prehended, for the Miamis were said to be less disheartened by the ravage of their villages than exultant at the successful ambuscades of Little Turtle.

Three Seneca chiefs, Cornplanter, Half Town, and Great Tree, being at the seat of government on business of their own nation, offered to visit these belligerent tribes, and persuade them to bury the hatchet. Washington, in a set speech encouraged them in the undertaking. "By this humane measure," said he, " you will render these mistaken people a great service, and probably prevent their being swept off the face of the earth. The United States require only that these people should demean themselves peaceably. But they may be assured that the United States are able, and will most certainly punish them severely for all their robberies and murders."

Washington had always been earnest in his desire to civilize the savages, but had little faith in the expedient which had been pursued, of sending their young men to our colleges; the true means, he thought, was to introduce the arts and habits of husbandry among them. In concluding his speech to the Seneca chiefs he ob served, "When you return to your country, tell your nation that it is my desire to promote their prosperity by teaching them the use of domestic animals, and the manner that the white people plough and raise so much corn; and if, upon consideration, it would be agreeable to the nation at large to learn those arts, I will find some means of teaching them at some places within their coun try as shall be agreed upon."

In the course of the present session, Congress received and granted the applications of Kentucky and Vermont for admission into the Union, the former after August, 1792; the latter immedi ately.

On the 3d of March the term of this first Congress expired. Washington, after reciting the various important measures that had been effected, testified to the great harmony and cordiality which had prevailed. In some few instances, he admitted, particularly in passing the law for higher duties on spirituous liquors, and more especially on the subject of the bank, "the line between the southern and eastern interests had appeared more strongly marked than could be wished," the former against and the latter in favor of those measures," but the debates," adds he, were conducted with temper and candor."

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As the Indians on the northwest side of the Ohio still continued their hostilities, one of the last measures of Congress had been an act to augment the military establishments, and to place in the hands of the Executive more ample means for the protection of the frontiers. A new expedition against the belligerent tribes had, in consequence, been projected. General St. Clair, actually governor of the territory west of the Ohio, was appointed commander-in-chief of the forces to be employed.

Washington had been deeply chagrined by the mortifying disasters of General Harmer's expedition to the Wabash, resulting from Indian ambushes. In taking leave of his old military com

rade, St. Clair, he wished him success and honor but gave him a solemn warning. "You have your instructions from the Secretary of War. I had a strict eye to them, and will add but one word Beware of a surprise! You know how the Indians fight. I repeat it Beware of a surprise!" With these warning words sounding in his ear, St Clair departed.1

1 Rush's Washington in Domestic Life, p. 67.

CHAPTER XIII.

Washington's Tour through the Southern States.

Lafayette. Gloomy Picture of French Affairs by Gouverneur Morris. His allusion to Lafayette.-Lafayette depicts the Troubles of a Patriot Leader. - Washington's Reply. Jefferson's Ardent Views of the French Revolution. - Distrust of John Adams. His Contributions to Fenno's Gazette. Reprint of Paine's Rights of Man. - Flight and Recapture of Louis XVI. Jefferson communicates the News to Washington. -- His Satisfaction when the King accepts the Constitution.

N the month of March, 1791, Washington

set out on a tour through the Southern States; travelling with one set of horses and making occasional halts. The route projected, and of which he had marked off the halting places, was by Fredericksburg, Richmond, Wilmington (N. C.), and Charleston, to Savannah ; thence to Augusta, Columbia, and the interior towns of North Carolina and Virginia, comprising a journey of eighteen hundred and eighty-seven miles; all which he accomplished without any interruption from sickness, bad weather, or any untoward accident. " Indeed,” writes he, 66 so highly were we favored that we arrived at each place where I proposed to make any halt, on the very day I fixed upon before we set out. The same horses performed the whole tour; and, although

PROSPEROUS STATE OF THE COUNTRY. 97

much reduced in flesh, kept up their full spirits tc the last day."

He returned to Philadelphia on the 6th of July, much pleased with his tour. It had enabled him, he said, to see, with his own eyes, the situation of the country, and to learn more accurately the disposition of the people, than he could have done from any verbal information. He had looked around him, in fact, with a paternal eye, been cheered as usual by continual demonstrations of a nation's love, and his heart had warmed with the reflection how much of this national happiness had been won by his own patriotic exertions.

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"Every day's experience of the government of the United States," writes he to David Humphreys, seems to confirm its establishment, and to render it more popular. A ready acquiescence in the laws made under it shows, in a strong light, the confidence which the people have in their representatives, and in the upright views of those who administer the government. At the time of passing a law imposing a duty on home-made spirits, it was vehemently affirmed by many that such a law could never be executed in the Southern States, particularly in Virginia and South Carolina. But from the best information I could get on my journey respecting its operations on the minds of the people, — and I took some pains to obtain information on this point, - there remains not a doubt but it will be carried into ef fect, not only without opposition, but with very general approbation, in those very parts where it