here might be disposed of in favor of Mrs. Buckner and family, and Andrew fifty pounds sterling, for instance, in favor of the former, part in necessaries and the residue in education of a child, or providing a tutor for the family, according to their wish. I say the balance to Andrew, but if he requires, and you can give more, I wish it done. In truth, my expenses have been great here, and still are so, but it is much my wish to serve these relatives all in my power. We lament much the ill health of Tamah, and anticipate the worst, but hope for her recovery. Her loss will be severely felt by Mrs. Monroe, who would not admit that it were possible to replace her by half a dozen in her place; indeed, she is valuable as a sensible and honest servant, as well as most capable, and whose loss could never be repaired. We are particularly gratified that she is well taken care of, and wants for nothing. Peter, we hope, is well, who, and those under Hoag, we wish to be humanely treated, well clothed, etc. I send a letter for him I thought had gone by another opportunity.

"The success of the French in Italy has obtained an advantageous peace with Sardinia, Parma, and put all Italy in terror. Indeed, all the powers are seeking peace, and sending sums of money and their finest pictures as the price. The Pope has offered to write a letter to the people of the Vendée to reconcile them to the government, as one of the conditions, and pay down fifteen million livres as another, to the latter of which some attention is paid. An advantage is gained, also, on the Rhine, but the action was not general, and, of course, the effect, though important, not very impressive. I will endeavor to write Mr. Jefferson also by this opportunity if possible, to whom, and other friends, be so kind as to make my affectionate regards. Tell Joseph I wish to hear from him. We are well and wish you so.

"Your friend and servant.

8-E

66

'JAMES MONROE."

CHAPTER VII.

MR. MONROE AS GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA.

S an indication of the little Mr. Monroe had suf

As fered in reputation in Virginia by his foreign

mission under Washington, soon after his return (in the same year) he was elected to the Legislature and took his seat in that body. And, in 1799, he was chosen governor of the State by a considerable majority over John Breckinridge, and continued to hold the office for three years. Still, it must not be thought that this good fortune was quietly acquiesced in by all the people of Virginia. Some of them considered his elevation to the governorship as calamitous in the extreme to the State. But this prejudgment was not verified by his conduct.

The following is the greater part of a message from Governor Monroe to the Speaker of the House of Delegates, December 6, 1802, and is a fine specimen of an executive document for that early period:

:

"SIR,-The meeting of the General Assembly at an epoch so auspicious to the public prosperity, can not otherwise than be highly grateful to the members who compose it. In making the following communication, I derive much satisfaction from a survey of the objects which claim your attention. In the affairs of this State, and of the United States, in which as a member of the Union, as brethren of the same family, we are deeply interested, there is much cause to felicitate ourselves in the blessings which we enjoy, and to entertain the utmost confidence that they will long be preserved to us.

"The progress of the public buildings has, in a great measure, verified the prediction that was made of it at the last session. The jail or penitentiary house, which before that period, had become subservient to all the objects of the institution, is now almost finished. The manufactory of arms in that part which embraces muskets, swords, and pistols, advanced nearly to the same state. The edifice has been long erected, and the interior of the front and western wing finished. The foundry for cannon has been necessarily postponed for the present. This part of the institution, though very important, appeared less urgent than that which was destined to the manufacture of small arms. It was deemed a primary object to commence with these, since the infantry forms the strength of every army, and in our militia, comprises the mass of the people. The foundry, however, may be finished in the course of the next year. As soon as any portion of the building was in a situation to admit it, a suitable number of artists, who had been previously engaged, was called into service, and the manufactory commenced. This rule has been observed. since. Some difficulties usually attend new establishments, especially of this kind, in their commencement, which yield to the industry and knowledge of the agents after they are put in motion. Such, doubtless, have been felt on the present occasion; nevertheless the experiment made, has produced a result as favorable as our early anticipation suggested. A number of complete stands are (is) made of the best quality. In comparing them with the specimens of other countries which we have of those most distinguished for their skill, we are led to conclude that they are, at least, equal to any.

I submit a report of the superintendent of the State buildings, the sum necessary to complete them, the number of arms made, and their cost per stand, as also the state of the public warehouse in this city, which is intended as a depository for a principal staple of our country. It can not, I presume, be otherwise than very satisfactory to our constituents to see institutions of such vast importance to society, commenced and advanced so rapidly to maturity, under their auspices. The first of these, the penitentiary system, is founded in a policy, which though not unknown, was certainly never reduced to practice in the same spirit and with like advantage in the ancient hemisphere. It was reserved for the mild and free government of the New World, for those of the United States, of whose principles it is peculiarly

characteristic, to make a fair experiment of this benevolent system; a system which prohibits under any circumstances a useless degradation of a fellow-citizen; which inculcates the doctrine that in punishing crimes, the society or rather the government ought not to indulge the passion of revenge; that makes example useful without being sanguinary; that seeks the reformation in the correction of offenders. I am happy to add that so far as the experiment has gone, it has confirmed the wisdom of the policy which dictated it. By a report of the keeper, it appears that the number of the criminals who have been sent to the jail by the district courts since the institution was established, has not, on a comparison of terms, essentially increased of late; that not one that was discharged from confinement there, has been returned to it; that several who were discharged, had acquired habits of industry, and useful trades; that one only had escaped; and that order is preserved without severity. The other establishment, the manufactory of arms, though founded apparently in opposite principles, is nevertheless in the present state of the world, of the utmost importance to society. While war is a practical science, and the destruction of the human species an ordinary pursuit of the ambition of most powers, we ought not to presume that we shall be at all times exempt from its calamities. Our distance and love of peace are not a sufficient security to us. Where powerful navies and armies are kept in service, they must be occasionally employed, however slight the pretext. Inaction gives time for reflection, which is unfriendly to establishments, the more burthensome and oppressive while they are apparently useless. The defenseless state invites to insult and invasion, and no situation is so much so, as that of a people unarmed.

"The experience of our Revolution sufficiently demonstrated that we ought not to rely on obtaining a full supply of arms from foreign countries. An independent nation should always possess within itself the means of its own preservation. It is an improvident, indeed, a criminal oversight, to leave to hazard the obtaining of objects of such vital importance.

"I have the pleasure to submit to the General Assembly reports from the president and directors of the several companies instituted for the improvement of our interior navigation, stating the progress which has been made in it by each since your last session. By these reports you will perceive that this bold and useful undertaking continues to be pursued with activity and zeal

by those to whom it is intrusted; that the work is advanced in every branch, and in respect to the principal rivers, nearly accomplished. After removing the great and more durable objects in the James and Potomac, in which latter we have a joint interest with our sister State, Maryland, from their falls almost to their sources, the attention of the directors has been turned to such as are occasional, arising more especially from rare and extraordinary droughts, for which they are providing remedies by contracting and deepening the beds of the rivers, which can not fail to produce the desired effect. A profit has accrued on the transportation of produce and other articles on these rivers which was subject to distribution, and in the case of James River has been distributed among the stockholders; but in that of the Potomac, where the impediments referred to were greater, the directors in the true spirit of the undertaking, seem disposed to prefer the application of it to the more important objects of the association, the greater improvement of the navigation. The demonstration is, however, satisfactory, that according to the sums deposited, it will become a very productive source of revenue.

"Due attention has been paid to the act of the last session, which proposes to open a road from the upper navigation of the James to that of the Kanawha River. Andrew Moore, John Preston, and Samuel Vance were appointed commissioners to view the country between the head-waters of those rivers, and report the most convenient route for the proposed communication. These gentlemen have been some time engaged in that interesting duty, and will, I am persuaded, execute it with the judgment and propriety that was expected from their appointment. Their report will be presented to the Legislature as soon as it is received.

"I submit to the General Assembly a return of the militia of the Commonwealth, comprising the infantry, cavalry, and artillery. The strength of the infantry is believed to be about 75,000, the cavalry 3,000, and the artillery 2,000. The returns, however, are incomplete, although due exertions have been made to obtain them. It is proper to add that the deaths of MajorGenerals Morgan and Meade, very meritorious officers of our Revolution, and the removal of Major-General Clarke to the State of Kentucky, have created vacancies in their respective offices which the Legislature will have to supply.

"I also submit a statement from the auditor of public accounts, of the receipts and expenditures of the public revenue,