But time sets all things even.  The demagogues and the critics who assailed Washington’s demeanor and behavior are forgotten, while the wise and simple customs which he established and framed for the great office that he honored, still prevail by virtue of their good sense.  We part gladly with all remembrance of those bold defenders of liberty who saw in these slight forms forerunners of monarchy.  We would even consent to drop into oblivion the precious legacy of Jefferson.  But we will never part with the picture drawn by a loving hand of that stately figure, clad in black velvet, with the hand on the hilt of the sword, standing at one of Mrs. Washington’s levees, and receiving with gentle and quiet dignity, full of kindliness but untinged by cheap familiarity, the crowd that came to pay their respects.  It was well for the republic that at the threshold of its existence it had for President a man who, by the kindness of his heart, by his good sense, good manners, and fine breeding, gave to the office which he held and the government he founded the simple dignity which was part of himself and of his own high character.

Thus the forms and shows, important in their way, were dealt with, while behind them came the sterner realities of government, demanding regulation and settlement.  At the outset Washington knew about the affairs of the government, especially for the last six years, only in a general way.  He felt it to be his first duty, therefore, to familiarize himself with all these matters, and, although he was in the midst of the stir and bustle of a new government, he nevertheless sent for all the papers of each department of the confederation since the signature of the treaty of peace, went through them systematically, and made notes and summaries of their contents.  This habit he continued throughout his presidency in dealing with all official documents.  The natural result followed.  He knew more at the start about the facts in each and every department of the public business than any other one man, and he continued to know more throughout his administration.  In this method and this capacity for taking infinite pains is to be found a partial explanation at least of the easy mastery of affairs which he always showed, whether on the plantation, in the camp, or in the cabinet.  It was in truth a striking instance of that “long patience” which the great French naturalist said was genius.

While he was thus regulating forms of business, and familiarizing himself with public questions, it became necessary to fix the manner of dealing with foreign powers.  There were not many representatives of foreign nations present at the birth of the republic, but there was one who felt, and perhaps not without reason, that he was entitled to peculiar privileges.  The Count de Moustier, minister of France, desired to have private access to the President, and even to discuss matters of business with him.  Washington’s reply to this demand was, in its way, a model.