to some extent, to exculpate Mr. Jefferson, yet, that the base and wicked slanders and criminations of which he complains, appeared in the newspaper edited by Mr. Jefferson's clerk, Freneau, and in that edited by Bache. It will be

seen, hereafter, that on one occasion, Washington complained to Mr. Jefferson of the publications, which appeared in Freneau's paper, and also in what manner Mr. Jefferson was pleased to treat that complaint.

LETTER XXI.

MARCH 30, 1833.

On the 7th of December, 1796, Washington met Congress for the last time, and commended to their attention many highly important subjects, some of which have been attended to, and others neglected. He adverted, modestly, to the course which he had pursued in conducting the government, but did not condescend to notice the slanders which had been poured out against him. He had published his memorable Farewell Address, in the month of September, 1796.

It is characteristic of Mr. Jefferson, that he makes an attempt to rob Washington, in some degree, of the authorship of this precious legacy; and to transfer it to his friend Mr. Madison. There is not the slightest evidence any where, that Washington had any such regard, or respect for Mr. Madison, politically or individually, as to lead to the belief that this gentleman would have been the selected object of confidence, on this delicate and serious occasion.' Mr. Jefferson says, (in a letter to Judge Johnson, of South Carolina, vol. iv. p. 370,) "With respect to his "farewell address, to the authorship of which, it seems, "there are conflicting claims, I can state to you some facts. He had declined a re-election, at the end of his "first term, and so far determined, that he had requested "Mr. Madison to prepare for him something valedictory, to "be addressed to his constituents on his retirement." "When at the end of his second term, when his valedictory came out, Mr. Madison recognised in it several passages

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"of his draught; several others, we were both satisfied, were from the pen of Hamilton; and others from that of "the President himself. These he, probably, put into the "hands of Hamilton to form into a whole; and hence it may all appear in Hamilton's hand-writing, as if it were "all his composition." That is, Hamilton took Madison's manuscript, and adopted it as his, but to appear as Washington's! The truth, in this matter, is now known from the pen of John Jay.

Until the close of his administration, Washington had never publicly noticed the "forged letters; " he then thought it proper to address to the Secretary of State, to be filed in his office, a solemn declaration that they were forged.

On the 22d of February, 1797, the citizens of Philadel phia asked Washington's presence at a ball, intended as a mark of their respect. At that time, there was a circus, and an hotel, (known as O'Ellers',) on the south side of Chestnut Street, between Fifth and Sixth Streets. The circus was floored over for dancing, and otherwise suitably prepared; and a settee, with a canopy over it, arranged in an elevated position for Mr. and Mrs Washington. He did not confine himself to this, but moved about the circus, conversing freely with the company, consisting of citizens, distinguished members of Congress, all foreign ministers, and invited strangers. An opening was made through the wall of the hotel, from the circus, and the company passed through this into the hotel to sup." On the fourth of March (1797) he was present when John Adams took the oath of office; and he appeared to be sincerely glad, in the manner of his congratulations to the new President, that the care and responsibility of that station, were no longer his own. In two or three days he withdrew from Philadelphia to Mount Vernon, to leave it no more for the residue of his life. He was sixty-five years of age the 22d of the preceding February.

*

The following are recollections of Washington, derived from repeated opportunities of seeing him during the three

* This hotel was shortly after destroyed by fire; and the circus has long since given place to other buildings.

He appeared once as a grand juror and served as foreman.

last years of his public life. He was over six feet in stature; of strong, bony, muscular frame, without fulness of covering, well formed and straight. He was a man of most extraordinary physical strength. In his own house his action was calm, deliberate, and dignified, without pretension to gracefulness, or peculiar manner, but merely natural, and such as one would think it should be in such a man. When walking in the street, his movement had not the soldierly air which might be expected. His habitual motions had been formed long before he took command of the American armies, in the wars of the interior, and in the surveying of wilderness lands, employments in which grace and elegance were not likely to be acquired. At the age of sixty-five, time had done nothing towards bending him out of his natural erectness. His deportment was invariably grave; it was sobriety that stopped short of sadness. His presence inspired a veneration, and a feeling of awe, rarely experienced in the presence of any man. His mode of speaking was slow and deliberate, not as though he was in search of fine words, but that he might utter those only adapted to his purpose. It was the usage for all persons, in good society, to attend Mrs. Washington's levee every Friday evening. He was always present. The young ladies used to throng around him, and engage him in conversation. There were some of the well remembered belles of that day who imagined themselves to be favorites with him. As these were the only opportunities which they had of conversing with him, they were disposed to use them. One would think, that a gentleman and a gallant soldier, if he could ever laugh, or dress his countenance in smiles, would do so when surrounded by young and admiring beauties. But this was

never so; the countenance of Washington never softened ; nor changed its habitual gravity. One who had lived always in his family, said, that his manner in public life, and in the seclusion of most retired life, was always the same. Being asked whether Washington could laugh; this person said, that this was a rare occurrence, but that one instance was remembered when he laughed most heartily at her narration of an incident in which she was a party concerned; and in which he applauded her agency. The late General Cobb, who was long a member of his family during the war, (and who enjoyed a laugh as much as any man could,) said, that

he never saw Washington laugh, excepting when Dr. Thomas of Massachusetts came to dine at head-quarters. This gentleman had a fund of ludicrous anecdotes, and a manner of telling them, which relaxed even the gravity of the commander in chief.

General Cobb also said, that the forms of proceeding at head-quarters were exact and precise; orderly and punctual. At the appointed moment, Washington appeared at the breakfast table. He expected to find all the members of his family, (Cobb, Hamilton, Humphreys, were among them,) awaiting him. He came dressed for the day, and brought with him the letters and despatches of the preceding day, with short memoranda of the answers to be made; also the substance of orders to be issued. When breakfast was over, these papers were distributed among his aids, to be put into form. Soon after, he mounted his horse to visit the troops, and expected to find, on his return before noon, all the papers prepared for his inspection and signature. There was no familiarity in his presence; it was all sobriety and business. His mode of life was abstemious and temperate. He had a

decided preference for certain sorts of food, probably from early associations. Throughout the war, as it was understood in his military family, he gave a part of every day to private prayer and devotion.

While he lived in Philadelphia, as President, he rose at four in the morning; and the general rule of his house was that the fires should be covered, and the lights extinguished at a certain hour; whether this was nine or ten, is not recollected.

In the early part of his administration, great complaints were made by the opposition, of the aristocratic and royal demeanor of the President. Mr. Jefferson makes some commentaries on this subject, which do no credit to his head or his heart. These are too little to be transcribed from the works of this "great and good man." (See vol. iv. p. 487.) Dr. Stuart, of Virginia, wrote to him of the dissatisfaction which prevailed on this subject in Virginia. In the 5th vol. of Marshall, page 164, will be found an extract of Washington's vindication of his conduct; and a most satisfactory one, and which shows the proper character of Mr. Jefferson's "Anas." These complaints related, in particular, to the manner of receiving such visiters as came from respect, or

from curiosity, of which there were multitudes. The purpose of Washington was, that such visiters should accomplish their objects, without a sacrifice of time, which he considered indispensable to the performance of his public duties.

He devoted one hour every other Tuesday, from three to four, to these visits. He understood himself to be visited as the President of the United States, and not on his own account. He was not to be seen by any body and every body; but required that every one who came should be introduced by his secretary, or by some gentleman, whom he knew himself. He lived on the south side of Market

Street, just below Sixth.* The place of reception was the dining room in the rear, twenty-five or thirty feet in length, including the bow projecting into the garden. Mrs. Washington received her visiters in the two rooms on the second floor, from front to rear.

At three o'clock, or at any time within a quarter of an hour afterwards, the visiter was conducted to this dining room, from which all seats had been removed for the time. On entering he saw the tall manly figure of Washington clad in black velvet; his hair in full dress, powdered and gathered behind in a large silk bag; yellow gloves on his hands; holding a cocked hat with a cockade in it, and the edges adorned with a black feather about an inch deep. He wore knee and shoe buckles; and a long sword, with a finely wrought and polished steel hilt, which appeared at the left hip; the coat worn over the sword, so that the hilt, and the part below the folds of the coat behind, were in view. The scabbard was white polished leather.

He stood always in front of the fire-place, with his face towards the door of entrance. The visiter was conducted to him, and he required to have the name so distinctly pronounced, that he could hear it. He had the very uncommon faculty of associating a man's name, and personal appearance, so durably in his memory, as to be able to call any one by name, who made him a second visit. He received his visiter with a dignified bow, while his hands were so disposed of as to indicate that the salutation was not to be accompanied with shaking hands. This ceremony never occurred in these visits, even with his most near friends, that no distinction might be made.

* This was the house of Robert Morris before Washington occupied it.