Mr. McHenry was instructed to consult Washington upon the organization of the army, and upon everything relating to it. He was the bearer, also, of a letter from Hamilton. "I use the liberty," writes he, "which my attachment to you and to the public authorizes, to offer you my opinion that you should not decline the appointment. It is evident that the public satisfaction at it is lively and universal. It is not to be doubted that the circumstances will give an additional spring to the public mind, will tend much to unite and will facilitate the measures which the conjuncture requires."

It was with a heavy heart that Washington found his dream of repose once more interrupted, but his strong fidelity to duty would not permit him to hesitate. He accepted the commission, however, with the condition that he should not be called into the field until the army was in a situation to require his presence, or it should become indispensable by the urgency of circumstances.

"In making this reservation," added he, in his letter to the president, "I beg it to be understood that I do not mean to withhold any assistance to arrange and organize the army which you may think I can afford. I take the liberty, also, to mention that I must

decline having my acceptance considered as drawing after it any immediate charge upon the public, or that I can receive any emoluments annexed to the appointment before entering into a situation to incur expense." He made another reservation through the secretary of war, but did not think proper to embody it in his public letter of acceptance, as that would be communicated to the Senate, which was that the principal officers in the line and of the staff should be such as he could place confidence in.

As to the question which had perplexed Mr. Adams, whether, in forming the army, to call on all the old generals or appoint a new set, Washington's idea was that as the armies about to be raised were commencing de novo, the president had the right to make officers of citizens or soldiers at his discretion, availing himself of the best aid the country afforded. That no officer of the old army, disbauded fourteen years before, could expect, much less claim, an appointment on any other ground than superior experience, brilliant exploits and general celebrity founded on merit.

It was with such views that in the arrangements made by him with the secretary of war, the three major-generals stood, Hamilton, who was to be inspector-general, Charles

Cotesworth Pinckney (not yet returned from Europe), and Knox, in which order he wished their commissions to be dated. The appointment of Hamilton as second in command was desired by the public, on account of his distinguished ability, energy and fidelity. Washington, speaking of him to the president, says: "Although Colonel Hamilton has never acted in the character of a general officer, yet his opportunities as the principal and most confidential aide of the commander-in-chief afforded him the means of viewing everything on a larger scale than those whose attention was confined to divisions or brigades, who know nothing of the correspondences of the commander-inchief or of the various orders to or transactions with the general staff of the army." Charles Cotesworth Pinckney was placed next in rank.

Early in November, 1798, Washington left his retirement and repaired to Philadelphia, at the earnest request of the secretary of war, to meet that public functionary and Majorgenerals Hamilton and Pinckney, and make arrangements respecting the forces about to be raised. The secretary had prepared a series of questions for their consideration, and others were suggested by Washington, all bearing upon the organization of the provisional army. Upon these Washington and the two major-generals were closely engaged for nearly five weeks, at great inconvenience and in a most inclement season. The result of their deliberations was reduced to form and communicated to the secretary in two letters drafted by Hamilton and signed by the commander-in-chief. Not the least irksome of Washington's task, in his present position, was to wade through volumes of applications and recommendations for military appointments, a task which he performed with extreme assiduity, anxious to avoid the influence of favor or prejudice and sensitively alive to the evil of improper selections.

As it was a part of the plan on which he had accepted the command of the army to decline the occupations of the office until circumstances should require his presence in the field, and as the season and weather rendered him impatient to leave Philadelphia, he gave the secretary of war his views and plans for the charge and direction of military affairs, and then set out once more for Mount Vernon.

A love affair was growing up at Mount Vernon between Washington's nephew, Law-. rence Lewis, and Miss Nelly Custis. The parties became engaged, to the general's great satisfaction, and their nuptials were celebrated at Mount Vernon on his birthday, February 22, 1799. Lawrence had recently received the commission of major of cavalry in the new army which was forming, and Washington made arrangements for settling the newly married couple near him on a part of the Mount Vernon lands which he had designated in his will to be bequeathed to Miss Nelly.

As the year opened, Washington continued to correspond with the secretary of war and General Hamilton on the affairs of the provisional army. The recruiting business went on slowly, with interruptions, and there was delay in furnishing commissions to the officers who had been appointed. Washington, who was not in the secrets of the Cabinet, was at a loss to account for this apparent torpor. "If the augmented force," writes he to Hamilton, "" was not intended as an in terrorem measure, the delay in recruiting it is unaccountable, and baffles all conjecture on reasonable grounds."

The fact was that the military measures taken in America had really produced an effect on French policy. Efforts had been made by M. Talleyrand, through unofficial persons, to induce an amicable overture on the part of the United States. At length that wily minister had written to the French secretary of legation at the Hague, M. Pichon, intimating that whatever plenipotentiary the United States might send to France to put an end to the existing differences between the two countries would undoubtedly be received with the respect due to the representative of a free, independent and powerful nation. M. Pichon communicated a copy of this letter to Mr. William Vans Murray, the American minister in Holland, who forthwith transmitted it to his government. Mr. Adams caught at the chance for an extrication from his belligerent difficulties, and laid this letter before the Senate on February 18th, at the same time nominating Mr. Murray to be minister plenipotentiary to the French republic. Washington expressed his extreme surprise when the news of this unexpected event reached him. "But far, very far indeed," writes he,

informal communications with any French agent. Mr. Henry declined to accept his appointment on account of ill health, and Mr. William Richardson Davie was ultimately substituted for him.

Throughout succeeding months Washington continued to superintend from a distance the concerns of the army, as his ample and minute correspondence manifests; and he was at the same time earnestly endeavoring to bring the affairs of his rural domain into order. A sixteen years' absence from home, with short intervals, had, he said, deranged them considerably, so that it required all the time he could spare from the usual avocations of life to bring them into tune again. It was a period of incessant activity and toil, therefore, both mental and bodily. He was for hours in his study occupied with his pen, and for hours on horseback, riding the rounds of his extensive estate, visiting the various farms and superintending and directing the works in operation. All this he did with unfailing vigor, though now in his sixty-seventh year.

Occasional reports of the sanguinary conflict that was going on in Europe would reach him in the quiet groves of Mount Vernon and awaken his solicitude. "A more

destructive sword," said he, was never drawn, at least in modern times, than this war has produced. It is time to sheath it and give peace to mankind."

Amid this strife and turmoil of the nations, he felt redoubled anxiety about the success of the mission to France. The great successes of the allies combined against that power, the changes in the Directory, and the rapidity with which everything seemed verging toward à restoration of the monarchy, induced some members of the Cabinet to advise a suspension of the mission; but Mr. Adams was not to be convinced or persuaded. Having furnished the commissioners with their instructions, he gave his final order for their departure, and they sailed in a frigate from Rhode Island on November 3d.

A private letter written by Washington shortly afterward to the secretary of war bespeaks his apprehensions: "I have for some time past viewed the political concerns of the United States with an anxious and painful eye. They appear to me to be moving by hasty strides to a crisis, but in what it will result that Being who sees, foresees and directs all things alone can tell. The vessel is afloat, or very nearly so, and considering myself as a passenger only, I shall trust to the mariners (whose duty it is to watch) to steer it into a safe port."

His latest concern about the army was to give instructions for hutting the troops according to an idea originally suggested by Hamilton and adopted in the Revolutionary war. "Although I had determined to take no charge of any military operations," writes he, "unless the troops should be called into the field, yet, under the present circumstances, and considering that the advanced season of the year will admit of no delay in providing winter quarters for the troops, I have willingly given my aid in that business, and shall never decline any assistance in my power, when necessary, to promote the good of the service."

Winter had now set in, with occasional wind and rain and frost, yet Washington still kept up his active round of indoor and outdoor avocations, as his diary records. He was in full health and vigor, dined out occasionally, and had frequent guests at Mount Vernon, and, as usual, was part of every day in the saddle, going the rounds of his estates.

He had recently walked with his favorite nephew about the grounds, showing the improvements he intended to make, and had especially pointed out the spot where he purposed building a new family vault, the old one being damaged by the roots of the trees which had overgrown it and caused it to leak. "This change," said he, "I shall make the first of all, for I may require it before the rest."

"When I parted from him," adds the nephew, "he stood on the steps of the front door, where he took leave of myself and another. It was a bright, frosty morning; he had taken his usual ride, and the clear, healthy flush on his cheek and his sprightly manner brought the remark from both of us that we had never seen the general look so well. I have sometimes thought him decidedly the handsomest man I ever saw, and when in a lively mood, so full of pleasantry, so agreeable to all with whom he associated, that I could hardly realize he was the same Washington whose dignity awed all who approached him.”

For some time past Washington had been occupied in digesting a complete system on which his estate was to be managed for several succeeding years, specifying the cultivation of the several farms, with tables designating the rotations of the crops. It occupied thirty folio pages, and was executed with that clearness and method which characterized all his business papers. This was finished December 10th, and was accompanied by a letter of that date to his manager, or steward. It is a valuable document, showing the soundness and vigor of his intellect at this advanced stage of his existence and the love of order that reigned throughout his affairs. "My greatest anxiety," said he on a previous occasion, "is to have all these concerns in such a clear and distinct form that no reproach may attach itself to me when I have taken my departure for the land of spirits." It was evident, however, that full of health and vigor, he looked forward to his long-cherished hope, the enjoyment of a serene old age in this home of his heart.

According to his diary, the morning on which these voluminous instructions to his steward were dated was clear and calm, but the afternoon was lowering. The next day

ROOM AT MOUNT VERNON IN WHICH MRS. WASHINGTON DIED, ON MAY 22, 1802.
(From a photograph taken in 1895.)

permanent and respectable footing." He closes his letter with an assurance of "very great esteem and regard," the last words he was ever to address to Hamilton..

About ten o'clock, he mounted his horse and rode out as usual to make the rounds of the estate. The ominous ring round the moon which he had observed on the preceding night proved a fatal portent. "About one o'clock," he notes, "it began to snow, soon after to hail, and then turned to a settled cold rain." Having on an overcoat, he continued his ride without regarding the weather, and did not return to the house until after three.

His secretary approached him with letters to be franked, that they might be taken to the post-office in the evening. Washington franked the letters, but observed that the weather was too bad to send a servant out with them. Mr. Lear perceived that snow was hanging from his hair, and expressed fear that he had got wet; but he replied that his greatcoat had kept him dry. As dinner had been waiting for him, he sat down to table