7462. RETIREMENT, Washington opposed to Jefferson's.—
The President calls
on me [to-day, August 6], at my house in the
country, and introduces my letter of July 31,
announcing that I should resign at the close of
the next month. He again expressed his repentance
at not having resigned himself, and
how much it was increased by seeing that he
was to be deserted by those on whose aid he
had counted; that he did not know where he
should look to find characters to fill up the offices;
that mere talents did not suffice for the
Department of State, but it required a person
conversant in foreign affairs, perhaps acquainted
with foreign courts; that without this,
the best talents would be awkward and at a loss.
He told me that Colonel Hamilton had three or
four weeks ago written to him, informing him
that private as well as public reasons had
brought him to the determination to retire, and
that he should do it towards the close of the
next session. He said he had often before intimated
dispositions to resign, but never as decisively
before; that he supposed he had fixed
on the latter part of next session, to give an opportunity
to Congress to examine into his conduct;
that our going out at times so different
increased his difficulty; for if he had both places
to fill at once, he might consult both the particular
talents and geographical situation of our
successors. He expressed great apprehension
at the fermentation which seemed to be working
in the mind of the public; that many descriptions
of persons, actuated by different
causes, appeared to be uniting; what it would
end in he knew not; a new Congress was to
assemble, more numerous, perhaps of a different
spirit; the first expressions of their sentiments
would be important; if I would only stay to the
end of that, it would relieve him considerably.—
The Anas. Washington ed. ix, 165.
Ford ed., i, 256.
(Aug. 1793)
