Not long, however, is he permitted to remain a private citizen reposing at Mount Vernon amidst all its endearments.  The next succeeding year finds him again summoned by his country to her service.  At the eager solicitation of the government, the elder Adams then being President, and Mr. Adams’ own desire being seconded by the nation’s voice, he was prevailed upon to accept the supreme command of the Army during the difficulties and even quasi-war that had risen up with our old ally, France.  He accepted on condition of receiving no pay or emolument until actually called into the field.  Nevertheless this conditional acceptance threw upon him burdensome duties.  It exposed him to “many official calls, to a heavy correspondence, and to a flow of company.”  It is so he expresses himself.  In this conjuncture he writes to his attached friend and faithful secretary Mr. Lear.  Under date of August the second, 1798, from Mount Vernon, he describes to him those fresh duties as hindrances to putting his private affairs in that order so necessary before he embarked in new scenes; it being his desire, before quitting the scene of human action, to leave his concerns in such a condition as to give as little trouble as possible to those who would have the management of them afterwards.  Under this view of his situation he had written to the Secretary of War to be informed whether he was at liberty to appoint his secretary, who should be entitled to the usual and proper allowances; and concludes with asking Mr. Lear if he would join him in that capacity if the Secretary of War answered in the affirmative.  Mr. Lear assents.

This is the last letter in the series.  I learn from Mrs. Lear that others not in this collection, bespeaking a high degree of intimacy and confidence, were written to her husband by the same hand.  This may well be conceived when it is known that Mr. Lear’s connection with this illustrious man began prior to the year ’86, and continued until his death in ’99; that he was at his bedside when he died, and drew up the authentic narrative, which was verified by the physicians, of his last illness, from its commencement to the closing scene.  This was published at that time to meet the anxious feelings of his mourning countrymen, struck down at first by his death as by a shock that went through every heart.

From one of the letters there dropped out, as I unfolded it, a slip in Mr. Lear’s handwriting, dated May the first, 1791, containing the copy of a message to General Washington from Lord Cornwallis, of which Captain Truxton had been the bearer from the East Indies.  His lordship, whom Captain Truxton had seen there, being then Governor General of India. “congratulated General Washington on the establishment of a happy government in his country, and congratulated the country on the accession of General Washington to its Chief Magistracy.”  The message wished “General Washington a long enjoyment of tranquillity and happiness,” adding that, for himself (Lord C.), he “continued in troubled waters.”