, are the peculiar property 
 of History, — the bright gems with which she illuminates 
 
THE ORATION 173 
 
 her fairest pages ; that their scutcheons stand not in 
 ostentatious relief upon the frieze of " temples made 
 with hands ;" nor their deeds on records written in 
 blood. Much less does their fair fame depend on the 
 breath of a passing panegyrick. It will dwell in the 
 hearts, in the memories, in the unfailing — the ever-in- 
 creasing gratitude of millions, who must in successive 
 ages arrive on the shores of being, to enjoy the bless- 
 ings which by labour, anxiety, genius and self devo- 
 tion, their fathers have obtained; and of millions, who 
 will assuredly obey the dictates of their nature, in 
 cherishing the honest reputation of all the patriots who 
 conferred liberty and happiness on their country. 
 
 The mournful, yet grateful duty demanded by 
 the occasion, — the duty which the American people 
 are every where assembling to perform, is one which 
 never before fell to the lot of nation. The time, 
 therefore, the incidents, and the characters ; — the 
 history, the condition and the prospects of the mighty 
 empire, with which they were connected, all demand 
 utterance, all rush with overwhelming force upon the 
 mind, filling it with images which language labours in 
 vain to delineate. The spontaneous effusion, either 
 of the grief J or the gratitude of a whole nation, is, in it- 
 self, an object the most sublime in the moral world. 
 With the elevation of feeling occasioned by the latter 
 
174 THE ORATION 
 
 sentiment, recent occurrences have made us all 
 familiar ; but of the former, our country has happily 
 not before been a witness, since the time when the 
 sounds of lamentation came from the hallowed shades 
 of Mount Vernon. And who, that could then lisp 
 the name of Washington, does not remember the 
 solemn event, which marked the closing year of the 
 
 last century ? 
 
 In order to convey some faint conception of the 
 
 exalted characters, and of the mournful incidents 
 which we commemorate, permit me to carry your im- 
 aginations back, for a few days only, to the morning 
 of that jubilee whose approach was saluted with 
 universal demonstrations of joy ; — to that day, whose 
 annual recurrence is greeted wherever throughout the 
 world the cause of freedom finds a votary ; — to that 
 day, on which, wherever our stripes and our stars are 
 found, these emblems of our union, — these ensigns of 
 our prosperity, are sent up to the breezes of heaven, 
 to manifest the gratitude and exultation of freemen, 
 for the deeds of their sires. 
 
 Suppose that on that day, an American citizen 
 who was born on the. fourth of July seventeen hundred 
 and seventy-sixj had called around him his children's 
 children, to rejoice in the festivities of the natal day 
 both of their grand-parent and of their country. 
 
THE ORATION 
 
 175 
 
 Imagine that you hear them inquire — what were the 
 great events which gave rise to the practice of annually- 
 convening at the festive board, on the martial field, in 
 the civic hall, or the sacred sanctuary to celebrate this 
 joyous anniversary. Behold how the countenance of 
 each youthful listener glows with ardour, as his aged 
 relative proceeds in the recital of the gallant deeds 
 exhibited in days long past; — in times so /^«^ gone by, 
 that to the youthful apprehension, they begin to con- 
 stitute a part of the ages of romance. Imagine also 
 that you hear them inquire, with all the intense 
 curiosity that belongs to their years, what godlike 
 men are those, around whom all are crowding, with 
 eager impatience, to pay the homage of gratitude and 
 affection ? whom every tongue joins to bless and every 
 hand is stretched forth to greet or to venerate? — 
 whose locks seem whitened with the frosts of a hun- 
 dred winters, — whose frames are bending beneath the 
 accumulated weight of years, but whose countenances 
 still kindle with enthusiasm at the mention of this 
 ^^ great and glorious day'' How do we hear such 
 applauses lavished or mortal beings ? We see child- 
 hood and youth, and manhood and age, — we see the 
 great and the learned, and the virtuous and the pious, 
 with every humbler rank of their fellow citizens, 
 coming with their united heartfelt offerings and con- 
 
176 THE ORATION 
 
 gratulations, crying, " Honour to their grey hairs, and 
 peace and serenity to the evening of their eventful days!'' 
 Or, are they indeed not mortals ? Are they some of 
 those heroes or demigods, who, (we have read) did, 
 some centuries ago, obtain immortahty ? and do we 
 see them stand here, clothed in the same bodies in 
 which they acquired their title to perpetual existence ? 
 
 Let us now suppose that he who was celebrating 
 the semi-centennial anniversary of his birth-day, 
 showed to these pledges of his children's love, the 
 usual indulgence of age, and condescended to set them 
 right in this matter, so interesting to their feelings, by 
 a rehearsal equally interesting to his own. 
 
 He then relates to them, that he cannot on every 
 point speak with the certainty of personal knowledge, 
 for that these men have come down from a period 
 anterior by a third part of a century at least — by the 
 full time of one generation — to the day of his birth ; 
 but that his own parent, who had now been for years 
 numbered with the dead, used sometimes to gratify 
 him with an account of the early lives of these very 
 men, who were his cotemporaries and intimates. 
 
 Of the two, he continues, whom you behold at 
 this moment surrounded by the greatest crowds of ad- 
 miring attendants, he who seems the elder, and rather 
 the more infirm, whose stature is somewhat below the 
 

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THE ORATION 177 
 
 usual height, but whose form even now exhibits the 
 marks of a vigour that fitted it for the abode of a 
 magnanimous spirit ; — whom you see clothed in plain 
 habiliments, approaching, in the degree of their sim- 
 plicity, to those which distinguished the unostentatious 
 pilgrim fathers ; — this patriarch, whom you see sur- 
 rounded by his countrymen of all classes, and whose 
 accents are, with peculiar veneration, treasured up by 
 those who know him best, by those of his own 
 vicinity — is a lineal descendant from those pilgrims 
 whose garb his own seems to resemble, — from those 
 pilgrims, who, flying from the storms and persecutions 
 of the elder world, brought to these shores, the 
 sternest virtue, and the most inflexible love of liberty. 
 He drew his first breath more than fourscore 
 and ten years ago, on that iron-bound coast, which had 
 proved so inhospitable to his ancestors, but which 
 their patience, industry, frugality, and above all their 
 love of learning and of liberty had, previously to his 
 birth, converted into a smiling abode for thousands of 
 generous and high-spirited freemen. I need not 
 assure you, that a thirst for knowledge appeared with 
 the dawn of his understanding, and that although his 
 lot had not been cast among the sons of affluence, 
 but in the honourable class of respected yeomanry, 
 yet he despaired not in early youth, of attaining that 
 
1 78 THE ORATION 
 
 intellectual improvement which might place him in 
 the rank for which, he felt, the God of nature had in- 
 tended him. He became, in a degree, the artificer 
 of his own fortune, even in the article of his 
 education, and furnished an ennobling example 
 of foregoing the gratification of youthful pride 
 and passion, for the sake of procuring the invalu- 
 able blessings of wisdom. He pursued the course 
 of liberal studies adopted in that ancient seat of 
 learning, which it had been the first care of the pilgrim 
 fathers to found and endow. He passed with honour, 
 and with an independent reliance on his own genius 
 and exertions, through the various departments of 
 literary duty, and there drank at the unadulterated 
 fountains of Grecian and Roman lore, the draughts of 
 enthusiasm for liberty, which gave the prevailing 
 temperament to his mind. 
 
 In selecting the profession in which to employ 
 his talents, he chose that which usually leads through 
 the severest mental toil, anxiety and long sufferings to 
 the highest dignities and preferments. But he chose 
 it in reference to the power which it might put into 
 his hands, for maintaining the political privileges, no 
 less than for defending the private rights of his country- 
 men. The bar witnessed astonishing efforts of his 
 genius, but the habits of energetick publick speaking 
 
THE ORATION 179 
 
 which he acquired in courts of justice and carried to 
 the popular assembly, the council and the senate 
 house, proved more important than any ability in mere 
 judicial pleading, which could possibly have been ex- 
 hibited. His defence of certain aggressors upon 
 publick order, when they were exposed to suffer too 
 severely from popular indignation, is an evidence of 
 his strong sense of justice, and of professional duty. — 
 Rising rapidly to distinction as a jurist, he attracts to 
 himself the regards of the constituted authorities of 
 his native province, and subsequently receives the 
 appointment of chief of its highest tribunal; but de- 
 clines the honourable distinction, and with a success 
 which seems beyond the grasp of human intellect, de- 
 votes himself wholly to the service of his country. 
 Placed by the suffrages of his fellow citizens, in the 
 grand council of the province, he soon justifies their 
 choice, by gaining the confidence of the sons of 
 liberty throughout the continent, and, what may be 
 regarded as an equal honour, draws upon himself the 
 marked displeasure of those who still worship the idol 
 of regal power. 
 
 When the time had arrived for taking the final 
 step that was to sever a portion from the dominion of 
 Britain, and to form it into a new empire, this vener- 
 able sage was among the foremost, boldest assertors of 
 
i8o THE ORATION 
 
 the rights of man, and the advocate of the most de- 
 cisive measures, demanded by that hour of "perilous 
 magnanimity." 
 
 But, exclaims a youth, it is time to inform who is 
 that other venerable man, towards whom you have 
 directed our attention ; — he, whose stature is greater, 
 but whose frame is less fitted to endure the burden of 
 time, than that of the former; whose bearing and de- 
 portment indicate a different origin, — whose habits 
 and demeanour seem to be those of a hereditary 
 possessor of ample fortune, of which he disposes with 
 a munificence which bespeaks the liberality of his 
 nature. 
 
 " That^ continues the aged narrator, is a de- 
 scendant of those enterprising adventurers, who in the 
 earliest period of emigration established the prosperous 
 community which they named in honour of their 
 Virgin Queen; — an ^^ ancient dominion" of generous, 
 hospitable, high-minded patriots, — a region, that claims 
 and obtains the honourable appellation of the nurse of 
 great men. 
 
 This venerable patriarch, too, over whom more 
 than fourscore and three years have rolled their event- 
 ful course, was from his youth the votary of science. 
 He laid broad and deep the foundations of greatness, 
 by his early devotion to every thing manly and en- 
 
THE ORATION i8i 
 
 nobling in the pursuits of youth. He came forth to 
 the world and its duties, with all the attainments that 
 could tend to ensure success in his future career. He 
 too pursued the same profession in which we have 
 seen his illustrious compatriot winning his way to 
 eminence, and he too pursued it without artifice and 
 without chicanery, — it being a uniform maxim of his 
 practice, never to engage in a cause^ which^ after the 
 most rigid examination, he did not ascertain to be just. 
 Called to the councils of his native province when 
 scarcely arrived at manhood, he brought to her service 
 the fruits of laborious research into the laws and insti- 
 tutions of his country. 
 
 Though young in years he was already old in 
 useful attainments and solid wisdom. He became emi- 
 nent in the walks of legislation, not by idle discussions, 
 and bombastic harangues, but by deep and patient in- 
 vestigation into every principle of political duty. 
 
 While in the house of Burgesses, the insidious 
 propositions of Lord North, tending to disunite the 
 confederated provinces, and to divert their attention 
 from the real points at issue between themselves and 
 the parent country, being presented for consideration, 
 afforded the young statesman an opportunity for dis- 
 playing the feelings of the patriot and the acuteness of 
 the politician. His mind was too comprehensive in 
 
i82 THE ORATION 
 
 its views to admit the adoption of temporizing ex- 
 pedients. 
 
 He agreed in the sentiment of Hawley, as reiter- 
 ated by Henry, that the period had arrived when '■'■we 
 must fight." " For ourselves," said he to the crafty 
 minister of Britain, " we have exhausted every mode 
 of application, which our invention could suggest as 
 proper and promising. We have decently remonstrated 
 with parliament ; — they have added new injuries to the 
 old. We have wearied our king with applications ; — 
 he has not deigned to answer us. We have appealed 
 to the native honour and justice of the British nation; — 
 their efforts in our favour have hitherto been inef- 
 fectual. What then remains to be done ? That we 
 commit our injuries to the even-handed justice of that 
 Being who doth no wrong, earnestly beseeching him 
 to illuminate the councils, and prosper the endeavours 
 of those, to whom America hath confided her hopes." 
 
 Hitherto the two master spirits of the revolution 
 had been known to each other, only as distant co- 
 operators in the work of resistance to the aggressions 
 of British ministers ; but now the period approaches 
 when they are to act in concert, and the metropolis of 
 Pennsylvania is the scene where they and their com- 
 peers are to display their energies, and to build their 
 imperishable renown. But do not imagine that the 
 
THE ORATION 183 
 
 august body in which they were about to appear was 
 an arena where mere rhetorical gladiators were allowed 
 to show their skill, for the amusement or astonishment 
 ot wondering constituents. The contest, which the 
 Virginian legislator of that dav found it necessary to 
 maintain, was against the fears of the timid, the con- 
 scientious scruples of the pacific, and the deep seated 
 predilections for the parent country, which many still 
 continued to call by the endearing appellation of 
 '■^ home.'' Even the zeal and enthusiasm of the eastern 
 patriot threw into the hands of the other more than 
 his proportion of arduous and responsible duty. For 
 some of the provinces still hesitated, still clung to the 
 hope that conciliatory measures were possible, and 
 such were likely to look, and did look, with an appre- 
 hension of rashness, upon those who came, with all 
 their irritated feelings, from the scenes which had been 
 recently acting in Fanueil Hall, — around the Liberty 
 tree, — on the plain of Lexington, and on the heights 
 of Bunker. The representatives of the thirteen differ- 
 ent communities, composing that august assemblage, 
 though all actuated by the purest patriotism, partook, 
 of necessity, of various feelings and inclinations ac- 
 cording to the peculiar circumstances and interests 
 which distinguished the districts to which they 
 respectively belonged. All were, however, to be 
 
1 84 THE ORATION 
 
 wrought upon and moulded, to receive the impress of 
 the times, by those who foresaw the future dignity and 
 greatness of their country, when she should be disen- 
 thralled from the shackles of foreign power. 
 
 The due degree of unanimity is finally produced, 
 and the two worthies are associated to prepare that 
 declaration, which is to fix forever, the destinies of a 
 continent, and to modify those of a world. It becomes 
 a matter of amicable controversy between them, which 
 shall undertake the honourable task of penning the 
 instrument, — each being disposed to transfer it to the 
 other. At length, however, the elder succeeds in in- 
 ducing his associate first to try his hand ; — and so de- 
 lighted is he with its production, that he agrees at 
 once to report it, with a single verbal alteration. I 
 cannot forbear pausing to invite your admiration to 
 that magnanimity, — the index of true greatness, which 
 disposed men, already becoming rivals in worth and 
 in reputation, thus freely and ingenuously to acknowl- 
 edge each other's transcendent merits. This disposi- 
 tion they have brought down through the most stormy 
 times of political fanaticism, and are, at this moment, 
 bearing in their bosoms the most cordial esteem and 
 respect for each other. All attempts to embitter their 
 evening hours, and to scatter thorns in their down- 
 ward path to the tomb, have proved unavailing. The 
 
THE ORATION 185 
 
 great man has in each heart, triumphed over the little 
 animosity. Each of the rival patriots having filled the 
 world with his own fame, seems only anxious lest jus- 
 tice should not be done to the name of his venerated 
 compatriot ; so that throughout the happy borders of 
 America, no two individuals can be found, who main- 
 tain for each other a more unbroken friendship than 
 John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. And shall I 
 then attempt to mar your respect for these venerated 
 characters? Forbid it Heaven! It were a political 
 sacrilege of the deepest, foulest dye. Suffice it to say, 
 that the best of men and the best of friends may 
 sometimes differ in opinion, on topics of high moment, 
 without implying any want of uprightness or of 
 patriotism on either part. 
 
 You will find, on the examination of your 
 country's records, how large a space both of these 
 patriarchs have filled in the proud estimation of their 
 fellow citizens. You will find that the elder, soon 
 after the decisive step before related, had been taken, 
 and while the struggle was still pending, was deputed 
 to make known the justice of our cause, and the con- 
 dition of our country, at the various courts in Europe. 
 
 The appearance of the plain citizen of a republick 
 wrested from the grasp of British power, was an event 
 so singular as to be regarded rather as a curious 
 
1 86 THE ORATION 
 
 phenomenon, than an object of political importance. 
 The sounds of Liberty were then unfrequent in the 
 European world ; and especially, when wafted across 
 the Atlantick, they seemed so new, so strange, so full 
 of improbability, that men scarcely credited their 
 senses. Even in the Belgic provinces, the region 
 where the love and sympathy for liberty were strong- 
 est, — the region where our cause ought to have met 
 the most ready and decided approbation, the influence 
 of Britain, had so far paralyzed the energies of patriot- 
 ism, that the able memorial which this champion of 
 our revolution and government, presented to their 
 High Mightinesses, the States General, remained a 
 full year without an answer ; remained, in fact, until 
 by his amenity of deportment he had won the affec- 
 tions of the people, and by his spirited representations, 
 had roused towns, cities and provinces to demand the 
 formation of an alliance, and the virtual recognition ot 
 our independence. This point, however, he finally 
 attained, and opened the way to confidence, among 
 those who possessed the sinews of government, the 
 disposable funds, so much needed by our infant 
 nation. Thus at the moment when the immortal 
 Franklin was laying the foundation of a durable 
 friendship in every circle of the French metropolis, 
 the venerated Adams was establishing our national 
 
THE ORATION 187 
 
 credit among the wealthy sons of the Batavian Repub- 
 llck, where the simplicity of his manners, the ingenu- 
 ousness of his conduct, and his ardent enthusiasm for 
 liberty, gained, both for himself and for his country, 
 all the advantages which a republican could desire. 
 Nor was his great associate of 1776, without his share 
 in the glory of extending his country's reputation, and 
 of securing her interests on foreign shores. When the 
 gallantry of our fathers had won the way to peace and 
 tranquility at home, the illustrious Jefferson and 
 Adams were again associated, for the formation of 
 treaties, and the extension of national reputation. As 
 the successor of Franklin at the court of Versailles, 
 the name of Jefferson was at once in the mouths of all 
 France. Nor did he disappoint the expectations of 
 those to whom he was accredited, any more than of 
 the American people. His society was sought by the 
 versatile savans of Paris, as well as the gayer circles of 
 Versailles, and while he improved his own taste for 
 the arts that embellish or dignify human nature, he 
 found it practicable to add to the good opinion re- 
 specting American intellect, which Frenchmen had 
 conceived from the wit and the wisdom of Franklin. 
 But diplomatick duties were never neglected. The 
 high trust of establishing commercial relations was at 
 this period a vital matter to his country ; to this were 
 
THE ORATION 
 
 his best efforts directed, and in this was he successful. 
 But besides fulfilHng the high and responsible 
 duties committed to these men, of placing our 
 foreign relations on the most favourable footing, each 
 found occasion by the exercise of his masterly pen to 
 spread far and wide the knowledge of our domestick 
 institutions, characters, and habits ; and to hold up to 
 the admiration of the world, the wisdom, no less than 
 the heroism, of his countrymen. Of the "Defence of 
 the Constitutions," and the "Notes on Virginia" — the 
 one was written and the other published while their 
 respective authors were in Europe, and tended not a 
 little to strengthen the respect which prevailed for the 
 characters of themselves and their native land. The 
 principles, however, which, as the apostles of a new 
 political faith, they proclaimed abroad, were not 
 suffered to remain without exemplifications at home. 
 They felt that giving a practical illustration of their 
 republican tenets, was the surest mode of removing all 
 doubts as to the possibility of entire self-government, 
 by an enlightened people. Such exemplifications they 
 gave, by each furnishing the draught of a constitution 
 for his native state. The convention which framed 
 that of Massachusetts, placed the experienced Adams 
 at its head, and to his powerful mind was the state 
 indebted for a great portion of the instrument, under 
 
THE ORATION 189 
 
 which that community continued to enjoy unexampled 
 prosperity for forty years ; and as evidence of the 
 soundness and popularity of its provisions, may be 
 adduced the fact, that when the same sage was, after 
 that lapse of time, again elected to preside in a council 
 for its revision, a very few points only, and those in- 
 volving no change of political principles, were found 
 to require alteration; and of the few amendments pro- 
 posed by the convention, scarcely more than one half 
 were adopted by the primary assemblies of the people. 
 The constitution prepared for Virginia was received 
 by the convention, at too late a period of its delibera- 
 tions, to admit of being considered in detail ; but the 
 preamble of Jefferson was adopted and prefixed to the 
 constitution just completed by that body. 
 
 But it is not in the formation, the administration, 
 or the defence of constitutions, only, that the republi- 
 can spirit of these patriots has been manifested. 
 Their doctrines respecting the means of maintaining 
 free institutions, are not less important than the 
 principles of justice and equality on which those 
 institutions are founded. They have ever felt that a 
 democratick government without general intelligence 
 is a political absurdity. Hence the feelings and 
 efforts of both, have been strongly engaged in the 
 cause of diffusive and popular, as well as of liberal^ 
 
I90 THE ORATION 
 
 education. The first three years of the manhood of 
 Adams were devoted to the duties of classical instruc- 
 tion, and his valuable library has within a few years 
 been presented to the town in which he resides for the 
 more extensive diffusion of the treasures of knowledge 
 it contains. The latter days of Jefferson have been 
 almost exclusively devoted to the immediate superin- 
 tendence of the concerns of mental cultivation. I 
 need not mention the name of the flourishing 
 University, towards which parents and youth are 
 alike turning their eyes with the fond hope of realizing 
 its blessings. 
 
 This, then, (continues the aged narrator,) is the 
 summary of the resemblances between these great and 
 good patriarchs — both derived their being from races 
 of hardy and spirited yeomen, whose ancestors had 
 sought on these shores an abode for religious, moral 
 and political freedom. Both were educated in the 
 most liberal manner. Both devoted themselves to the 
 same honourable profession, and both pursued it on 
 the most exalted principles. Both attempted to im- 
 prove the condition and practice of the law, the one 
 by his revision of common and statute^ and the other 
 by his able dissertation on tki^ .canon ^nd feudal laws. 
 Both had been honoured by their fellow citizens, with 
 high marks of confidence, in being placed in their re- 
 
THE ORATION 191 
 
 spective local legislatures, before being sent to the 
 Congress of 1776. Both were on the committee of 
 that body to consider the propositions of Lord North. 
 Both were on the committee, and they alone were the 
 subcommittee to prepare the Declaration of Independ- 
 ence. Both were appointed on the commission for 
 proposing an alliance to France, — both on that for 
 determining the conditions of the treaty of peace with 
 England. Both were in 1784, furnished with plenipo- 
 tentiary commissions addressed to the several courts 
 of Europe for concluding treaties of commerce. Both 
 were, after their return, in high stations in the govern- 
 ment, while administered by our beloved Washington. 
 Both furnished draughts of constitutions to their 
 native states, and both their proposals were, in part, 
 at least, adopted. Both in succession attained the 
 first, after having filled the second office in the gift ot 
 their country. Each had the happiness to find his 
 administration approved by many wise and good men, 
 and each the unhappiness to see many others equally 
 wise and good arrayed against it. Both saw, during 
 their terms of office, the rapid progress of their country 
 towards power and respect, and both have retired to 
 private life, to enjoy the esteem of each other, and the 
 boundless admiration of their fellow men. Both have 
 seen portions of their policy made the ground-work of 
 
192 THE ORATION 
 
 every administration which has followed, and both 
 have perceived other portions to be rejected, as no 
 longer applicable to the state of the nation. Both 
 have, in their retirement, done something towards 
 diffusing right principles among their fellow citizens, 
 both have placed their extensive libraries in situations 
 to become sources of most valuable instruction ; — both 
 have been concerned in the superintendence of educa- 
 tion, and both are living to witness this jubilee. They 
 seem, indeed, the very Castor and Pollux of American 
 History. One more coincidence only is wanting to 
 complete their parallel. But, hark! my children; — 
 what sounds do I perceive ? What ! a groan of 
 anguish on this happy day of universal joy ? It is 
 impossible ! But, ah ! it is too true. It comes again ; 
 it comes from that numerous group of the great and 
 the good, — of the sons of science and of patriotism 
 whom you have seen crowding around the southern 
 sage. And, listen ! It breaks into faint but audible 
 articulations. — "/ have done for my country ^ and for all 
 mankind^ all that I could, and I now resign my soul to 
 Gody and my daughter to my country." 
 
 " ikfy daughter to my country!'' — Generous souls 
 of freemen, record, accept the dying bequest, before 
 his sainted spirit shall be compelled to enter against 
 you, an accusation of foul ingratitude ! 
 

THE ORATION 193 
 
 But what commotion do I behold around the 
 form of the eastern patriarch ? Is this, indeed, a day 
 of miracles? While, in accordance with his own 
 prophetick anticipations, the mingling millions of his 
 countrymen are with " pomp, shows, games, guns, 
 bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of the 
 continent to the other, solemnizing the day," his 
 thread of life, too, seems dwindling to nothing, and 
 his soul just ready to take her flight.—" JVhat mean," 
 he cries, '' all these sounds of mirth and exultation^— 
 Oh I yes, it is the great and glorious fourth of july ! 
 Godblessit; God bless you all. independence forever!" 
 Lo, there the " ruling passion strong in death ; "—too 
 strong alas for his brittle tenure of existence. The 
 impulse of patriotick emotion is beyond the endurance 
 of enfeebled nature. In a disembodied state only, can 
 those exalted virtues dwell, with full fruition. 
 
 Freemen of America, you have seen the two de- 
 voted apostles of liberty and of your country, ascend- 
 ing at once to their final abode. United in life, un- 
 divided in death, they are gone to their last assembling 
 with all the good and virtuous of their land;— gone to 
 assist at the only Congress which is more august than 
 that which proclaimed your Independence ;— gone 
 amidst a radiance of glory that dazzles the gaze which 
 its splendour invites. 
 
194 THE ORATION 
 
 But let us not stand gazing up to Heaven. 
 Time admonishes us to fulfil the living maxims and 
 the dying injunctions of these venerated patriots ; — to 
 preserve the liberty which they gained, — to maintain 
 the union which they cemented ; to build up the 
 institutions which they founded, and 
 
 In each hall where Freedom spoke 
 
 With burning accents, let the vow 
 That from the lips of sages broke 
 Be by their sons repeated now. 
 Calling to remembrance still 
 
 All their struggles to be free ; 
 Their firm unconquerable will. 
 
 Breathing through that great decree.''^ 
 Let us rouse the patriot fires, 
 
 In each ardent freeman's breast. 
 With gratitude that ne'er expires. 
 With a zeal that ne'er shall rest. 
 
 * The "Declaration." 
 
INDEX 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Adams, John xxiii, 176-180; 
 
 death of, 169; oration on, 169-194; 
 
 his "Defence oftheConstitution,"i88 
 Academy of Germantown . I 34 note, 169 
 
 Albemarle County, Va 55 
 
 Alexandria, Va 60, 1 60 
 
 Amee Marguerite, The sloop 1' . .54 
 
 American Association for the Advancement 
 
 of Science 170 
 
 Anas of Jefferson 132 
 
 Ast, William, Jefferson to, 73 
 
 Austin, David, Commission of . . . .59 
 
 Ballard, Mr 63 
 
 Baltimore, xiii, 34, 76, 79, 81, 82, 106, 
 
 107, 160, 161; British vice consul 
 
 at, 78; Privateers fitted out in, . 80 
 
 Bank of Germantown xv 
 
 Bank of the United States, loi, 103, 163 
 Bankson, Benjamin 41, 42, loi, 103 note 
 
 Barbour, Mr 100 
 
 Barnard's American Journal ofEduca- 
 
 tion, 170 
 
 Bartram's Gardens, xi 
 
 Bell, Colonel 32 
 
 Belvidere, 160 
 
 Benson — , 160 
 
 Betts, Colonel 106 
 
 Biddle, Samuel . . . 32, 107, 115, 118 
 
 Blackwell, Mr 41,42, loi 
 
 Bladensburg, 160 
 
 Blenheim, . . 56 
 
 Bockius Inn, 44, 48; 
 
 see also King of Frussia Ir.n 
 
 Bonsall, Edward H xxiv 
 
 Boston Public Library, . . . . 171 
 
 Bouteille, Mr 70 
 
 Brandywine, 161 
 
 Bringhurst, 1 164 
 
 Bristol Township, 170 
 
 Brown, John, .... 66, 83 note, 106 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Bunker Hill, 183 
 
 Cabinet Decisions, I 51-15 5 
 
 Cabinet Meetings, 129-150 
 
 Campbell, Robert, .... . . 163 
 
 Campbell, William J., 171 
 
 Captures in American Waters, 44, 46, 47, 
 51. 52, 53. 54, 60, 61, 62, 63, 
 
 76-84, 89, 104 
 
 Carmichael, Mr 100, lOI 
 
 Carr, Dabney ... 54 
 
 Carr, Mrs. Martha . 54, 119, 162, 163 
 
 Carr, Peter, Jefl^erson to 54 
 
 Carter, Mrs 56 
 
 Carver, Captain, of "The Industry" . 79 
 
 Carvin, Mr 70 
 
 Cary, Colonel . . 55 
 
 Central High School, 170 
 
 Ceracchi, Giuseppe, Jefferson to . . .75 
 
 Chaise, M. la, 40 
 
 Channing, William, ....... 83 
 
 Chapman, Mr 99, 100, loi 
 
 Charleston, S. C, 109 
 
 Charlottesville, Va. , 106 
 
 Chatham, 160 
 
 Chervi, M., 36, 109, 155 
 
 Chesapeake Bay, French operations in, 34 
 
 Chester, Pa., 161 
 
 Chew, Benjamin, Jr. , 169 
 
 Church, Angelica Schuyler, 122 note; let- 
 ters from Jefferson, 122, 123, 124 
 Church, John Barker, . . . .122 note 
 Church, Mrs. John Barker (Angelica 
 
 Schuyler) 122 note 
 
 Church, Kitty (?) 122 
 
 "Citoyen Genet," The Privateer . 84, 86 
 Clarkson, Matthew, Mayor of Philadel- 
 phia, XV, 1 17 
 
 Clinton, George 29 
 
 Clover seed, purchase of, . . . 107, 161 
 Colchester, 160 
 
PAGE 
 
 Commerce, French treaty of, . . 35, 36 
 Congress, Meeting of . 27, 31, 47, 49, 91, 
 96, 116; Opinion of Jefferson, 28,57 
 of Hamilton, 28; of Randolph, 28; 
 of William Rawle, 28; Washington's 
 perplexity, 3 1 : the Germantown 
 
 School suggested, 57, 58 
 
 Congress, constitutional powers of, i 36— 142 
 Coningham, The Brig, .... 89, 154 
 Connecticut Courant, . . . .145 note 
 Consuls, Commissions of foreign, must be 
 presented to the president, 107, 108 
 . . . . see also Marine yurisdiction 
 
 Consular Etiquette, 108, 109 
 
 Copper for the Mint, 38, 121 
 
 Corny, Madame de, 122, 123 
 
 Cosway, Madame, 123 
 
 Cotton gin. Invention of, xxi, 90, 91, 1 11, 
 
 112, 113, 114 
 
 Coxe, Tench, 121; to Jefferson ... 63 
 
 Cropper, Miss 98 
 
 Crosby, Mr xvii, 163, 164 
 
 Dalton, Peter 47 
 
 Danish Claims, 104, 105 
 
 Dannery, M 108, 155 
 
 Declaration of Independence . . 169, 191 
 
 Delogier, Daniel 63 
 
 Department of State, Expenses of . .165 
 
 De Vieux 67 
 
 Diary, Jefferson's Financial, xxiii, 159-165 
 
 Didier, Peter 163 
 
 District Attorneys, Instructions of Jefferson 
 
 to . xxii, 60-63, ^8> i^6» i*7> ^53 
 
 Dodson, Richard, Jefferson to . . . .33 
 
 Donald, Mr 72 
 
 Dover, Mortgage on, 94 
 
 Dumas, Mr 37 
 
 Dunkirk, France, 48, 56 
 
 Duplaine, M 155 
 
 Dutch Minister to the U. S 44 
 
 Eames, Wilberforce, .... xxiii, xxiv 
 
 Elk River, 107 
 
 Elkton, Md., xiii, 160 
 
 Elliot, Hartman xiii, 161 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Elliston & Perot 162 
 
 England, Treaty of Peace vi\th, 68, 68 note; 
 
 see Great Britain 
 
 Engle (or Ingles), 163 
 
 Engraver of the Mint 38, no 
 
 Fair Hill 30 
 
 Falmouth, 160 
 
 Falls of Schuylkill 40 
 
 Fanny, The British brig, .... 44, 46 
 
 Fanueil Hall, . 183 
 
 Ferguson, Jefferson's horse, . . . xx, 118 
 
 Filibustering Expeditions, 70 
 
 Financial Diary 159-165 
 
 Ford, Paul Leicester, xviii, xix 
 
 Ford's Writings of Jefferson . . xviii, 132 
 Foreigners, laws protecting, . . . .126 
 Fortifications, debate on .... 144, 147 
 France, !<; 3; attitude towards the U.S. 148, 
 
 149; treaty with, 137 note; see Genet 
 
 Franklin, Benjamin, 186, 187 
 
 Franks, Col. Isaac 136 note 
 
 Franks, the barber, 161 
 
 Fredericksburg, xiii, 31, 160 
 
 Freeman, Clarkson, 64 
 
 Freeman, Ezra Fitz, 64 
 
 French Consuls, 126 
 
 French refugees, 126; in Carolina, 109, 1 10 
 French Revolution, Hamilton's abhorrence 
 
 of the, 134 
 
 French West Indies, . . 117, 137 note 
 French National Assembly's decree on 
 
 Commerce, 35> 3^ 
 
 Freneau, Philip, 32, 56, 162 
 
 Fullerton, Mrs 98, 163 
 
 Gamble, Col. Robert . . .51, 106 note 
 
 " Jefferson to 71 
 
 " to Jefferson 105 
 
 Gatewood's, 160 
 
 Genet, Edmond Charles . . xxii, 29, 69, 
 
 86, 89, 96, 99, 102, 121, 134,135, 
 
 136, 138, I39i 139 note, 140,14s. 
 
 150, 154, 155; his marriage, 29 
 Genet, Jefferson to, 33, 35, 44, 51, 86, 
 
 104, 108, 109, III, 116 .... 
 
PAGE 
 
 Genet, to Jefferson 145 note 
 
 Genet, recalled 138 
 
 Georgetown, 160 
 
 German Reformed church, . .134 note 
 Germantown Academy, . . 57, i34note, 
 
 169, 170 
 
 Germantown Academy Trustees, Letter 
 
 to 57, 58 
 
 Germantown, Bank of xv 
 
 Germantown Cabinet Meetings, . 129-150 
 Germantown, Jefferson reaches . . .161 
 Germantown, Jefferson leaves . . .164 
 Germantown Letters, The . . . 25-127 
 Overcrowding, . . 28, 31 
 Patriotism of its citizens, . 58 
 
 School, 57 
 
 Gilliams, Doctor .... xvi, xvii, 161 
 
 Gordon's, 160 
 
 Gore, Christopher 127, 155 
 
 Grandanse, St. Domingo, .... 48, 56 
 Gray, Vincent, Commission of, . . . 60 
 
 Gray's Gardens, xi 
 
 Great Britain, 137 note, 153; attitude to- 
 wards the U. S., . . . . 148, 149 
 
 Greenleaf, Mr 37 
 
 Hague & Liester, 106 
 
 Hamilton, Alexander 27, 30, 44, 58, 87, 
 I33> 134, 136, 137, 138, 141, 14^, 
 144. 147, 148, 150, 154; 
 His responsibility for Washington's 
 
 documents 58 
 
 Hamilton, Bust of 75 
 
 Hamilton, Mrs. Alexander . , 132 note 
 
 Hamilton, Fort 96 
 
 Hamilton, S. M xxiv 
 
 Hammond, George, British Minister xxii, 
 87, 88, 89, 100, loi, 149, 154 
 
 42, 68 note, 76, 86 
 
 Hammond, .George, Jefferson to 42, 68, 
 
 note 76, 86 
 
 Hammond, George, to Jefferson . 68 note 
 
 Hancock, John 29 
 
 Harrison, Richard 127 
 
 Hart, Patrick, Jefferson to, 74 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Harvard College, 170 
 
 Hawley, Mr 182 
 
 Henry, Patrick, 182 
 
 Herman, Rev. Frederic, xiv, I 34 note 
 
 Herald of the U. S. 47 
 
 Hill, Henry 68 
 
 Hollingsworth, Jacob . 32, 154, 161,162 
 Hollingsworth, Jacob, Jefferson to . . 107 
 
 Hollingsworth, Zebulon 127 
 
 Homassel, Jefferson to 67 
 
 Hopkins, Mr, Jefferson to 66 
 
 Houses in Germantown : 
 
 130 W. Scliool Lane, xiv, 134 note 
 
 5518 Main St xiv, 28 
 
 5275 Main St. xv 
 
 School House, .... 57, 134 note 
 
 5442 Main St 135 note 
 
 Howell, David xxi 
 
 Howell, David, Jefferson to .... 83 
 
 Hubbard, Mr 37 
 
 Indians, Northwestern .... 120, 121 
 "Industry," The French privateer, 76, 78 
 
 79, 80, 81, 87 
 
 Ingles, or Engle 163 
 
 Inns see Ta-verns 
 
 Insurance, System of 73 
 
 ''Jane," The, of Dublin 155 
 
 Jaudenes, Don Joseph de, 39, 88; letter 
 
 from Jefferson to, 39 
 
 Jay, John, Dispute with Genet, 145 note, 
 
 146 
 
 Jefferson, George 54 
 
 Jefferson, Maria, xi, xx, 32, 56, 119, 123, 
 160; Letter from Jefferson to, . . 97 
 
 Jefferson, Martha 
 
 . . see Martha Jeffenon Randolph 
 Jefferson, Thomas, . 133, 180, 181, 182 
 
 Anas, 131, 132 
 
 The Journey to Germantown, xiii, 30, 
 31; Its great cost, 31; arrival 161; 
 residence, xv ; leaves Germantown 
 
 xvii, 164 
 
 Death of, 169 
 
 Eulogy on, .... xxiii, 169-194 
 
PAGE 
 
 Finances, xxi, 33, 92, 93, 94, 95, 
 . . 102-03 note, 119, 157-165 
 Financial Diary, . . xxiii, 157-165 
 Author of Patent system of the U.S. 90 
 Ceracchi's bust of, .... 75 note 
 Commission to David Austin, 59; to 
 
 Vincent Gray, 60 
 
 Dentistry, xvi, xvii 
 
 Household expenses, xvii 
 
 Randall's life of, 75 note 
 
 "Notes on Virginia," .... 188 
 Opinion of Washington . . . .105 
 
 Trust in God, 57 
 
 His responsibility for Washington's 
 
 documents 58 
 
 Protest against French naval opera- 
 tions, 34 
 
 Sarah Randolph's Domestic Life of, 
 
 122 note 
 
 Retirement from office, xii,37,84,io6 
 
 As a farmer, 107, 115; buys clover 
 
 . . . seed, 107; buys sheep, 115 
 
 His city office 93 
 
 Sister of, 54 
 
 Writings, xviii, 132 
 
 Jefferson, Thomas. . His letters, xviii, xix; 
 letters written in Germantown, xix 
 
 Jefferson to William Ast, 73 
 
 " David Austin, ... 59 
 
 " Peter Carr, 54 
 
 " Giuseppe Ceracchi, ... 75 
 " Angelica Church, . . .122 
 " District Attorneys, . 60, 126 
 " Richard Dobson . . . .33 
 " Dutch Minister, .... 44 
 " Robert Gamble, . . . .71 
 " Genet, Edmond Charles, 33, 
 35. 44, 5i> 86, 104, 108, 
 109, 111,116 . . . . 
 " Christopher Gore, , . .126 
 
 " Vincent Gray, 60 
 
 " George Hammond, . . 42, 68 
 
 76, 86 
 
 " Richard Harrison, . . .126 
 
 Jefferson to Patrick Hart, 74 
 
 '* " Jacob HoUingsworth, . .107 
 " " Zebulon HoUingsworth, . 126 
 
 " " Homassel, 67 
 
 ' ' " Hopkins, 66 
 
 " " David Howell, 83 
 
 " " Maria Jefferson, .... 97 
 
 " " John Kean, 93 
 
 " " Patrick Kennon, .... 64 
 " " Henry Knox, . . 40, 53, 87 
 
 " " Tobias Lear, 37 
 
 " " Herman Le Roy, .... 94 
 " " James Madison, 27, 47,50 note 
 
 96 
 
 " " Robert Morris, U. S.Judge, 64 
 
 " " Mr. Myers, 119 
 
 " " William Moultrie, ... 69 
 " " John Nancarrow, . . .124 
 
 " " Mr. Nevvbern, 72 
 
 " " Thomas Parker, . . . .126 
 " " Thomas Pinckney, . . .120 
 " " Martha Jefferson Randolph, 55 
 " '* Thomas Mann Randolph, 30 
 
 118 
 
 " " William Rawle, . . 84, 126 
 " " Henry Remsen, Jr., ... 49 
 " " David Rittenhouse, . . .38 
 " " John Ross, . 102, 102 note 
 
 " " Robert Scott, no 
 
 " " Richard Soderstrom, . .104 
 " " Spanish Minister, .... 44 
 " " Archibald Stuart, 1 1 5, 1 24 note 
 " " George Taylor . . . 91, 99 
 " " Trustees of the German- 
 town School, . . . .57 
 " " Viar and Jaudenes, ... 39 
 
 " " Washington, 87 
 
 " "Eli Whitney, 90 
 
 Jefferson, Thomas 
 
 Letter from Tench Coxe, , . . .63 
 " " Robert Gamble, . .105 
 " " Edmond Charles Genet 
 
 145 note 
 
 " " George Hammond 68 note 
 
PAGE 
 
 Jefferson to Edward Rutlege .... 4^ 
 " " George Taylor, . 41, 101 
 " " Eli Whitney, . . .111 
 
 Johnson, Thomas 29 
 
 Johnson, Walter R. xxiii, 169, 170, 171; 
 his eulogy on Jefferson, xxiii, 171-194 
 
 Jones, Joseph 162 
 
 Jordan, John W xxiv 
 
 Jurisdiction at sea — see Marine yurisJiciion 
 Kean, John . . . 92,93, 101, loi note 
 
 Kean, Mrs. John 93 
 
 Kean, John, Jefferson to 93 
 
 Kennon, Patrick 162; Jefferson to . .64 
 
 Kentucky, Govenor of 39, 88 
 
 Kentucky, Anti-Spanish expedition from 
 
 39.40 
 
 Keyser, Naaman H xxiv 
 
 Killy, Hon. Mr 79, 81 
 
 King, Rufus dispute with Genet, 145 
 
 note, 146 
 
 King of Prussia Tavern xiv, 28, 44, 48, 161 
 Knox, General Henry 27, 44, 87, 133, 
 
 134, 135. 140, 145. 147, 149. 150. 
 
 IS4> 155; Jefferson to 40, 53, 87 . 
 
 La Fayette, 1 2 1, 122 
 
 Lancaster, Pa., 28, 31, 47, 91, 92, 134, 
 
 note, 135 
 
 Lansdowne, 68 
 
 Lapsley, Thomas, . xv, xvii, 17, 98, 161, 
 
 163, 164 
 
 Lear, Tobias, Jefferson to, 37 
 
 Lee, Governor Thomas Sim, . . 79, 87 
 
 Lenox Library, xxiv, 93, 159 
 
 Le Roy, Caroline, 94 
 
 Le Roy, Herman, xxi. Letter from 
 
 Jefferson, 94 
 
 Le Roy, Bayard & Co., 94 
 
 Lewis, H. R., 28 
 
 Lexington, Battle of 183 
 
 Liester, 106 
 
 Livingston, Robert R., 29 
 
 Logan, Dr. George 163 
 
 ''Lovely Lass," The 155 
 
 McClurg, James 29 
 
 PAGE 
 
 McKean, Thomas, Governor of Penn- 
 sylvania, 89 
 
 McL [James McClurg,] 29 
 
 Madison, Ambrose 162 
 
 Madison, James xv, xvi, xxi, 48, 96, 162 
 163; Jefferson to, 27, 47, 50 note, 96 
 
 Madrid, 100 
 
 Marine Jurisdiction of the United States, xxii 
 
 4^, 43. 45. 46, 51. 52. S3. 60, 
 
 61, 62, 63, 76, 77, 78.79. 80, 81, 
 
 82, 83, 84, 8s, 86, 104, 153 . . 
 
 Maritime Law — see Captures. Marine Jfur- 
 
 isdiction 
 
 Market Square, Germantown, . 1 34 note 
 
 Martinique, loi, 102 
 
 Maryland, 127; district attorney of, 89; 
 
 Governor of, 79, 87 
 
 Massachusetts, 127 
 
 Massachusetts Historical collections, .111 
 
 Mery, 163 
 
 Military Academy, 144, 147 
 
 Miller, Phineas 113 
 
 Mint at Philadelphia, Copper for the, . 38 
 David Rittenhouse, Director . .38 
 Joseph Wright, designer . . . .38 
 
 Engraver for the, no 
 
 Mohawk, The ship 121 
 
 Moissonier, Consul at Baltimore 3 3 , 34, 1 54 
 Monroe, James, . . xv, xvi, 27, 48, 96 
 Monticello mentioned, xii, xx, xxi, 33, 37, 
 106, 115, 124, 159, 160 ... . 
 Morris, Gouverneur . . . 99, 139 note 
 Morris, Robert, U. S. Judge, .... 88 
 Jefferson to, 64; Reply note . . 64 
 Moultrie, William . . .29, 69, 70, 88 
 
 no, 140 
 
 Mount Vernon, I 74 
 
 Muhlenberg, F. A., 28 
 
 Myers, 162, 163; Jefferson to . . .119 
 Nancarrow, John, . 124 note, 125 note 
 
 Jefferson to 124, 125 
 
 Nancarrow, Mrs. John 124 
 
 National Gazette, .... 32, 56, i6i 
 Negroes not susceptible to yellow fever, . 3 1 
 
PAGE 
 
 Neutrality, Declaration of, . . 136, 137 
 Proclamation of, 136 note, 140 
 
 141, 142, 143 
 
 Newbern, Mr, of Richmond, . .71, 105 
 Letter from Jefferson, ... 72 
 
 New Haven, Ct., 59 
 
 Newspapers 
 
 Connecticut Courant, . . 145 note 
 Herald of the United States ... 47 
 National Gazette, . . . 32, 56, 161 
 
 Virginia Chronicle, 72 
 
 New York, . . . 28, 31, 51, 123, 127 
 
 Norfolk, Va., 51 
 
 North, Lord 181, 191 
 
 North Carolina, Governor of, . . 54, 88 
 Oration on Adams and Jefferson, . .169 
 
 Orrer)', Jefferson's xx, 74 
 
 "Pacificus," Alexander Hamilton's . 141 
 
 Page, Carter 55 
 
 Parker, Thomas 127 
 
 Patent System of the United States, . . 90 
 Patterson [Paterson, N.J.,] 91, 113,114 
 Pearce's cotton gin, . . . 91, 113, 114 
 
 Penn Township, 170 
 
 Pennevert, M, 109, 155 
 
 Pennsylvania, 127; Governor of, . . 80 
 Pennsylvania, Historical Society of, . xxiii, 
 
 94, 171 • •- 
 
 Perot — see Elliston & Perot, . . . .162 
 Philadelphia, Congress to meet in, . .31 
 
 Mayor of, 117 
 
 "Pigon," The 38, 121 
 
 "Pilgram," The 89, 154 
 
 Pinckney, Thomas .... 38, 50, 51 
 Pinckney, Thomas, Jefferson to . . 1 20 
 President's constitutional powers, i 36-145 
 "Prince William Henry" The, . .155 
 
 Privateers see Captures 
 
 Prize Law see Captures 
 
 Proclamation of Neutrality . . . .136 
 "Providence," The British sloop, . . 54 
 Rain stops the Yellow Fever, . . . 1 20 
 Randall, Henry S., Life of Jefferson 
 
 by, 75 note 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Randolph, Colonel 119 
 
 Randolph, David 74 
 
 Randolph, Edmund, xv, 27, 44, 87, 96 
 
 133, 134, 135) 136, 137. I39> 140 
 141, 142, 144, 145, 145 note, 147 
 
 149, 150, i<;4, 155 
 
 Randolph, Martha Jefferson, . . xx, 30 
 
 119, 123; Letter from Jefferson, 55 
 
 Randolph, M.,Jr. , . . . . . .160 
 
 Randolph, Thomas Jefferson, . . . xviii 
 Randolph, Thomas Mann, xx, 30, 32, 55 
 
 56, 71, 74, 95. 98, 115, 1^3 • • 
 Randolph, Thomas Mann, Jefferson 
 
 to, 30, 118 
 
 Rawle, William, . 28, 84, 86, 127, 154 
 
 Letter from Jefferson, 84 
 
 Reading, Pa., . 47, 86, 134 note, 135 
 Remsen, Henry, Jr. , Jefferson to, . . 49 
 Refugees from St. Domingo, . . .117 
 
 Riot of, 117 
 
 Revenue Inspectors, appointment of, . 63 
 
 Richardson, 164 
 
 Richmond, Va., 50, 51, 72, 91,106, 116 
 
 Riot in Philadelphia, 117 
 
 Rittenhouse, David 98 
 
 Rittenhouse, David, Jefferson to, . . . 38 
 Rittenhouse, Mrs. David . . . . 38, 98 
 Rochampton, The British ship, 76, 80,81 
 
 87, 89, 154 
 
 Rocket's, 106, 160 
 
 Rogers, overseer, 32 
 
 Rogers's, 160 
 
 Ross, John . . 29, 161, 102 note, 103 
 Ross John, Jefferson to . 102, 102 note 
 
 Ross, Mrs. John, 103 
 
 Roxborough, Phila., • 170 
 
 Runevert, Mr 36 
 
 Rutlege, Edward, 29; to Jefferson . . 48 
 St. Domingo, . . .48, 56, 76, 79, 117 
 
 Refugees from, 48, 49 
 
 Salaries, Government, 92 
 
 Schuyler, General Philip, . . .122 note 
 Scott, Robert, Jefferson to, . . . . IIO 
 
 Commission as engraver, . . .110 
 
PAGE 
 
 Sechel, Mr., 96 
 
 Secretary of State, salary of 92 
 
 Sheep, purchase of, 115, 163 
 
 Shelby, Isaac, Governor of Kentucky, . 88 
 
 Shippen, Dr., 161 
 
 Shippen, Thomas, 56 
 
 Shippen, Mrs. Thomas & her sister, . 56 
 Short, William, . 65, 66, loi, 102, 162 
 
 Skipworth, Fulwar, ioi,ioz 
 
 Smith, — , of South Carolina, .... 28 
 Smith, Charles, & Co., .... 162, 163 
 
 Smitli, Jonathan, .101 
 
 Smith, Rev. William, 40 
 
 South Carolina, 127; Governor of, . 1 10 
 Spaight, Richard Dobbs, Governor of 
 
 North Carolina, 88 
 
 Spain, 153 
 
 Spanish complaints, 40 
 
 Spanish Minister to the United States, . 44 
 Spanish possessions, expedition from 
 
 Kentucky into, 39, 40 
 
 Spencer, Nathan, xvi 
 
 Spuryear, 160 
 
 Stafford Court House, 160 
 
 Stage coaches, 31, 47 
 
 State Department, expenses of the, . 165 
 State Laws protecting foreigners, . .126 
 
 Staunton, Va., 106, 115, n6 
 
 Stewart, Mr., 118 
 
 Stewart, A., 162 
 
 Stuart, Archibald, 124, 162 
 
 Letters from Jefferson, 115, 124 note 
 Soderstrom, Richard, letter from Jef- 
 ferson, 104 
 
 Susquehanna, The, • 160 
 
 Sweden, Consul of, 104 
 
 Swedish claims, 104, 105 
 
 Taylor George, loi, 161 
 
 Taylor George, to Jefferson . .41, loi 
 Taylor, George, Jefferson to . . . 91, 99 
 
 Telescope, Jefferson's xx, 72 
 
 Threshing Machine .... xx, 50, 51 
 
 Tilden, Samuel J 159 
 
 Toulon captured by the English 48,56, 116 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Traveling Expenses xiii 
 
 Treaty Making Power under the constitution 
 
 142, '43 
 
 Treaty of Commerce 35 
 
 Treaty with France 137 note 
 
 Treaty with Great Britain . . 68, 68 note 
 
 Trenton, N. J 154 
 
 Turtle Island 70 
 
 United Netherlands 153 
 
 Vainqueur de la Bastille, the ship . . 54 
 Van Staphorst Brothers, Jacob and Nicholas 
 
 37, 94 
 
 Varina, Mortgage on 95 
 
 Vaughan, Mr 67 
 
 Vessels, seizure of 52 
 
 Viar, Don Joseph de 395 letter 
 
 from Jefferson, 39 
 
 Viar and Jaudenea 39, 88 
 
 Virginia 123 
 
 Virginia Chronicle • • 72 
 
 Virginia Cotton Manufacture . . 90, 91 
 Virginia, Historical Society of, . 115 note 
 
 124 note 
 
 Warren R. 1 47 
 
 Washington, D. C, 170 
 
 Washington, George .11, 27, 122, 133 
 to 150, 153, 154, 155, 174 .. . 
 Importance to the country, . .105 
 
 Residence, 135 
 
 Speech to Congress, . 136 note, 147 
 Messages on France and England, 148 
 
 Message on Spain, 148 
 
 MSS. in Library of Congress, 153 note 
 Washington to Trustees of the German- 
 town School, 58 
 
 The Trustees call on him . . .58 
 "Washington in Germantown," by 
 
 Charles F. Jenkins, . xviii, 136 note 
 
 Washington, Jefferson to 87 
 
 Washington, Ceracchi's Monument to, 75 
 
 Washington, H. A xviii, 132 
 
 Watson, 32 
 
 Watson's Annals, xv 
 
 Wayne, General Anthony 96 
 
PAGE 
 
 Webster, Daniel 94 
 
 Webster, Mrs. Daniel 94 
 
 Weiss, xvii, 163 
 
 West India Islands, 117 
 
 West Point 144, 144 note 
 
 Whitney, Eli, xxi, 11 1, 112,113, 114,115 
 
 Jefferson to, 90 
 
 Letter to Jefferson, iii 
 
 "William," the British ship, 47, 84, 85 
 
 ■86, 89, 154 
 
 Willing, Thomas, 29 
 
 Wilmington, Del., xiii 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Wirtz, 163 
 
 Wright, Joseph, 83 
 
 Wright's, 160 
 
 Writings of Jefferson, 132 
 
 Wythe, Mr., 92 
 
 Yellow fever, xi, xiv, xv, 27, 28, 29, 31 
 
 47, 49, 56, 71, 7^, 91,97,105, "6 
 
 120 
 
 Death of Joseph Wright, . . 38, 47 
 Negroes not susceptible, . . . .31 
 Diminished by great rains, . . 96, 97 
 
MAR 7 1907 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 011 838 332 1