Their appointment bears -it was patient to excess. Pinckney chusetts. was particularly charged to make every date May 31, 1797, and states the explanation of matters which should object of the mission to be "to dissi have needed none to restore the im- pate umbrages, remove prejudices, rec paired confidence between the two tify errors, and adjust all differences countries. The Directory, however, by a treaty between the two powers." Dana declining, Elbridge Gerry was substituted in his place. The parties joined one another in Holland, and in October were in Paris together ready to proceed with the negotiation. The Directory was still in power, with no change of principles, though with new agents. This time the outdoor management of foreign affairs was in the hands of the wily Talleyrand. Then began a new system of delays, conducted by his agents, gentlemen of Paris, X, Y and Z, as their names were disguised, in the famous dispatch of the ministers, giving an account of the proceedings. There were various interviews, but the burden of all was alike too unreasonable to listen to argument, and the ambassador was denied even a hearing. He was informed, that not being accredited as a minister, he was, as a stranger, not entitled to reside in Paris, and this, after he had been received by their minister for Foreign Affairs. Nearly two months were passed by Pinckney in patient submission in the receipt of offensive messages from the office of state, till a positive communication in writing having been made to him, reminding him of the positive law that strangers should quit the territory of the Republic, he took his departure for Holland. The news of these insulting proceedings was well calculated to a loan from the United States and a rouse all thinking people at home. But forbearance, long exercised, was not yet at an end. The old services of France were not forgotten, and everything consistent with honor, it was felt, should be tried in the interests of peace. It was resolved by the Government to send such an embassy to France as should compel a hearing by its obvious fairness. President Adams, accordingly, looking to conciliation, chose from different portions of the country representative men of the highest character to be joined in the legation. The South was already represented in Pinckney; John Marshall was united with him from Vir ginia, and Francis Dana from Massa gratuity of twelve hundred thousand his effort to secure his election to the Presidency, when he was placed in 1800 on the Federal ticket with Adams. It was a parting national compliment to his patriotism and love of the Constitution, of which he had been one of the framers in the National Convention, and a valuable supporter in his own State. these humiliating discussions with Tal- at the head, sent him word "rejoicing leyrand, without the ministers being at his appointment, and that he would presented to the Directory, when they with pleasure serve under him."1 He finally took their departure, leaving also proffered the indignant Knox his Gerry for a short time to the sinister own second place on the list of majorattentions of the minister, till he was generals. Pinckney entered on his recalled by the President. Pinckney duties in the southern department, remained for awhile in the south of reconnoitering the seaboard to Florida, France, for the sake of his daughter's the seat of his old campaigning under health, and in October arrived at New Howe. York on his return. He was met by a The war rumors and preparations warm letter of congratulation from passed over without hostilities, but Washington, dated Mount Vernon, Hamilton did not forget the courtesy inviting him to make that hospitable of his old friend, as he manifested in retreat a "halting-place" for himself and his family. He received, also, immediately on his arrival, news of a more permanent relation to his old military chieftain, in his appointment as one of the major-generals in the army being raised in consequence of the threatened conflict with France. Washington, it will be remembered, in accepting the position of commanderin-chief, reserved the nomination of his chief officers and selected Hamilton, Pinckney, and Knox, in the order we have given them. Knox, who had no inclination to waive his old revolutionary rank, refused to serve under Hamilton, whom Washington considered indispensable, in that position, to the cause; and there was fear of similar reluctance on the score of military etiquette from Pinckney. This was not, however, the nature of the man. A few hours after he arrived at the Hudson, he heard of the nominations, with the doubt expressed whether he would accept the inferior rank, when he immediately "applauded the discernment" which had placed Hamilton In There, in South Carolina, in the midst of a new generation, living in the enjoyment of the blessings which he and his companions in arms and politics had dearly purchased for them, he passed the remainder of a life protracted beyond the usual limits. the practice of a liberal hospitality on his wealthy estate, of earnest religious culture, in the enjoyment of his books and his philosophical apparatus-there are few more pleasing subjects of contemplation in the chequered lives of the founders of the Republic than the old age of General Pinckney. death took place at Charleston, August 16th, 1825, in his eightieth year. Letter in Sparks' Washington, XI. 551. His NATHANAEL GREENE. WITH the generation that survived | colony, following almost immediately the Revolution, which had lived the lead of Roger Williams. In the through its perils and tasted the joys third generation, we find Nathanael and depressions of its fluctuating for Greene living at the place we have tunes, which had learnt its knowledge described, proprietor of a forge and of affairs, and to apply its tests of a mill, worked by the waters of the character in the accurate school of river, uniting to these industrial purexperience, there was one guiding light suits, the calling of a Quaker preacher. upon which the eye was ever directed, The duties of this ministry were not the fidelity and judgment of Washing likely to be very exacting, compared ton. Men came to be estimated by with the requisitions of the modern his standard; and faithfulness to the pulpit, or at all to interfere with the country and the State became synony- ordinary business of the week. If we mous with faithfulness to Washington. may judge, however, from the home We have heard of old men of that era influences of the preacher, they were summing up their convictions of par- not inefficiently performed. We find ticular actors of the time, with the his son, of whom we are about to give expressive sentence, as a conclusion of an account, trained in sound Biblical the argument, which admitted of no precepts, and early disposed to a cavil, "Sir, he stood high in the profitable use of the mental acquiopinion of General Washington." The sitions with which nature had endowed words have become almost proverbial. him. The boy's taste for learning and To none have they been more fre- means taken for its attainment, indeed, quently or more deservedly applied entitle him to a place among those who than to the subject of this sketch. have honorably distinguished themselves in the pursuit of knowledge under difficulties. He had some aid from a teacher in his father's house, but more from himself. He acquired something of Latin, and seized upon mathematical studies with eagerness. His prize of a copy of Euclid, pur chased with the pocket-money acquired Nathanael Greene, the Major-General of the Revolution, was born on the 27th May, 1742, in the State of Rhode Island, at a spot in Warwick County, near the head waters of the Potowhom mett, a small stream emptying into Narragansett Bay. The family were among the earliest settlers of the |