1798]

A LAND CLAIM

143

*To GEORGE THACHER 88

Mount Vernon, January 27, 1798.

Sir: It is not long since the Papers herewith sent have been in my possession, altho' from the date they bear, one would be led to think otherwise.

If the statements are just, the case merits attention; and as Mr. Goodwin has mistaken the road by which the application (if redress can be afforded) is to be made, I have taken the liberty of transmitting them to you, on the supposition that he is a resident in the District you represent. I wish you an agreeable and harmonious Session, and am etc.

*To RUFUS PUTNAM

Mount Vernon, January 28, 1798.

Dear Sir: The letter, of which the enclosed is a copy, I had written to Colo. Sargant; but it having occurred to me since, that if my right to the Lands therein mentioned should be called in question, or any ungenerous advantage attempted to be taken from any defect, or informality in my title, of which, and the ground on which it is questioned I am entirely in the dark, that it must, in some shape or another come before you as Surveyor General of that Territory. Should this be the case, I not only crave the same favour of you that I have done of Colo. Sargent but pray that any interference with my right may be arrested until matters can be fully explained.

For the Right, purchased many years ago; for looking out the Land and making the locations; and for Surveying, and other incidental expences, I have already paid fully what was supposed to be the value of the land at the time I obtained it. "Member of Congress from Massachusetts.

It would be not a little hard, not to say unjust, to have it taken from me now; even admitting (which I do not, because I am not knowing to it) that there may have been some faupas in the proceedings on my behalf.

If you have heard, or should come to the knowledge of this attempt you would oblige me much by giving me information thereof, and on what plea I am to be disturbed in property of which I have possessed so many years. With very great esteem, etc.

89

*To THE SECRETARY OF WAR

Mount Vernon, January 28, 1798. Dear Sir: Knowing that the War Office has an Agency in the Western Lands, I take the liberty of putting the enclosed letters to General Putnam and Colo. Sargent under cover to you, open. By doing so, it supercedes the necessity of a repetition of what is therein mentioned. Another reason for giving you this trouble, is, that if Mr. Massey is a Surveyor in the Northwestern Territory, it is highly probable that his business in Philadelphia is with your Office. In which case, let me pray you to obtain what information he can give, respecting the claim upon my land, and transmit the same to me; and to request, after sealing my letters to the Gentlemen above mentioned, that you would be so kind as to put them into the safest channel of conveyance, that is afforded from Philadelphia. What means this calm, and apparent harmony in the Representative body? Is it because no collisive subject has come on? or does it proceed from a change of sentiment in the opposition

90

The original of this letter is in Marietta College, Ohio.

"McHenry replied (February 1): "The calm in the house of Representatives has been lately interrupted by an attempt to trench upon the power of the President relative to foreign intercourse and more recently by one member spitting in the face of another. Whether this affair has more meaning than appears I cannot say but the spitter [Matthew] Leon [Lyon, of Vermont] is a great beast.”

1798]

NATIONAL MATTERS

145

members? Are there no accounts yet from our Envoys? If not, to what is their silence attributed, when the News Papers are filled with accounts of them, as late as the middle of November, from Paris; where they must have been at least six weeks? What, as far as it can be guessed at, is the public sentiment relative to Monroe's voluminous work? which I have not yet seen, but have sent for it. And what of Fauchet's? Another elaborate work, I presume, will appear soon, from the late Commissioner of the Revenue; "2 the cause of whose dismission has never (that I have seen) been hinted in the Gazettes.93

92

91

What has been, or is it supposed will be done by the house of Representatives in consequence of the extraordinary application which was made to them on that occasion, by the ExCommissioners."

94

I have exhibited a long string of questions, but if you have not leisure, or if any of them are embarrassing, I require no answer to them. Mrs. Washington and Nelly Custis unite with me, in every good wish for Mrs. McHenry, yourself and family, and I am always, and Affectionately Yours.

*To CLEMENT BIDDLE

Mount Vernon, January 29, 1798.

Dear Sir: Your letter of the 16th. has been received, and the Music Strings 5 came safe.

If

95

you conceive any advantage will result from a delay in the sale of the old Coach, until the Spring, it will be quite

"McHenry stated, in his letter of February 1: "Monroe's memoir has been little read and has made no converts to his party. He has I think sunk in the public opinion. Fauchet's publication has done no harm, and has been as little successful as Monroes." McHenry's letter is in the Washington Papers.

92 Tench Coxe.

President Adams had removed him from office in December, 1797.

"To France. McHenry's letter (February 1) stated: "Not one word direct from our commissioners."

"For Nelly Custis's harpsichord.

agreeable to me that it should be postponed. To avoid the accumalating expence of Ho. room, and the injury such articles sustain by lying, and often by neglect and tossing about was my inducement to the disposal of it now. But it rests with you to chuse the time.

If the Plateaux are not sold, nor a probability of getting nearly what they cost, say currency for Sterling, I request that they may be carefully packed up and sent to me, together with the two smallest of the large groups of Porcelain, and the twelve single images (Arts and Sciences) with which my Table, on Public days, was ornamented. The large group (Apollo instructing the Shepherds) and the two Vases, may be sold for what ever they will fetch. Great care, by a skilful hand, must be used in packing the Porclain, or all the delicate and finer parts will be broken off.

I have not yet heard (although it may have happened) of Ellwoods arrival at Alexandria. As Dobson's bill is not exhibited, I am unapprized of what is charged in it, or of what is coming from him. My wish was, and still is, to have the second copy of all the Volumes (as far as published, intended for my own use) of the Encyclopedia, to be neatly bound and sent to me, the last volume excepted, which he will retain to bind the remainder by (if more are yet to come) that all may be alike. If this is not the case, pray let it be so as soon as possible, and he shall receive the cost without delay.

I must again trouble you in forwarding the enclosed (after sealing) to Mr. Kitt, and will say now what I did not do on this subject in my former letter, and that is, that if you have any dereliction to the business, be frank in declarg. it.

96

Inclosed is a letter, and receipt of Doctr. Barton's " for Sixty dollars which I pray you to receive, if you can, and place to my

Dr. Benjamin Smith Barton. He was professor of natural history and botany, University of Pennsylvania.

1798]

COLLECTION OF A DEBT

147

credit, but I inform you before hand, that you will never get a copper of it if it depends upon him alone. You will perceive by the letter, that the money borrowed, was, punctually, to be returned in a month. After waiting near, or quite a year, he was applied to, and then, I was, assuredly, to have it in two or three days; after as many months waiting, without hearing a tittle from him applications were again made and the same answers have been received and so it went on until the Scenes of my Public life were closed and he was informed that I was desirous of adjusting all my pecuniary matters in Philadelphia before I left it when the most solemn assurance (without any intention I am persuaded to fulfil it) were given that the money should be instantly paid.

It is necessary for me to observe here that Doctr. Barton is an entire stranger to me. Never, to my knowledge, or recollection, did I ever exchange a word with him in my life, nor should I know if I was to see him. I did by him (supposing from his connections that he was a man of honour) as I had done by many others, although I found it not a little difficult to make all my receipts in addition to my compensation, keep pace with my expenditures, that is, to advance a little money (not on Usury) for immediate purposes.

It is not my wish (nor will I) for so trifling a sum, have my name called in a Court of Justice; but (and as his promises alone you may be assured will deceive you) I would suggest the expediency of your obtaining his note, with security, for payment of the nett sum of Sixty dollars, (and I want no more lest it should be conceived that interested motives induced the loan) and then, at the expiration of whatever credit is given, call upon that Security if the money is not punctually paid by Barton. This, if the latter has credit to obtain the former he cannot object to. With esteem etc.