nigh accomplished without the trouble of a more regular invasion.

The following is an extract from the letter, in which Washington notified the President of his acceptance of the offered command:

"It was not possible for me to remain ignorant of, or indifferent to recent transactions. The conduct of the Directory of France towards our country; their insidious hostilities to its government; their various practices to withdraw the affections of the people from it; the evident tendency of their arts, and those of their agents, to countenance and invigorate opposition; their disregard of solemn treaties, and the laws of nations; their war upon our defenceless commerce; their treatment of our minister of peace, and their demands, amounting to tribute, could not fail to excite in me corresponding sentiments with those which my countrymen have so generally expressed, in their affectionate addresses to you. Believe me, sir, no one can more cordially approve of the wise and prudent measures of your administration. They ought to inspire universal confidence; and will, no doubt, combined with the state of things, call from Congress such laws and means, as will enable you to meet the full force and extent of the crisis.

Satisfied, therefore, that you have sincerely wished and endeavoured to avert war, and exhausted to the last drop the cup of reconciliation, we can with pure hearts appeal to Heaven for the justice of our cause. and may confidently trust the final result to that kind Providence which has heretofore, and so often signally favoured the people of these United States."a

The opinions of Washington were honestly shared by the federalists. That war could only be averted by a preparation for it, they now doubted not. The recklessness of the opposition; the disaffection of the foreign residents, was to them evident. They believed that even in case an actual invasion of the country was not attempted, efforts would be made, by descents upon the seaboard, to distract the government, and divide the people. They knew the reliance placed by the French upon its citizens and partisans here, and how well founded that reliance was. They could not but fear that the first show of force would be met by armed assistance from the banded clubs of European refugees, if not of their American allies. a Sparks' Writings of Washington, XI. 261.

Finally, the danger of negro insurrection was prominent in their view. This, at least, was no fiction of a diseased imagination. Under such impressions had the defensive measures of the federalists been taken. That their motives were misrepresented; that charges as injurious as false, were brought against them by those whose designs were thus thwarted, is not strange; but it is justly a subject of admiration, that those who instigated the mischief should have been suffered, by any people, to reap its re

ward.

In July, further steps were taken. An act received the signature of the President, setting forth the repeated violations of the treaties between the United States and France, by the latter nation; her refusal to acknowledge the claims of the American government for reparation; the unworthy treatment of the American envoys; the continuance, under her authority, of a system of predatory violence, infracting the said treaties, and hostile to the rights of a free and independent nation; and declaring "that the United States were of right freed and exonerated from the stipulation of the treaties, and of the consular convention theretofore, concluded between them and France; and that the same should not thenceforth be regarded as legally obligatory on the government or citizens of the United States." Another followed immediately, authorizing the President to instruct the commanders of public armed vessels to capture any French armed vessels whatever, and bring them in for condemnation; and further permitting the issuing of commissions to private armed vessels. A marine corps was established, and twelve additional regiments of infantry, and six troops of light dragoons, were added to the regular army, to continue during the existing difficulties with France.

The act thus augmenting the army, provided for two Major Generals, an Inspector General, with the rank of Major General, three Brigadiers, and other officers, in ad

dition to the then permanent establishment. These officers were soon after appointed; and, together with the Commander-in-Chief, employing in raising the additional regiments. The officers of the provisional army were not appointed till some time after, and the army itself was never, in fact, raised. This fact is necessary to be remembered, as the provisional army is often confounded with the new levies.

To meet the expenses incident to placing the country in the state of defence, and the creation, on so sudden an emergency, of a navy, additional funds again became necessary. The committee of ways and means, on the 21st of April, requested of the Secretary information on which estimates could be formed, of the sums which would probably be required; of the probability of obtaining a loan in anticipation of the direct tax, if imposed; and, also, of obtaining a permanent loan of $5,000,000, in irredeemable stock, based on new revenues, with an efficient sinking fund. This information was immediately furnished. The following statement embraced the expenses for all objects, other than for defence. In the estimate of receipts, a failure of $500,000 in the import duties was allowed, in consequence of spoliations and the stoppage of commerce; while the internal revenues were stated at $125,000 higher than the preceding year, and $200,000 per annum was allowed for the stamp duties.

ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES FOR THE YEAR 1798.

For the foreign debt due in Amsterdam and Antwerp,

Leaving a balance of estimated receipts over expenditures, which would be applicable to redemption of debt, if not otherwise appropriated, of

$1,085,437 45

In reply to the other inquires as to loans, the secretary

answered as follows:

"I entertain no doubt that the Bank of the United States will readily consent to continue the loans which they have made to the United States; and I feel entire confidence that funds can be obtained in anticipation of any solid revenues which can be established.

It is not easy to form a certain opinion of the sum which can be immediately obtained on permanent loans, nor of the expense which will attend them. The United States are unquestionably entitled to credit on the most advantageous terms the instalments in Holland, which became due prior to the present year, have been discharged; effectual remittances for the sums which will be payable before December next, have been assured; the sums of stock which are offered

for sale are not considerable; there is no ground for distrusting the public ability or good faith; the present prices of stock are not considered as indications of distrust, but of the high value of money at the present time. Assurances have been received, from wealthy and influential men, that they will assist the United States with loans on reasonable terms. On these grounds I conceive myself justifiable in expressing an opinion that the public credit will afford resources adequate to any exigency which can be reasonably contemplated.

But to the success of new loans, and especially as a security against a too common abuse of the funding system, it is of the utmost importance to establish competent funds for the reimbursement, in a reasonable time, of any capitals which may be borrowed. The provision of a sinking fund, as mentioned in your letter, ought therefore to be considered as an indispensable requisite."

The committee reported on the 1st of May. Taking the total amount of revenue and the ordinary expenditures as stated above, there would remain the surplus of $1,085,437 45, which, if left unappropriated, would go to the discharge of the debt, but which might be applied towards defraying the extraordinary expenses voted during the session. These were as follows:

The committee, in this statement, did not take into view the expenses of military defence, either by a provisional army or detachments of militia. It was certain that whichever move was adopted, a considerable expense, in case of actual service would be incurred; how far the expense ought now to be contemplated was left for the house to decide. It was to be remembered, moreover, that the interest and extinguishing annuity on the deferred six per cent. stock would become payable in 1801, and that heavy instalments of foreign debt would fall due during the three years succeeding that year, for