1798] MANAGER'S ACCOUNTS 153 will not be required, and indeed cannot be rendered more than at the close of every year. I will close these observations with an earnest request that nothing may be purchased in future that can well be done without: and when purchased, that every possible care and attention may be paid to the use and care of them: for it would be uncandid not to add, that there has been a profusion of Articles had from Shops and Trades people; In a word, that my Estate is unable to bear it; and that nothing but the money arising from the Sales of land, to a very considerable amount, would have enabled me to meet such accumulated expences. *To JAMES ANDERSON Mount Vernon, February 6, 1798. Mr. Anderson: It would seem by the reply you handed to me yesterday, in explanation of the observations I had made, in going over your A/cs that you were hurt by the remarks. The notes were not taken with that view, and you were told so in explicit terms. On the contrary I remarked that the A/cs were perfectly fair, and only required explanation in one or two instances to make them clear. Not having the Bank book (for it was in your possession at the time) I could only refer to my own Cash Memorandums for the $200 drawn on the Bank of Alexandria in Jany. last. When I saw the Book, and heard your explanation of that, and the other matters which had been noted I told you more than once, and in strong terms, that I was fully satisfied. I find no complaint exhibited in the observations; nor do I perceive a single thing required in them, that is repugnant to, or not warranted by our Agreement. I little expected then, to see among your explanations, a hint so early given, of leaving the business at the close of the present year; after having induced me to encounter a very serious expence in erecting a Distillery of which I had no knowledge, nor the smallest intention to do, depending on your experience and judgment to carry it on. But do as you please in this matter; I never did, nor never shall wish to retain any person in my employ contrary to their inclination. I observed, it is true, that the expences of last year were very great. You had done the same several times before, to me; and I urged the necessity of retrenchment where it was practicable, and care where it was not. You will recollect that before you received my Observations, or I your explanations, that I suggested the idea, and even asked your aid to procure from Scotland a young man who could ease both you and me of much writing. And you will recollect also that it was to save you from those frequent rides to, and consequent expences in Alexandria, that I proposed engaging the most respectable Retail dealer to supply me from his own, or provide from other Stores, with such articles as I wanted, on written Orders. The business of Distilling, last year was, it must be confessed, an uncontemplated, and of course an extra: business; but for what purpose the Dairy, and saving of Clover Seed are mentioned I know not. If saving one's own Seed (where it will ripen) is not the duty of a farmer, I am yet to learn the duties of one. The moment it was resolved to establish a Distillery upon the Plan it now is, I declared my entire approbation that it should be under the immediate care of your Son John, and my willingness at the sametime to allow him whatever you thought reasonable, or others received. And this I repeat. 1798] SHIPMENT OF BOOKS 155 Calling for a quarterly Cash A/c proceeded from no distrust of their not being fairly renderd at the end of the year. but for mutual convenience, and also that I might see how matters were going on. If a Cash A/c was exhibited on a loose sheet, it has escaped me. I recollect nothing of it. I am willing to receive the Vouchers, and to certify my approbation of the A/cs in the fullest manner. I should have done it at the foot of the Cash A/c if it had been Posted; or I would have done it before (and am ready to do it now) in the seperate Book, had I not understood from you that it was intended to be entered therein. And it is no new thing for me to declare that I never harboured the most distant suspicion of your applying any thing from the Store, or elsewhere to your own use, that you were not justly entitled to. In a word, you have had it from under my hand before, and I repeat it again, that I have been perfectly well satisfied with conduct at the same time that I have and must continue to do so, [illegible] my business [illegible] and attentions to particular matters, as I expected to [illegible] I have done. I think in a friendly manner. I wish you well, and am etc. your *To THE SECRETARY OF STATE Mount Vernon, February 6, 1798. Dear Sir: Your letters of the 20th and 27th. Ulto. have been duly received; and the Pamphlets, with Colo. Monroe's View, came safe. If no direct opportunity to Alexandria should present itself soon, by which the works of Mr. Nancrede could be sent with convenience and without liability to damage, I would thank you for putting them (carefully wrapped up) into the hands of Colo. Biddle, who is the Agent employed by me for transacting the small matters I have to do in Philadelphia; and who, generally, sends such things as I require, by the Packets to Alexandria. I am sensible of the honor done me by Mr. Nancrede9 in the dedication of this work to me, and for his politeness in sending it; and shall, as soon as I know on what terms the Studies of Nature are offered, make him my acknowledgement accordingly. I have not had leisure, yet, to look into Monroe's View, nor to read more than the first numbers of Scipio although I have them to the 15th. inclusive. Postponing the latter until I had obtained the former. Notwithstanding there existed no doubt in my mind that the charge exhibited against you in the Aurora was a malignant falsehood yet, satisfied as I am of the motive, and the end intended to be answered by the publication, I have read with much gratification your explicit disavowal of its application. But the more the views of those who are opposed to the measures of our Government are developed, the less surprised I am at the attempt and the means, cowardly, illiberal and assasin like, which are used to subvert it; and to destroy all confidence in those who are entrusted with the Administration thereof. Among these, is to be classed an assertion, in the Pamphlet written by Mr. Fauchet in these words "It is the general opinion that Mr. Talon came to Philadelphia on a confidential mission from the Pretender" to Genl. Washington. "He was admitted to a very particular audience with the President before the arrival of Mr. Genet at Philadelphia." What the general opinion of the French party might have been is not for me to say, but I pronounce the latter part of the quotation to be an impudent, a wicked, and groundless assertion; and accordingly "Paul Joseph Guérard de Nancrede, who published, in Boston in 1792, L'Abeille François. 1798] A FALSE REPORT 157 authorise any and every person who chuses to be at the trouble of doing it, to contradict it in the most unqualified terms. With Mr. Talon I had no acquaintance. If he ever was in my company it must have been in the drawing room (or at what was called the Levies) on company days. Whether I ever exchanged a word with him during the time of his stay in this Country, is more than my memory at this time, is able to decide. If his arrival in it was posterior to the proscription, or cloud which hovered of [sic] such characters, the probability is that he never did; be this however as it may; I will pledge myself that, I never, directly nor indirectly ever exchanged a word with him out of the public rooms, on public days, and on common place subjects. And if it could be adjudged expedient by you, and those with whom I usually conversed on subjects of this sort I would announce as much in the Gazettes; when it might not be amiss perhaps to let my whole letter to Mr. Gouvr. Morris, and his to me, to which it was an answer, appear also in order to do away the effect of another charge which extracts drawn from the former, was intended to make on the public mind, namely, a dereliction to France and the contrary to Great Britain. To produce a justification of one's conduct in matters of this sort wou'd be unpleasant, if it was unconnected with public concerns, I should treat the assaults to injure me with the contempt they deserve; but when it [illegible] becomes a matter of more magnitude and merits [illegible]. *To BUSHROD WASHINGTON Mount Vernon, February 7, 1798. My dear Bushrod: Your letter of the 1st instant came to hand by Saturdays Post, with the Auditors Receipts. If no bad consequences flow from the delay, in that Office, it is immaterial |