CHAPTER IV.

THE remaining portion of Mr. Jefferson's publick life, is embraced in a period of nineteen years, during which he held successively, in the government of his own country, the high and honourable offices of Secretary of State, Vice President, and President of the United States. The history of this is so familiar, and, indeed, so many now living have been eye witnesses of its events, that it is unnecessary, and would be far too prolix, to pursue the narrative of.them in regular detail; and neither could this be done without writing the history of the United States for a certain period. It would, therefore, come within our prescribed limits, and be more agreeable to the reader, when we select such prominent topicks as are connected with the subject of these memoirs, and more likely to excite a general interest.

The national legislature, under the new system of government, convened at New York on the fourth day of March, 1789, and consisted of senators and representatives from eleven states. A quorum of both houses did not attend until the sixth of April, when, on counting the electoral votes, it appeared that George Washington was unanimously chosen President, and that John Adams was elected Vice President.

Whatever difference of opinion existed among the people of the United States with respect to the government itself, there was none as to the person who, as their first chief magistrate, was to be selected to administer it. All eyes, from the beginning, were turned to General Washington, as the first President; and he received what perhaps no individual, in so high a station, in any age, ever before received, the unanimous and voluntary suffrages of a whole nation.

Informed of his election by a special message, the President immediately left his beloved retreat, and set out for the seat of government. He was received on his way by the sincere congratulations of numerous publick bodies as well as individuals.

He was met at Elizabethtown by a committee from both houses of Congress, and escorted into the city of New York amidst the acclamations of thousands.

On the 30th of April, the oath of office was administered to him by the Chancellor of the state of New York, in the gallery in front of the Senate chamber, in the presence of the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, and a vast concourse of citizens; and he was proclaimed President of the United States. Every countenance beamed with inexpressible joy at the sight of the venerated chief, to whom, under God, they were so much indebted, not only for their independence, but that form of government, in the administration of which he had consented to take a share, and which he had in their presence solemnly sworn to support.

Shortly after this impressive investment, Mr. Jefferson returned to the United States, having, for this pur

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pose, obtained leave of absence for a short time. In filling the executive offices, the President had, with that wisdom which marked all the acts of his publick life, carefully selected those whose talents or previous employments rendered them peculiarly fit for the du ties of the stations to which they were appointed. Mr. Jefferson landed on November 23d at Norfolk, and whilst on his way home, received a letter from Presi dent Washington, covering the appointment of Secretary of State, under the new constitution, which was just commencing its operations. To this the following re ply was returned: "I have received, at this place, (Chesterfield,) the honour of your letters of October the 13th and November 30th, and am truly flattered by your nomination of me to the very dignified office of Secretary of State; for which permit me here to return you my humble thanks. Could any circumstances seduce me to overlook the disproportion be tween its duties and my talents, it would be the encouragement of your choice. But when I contemplate the extent of that office, embracing as it does the principal mass of domestick administration, together with the foreign, I cannot be insensible of my ine quality to it; and I should enter on it with gloomy forebodings from the criticisms and censures of a publick, just, indeed, in their intentions, but sometimes misinformed and misled, and always too respectable to be neglected. I cannot but foresee the possibility that this may end disagreeably for me, who, having no motive to publick service but the publick satisfaction, would certainly retire the moment that satisfaction should appear to languish. On the other hand, I feel

a degree of familiarity with the duties of my present office, as far, at least, as I am capable of understanding its duties. The ground I have already passed over, enables me to see my way into that which is before me. The change of government, too, taking place in the country where it is exercised, seems to open a possi、 bility of procuring from the new rulers some new advantages in commerce, which may be agreeable to our countrymen. So that, as far as my fears, my hopes, or my inclination might enter into this question, I confess they would not leave me to prefer a change. But it is not for an individual to choose his post. You are to marshal us as may best be for the publick good; and it is only in the case of its being indifferent to you, that I would avail myself of the option you have so kindly offered in your letter. If you think it better to transfer me to another post, my inclination must be no obstacle; nor shall it be, if there is any desire to suppress the office I now hold, or to reduce its grade. In either of these cases, be so good only as to signify to me by another line your ultimate wish, and I shall conform to it cordially. If it should be to remain at New York, my chief comfort will be to work under your eye, my only shelter the authority of your name, and the wisdom of measures to be dictated by you, and implicitly executed by me. Whatever you may be pleased to decide, I do not see that the matters which have called me hither will permit me to shorten the stay I originally asked; that is to say, to set out on my journey northward till the month of March. As early as possible in that month, I shall have the honour of paying my respects to you in New York."

Mr. Jefferson arrived at Monticello on the 23d of December, where he received a second letter from the President, expressing his continued wish that he should take his station with him at New York, but leaving him still at liberty to continue in his former office, if he could not reconcile himself to that now proposed. This silenced all reluctance, and the appointment was accepted. He left Monticello on the first of March, 1790, for New York. At Philadelphia, he called on the venerable Dr. Franklin, who was then on that bed of sickness from which he never rose. The recent return of Mr. Jefferson from a country in which the doctor had left so many friends, and the perilous convulsions to which they had been exposed, revived all his anxieties to know what part they had taken, what had been their course, and what their fate. He went over all in succession, with a rapidity and animation almost too much for his strength. A circumstance took place during this interview which we cannot avoid relating. "When all his inquiries," continues Mr. Jefferson, "were satisfied, and a pause took place, I told him I had learned with much pleasure, that since his return to America, he had been occupied in preparing for the world the history of his own life. I cannot say much of that,' said he; but I will give you a sample of what I shall leave it and he directed his little grandson, (William Bache,) who was standing by the bed side, to hand him a paper from the table, to which he pointed. He did so; and the doctor, putting it into my hands, desired me to take it, and read it at my leisure. It was about a quire of folio paper, written in a large and running hand, very like his own. I looked