1798]

RECRUITING

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would be given, but finding none I wrote to you on the 22d of that month to be informed of the cause, and not until the first of this, was I answered. And with respect to the Adjutant General, I am, to this moment, unadvised of the result of Colo. Smiths nomination. I have heard indeed that Colo. North was appointed, and that it had been announed in the Newspapers; but this I have not seen, altho' I have examined them with an eye to it as accurately as my hurried situation would allow.

Having staked my life, my reputation, my fortune, my ease, tranquillity, and happiness, in support of the Government, and Independence of our Country; it is not a little interesting, and importt. for me to be advised, of the measures which you are pursuing to organize, and provide for the augmented force; for as that act is absolute, no delay can be admitted; and it is much to be desired that it may take the field with eclat, wch will not be effected without great exertion. And as it will not be supposed that the President well disposed, sensible and zealous as he is, can have many relative ideas in arrangements of this sort, more responsibility will attach to you; and as the multiplicity of matters, and burthen will be great, let me entreat you to call on the Inspector (allowing him full pay and emoluments) for assistance. The business of recruiting, in the result, belongs to his Department, then why not let it commence and be prosecuted agreeably to your general Instructions to him, under his auspices?

It is much easier at all times to prevent an evil than to rectify mistakes; it is infinitely better to have a few good men, than many indifferent ones: and Officers whose Recruiting emoluments depend upon numbers, will not be very scrupulous in their choice, without the fullest conviction that the Inspection of the men will be as rigid as the Instructions are strict. You would, besides, find him in your hurried situation,

extremely useful in a variety of occurrances, which cannot always be foreseen or provided against. I would have suggested a similar measure with respect to General Knox as it related more particularly to Arms, and the Ordnance Department but (under the rose for the present) he seems to be so much dissatisfied with the arrangement of the relative rank of the General Officers that I have no expectation of his serving.

Let me conclude by requesting to be informed, in what State the formation of the augmented Corps is? whether the applications for Commissions are numerous, and the characters good? What arrangements are made for recruiting? where the general rendezvouses are to be? Who are appointed to superintend them? What is the present state of your Military supplies, what the means, and what the measures for augmenting them? With much truth and sincerity, I remain etc.62

*To THE SECRETARY OF WAR

Mount Vernon, August 10, 1798.

Dear Sir: The letter from Mr. Ames 63 to Mr. Bent, containing further evidence to his good character, I send.

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The other letter from Mr. Carter ** (who married a Niece of mine) though private, I send also but request it may be returned; what he says of a certain character, may be treasured up, but reported as coming from him.

His brother is an utter stranger to me, and therefore I can add nothing to what he has said of him. The family you know, are among the most wealthy and respectable in this State.

"McHenry's reply, dated August 25, from Trenton, is in the Washington Papers. He had been ill and on his recovery had removed his family to Trenton on account of the yellow fever in Philadelphia.

Fisher (?) Ames.

Charles Carter. He married Elizabeth Lewis, daughter of Elizabeth (“Betty”) Washington Lewis.

1798]

A CORRESPONDENCE

65

405

My Nephew Lewis might (but as he has never applied to me, I cannot say that he would) be glad of some appointment. He was an Aid to Genl. Morgan on the Western Expedition. I am etc.

*To WILLIAM VANS MURRAY

Mount Vernon, August 10, 1798. Dear Sir: I doubt not, but that you have already set me down as an unprofitable correspondent, and with too much truth perhaps; but not with as much culpability on my part, as appearances may indicate.

66

I have written you several letters, and having put one or two for Mr. Dandridge under your covers, without receiving any acknowledgment of them, the presumption is, that they have fallen into other hands. Nothing however was contained in either of them that could entitle them to the honor of a place in the Bureaus of France, to which several of my private letters, it seems, have found a passage. And but for the impropriety of such conduct, and the deprivation, and invasion of anothers right, all might go; as I write or say nothing I wish to conceal from that Nation; My Politics being straight, and my views undisguised towards it, and all others.

In examining my file of unanswered letters, I find two of yours, dated the 9th. of October and Ist. of November among them. In acknowledging the receipt of which, permit me to thank you for the interesting communications which are detailed therein; and to express a wish, that in your moment of leisure, you would favor me with a continuation of matters so satisfactory to be informed of.

I should have wrote oftener to you, if, in retirement, I had found matter sufficient for amusement: but revolving days

producing similar scenes of domestic and rural occurrences,none interesting except to those who were engaged in them; knowing that all things of public concern, together with the Gazettes of different complexions were regularly transmitted to you, from the proper Department, and knowing also that you had friends near the fountain of Intelligence who were in the habit of corresponding with you, I conceived that details of the latter kind, from me, might be less correct and at best but second hand information; and therefore avoided giving you the trouble to receive it.

But new, and unexpected scenes opening upon us, and all my plans of my retirement likely to be marred by the Domineering spirit and boundless ambition of a Nation whose Turpitude have set all obligations divine and human, at naught, may in time to come, enable me to communicate some things more interesting than are to be found in the circle of my present perambulations. In doing which I shall always feel pleasure.

Little did I expect, when my valadictory Address was presented to the People of the United States, that any event would occur in my day, that could draw me from the peaceful walks and tranquil shades of Mount Vernon; where I had fondly hoped to spend the remnant of a life, worn down with public cares, in ruminating on the variegated scenes through which I have passed, and in the contemplation of others which are yet in embrio.

I will hope however, that when the Despots of France find how much they have mistaken the American character, and how much they have been deceived by their partisans among us, that their senses will return to them, and an appeal to Arms for the purpose of repelling an Invasion at least, will be rendered unnecessary. To be prepared for them, however, is

1798]

A TOBACCO NOTE

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the most certain, and perhaps the least expensive mode of averting the evil. Neither they, nor their abetters here, expected I believe, that such a spirit would be roused as the occasion has manifested, amongst all classes of our Citizens, except the leaders of opposition; upon their obtaining correct statements of the treatment they have received from their good and magnanimous Allies. The difficulty under which they will find themselves, lyes in treading back their steps. But Envoy Logan may be sent to keep them out of it; or, which is to the full as likely, to direct them into another course to obtain the same end.

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Present me, if you please, to Mrs. Murray; in which Mrs. Washington and Miss Custis unite, as they do to yourself; and in remembrance to Mr. Dandridge, And be assured of the sincere regard and esteem etc.

*To THOMAS PETER

Mount Vernon, August 12, 1798. Dear Sir: Your letter of the 9th. was handed to me yesterday, enclosing one from Colo. Deakins, and a Tobacco Note as below, for which I transmit a receipt.

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I am ignorant of the principle, on which I am called upon to pay for picking a Tenants tobacco; but presuming it was proper, I thank you for having done it. And I pray you to add to the expence as much Tobacco as will make the Hhd. sufficiently heavy: and to deposit it with the rest in the hands of Mr. Peter, your father, to be disposed of in whatever manner, and on whatever terms, he shall part with his own.

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"Dr. George Logan, a self-constituted envoy from the United States to France.