ventured to run in, and succeeded in getting within the capes just in time to escape being blown off the coast, as happened to several other vessels in company. A few hours too, after they had landed, a fire broke out in the ship, but after making considerable progress, was, by the aid afforded from the other ships in the harbour, extinguished, and the whole of Mr. Jefferson's trunks and papers were saved.

At that time there being but few public houses in Norfolk, Mr. Jefferson and his daughters would have found a difficulty in procuring accommodations, if some of the lodgers in Lindsay's hotel had not voluntarily given up their rooms to them. As there were no public stages, they were indebted to their friends for the means of conveyance home.

He passed some days with his friend and brother-in-law, Mr. Eppes, of Chesterfield. While here, he received a letter from General Washington, offering him the place of secretary of state.

Mr. Jefferson says that he received this offer with real regret. His inclinations led him to return to Paris, now more recommended to him than ever by the prevalence of republican principles, and there await the end of the revolution, which he candidly admits, he then thought "would be certainly and happily closed in less than a year." His purpose then was to return home, and, bidding adieu to politics, devote himself to studies more congenial to his mind. In his answer to General Washington, he frankly avows his preference for the situation he then held; but, at the same time, declares his readiness to acquiesce in the President's final decision, which he requests him to make known.

Continuing his journey from Eppington, as before, by easy stages, and passing a few days with such of their friends as lived on the route, they reached Monticello on the 23d of December. The scene that ensued is thus described by the only survivor of the party, and on whom, with whatever feelings of partiality she may have sketched the picture, we may confidently rely for the truth of the resemblance.

"The negroes discovered the approach of the carriage as

soon as it reached Shadwell, and such a scene I never witnessed in my life. They collected in crowds around it, and almost drew it up the mountain by hand. The shouting, &c. had been sufficiently obstreperous before, but the moment the carriage arrived on the top, it reached the climax. When the door of the carriage was opened, they received him in their arms, and bore him into the house, crowding around, and kissing his hands and feet-some blubbering and crying-others laughing. It appeared impossible to satisfy their eyes, or their anxiety to touch, and even kiss the very earth that bore him. These were the first ebullitions of joy for his return, after a long absence, which they would of course feel, but it is perhaps not out of place to add here, that they were, at all times, very devoted in their attachment to him. They believed him to be one of the greatest, and they knew him to be one of the best of men, and kindest of masters. They spoke to him freely, and applied confidingly to him in all their difficulties and distresses; and he watched over them in sickness and in health; interested himself in all their concerns; advising them, and showing esteem and confidence in the good, and indulgence to all."

At Monticello he received a second letter from the President, urging his acceptance, but, at the same time, leaving him at liberty to "follow his own inclinations." This course, he says, silenced his objections, and he accepted the appointment. While he remained at Monticello, his eldest daughter, Martha, was married to Mr. Thomas Mann Randolph, a young Virginian of great promise and handsome fortune, who had been educated in Edinburg, and had seen Miss Jefferson during a visit to Paris. Mr. Jefferson continued at his residence until the 1st of March, 1790, when he set out for New York, where the Congress was about to close its second session.

In passing through Philadelphia he called to see his former associate Dr. Franklin, now sinking under the weight of disease and old age. The venerable philosopher inquired with great earnestness about the course and the fate of his numerous friends in France. After a while Mr. Jefferson spoke to Franklin of his biography, which, it was said, he was employed in

1

preparing. "I cannot say much of that," he replied, "but I will give you a sample of what I shall leave," and he directed his little grandson, standing by his bed-side, to hand him a paper from the table to which he pointed. He did so, and Dr. Franklin put the paper into Mr. Jefferson's hands, desiring him to read it at his leisure. It was about a quire of folio paper, apparently written in his own hand. On Mr. Jefferson's saying he would read the paper and carefully return it, the Doctor insisted on his keeping it. He died on the 17th of the following month, and Mr. Jefferson understanding that he had bequeathed his papers to his grandson, William Temple Franklin, immediately informed this gentleman that this paper was in his possession, and that it would be delivered to his order. It was afterwards delivered to him in person, at which time Mr. Franklin observed that he had the original, or another copy of it. It then occurred to Mr. Jefferson, for the first time, that the paper was intended as a deposit in his hands.

The paper contained, Mr. Jefferson states, a narrative of the negotiations between Dr. Franklin and the British ministry, before the Revolution, and is thus cited by Mr. Jefferson, from memory:

"The negotiation was brought about by the intervention of Lord Howe and his sister, who, I believe, was called Lady Howe, but I may misremember her title. Lord Howe seems to have been friendly to America, and exceedingly anxious to prevent a rupture. His intimacy with Dr. Franklin, and his position with the ministry, induced him to undertake a mediation between them; in which his sister seemed to have been associated. They carried from one to the other, backwards and forwards, the several propositions and answers which passed, and seconded with their own intercessions, the importance of mutual sacrifices, to preserve the peace and connexion of the two countries. I remember that Lord North's answers were dry, unyielding, in the spirit of unconditional submission, and betrayed an absolute indifference to the occurrence of a rupture; and he said to the mediators distinctly, at last, that a ‘rebellion was not to be deprecated on the part of Great Britain;

that the confiscations it would produce would provide for many of their friends.' This expression was reported by the mediators to Dr. Franklin, and indicated so cool and calculated a purpose in the minority as to render compromise hopeless, and the negotiation was discontinued." Mr. Jefferson then adds, "if this is not among the papers published, we ask what has become of it? I delivered it with my own hands into those of Temple Franklin. It certainly established views so atrocious in the British government, that its suppression would to them be worth a great price. But could the grandson of Dr. Franklin be in such degree an accomplice in the parricide of the memory of his immortal grandfather? The suspension for more than twenty years of the general publication bequeathed and confided to him, produced for a while hard suspicions against him; and if at last all are not published, a part of these suspicions may remain with some."

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CHAPTER XIII.

Mr. Jefferson arrives at New York. Sketch of parties after the Revolution. Sense of the necessity of union. Local jealousies. Federalists and anti-federalists. Partiality for the British Constitution. Illusions of rank. Mr. Jefferson's sentiments. Proceedings of the first Congress. Impost. Permanent seat of government. Mr. Hamilton's report on public credit. Discrimination in favour of the original public creditors proposed by Mr. Madison. Arguments for and against it. Public opinion on the question. Assumption of state debts. Mr. Jefferson's impressions of the arguments urged for and against the assumption. The proposition rejected. Mr. Jefferson joins in affecting a compromise. Merits of the question. Local division of the parties.

1790.

MR. JEFFERSON arrived at New York on the 21st of March, and here commenced a new and important epoch of his life. From this time, until he retired from public affairs, in March, 1809, a period of nineteen years, his history is closely connected with the history of his country; and it is emphatically and completely a history of the political parties into which that country has been divided.*

* In delineating the character of these parties, as the biography he has undertaken requires him to do, the author is aware of the difficulty of his undertaking. He knows that after the outward acts of men have been fully and accurately ascertained, the views and motives of the actors, which form a most important class of facts, are often shrouded in darkness and uncertainty; and that where they admit of different interpretations, as they often do, they will be thus differently interpreted, according to the prepossessions of each individual. He is aware too that our peculiar views and feelings commonly give a colouring to our opinions of men's motives, and that he cannot presume himself exempt from this bias. He VOL. I.-39