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"It was intimated to me on my arrival, that it had been doubted whether I would accept my appointment, as General Hamilton, who was of inferior rank to me in the last war, was ranked before me in the new arrangement. I declared then, and still declare, it was with the greatest pleasure I saw his name at the head of the list of Major-Generals, and I applauded the discernment which had placed him there. I knew that his talents in war were great, that he had a genius capable of forming an extensive military plan, and a spirit courageous and enterprising, equal to the execution of it."*

The General staff was now completed,† and Hamilton was called into service. The Secretary at War applied to the President for authority to request the attendance of Washington at the seat of government; the object being, in concert with Hamilton and Pinckney, to select persons to fill the military appointments, and to devise a system for raising, sustaining, disciplining, and distributing the army. The necessity of beginning to recruit was specially urged.

Several months after, Hamilton, having the opportunity offered in the transmission of letters received by him, addressed to General Knox, wrote to him thus:

"My judgment tells me, I ought to be silent on a certain subject; but my heart advises otherwise, my heart has always been the master of my judgment. Believe me, I have felt much pain at the idea that any circumstance personal to me should have deprived the public of your services or occasioned to you the smallest dissatisfaction.

"Be persuaded also, that the views of others,‡ not my own, have

* Hamilton's Works, vi. 373.

Burr was in contemplation as Quarter-Master-General, but Pickering writes, "Col. Burr cannot be Q. M. G. It is impossible that Gen. Washington should confide in him, and therefore he cannot be appointed."

To a cavil raised on the expression, that "the views of others, not his own, have given shape to what has taken place," it is sufficient to refer to the facts that Hamilton, in reply to Washington, suggested for himself only the place of "Inspector-General with rank in the line," and that that nomination

given shape to what has taken place, and that there has been a serious struggle between my respect and attachment for you, and the impression of duty. This sounds, I know, like affectation, but it is nevertheless the truth. In a case in which such great public interests were concerned, it seemed to me the part of reason and propriety, not to exercise an opinion of my own, but to leave that of others, who could influence the issue, to take a free course. In saying thus much, my only motive is to preserve, if I may, a claim on your friendly disposition towards me, and to give you some evidence that my regard for you is unabated. Adieu, my dear sir, very much yours."

was proposed by Washington in order that Hamilton should be second in command; that his being placed first in the list of Major-Generals was the act of Washington, whose opinion was fortified by others, the most leading men of the country, and in accordance with the intention of the Senate; and that as long as self-respect permitted, and the question stood in a form to justify it, he was willing to waive the higher rank both to Knox and Pinckney; though not convinced he owed this sacrifice to any sense of public duty.

CHAPTER CXLV.

WHILE this attempt of the President to violate the stipulation under which Washington accepted the chief command alarmed the leading friends of the Administration, the public mind was kept in constant agitation by intelligence from abroad.

On the nineteenth of May, Bonaparte sailed from Toulon with a large fleet and a select army accompanied by his most confidential officers. Intense anxiety pervaded Europe as to the object of this expedition. The prevalent opinion was, that these troops were to be disembarked on the coast of Spain in the vicinity of Malaga; thence to cross to Portugal;-that the Peninsula would be subjugated; and reinforced by the fleets at Cadiz and in the Tagus; that Bonaparte would plant his standard in the Brazils, reduce South America under French domination, and, with her treasures at command, pursue ulterior designs against the United States. In England it was believed, that Ireland was his object, and that this circuitous route had been taken to escape the British navy. But the Insurrection there had been premature. Its chiefs were without talent or system, and England, roused to unanimity by the threat of invasion, confided in her ability to defend herself and to protect her sister kingdom. Conferences meanwhile were slowly progressing at Rastadt,

of which the sole object, on the part of the Directory, was procrastination. It was called the "Eternal Congress." Distrustful of the issue, Austria was increasing her armies, had gained Russia as an ally, and was holding Naples in check; anxiously awaiting the determination of Prussia before she recommenced hostilities. Thus the state of Europe was wholly unsettled, nor was it possible, except from the wide propagation of French opinions, to divine what would be the issue. That France did not push her victories was to be ascribed to her embarrassed finances, exhausted by her long-continued exertions; and to the jealousy in the Directory of the fast approaching supremacy of the military power.

As to the United States no real change in her policy had taken place. Immediate hostilities were not contemplated. These were postponed in the hope that the Democratic party would gain the ascendency; and that thus all the advantages she desired would be attained. Uninformed of the recent act of Congress abolishing the consular convention, at the very moment Talleyrand was holding a delusive negotiation with Gerry, the appointment was announced of a Consul-General and of consuls and vice-consuls, to be stationed in the several ports of the United States. A corps of revolutionary missionaries -men, who had proved their skill as the fomentors of discord in other countries, were to be planted here, after the Directory had expelled, with grossest marks of contumely, the public envoys of the country. At the same time, Havre was added to the number of ports from which the American commerce was excluded.

Experiments had been in the mean time made upon Gerry. The attempts to inveigle him into a negotiation were at first private, and under an injunction of secrecy towards his colleagues. A new proposal was made to

him by Talleyrand to stipulate a loan now, to be paid after the war, in supplies of American produce for St. Domingo and the French Islands. Gerry favored this proposal. His colleagues rejected it. Gerry corrected the remonstrance of Marshall-but ultimately refused to sign it. It was evident, while the other envoys remained in Paris, Gerry would be controlled by them. Talleyrand then hoping they would retire, offered to treat with the "impartial” member of the Commission. Marshall informed him, that neither of them was authorized to negotiate singly, and that no two of them were disposed to withdraw. They would have withdrawn before, but for the apprehension that Gerry would remain, and thus promote the purposes of France, to continue her depredations-to appear to be willing to treat-and thus to avoid a final issue with this country. In Gerry were found dispositions which suited her. It was resolved to relieve him from the presence of his associates-Pinckney and Marshall were ordered to quit France-while Gerry, though he had assured his colleagues that he would not remain-did so, without assigning to them his reasons. To induce him to continue, he was told by Talleyrand, that "his opinions, presumed to be more impartial, promised, in the course of the explanations, more of that reciprocal confidence which was indispensable."

*

Soon after the expulsion of his colleagues, conferences began. The course of these proved conclusively that the Directory "hoped by its seductive arts to prevail over his scruples, and gain his consent to terms, which, while they were present, would be rejected; or at all events to retain him, with the semblance of negotiating regularly or

• "I never met with a man so destitute of candor, and full of deceit as Mr. Gerry."-C. C. Pinckney to T. Pinckney, April 4, 1798.

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