make it, the experience of which soon showed us that we must lose by remaining here. I had serious thoughts of an appointment to Louisiana, and hinted it to Mr. Madison, on which I have received a letter from the President offering it, but suggesting doubts of the propriety of my accepting it, on the idea that I had better remain here. I thought I might be useful there, and be in the way of improving my fortune by purchasing some land, and removing my slaves or getting others, and commencing a more profitable cultivation. But I was not decided in the plan, with a view to my interest, and had doubts of the climate, though my idea went no farther than a residence of two or three years, at most there. Mr. Jefferson seemed to think it probable I might be sent to Spain, and having assigned me certain duties here, I did not hesitate to decline the other object, and so informed him. At the same time I assured him of my willingness to remain here till next Spring, and of the pleasure with which I should go to Spain in the interim if he deemed it necessary. Thus the matter remains. When I came here, as I had not the means to furnish a house, and not wanting the furniture at home, more especially as I soon found that it would not suit me to remain long, I took a furnished house, which cost me 500 guineas a year. It is only a decent one with two rooms and a dressing-room on each floor, three stories high. The term will expire in July, after which we will conduct the establishment with a view to the most rigid economy while we remain. In contemplation of an early return, I may take apartments out of town, or in it, different from what would be proper if they were considered permanent. But no kind of arrangement I can adopt will enable me to do more than support my family here; as, therefore, I prefer being at home, where I hope to be rather improving than injuring my fortune, and shall make way in vacating this place for some other person to whom it may be proper and useful to show attention, I look forward with anxiety to the next spring, when I wish to accomplish it. If Mr. Lewis sells my land on which he lives, and makes a good crop this year, it appears to me that on my return I might be nearly or quite free from debt.

"Retaining my property in Albemarle, Loudon, and near Richmond, I should be independent, and in a situation with the credit attached to it to adopt plans of increasing it. We all feel much interested that on our return you should make up your mind to live with us. Our project is, if we can execute it, to

remain in Richmond all the year except a few months in the summer and fall, and during those, in Albemarle. I will either purchase or rent a house in Richmond. In either case we will have accommodations for you, and nothing is more interesting to us than the expectation that you will accede to the idea of spending the remainder of your days with us. On my own part, I really wish repose. The great fatigue and cold to which I was exposed the winter of my appointment abroad, in traveling backward and forward before I sailed, in the severest season, day and night, did me essential injury, especially as it followed much fatigue which I had in the Government of Virginia. I should be glad to enjoy quiet, and to adopt a mode of life, which, without retiring altogether from business, would keep me with my family, in the care of my property, and free from the necessity of entertaining or other expense. In connection with a limited practice of the law, I would willingly serve in our State Assembly if I were chosen. This is our little plan in which we very much

hope you may join.

"I think I could borrow here £800 or £1,000 on some years' credit, two or three for example, to pay what I owe the bank, if it was indispensably necessary. But, this I most earnestly wish to avoid, if possible. I think if I was back I could arrange with ease every thing, after paying off so many debts, and reducing the balance to so small a sum; and I would much rather owe money there than here. I wish you to talk with Mr. Swan on this subject, and inform me of the result. If the notes are exhausted, and the bank is willing to indulge me till I return, will you be so good as to give others for me? But, if the payment is desired, will you or Mr. Swan raise the amount by a draft upon me, and discharge what I owe the bank? This, however, is only to be done in case of pressing necessity, for I shall be forced to borrow every farthing to pay the draft, being, in fact, at present in debt, and under the necessity of adopting the system of parsimony above alluded to, to be able to leave the country free from it, at the time above mentioned. If the bank wants the money, and I must raise it here, as seems indispensable, it would be a great advantage to me to be allowed time to remit it. I am satisfied it would make twenty per centum difference. Bills from America on London are generally about par. Here they may be had on much more favorable terms on any part of the United States.

On my return, if we were to adopt the plan which we so

earnestly wish, of your being with us, I think we might arrange matters so as to clear us of every claim in a short time. Be so kind as to inform me whether our suit with Robert Carter is settled, or likely soon to be. If it is not, I think you had better employ an assistant counsel. How many leases are yet to be extinguished, and how much will it cost to buy them in?

"I sent you, by Mr. Fenton Mercer, an order on Lot Thruston for about £58 Virginia currency; that is. for 1,012 livres. A dollar is five livres, five sous; 20 shillings make one livre; so that you can calculate the precise sum. This order was from his son, to whom I lent that amount. I hope you received the order, and also the money, as Mr. Mercer promised to see that it was delivered safe. I observe, however, that you did not mention it in yours of July 10th. Young Thruston will sail for the United States in a fortnight, and by him I shall send a duplicate, and instruct him to pay the advance to you, if his father has not already done it.

"We are at present in tolerable health, though the climate has not agreed well with Mrs. M. nor Eliza. We find it very moist, and so impenetrably dark, through the winter, that we can not read more than four hours in the day. I read Eliza what you mentioned of her, and she requested me to assure you that you shall not be disappointed in respect to her returning as good an American as she was when she left home. She is, in truth, a very good girl, of excellent understanding, and of the best disposition. They are as desirous of getting home as myself. . . .

...

"You will see accounts of measures taken in France to make Bonaparte emperor, etc. Cudnot was the only person who spoke against it in the tribunals. It will probably meet with little opposition in any of the public bodies. I do not see any probability of a speedy termination of the war, though it doubtless presses hard on both of these countries. Happily our situation with both powers is the most fortunate that can be. That it may long continue so is what all must wish, and, indeed, what is most likely under the same counsels. Some expectation is entertained that the northern powers will join in it, but I see no cause to believe it at present. The invasion continues to be menaced, but no new symptom of its being likely to take place soon.

"Where is Joseph, and how is he? I should be happy to have it in my power to render him any service. I do not see how a trip here could be of any use to him, or would certainly

do every thing in my power to lessen its expenses to him. In general, such trips expose young men to great expense, and give them habits which injure them through life. They are useful in few cases, since nothing is to be learned here, which may not be acquired in America. You well know that if he was to come, I should treat him with the same attention you would do yourself. We all desire to be affectionately remembered to yourself and him. Our young Maria enjoys good health, and is a fine babe. She is two years old, and runs about and speaks well.

"I am, sincerely your friend and servant.

"JAMES MONROE."

Mr. Monroe now. came forward with his long letter of defense, as promised, to Mr. Madison. His main object in making this defense, as fully stated in his letter to Mr. Jefferson, was to lift from him the public censure under which he was then resting, greatly to his political disadvantage, according to his belief. The necessity for this defense, if there was one, served to connect his last with his first foreign mission, and better define his doubtful course on returning from Europe in 1797. But here, as in the other case, besides the mere personal spleen there was in the matter, the defense stands out mainly as an electioneering scheme. With the difference that while in the first instance it was designed to injure the Federal party and Administration, to the advantage of himself and the party to which he belonged, it was now designed to be as little injurious as possible to the Administration of Mr. Jefferson, while operating as effectually as might be to Mr. Monroe's personal interests.

CHAPTER X.

JEFFERSON AND MONROE THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA IN THE CABINET OF MR. MADISON-WAR OF 1812

WHERE LAY THE RESPONSIBILITY.

ARCH, 1808, from Richmond, Mr. Monroe wrote

MARC

a long letter to President Jefferson, reviewing at considerable length, his position and conduct as foreign minister under his Administration.

In this communication he declares the constancy with which he kept in view the good of the Administration and country in all his acts; reflects severely on the appointment of Mr. Pinkney as extraordinary, and the utter surprise with which this appointment met him; declares that his devotion to the interests. of the country and the personal interests of the President alone prevented his continuing his functions on the arrival of Mr. Pinkney (quite different from the spirit which actuated Mr. Livingston under similar circumstances); thought the country would be benefited by his superior knowledge of the situation; that the treaty rejected was the best attainable; that he had staked his own reputation on signing the treaty; that he deplored the disposition. made of it, and the consequent coolness between himself and Mr. Jefferson; accuses the President of loss of confidence and friendship; but is satisfied with the assurances now received that Mr. Jefferson did not