1798] EGYPTIAN WHEAT 323 of it has been sown; but, from the growth of the present year, I send you a sack; that by experiment you may ascertain the utility of cultivating it in England. It is fit to harvest three weeks sooner than the Lamas. To give it the best chance to escape injury on Ship board, I have requested the Owner of the Vessel (a Mr. Wm. Wilson of Alexandria) to give it in particular charge to the Master, desiring him to keep the Sack in his Cabbin or Steerage. The Egyptian Wheat, a head or two of which you had the goodness to send me (about two years ago) has not answered, with me. The first year it shot out lateral branches from the heads pretty generally; but this year the heads had hardly any, and in neither year did the grain fill well, and appears to have sustained more injury from the severity of our last Winter, than the wheat in common; although that was great in the extreme in the middle and upper parts of this, and the States bordering thereon; occasioned by the long winter and severe frosts with very little Snow. Nearer the Sea Board, contrary to what is usual, they have had more Snow, and of course the Crops of Winter grain are better; but on the whole they are remarkably short. With very great esteem, &c. *To THE SECRETARY OF STATE Mount Vernon, July 11, 1798. Dear Sir: As I never get letters by the Mail until the morning after they arrive in Alexandria, and frequently not for several days, as I am not regular in sending thither, your favour of the 6th instant did not reach my hands until yesterday. Of the abilities and fitness of the Gentleman you have named for a high command in the Provisional Army, I think as you do, and that his Services ought to be secured at almost any price." What the difficulties are that present themselves to the mind of the President in opposition to this measure, I am entirely ignorant; but in confidence, and with the frankness you have disclosed your own sentiments on this occasion, I will unfold mine, under the view I have taken of the prospect before us, and shall do it concisely. If the French should be so mad as openly, and formidably to Invade these United States, in expectation of subjugating the Government; laying them under Contribution, or in hopes of dissolving the Union; I conceive there can hardly be two opinions respecting their Plan, and that their operations will commence in the Southern quarter. 1. because it is the weakest. 2. because they will expect, from the tenor of the debates in Congress, to find more friends there. 3. because there can be no doubt of their Arming our own Negros against us. and 4. because they will be more contiguous to their Islands; and to Louisiana, if they should be possessed thereof, which they will be if they can. If these premises are just, the inference I am going to draw, from placing Colo. Hamilton over General Pinckney, is natural, and obvious. The latter is an officer of high military repu Pickering had written (June 6): "There is one man who will gladly be Your Second: but who will not, I presume, because I think he ought not to be, the Second to any other military commander in the U. States. You too well know Colo. Hamilton's distinguished ability, energy and fidelity to apply my remark to any other man. But to ensure his appointment, I apprehend the weight of your opinion may be necessary. From the conversation that I and others have had with the President, there appears to us to be a disinclination to place Colo. Hamilton in what we think is his proper station, and that alone in which we suppose he will serve: the Second to You; and Chief in your absence. . . . If any considerations should prevent your taking the command of the army, I deceive myself extremely, if you will not think it should be conferred on Colo. Hamilton: And in this case, it may be equally important as in the former, that you should intimate your opinion to the President. Even Colo. Hamilton's political enemies, I believe would repose more confidence in him than in any other military character that can be placed in competition with him... the appointment of Colo. Hamilton, in the manner suggested, appears to me of such vast importance to the welfare of the country, that I am willing to risque any consequences of my frank and honest endeavours to secure it." Pickering's letter is in the Washington Papers. 1798] PINCKNEY AND HAMILTON 325 tation; fond of the Profession, spirited, active, and judicious; and much advanced in the estimation of the Public by his late Conduct as Minister and Envoy at Paris. With these pretensions, and being senior to Colo. Hamilton he would not, I am morally certain, accept a junr appointment. Disgust would follow, and its influence would spread where most to be deprecated, as his connections are numerous, powerful and more influential than any other in the three Southern States. Under this view of the Subject I think it would be impolitic, and might be dangerous to sow the seeds of discontent at so important a crisis. To this may be added, that impediments to the return of General Pinckney," and causes unforeseen, might place Colo. Hamilton in the situation you wish to see him. Inspector General, with a command in the line, would, I hope and trust, satisfy him. You will readily perceive, that the difficulty in my mind, arises from thorough conviction that, if an Invasion is attempted it will commence South of Maryland and from the importance of so influential a character as Pinckney (if among us) being heartily engaged in repelling it. But not having the Laws at hand to resort to, or knowing precisely what General officers are authorised by them, I am speaking much at random, and request for that reason, that nothing which I have here said may be considered as definitive. What arrangements the Secretary of War is empowered, by the President to make with me, I know not. In the letter of the former to me, he has not touched upon them. He is not yet arrived; but the bearer of this to the Post Office in Alexanda. carries up my Carriage in order to acommodate him down, this being the afternoon on which the Mail Stage is expected at that place. I regret however, that he should have left Philadelphia From France. before a Letter which I had written to him, could have reached that place. This letter went from here on friday last; before I knew, or had the most distant suspicion of the Presidents intention of nominating me, (without previous notice) to the trust he has; 98 but was written in consequence of a wish expressed in a letter from the Secretary to me that the Crisis might overcome my reluctance to appear again on the public theatre. Upon this occasion, I thought it expedient before matters proceeded further to be candid and explicit, and accordingly wrote him my sentiments in detail, the substance of which was, that if an actual Invasion by a formidable force, or such demonstrations of the intention as could not be mistaken, I conceived it to be a duty wch. I owed to my Country and to my own reputation, to step forward with my best endeavours to repel it; however painful the measure might be to a person at my time of life, and under the circumstances I am; but for the satisfaction of my own mind, I should like to know, from the best evidence the case was susceptible of, that my Services as Commander in Chief would be prefered to those of a man of more Juvenile years and more in the prime and vigour of life. And that as neither ambition, Interest, or personal gratification of any sort could induce me to engage again in the turmoils and hazards of War. As I had every thing to risk and hardly any thing to gain (the vicissitudes of War being in the 98 President Adams nominated Washington (July 2) to be Lieutenant General and Commander in Chief of all the armies raised, or to be raised in the United States. On July 3 the Senate unanimously confirmed the nomination. Washington's commission is dated July 4, 1798, and Secretary of War McHenry conveyed it in person, with a letter from the President, dated July 7, to Washington. On July 4, Senator James Lloyd wrote to Washington informing him that he had been appointed commander in chief; but there is no indication in the Washington Papers of the precise date on which this intelligence reached Mount Vernon. McHenry reached Alexandria, July 11. On that day Washington wrote to him: "My Carriage is sent to Alexandria to bring you, and any Companion you may have, to this place." A photostat of this original was kindly furnished by E. F. Bonaventure, of New York. 1798] COMMANDER IN CHIEF 327 hands of the Supreme Director, where no controul is); and as the Army was about to be formed and every thing in a manner depending upon the arrangement and organization it could not be expected that I would take the Command of it without previously knowing who my Coadjutors were to be, and having the assistance of those in whom I could place confidence. I mentioned no names for at that time I knew nothing of my own Appointment, and thought the matter too much in embryo to go further, and to allow him, if a fit occasion occurred to let these, as my sentiments, be known to the President. I shall conclude with great esteem and regard dear Sir, &c. *To REVEREND JEREMY BELKNAP Mount Vernon, July 12, 1798. Revd. Sir: Agreeably to the promise contained in my last, I put your "Proposal for continuing and enlarging the Subscription for the American Biography &ca." into the hands of a friend of mine in Alexandria, for the purpose of obtaining Subscribers, and enclosed you will receive the result. With great esteem etc. *To THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES Mount Vernon, July 13, 1798. Dear Sir: I had the honour on the evening of the 11th.instant to receive from the hands of the Secretary of War, your favour of the 7th. announcing, that you had, with the advice and consent of the Senate appointed me "Lieutenant General and Commander in Chief of all the Armies raised, or to be raised for the Service of the U.S." I cannot express how greatly affected I am at this New proof of public confidence, and the highly flattering manner in which you have been pleased to make the communication; at the |