PREFACE BY THE EDITOR. NOT until the exasperated feeling of opposing political parties has been assuaged by time, and new divisions have arisen, can the leading measures and the prominent men of those parties be judged of without bias. The time has arrived, it is believed, when we may scan impartially the events of the period embraced in these letters. The measures adopted by the conflicting administrations of those years, have been fully tested. The effect of such as have survived the changes of party revolutions, is now felt and known, and exercises a prominent influence upon our political and social condition; whilst other measures, and the wise and good men who upheld them, are condemned as federal, by persons who are ignorant of the origin, design and character of Federalists. It is due to the worthy patriots and disinterested statesmen who composed that party, that their motives should be known, and the principles they advocated understood. It was to this end that the author wrote these letters; it is to this end that they are now republished to the world by his son, PHILADELPHIA, June 1, 1847. THE EDITOR. 2* Congress in 1793-Jefferson's commercial report-Marshall's character of Jefferson-parties in Congress-distinguished members-renewed Adet, French minister-Washington's reply to Adet-Jay's treaty-pop- ular movements on this treaty-debate in Congress-Monroe-France. 102 Washington-Lafayette-Bollman-Lord Lyndhurst-third election of President-Paine's letter to Washington-Jefferson's letter to Paine- Washington's last speech to Congress-farewell address-Jefferson's remarks and Jay's letter on the address-Washington's personal ap- |