*To THE SECRETARY OF WAR

(Private)

Mount Vernon, July 5, 1798.

My dear Sir: I am perfectly satisfied that the duties of your Office were not diminished by the business thrown upon it in the course of the present Session of Congress; and far was it from my wish to add to the trouble of them. I expected no more than a simple acknowledgment of my letters, and with respect to the proposed Arsenal at the confluence of the Potomac and Shanondoah, that you would have said it had, or had not been forgotten, according to the fact.

I am well satisfied with your reply to my last; better perhaps than you will be with the trouble of reading the lengthy Scrawl herewith enclosed, to which it has given rise: and which, if you please, as from yourself, may be shewn to the President; to whom I have expressed tantamount sentiments in more concise terms. If you are at liberty, and deem it expedient, communicate the responses which shall be made to it to me.

The Presidents letter to me, though not so expressed in terms, is, nevertheless strongly indicative of a wish that I should take charge of the Military force of this Country; and if I take his meaning right, to aid also in the Selection of the General Officers. The appointment of these are important; but those of the General Staff, are all important: insomuch that if I am looked to as the Commander in Chief, I must be allowed to chuse such as will be agreeable to me. To say more at present, would be unnecessary; first, because an army may not be wanted; and 2d. because I might not be endulged in this choice if it was.

1798]

ASSUMPTION OF COMMAND 319

You will readily perceive that a main difficulty with me, in this business, proceeds from the different epochs at which the army may be formed, and at which it would be proper for me to take the Command of it (in case the preliminaries mentioned in my other letter are solved to my satisfaction). The Presidt, knowing that 10,000 men cannot be raised by the blowing of a Trump, might deem it expedient from such appearances or information as would justify him under the Act, to prepare for the worst. I, on the other hand, have no disposition, and think it would be bad policy, to come forward before the emergency becomes evident; farther, than that it might be known, that I will step forward when it does appear so, unequivocally; and if the matters, for which I have stipulated, as previously necessary, are ascertained, and accommodated, I shall have no objection to the Annunciation (if good would result from it) of this determination. But what is to be done in the interval? I see but two ways to overcome the difficulty, if it is an object to accomodate my wishes; first, to delay the appointment of the General Staff, to the latter Epoch, if no inconvenience would result from it; or, if this cannot be, then to advise with me on the appointment of them. I mention this matter now, and in this manner, because I have some reason to believe, that there are very fit men that would be coadjutors with me, whose services without, could not be commanded.

Although I have made my stand at the General Staff, I conceive that much will depend upon active and spirited Officers for the Divisions and Brigades of the Army. And (under the rose) I shall candidly declare, that I do not, from my present recollection of them, conceive that a desirable set could be formed from the old Generals; some on account of their age or infirmities; some from never having displayed any talents for

Enterprise; and others from their general opposition to the Government, or their predilection to French measures, be their present conduct what it may. for those who will come up with a flowing tide, will descend with the Ebb. and there can be no dependence upon them in Moments of difficulty. If circumstances would allow a choice of Field Officers, the Service would be much benefited by it.

With my two letters I must have tired you sufficiently, and therefore I shall only add, what you knew before, and that is, that I am Your Affectionate &c.

PS. I have already been applied to by a Gentleman to recommend him for Director of the Hospital, which I have refused; as well on general ground as because if I should ever have occasion for Physician or Surgeon, I should prefer my old Surgeon, Doctr. Craik, who from 40 years experience is better qualified than a dozen of them together.

*To HENRY PHILIPS

Mount Vernon, July 8, 1798.

Sir: I have been favoured with your obliging letter of the 24th. Ulto," explaining a matter which before the receipt of it, was to me, an enigma.

A case to my Address was of course opened, when two elegant Prints appearing therein, unaccompanied with a letter, made me suspect that there must have been a mistake in the direction; and, under this impression, I was about to repack them; and should have done so, if I had known where, or to whom to have sent them.

Permit me now, my good Sir, to offer my grateful thanks, through you, to Mr. F. Philips your brother," for this instance

1798]

TOBACCO NOTES

321

of his politeness to me, and to request the favour of you to make my apology to him for not having done so at an earlier period, for Pictures so much, and so deservedly admired.9*

Present me, I pray you, in terms most acceptable to Mrs. Philips, to which Please to add those of Mrs. Washington, and our joint respects and compliments to Mr. Chews family. I

am etc.

*To THOMAS PETER

Mount Vernon, July 8, 1798.

Dr. Sir: I have been duly favored with your letter of the 2d. of July; and enclosed are the two Tobacco notes which were forwarded to me by you, and another which had been paid some time before to Mr. Lear. Nos. &ca. as below.95 and request the favour of you to dispose of them in safe hands, for what they will fetch. In this case giving 60 or 120 days credit will make but little difference with me; A promissory note being given for the amount. We are glad to hear you are all well. we are as usual, and I am etc.

*To SIR JOHN SINCLAIR

Mount Vernon, July 10, 1798.

Sir: It is not more strange than true, that your letter of the 15th. of July 1797, was not received by me until the 28th. Ulto; accompanied with the original Surveys of the Counties of Clackmannan, Kinross and Sterling. The Packet appeared to have passed through the hands of Mr. King (our Minister)

Philips states that his brother (Francis Philips) "felt himself so much obliged by your attention to him that he has sent out to me an etching and proof Print of a celebrated Painting by the late Mr. Wright of Derby in England, with a request that I would beg your acceptance of them in his name, which I now beg leave to do; the Print is called 'the Dead Soldier.""

95 The numbers and weights are entered at the end of this letter.

and to have been forwarded by a Mr. Frederick Lee in the Ship Adriana; but through what circuitous route, to be eleven months on its passage, is not easy to determine, as it came from the Post Office to me without explanation, but in very good order.

I perceive too, in looking over my file of unanswered letters, that I am indebted for your obliging favour of the 24th. of February: received since I had the honor to Address you on the 15th. of May by my neighbour and friend the Revd. Mr. Fairfax and that my thanks are, in a particular manner also due to the politeness of the Board of Agriculture for directing a compleat set of its Works to be neatly bound, and sent to me.

The manner in which the early Wheat (respecting which you enquire) came into this Country, is not ascertained. The history of it, so far as it has come to my knowledge, I will relate. A Farmer, walking in a field of Wheat when it was in bloom, discovered a plant or two, that was perfectly ripe, and carefully separating it from the rest, sowed it at the usual time the following Autumn. From this small beginning (abt. seven years ago) this State, and those adjoining, are well in Seed. The grain is white, full and heavy; weighing, generally, two or three pounds more in the bushel of Winchester measure. It makes excellent flour; and in tight loamy land inclining to Sand it is said to be more productive of grain, and less of Straw than Wheat in common. It is a tender plant, and apt to receive damage, both in the field and Garners. It will not, from report, bear transportation. Of a vessel load sent to Philadelphia for Seed, hardly any of it vegitated; and some farmers go so far as to declare, that they are obliged to spread what is intended for Seed, thin on their Barn floors and turn it frequently to prevent the injury above mentioned. From my own experience I can add but little, for as my land is heavy, stiff and slow, not much