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3090. FORTIFICATIONS, Adequate.—[continued].

I think it would make an
honorable close of your term as well as mine,
to leave our country in a state of substantial
defence, which we found quite unprepared
for it. Indeed, it would for me be a joyful
annunciation to the next meeting of Congress,
that the operations of defence are all complete.—
To Henry Dearborn. Washington ed. v, 295. Ford ed., ix, 171.
(M. May. 1808)