“Tuesday, November 13, 1798.—­Mr. Lear, my secretary, being from our lodgings on business, one of my servants came into the room where I was writing and informed me that a gentleman in the parlor below desired to see me; no name was sent up.  In a few minutes I went down, and found the Rev. Dr. Blackwell and Dr. Logan there.  I advanced towards and gave my hand to the former; the latter did the same towards me.  I was backward in giving mine.  He, possibly supposing from hence that I did not recollect him, said his name was Logan.  Finally, in a very cold manner, and with an air of marked indifference, I gave him my hand and asked Dr. Blackwell to be seated; the other took a seat at the same time.  I addressed all my conversation to Dr. Blackwell; the other all his to me, to which I only gave negative or affirmative answers as laconically as I could, except asking him how Mrs. Logan did.  He seemed disposed to be very polite, and while Dr. Blackwell and myself were conversing on the late calamitous fever, offered me an asylum at his house, if it should return or I thought myself in any danger in the city, and two or three rooms, by way of accommodation.  I thanked him slightly, observing there would be no call for it.”

“About this time Dr. Blackwell took his leave.  We all rose from our seats, and I moved a few paces toward the door of the room, expecting the other would follow and take his leave also.”

The worthy Quaker, however, was not to be got rid of so easily.  He literally stood his ground, and went on talking of a number of things, chiefly about Lafayette and his family, and an interview with Mr. Murray, our minister in Holland.  Washington, meanwhile, stood facing him, and to use his own words, “showed the utmost inattention,” while his visitor described his journey to Paris.  Finally Logan said that his purpose in going to France was to ameliorate the condition of our relations with that country.  “This,” said Washington, “drew my attention more pointedly to what he was saying and induced me to remark that there was something very singular in this; that he, who could only be viewed as a private character, unarmed with proper powers, and presumptively unknown in France, should suppose he could effect what three gentlemen of the first respectability in our country, especially charged under the authority of the government, were unable to do.”  One is not surprised to be then told that Dr. Logan seemed a little confounded at this observation; but he recovered himself, and went on to say that only five persons knew of his going, and that his letters from Mr. Jefferson and Mr. McKean obtained for him an interview with M. Merlin, president of the Directory, who had been most friendly in his expressions.  To this Washington replied with some very severe strictures on the conduct of France; and the conversation, which must by this time have become a little strained, soon after came to an end.