persons in the executive departments, and in the legislature, were not consulted, and therefore the propriety of the measure may be questioned, and they doubtless derive their information from the said persons, who are in Philadelphia. The persons here, who are mostly dissatisfied, are the same (styling themselves federalists) who in the first instance expressed themselves with equal virulence against the British treaty. They have had some influence, but in the present case will find it more limited than formerly. Your knowledge of characters will readily suggest who they are. The main object in writing this letter is to assure you, with all possible sincerity, of my perfect conviction that the great body of the federal interest, confide implicitly in your knowledge and virtue; that those qualities are fully adequate to the important existing crisis; and that in every division of opinion they will adhere and cling to you in preference to all others.

In addition to this general opinion, I may with humility say, that the measure itself, for many obvious reasons, is one of the most dignified, decisive, and beneficial ever adopted by the Chief Magistrate of any nation, soaring above all prejudice, and regarding the happiness of the nation as the primary object of his administration, and in the pursuit of which he nobly hazards his reputation, until the mists of ignorance or party shall subside. I am, with sincere respect, &c.

HENRY KNOX.

POINTS

which, on the 11th of March, 1799, received the President's assent, as ultimata.

1. That France should stipulate to indemnify the citizens of the United States for the spoliations committed on their commerce by the armed vessels and citizens of France, and by the adjudication of her courts in prize causes.

2. That as the vessels of the United States were not bound by treaty to have on board what the French call a rôle d'équipage, all captures and condemnations of American vessels and property for want of a rôle d'équipage, be considered as unlawful and null; and that in submitting to a board of commissioners, who may be appointed to adjust mutual claims, all those arising from captures and condemnations for want of the rôle

d'équipage, be expressly excepted, as not admitting of any dispute, but for which compensation shall be made by France, the only question concerning them being the amount of the damages sustained by American citizens, to be ascertained in the manner to be agreed on.

3. That the United States will not stipulate to guarantee any part of the dominions of France.

C. LEE, ATTORNEY-GENERAL, TO JOHN ADAMS.

Philadelphia, 14 March, 1799.

DEAR SIR-The inclosed from my friend Marshall, on Wednesday last was received by me, and it is with no small pleasure I find his opinion correspondent with my own respecting the appointment of Murray. You will perceive from the date, that the subsequent modification of the embassy was not known to him when he wrote. His letter being entirely of a private nature, I should not have sent it to you, but that I presume it will afford you satisfaction to know that a measure which excited so much agitation here, has met the approbation of so good a judge as Mr. Marshall.1

Nothing new has been heard concerning the insurgents since you left the city. The report of the marshal agrees substantially

1 Mr. Marshall's letter was returned. The act to which it alludes, saved the neutral policy of the country. And this evidence, as well as General Knox's letter, shows that the sentiment of disapprobation was not even at the time quite so general among the federalists as Mr. Pickering assumes it in his confidential disclosure to Mr. Hamilton to have been. See Hamilton's Works, vol. vi. p. 398. Mr. Jay's tone and manner of treating the subject, even with the half light in which he saw it, contrast singularly with those of Mr. Pickering and Mr. Sedgwick. See Jay's Life of Jay, vol. ii. p. 288, 296.

Patrick Henry's letter to Mr. Pickering, 16th April, declining his appointment, speaks for itself.

Mr. Higginson also betrays his uneasiness at the approbation of the measure given by others whom he does not name, though General Lincoln is evidently one of them. He laments that "no use will be made of the powers given to the President by the alien and sedition acts, nor will the authority to raise an army, to organize and officer it, be exercised." S. Higginson to Ŏ. Wolcott, Gibbs's Mem. of the Fed. Adm. vol. ii. p. 230.

Lastly, General Lafayette, in a letter adressed to Mr. McHenry on the 18th of April, which has not been printed, says,

"I must express the happiness I have felt in hearing that plenipotentiary ministers are going from the United States, to bring about a reconciliation with France. I am persuaded, as I have formerly written, that the French government are in earnest."

with the letters and affidavit which were shown to you by the Secretary of State on Monday evening.

Wishing you a safe journey, &c.

CHARLES Lee.

TO C. LEE, ATTORNEY-GENERAL.

(Private.)

Quincy, 29 March, 1799.

SIR,-Esteeming very highly the opinion and character of your friend General Marshall, I thank you for inclosing his letter of the 3d of March in yours of the 14th, which I have received.

The nomination of Murray has had one good effect, at least. It has shown to every observing and thinking man the real strength or weakness of the Constitution, and where one part of that weakness resides. It has also produced a display of the real spirit of the parties in this country, and the objects they have in view. To me, it has laid open characters. Some of these will do well to study a little more maturely the spirit of their stations. But vanity has no limits; arrogance shall be made to feel a curb. If any one entertains the idea, that, because I am a President of three votes only, I am in the power of a party, they shall find that I am no more so than the Constitution forces upon me. If combinations of senators, generals, and heads of department shall be formed, such as I cannot resist, and measures are demanded of me that I cannot adopt, my remedy is plain and certain. I will try my own strength at resistance first, however. This is free, and entre nous.

TO J. MCHENRY, SECRETARY OF WAR.

Quincy, 29 March, 1799.

SIR, I have received, in your favor of the 16th, Major General Pinckney's list, arranged in concert with Governor Davie. This list has my approbation, and you may announce as soon as possible to the persons their appointments.

I expect that all the vacancies in the army be first communicated to me, and the candidates, with their recommendations, be transmitted to me, before commissions are sent them, or appointments announced to them.

Inclosed is a letter from Benjamin Beale, Jr., which I request you to consider. He cannot accept a lieutenancy, and I cannot blame him. His age, education, travels, manners, and irreproachable character merit a captaincy, if any one is vacant.

Mr. Hastings has been with me. I wish you to examine his recommendations, and weigh his pretensions. He is a warlikelooking officer, and served the whole revolutionary war.

Major Lillie also has been here. His merits must be attended to. There is also a Mr. Burbeck, who must be provided for in the artillery. He has talents, and experience which no other man in the United States possesses, in compositions which are important in that line of service. A soldier from his birth, he shall be so till his death, if it depends on, Sir,

Your most obedient servant,

JOHN ADAMS.

P. S. I return General Pinckney's letter and list. I desire, too, that Mr. Barron's commission as captain of artillery be sent him immediately. The New England officers, I am told, are impatient for their commissions. I desire that all the commissions may be sent to the officers throughout the States, without loss of time.

TO B. STODDERT, SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.

Quincy, 7 April, 1799.

I have received your favor of the 28th ultimo, and have signed the commission to Lieutenant Haswell, and sent it on with the letter to Mr. J. C. Jones.

I return you the copies of Captain Truxtun's correspondence with General Desfourneaux, which is conducted on our part with dignity and propriety; excepting perhaps that the respect to French property on board neutral vessels, and to unarmed French vessels, might as well have been concealed.

I thank you for your comfortable opinion that the insurrec

tion in Northampton will be suppressed without bloodshed. No intelligence could be so agreeable to me.1

TO T. PICKERING, SECRETARY OF STATE.

Quincy, 13 April, 1799.

I regret that I cannot have an opportunity of receiving General Maitland and Colonel Grant, and conversing with them on several subjects of importance.2 They will, I hope and presume, communicate to you all that will be necessary for us to know relative to a certain topic; but I wish to know their sentiments concerning Surinam, Curaçao, &c., and the neutral ports that harbor privateers. Cayenne, too, and even Cuba, are subjects of speculation in certain cases that are very supposable.

I hope Mr. King's public despatches to you were written in better spirits than his private letter to me. You will please to return it to me. Mr. King was, you know, at times a little subject to croaking. I fear, however, in this case he has too much reason. The people in Europe see little difference between the new and the old state of things. The highest and the lowest of mankind are desperately corrupt and wicked, and the middling people are almost destroyed.

TO J. MCHENRY, SECRETARY OF WAR.

Quincy, 13 April, 1799.

SIR, Last night I received your favor of the 5th. The proceedings detailed in it, appear to have been well considered and prudently pursued. But the sordid spirit which produced this as well as the former insurrection in Pennsylvania, and which has given so much trouble to the government, anxiety to the nation, and burden on the treasury, ought to excite more gene

1 Mr. Stoddert's letter concluded thus:

"The city troops of horse marched towards Northampton, on Thursday last. We hear nothing to lead to an opinion that there will be any opposition."

2 They arrived in a sloop of war from England. Their business respected St. Domingo, the unsettled condition of which had excited great feeling both in Great Britain and the United States, and led to much negotiation between them.