of Mr. Remsen. With sentiments of very great esteem and regard, I have the honor to be, &c.* * Mr. Jefferson left Paris on the 26th of September, crossed from Havre over to Cowes, and embarked from that place for America. He arrived at Norfolk on the 23d of November; and at Eppington in Chesterfield county, on his way to Monticello, he received the above letter, and also another from President Washington on the same subject dated November 30th. In his reply he said, that his inclinations led him to prefer his former station in France, to which it had been his intention to return. "But," he added, "it is not for an individual to choose his post. You are to marshal us as may be best for the public good; and it is only in case of its being indifferent to you, that I would avail myself of the option you have so kindly offered in your letter. If you think it better to transfer me to another post, my inclination must be no obstacle; nor shall it be, if there is any desire to suppress the office I now hold, or to diminish its grade. In either of these cases be so good as to signify to me by another line your ultimate wish, and I shall conform to it accordingly. If it should be to remain at New York, my chief comfort will be to work under your eye, my only shelter the authority of your name, and the wisdom of measures to be dictated by you and implicitly executed by mc. Whatever you may please to decide, I do not see, that the matters, which have called me hither, will permit me to shorten the stay I originally asked; that is to say, to set out on my journey northward till the month of March. As early as possible in that month, I shall have the honor of paying my respects to you in New York.” — December 15th. The disinclination of Mr. Jefferson to accept the appointment of Secretary of State arose from the apprehension, that the duties of the office, comprising foreign and domestic affairs, would be oppressively burdensome, and so complicated that they could not be faithfully discharged by a single person. On this subject Mr. Madison wrote to the President as follows. "A few days before I was allowed to set out for New York, I took a ride to Monticello. The answer of Mr. Jefferson to the notification of his appointment will no doubt have explained the state of his mind on the subject. I was sorry to find him so little biassed in favor of the domestic service allotted to him, but was glad that his difficulties seemed to result chiefly from what I take to be an erroneous view of the kind and quantity of business annexed to that, which constituted the foreign department. He apprehends that it will far exceed the latter, which has of itself no terrors to him. On the other hand, it was supposed, and I believe truly, that the domestic part will be very trifling, and for that reason improper to be made a distinct department. After all, if the whole business can be executed by any one man, Mr. Jefferson must be SIR, TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS. * New York, 13 October, 1789. It being important to both countries, that the treaty of peace between Great Britain and the United States should be observed and performed with perfect and mutual good faith, and that a treaty of commerce should be concluded by them, on principles of reciprocal advantage to both, I wish to be ascertained of the sentiments and intentions of the court of London on these interesting subjects. It appears to me most expedient to have these inquiries made informally, by a private agent; and, understanding that you will soon be in London, I desire you in that capacity, and on the authority and credit of this letter, to converse with his Britannic Majesty's ministers on these points, namely, whether there be any and what objections to performing those articles in the treaty, which remain to be performed on his part; and whether they incline to a treaty of commerce with the United States on any and what terms. This communication ought regularly to be made to you by the Secretary of State; but, that office not being at present filled, my desire of avoiding delays induces me to make it under my own hand. It is my wish to promote harmony and mutual satisfaction between the two countries; and it would give me great pleasure to find that the result of your agency, in the business now committed to you, will conduce to that end. I am, Sir, yours, &c. equal to it. All whom I have heard speak on the subject are remarkably solicitous for his acceptance, and I flatter myself, that they will not in the event be disappointed."- Georgetown, January 4th, 1790. * Mr. Morris was at this time in France, but not in any official capacity. SIR, TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS. New York, 13 October, 1789. My letter to you, herewith enclosed, will give you the credence necessary to enable you to do the business, which it commits to your management, and which I am persuaded you will readily undertake. Your inquiries will commence by observing, that, as the present constitution of government, and of the courts established in pursuance of it, removes the objections heretofore made to putting the United States in possession of their frontier posts, it is natural to expect from the assurances of his Majesty and the national good faith, that no unnecessary delays will take place. Proceed then to press a speedy performance of the treaty respecting that object. Remind them of the article by which it was agreed, that negroes belonging to our citizens should not be carried away, and of the reasonableness of making compensation for them. Learn with precision, if possible, what they mean to do on this head. The commerce between the two countries you well understand. You are apprized of the sentiments and feelings of the United States on the present state of it; and you doubtless have heard, that, in the late session of Congress, a very respectable number of both houses were inclined to a discrimination of duties unfavorable to Britain, and that it would have taken place but for conciliatory considerations, and the probability that the late change in our government and circumstances would lead to more satisfactory arrangements. Request to be informed, therefore, whether they contemplate a treaty of commerce with the United States, and on what principles or terms in general. In treating this subject, let it be strongly impressed on your mind, that the privilege of carrying our productions in our vessels to their Islands, and of bringing in return the productions of those Islands to our own ports and markets, is regarded here as of the highest importance; and you will be careful not to countenance any idea of our dispensing with it in a treaty. Ascertain, if possible, their views on this point; for it would not be expedient to commence negotiations without previously having good reasons to expect a satisfactory termination of them. It may also be well for you to take a proper occasion of remarking, that their omitting to send a minister here, when the United States sent one to London, did not make an agreeable impression on this country; and request to know what would be their future conduct on similar occasions. It is in my opinion very important, that we avoid errors in our system of policy respecting Great Britain; and this can only be done by forming a right judgment of their disposition and views. Hence you will perceive how interesting it is, that you obtain the information in question, and that the business be so managed, as that it may receive every advantage, which abilities, address, and delicacy can promise and afford. I am, Sir, yours, &c. TO THE MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE. MY DEAR MARQUIS, New York, 14 October, 1789. This is the first time I have written to you since I have been in this place, and I have not received a line from you in the same space of time. This has been a long interval of silence between two persons, whose habits of correspondence have been so uninterruptedly kept up as ours; but the new and arduous scenes in which we have both been lately engaged will afford a mutual excuse. I wrote to you very fully in my last letters from Mount Vernon; and since that time the gazettes, which I know you receive, have given a pretty ample detail of our public proceedings. I therefore take the advantage of the politeness of the Count de Moustier, who is about returning to France, more with a view of assuring you that you are still remembered by me with affection, than with any intent to convey political intelligence. I will only observe generally, that the prospect is favorable to the political happiness of this country. The revolution, which has taken place with you, is of such magnitude, and of so momentous a nature, that we hardly yet dare to form a conjecture about it. We however trust and fervently pray, that its consequences may prove happy to a nation, in whose fate we have so much cause to be interested, and that its influence may be felt with pleasure by future generations. Mrs. Washington joins me in best wishes to you and your amiable partner. I am, my dear Marquis, with very great affection, yours, &c.* * As there was now a recess of Congress, which had been adjourned from the 29th of September to the 1st of January, the President resolved to embrace this opportunity to make a tour through the eastern States. He left New York, accompanied by his secretaries, Mr. Lear and Mr. Jackson, on the 15th of October. Travelling in his own carriage by the way of New Haven, Hartford, Worcester, Boston, Salem, and Newburyport, he reached Portsmouth in New Hampshire on the 31st, having been attended nearly the whole distance by military escorts, which were prepared to receive him at different points on the route. In all the principal towns, also, he was greeted with public addresses, the ringing of bells, entertainments, and every demonstration of joy from the whole |