"But whether the position for the corps de reserve be chosen at the Rapids of the Ohio, above or below, it had better, I conceive, be on the north side of the Ohio, than within the State of Kentucky; thereby impeding more the intercourse between the army and the citizens, and guarding against the evils, which result from that mixture. and too much familiarity.

"I am so far from agreeing with General Wilkinson, that Fort Wayne ought to be abolished, that, if I mistake not the place, central between the heads of the Miamis of Lake Erie and the Ohio, the St. Joseph and the Wabash, affording good water transportation, with small portages in every direction, I should pronounce it, were it not for the expense of subsisting troops there, the most eligible position for the army of observation of any in that country. It would be an effectual security against all the Indians, who could annoy us in that region; it would cover our barrier posts on the line between the British and us; and troops from thence might descend rapidly into the Mississippi by the Wabash.

"General Wilkinson, in speaking of posts along our southern frontier, is general; and you only notice Fort Stoddert. But, on an inspection of the maps, a place presents itself to my view as very eligible to occupy, provided the Creek Indians would consent to it. I mean the Appalachicola, at its confluence with Flint River, where the line of demarcation strikes it.

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But, in my opinion, if we had or could obtain an engineer of real skill, and attached to the true policy and interest of the United States, he ought to devote his whole time to the investigation of our interior country, and mark and erect its proper defences; for these hitherto have been more the work of chance and local consideration, than national design.

"If the harbor of Presque Isle is good, I should think a small garrison ought to be retained there. It certainly is the best on the American side of Lake Erie, and one there is important. But I see very little use for a sergeant and eight privates at Fort Knox. It is either unnecessary, or too small; and sergeants at a distance

rarely conduct well, when they have not the eye of an officer to inspect their conduct.

"There are several references in General Wilkinson's report, which were not sent. By his statement of the mutilated condition of the troops, and present disposition of them, there must have been most horrible mismanagement somewhere. A corrective is, indeed, highly necessary. The practice of furloughing officers, and then renewing the furloughs from time to time, is extremely injurious to the service, and ought to be discontinued on ordinary occasions. And that of frittering the army into small garrisons is, if possible, worse. It will never be respectable while these evils exist; and until it can be more concentrated, and the garrisons frequently relieved by detachments from the main body, discipline will always be lax, and impositions on the public will prevail.

"If the British are resolved to keep up armed vessels on the Lakes, I presume it will be expedient for us to do the same; but in time of peace a better way, in my opinion, is for neither to have any. In case of a rupture, or appearance of one, with that nation, there can be no doubt of our arming on those waters much more expeditiously than they would be able to do.

the

"I have now gone over the material points in your letter and General Wilkinson's report; but, as I mentioned before, it has been done under circumstances unfavorable to minute investigation or mature deliberation, and my sentiments, where differing from you, are given more for consideration than decision. Should any thing of importance on this subject, not noticed here, occur to me, I shall not fail to communicate it to you; for the measures now taken with respect to guarding our frontiers and interior country ought to be such, as will be permanent and respectable. With very great regard, I am, dear sir, &c."

The prospect of war with France blew over, and Washington was only called to bear his testimony to the great principle, that the duties of patriotism continue in force so long as life endures, and that no amount of

previous service, no circumstances whatever, authorize a good citizen to withhold his influence and exertions when it is clear that his country stands in need of them.

The following letter, written while war seemed probable, sums up, in brief terms, the views which actuated him in this, his last public service.

"To James Anderson.

"Mount Vernon, 25 July, 1798. "ESTEEMED SIR,-I little imagined, when I took my last leave of the walks of public life, that any event could bring me again on a public theatre. But the unjust conduct of France towards these United States has been and continues to be such, that it must be opposed by a firm and manly resistance, or we shall not only hazard the subjugation of our government, but the independence of our nation, also; both being evidently struck at by a lawless, domineering power, which respects no rights, and is restrained by no treaties, when it is found inconvenient to observe them.

"While we are thus situated, sustaining daily injuries, even indignities, with a patient forbearance, from a sincere desire to live in peace and harmony with all the world; the French Directory, mistaking the American character, and supposing that the people of this country were divided, and would give countenance to their nefarious measures, have proceeded to exact loans, (or in other words contributions,) and to threaten us, in case of non-compliance with their wild, unfounded, and inconsistent complaints, that we should share the fate of Venice and other Italian states.

"This has roused the people from their slumbers, and filled them with indignation from one extremity to the other of the Union; and I trust, if they should attempt to carry their threats into effect, and invade our territorial, as they have done our commercial rights, they will meet a spirit, that will give them more trouble than they are aware of, in the citizens of these States.

"When every thing sacred and dear to freemen is thus threatened, I could not, consistently with the principles which have actuated me through life, remain an idle spec

tator, and refuse to obey the call of my country to lead its armies for defence, and therefore have pledged myself to come forward whensoever the exigency shall require it.

"With what sensations, at my time of life, now turned of sixty-six, without ambition or interest to stimulate me thereto, I shall relinquish the peaceful walk to which I had retired, and in the shades of which I had fondly hoped to spend the remnant of a life, worn down with cares, in contemplation of the past, and in scenes present and to come of rural enjoyment, let others, and especially those who are best acquainted with the construction of my mind, decide; while I, believing that man was not designed by the all-wise Creator to live for himself alone, prepare for the worst that can happen.

CHAPTER XXVI.

Washington's Death.

On the 12th of December, 1799, General Washington rode out to his farms about ten o'clock, and returned about three. On reaching home he franked some letters, but did not send them to the post-office, saying that the weather was too bad to expose the servant in carrying them. The next day, Friday, he complained of having taken cold; he walked out, however, to attend to the marking of some trees. In the evening he was quite hoarse, but continued reading some newspapers that had been brought in, and engaging with great cheerfulness in conversation from time to time. Between two and three o'clock he awoke Mrs. Washington, and complained of an ague, saying that he was very unwell. He continued to grow worse. Every thing was done to relieve him. Several physicians, among them his old friend, Dr. Craik, were present. They bled him repeatedly, and applied other remedies, but in vain. In the course of Saturday afternoon he said to Mr. Lear, his Secretary, "I find I am going. My breath cannot last long. I believed,

from the first, that the disorder would prove fatal. Do you arrange and record all my late military letters and papers. Arrange my accounts and settle books. my To one of his attendants he said, "I am afraid I shall fatigue you too much ;" and, upon a reply that the only wish of every one was to give him ease, he observed, "Well, it is a debt we must pay to each other, and I hope, when you want aid of this kind, you will find it.” About five o'clock he said to Dr. Craik, "Doctor, I die hard, but I am not afraid to go. I believed, from my first attack, that I should not survive it. My breath cannot last long." Shortly after he said to his physicians, "I feel myself going; I thank you for your attentions; but I pray you to take no more trouble about me. me go off quietly. I cannot last long." Between ten and eleven o'clock on Saturday evening, December 14th, he expired. He was buried on Wednesday, the 18th.

Let

The effect produced by the intelligence, that Washington was dead, upon the people of the United States, was most striking and sublime. A whole nation was bowed down with sudden and profound grief and awe; and one wide-spread funereal pageant was seen all over the land. The feeling was deep, universal, and all-absorbing.

Congress, on hearing of his death, immediately adjourned. The next morning General Marshall rose and spoke as follows:

"MR. SPEAKER,-The melancholy event, which was yesterday announced with doubt, has been rendered but too certain. Our Washington is no more! The hero, the patriot, and the sage, of America; the man on whom in times of danger every eye was turned, and all hopes were placed, lives now only in his own great actions, and in the hearts of an affectionate and afflicted people.

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If, sir, it had even not been usual openly to testify respect for the memory of those whom Heaven has selected as its instruments for dispensing good to man, yet such has been the uncommon worth, and such the extraordinary incidents, which have marked the life of him whose loss we all deplore, that the whole American nation,