tion of the principal, that their real and nominal value were in a little time nearly the same. The government was so firmly established, as to be cheerfully and universally obeyed. The only exception which took place, was an insurrection in the western counties of Pennsylvania, in opposition to the excise on distilled ardent spirits; which was quelled without bloodshed. Agriculture and commerce were extended far beyond former experience. The Indians on the frontiers had been first compelled by force to respect the United States, and continue in peace, and afterwards a humane system was commenced for teaching them to exchange the tomahawk and hatchet for the plough, the hoe, the shuttle, and the spinningwheel. The free navigation of the Mississippi had been acquired with the consent of Spain, and all differences composed with that power. The military posts, which had been long held by Britain within the United States, were given up. The Mediterranean was opened to American vessels, in consequence of treaties made with the Barbary powers. Indeed, differences with all powers, either contiguous to, or connected with, the United States, had been amicably adjusted, with the exception of France. To obtain this very desirable object, Washington

11.

Washington made repeated advances, but he could not proceed without surrendering the independence of the nation and its right of self-government.

Washington, on returning to mount Vernon, resumed agricultural pursuits. These, with the society of men and books, gave to every hour innocent and interesting employment, and promised a serene evening of his life. Though he wished to withdraw himself not only from public office, but from all anxiety respecting public affairs, yet he felt too much for his country to be indifferent to its interests. He heard with regret the insults offered to the United States in the persons of their ministers, and the injury done to their commerce by illegal captures of their vessels. These indignities and injuries, after a long endurance, and a rejection of all advances for an accommodation, caused the government to adopt vigorous measures. To be in readiness to repel a threatened invasion, congress au thorised the formation of a regular army. As soon as the adoption of this measure was probable, the eyes of all were once more turned on Washington, as the most suitable person to be put at its head. Letters from his friends poured in upon him, urging that he should

accept

accept the command. To one from president Adams, in which it was observed "We must have your name, if you will in any case permit us to use it; there will be more efficacy. in it than in many an army;" Washington replied as follows: "At the epoch of my retirement, an invasion of these states by any European powers, or even the probability of such an event in my days, was so far from being contemplated by me, that I had no conception either that or any other occurrence would arise, in so short a period, which could turn my eyes from the shades of mount Vernon. But this seems to be the age of wonders. And it is reserved for intoxicated and lawless France (for purposes of Providence far beyond the reach of human ken) to slaughter her own citizens, and to disturbi the repose of all the world besides. From a view of the past, from the prospect of the present, and of that which seems to be expected, it is not easy for me to decide satisfactorily on the part it might best become me to act.

“In case of actual invasion by a formidable force, I certainly should not intrench myself under the cover of age and retirement, if my services should be required by my country to assist in repelling it. And if there be good

cause

cause to expect such an event, which certainly must be better known to the government than to private citizens, delay in preparing for it may be dangerous, improper, and not to be justified by prudence. The uncertainty however of the latter, in my mind, creates my embarrassment, for I cannot bring it to believe, regardless as the French, are of treaties and of the laws of nations, and capable as I conceive them to be of any species of despotism and injustice, that they will attempt to invade this country, after such an uniform and unequivocal expression of the determination of the people in all parts to oppose them with their lives and fortunes. That they have been led to believe, by their agents and partisans among us that we are a divided people, that the latter are opposed to their own government, and that the show of a small force would occasion a revolt, I have no doubt; and how far these men (grown des-: perate) will further attempt to deceive, and may succeed in keeping up the deception, is problematical. Without that, the folly of the directory in such an attempt, would, I; conceive, be more conspicuous, if possible, than their wickedness.

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Having with candor made this disclosure of the state of my mind, it remains, only for

me

me to add, that to those who know me best it is best known, should inperious circumstances induce me to exchange once more the smooth paths of retirement for the thorny ways of public life, at a period too when repose is more congenial to nature, it would be productive of sensations which can be more easily conceived than expressed."To the secretary of war, writing on the same subject, Washington replied, "It cannot be necessary for me to premise to you, or to others who know my sentinients, that to quit the tranquillity of retirement, and enter the boundless field of responsibility, would be productive of sensations which a better pen than I possess would find it difficult to describe. Nevertheless, the principle by which my conduct has been actuated through life would not suffer me, in any great emergency, to withhold any services I could render, when required by my country, especially in a case where its dearest rights are assailed by lawless ambition and intoxicated power, in contempt of every principle of justice, and in violation of solemn compact, and of laws which govern all civilized nations; and this too with the obvious intent to sow thick the seeds of disunion, for the purpose

of