Amid the public gratulati 2 ons on your safe return to America, in expressers exter год -satutiyan more respect for your character, so pone can satu facriti with greater pleasure than Ide on the with more sincerity, or with greater Dear Ser occasion. BY? Most Obed ? and Most Ablesere The Hon ble LIFE OF WASHINGTON. CHAPTER I. THE NEW GOVERNMENT-DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN RELATIONS-WASIIINGTON'S ANXIOUS POSITION-ITS DIFFICULTIES-WITHOUT CABINET OR CONSTITUTIONAL ADVISERS-JOHN JAY-HAMILTON-HIS EFFICIENT SUPPORT OF THE CONSTITUTION AND THEORETIO DOUBTSJAMES MADISON-KNOX-HIS CHARACTERISTICS. THE eyes of the world were upon Washington at the commencement of his administration. He had won laurels in the field: would they continue to flourish in the cabinet? His position was surrounded by difficulties. Inexperienced in the duties of civil administration, he was to inaugurate a new and untried system of government, composed of States and people, as yet a mere experiment, to which some looked forward with buoyant confidence, many with doubt and apprehen sion. He had moreover a high-spirited people to manage, in whom a jealous passion for freedom and independ VOL. V.-1 |