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Subject Area: Political Theory
Topic: The American Revolution and Constitution

TO HENRY KNOX, SECRETARY OF WAR. [PRIVATE.] - George Washington, The Writings of George Washington, vol. XII (1790-1794) [1891]

Edition used:

The Writings of George Washington, collected and edited by Worthington Chauncey Ford (New York and London: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1890). Vol. XII (1790-1794).

Part of: The Writings of George Washington, 14 vols.

About Liberty Fund:

Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals.


TO HENRY KNOX, SECRETARY OF WAR.

[PRIVATE.]

Dear Sir,

It was the opinion of the gentlemen at their meeting on Saturday last, if I mistake not, that Mr. Wolcott should be desired to request Mr. Webster to substantiate the language of the minister of the French republic, as related by him in the enclosed letter.

Colonel Hamilton’s situation, for which I feel extreme regret,1 does not permit his having any agency in the matter at present. I therefore send the letter, which he forwarded to me, from Mr. Webster to Mr. Wolcott, to your care, being persuaded that whatever measure shall be deemed right and proper will be put in train by you.2

I think it would not be prudent either for you, or the clerks in your office, or the office itself, to be too much exposed to the malignant fever, which, by well authenticated report, is spreading through the city. The means to avoid [it,] your own judgment under existing circumstances must dictate.

As the spreading and continuance of the disorder may render it unadvisable for me to return to this city so soon as I at first intended, I would thank you, in case you should remain in the vicinity of it, to write me a line by every Monday’s post, informing me concisely of the then state of matters, with other occurrences, which may be essential for me to be made acquainted with. * * *

[1 ]He was ill with the malignant fever.

[2 ]On August 12th, Webster had dined at the same table with Genet, Captain Bompard, and one of Genet’s secretaries. In the course of the conversation Paschal (the secretary) asserted that Washington made war upon the French nation. Genet agreed in this, and went on to say that the Executive of the United States (not the President) was under the influence of British gold, and the officers were in the British influence and had formed a plan to subject America to Great Britain. He asserted that he had very good letters to prove this.