His general explanations to me were, that when he arrived at New York
to enter on the executive administration of the new government, he
observed to those who were to assist him, that placed as he was in an
office entirely new to him, unacquainted with the forms and ceremonies
of other governments, still less apprized of those which might be
properly established here, and himself perfectly indifferent to all
forms, he wished them to consider and prescribe what they should be; and
the task was assigned particularly to General Knox, a man of parade,
and to Colonel Humphreys, who had resided some time at a foreign court.
They, he said, were the author's of the present regulations, and that
others were proposed so highly strained, that he absolutely rejected
them. Attentive to the difference of opinion prevailing on this subject,
when the term of his second election arrived, he called the Heads of
departments together, observed to them the situation in which he had
been at the commencement of the government, the advice he had taken, and
the course he had observed in compliance with it; that a proper occasion
had now arrived of revising that course, of correcting in it any
particulars not approved in experience; and he desired us to consult
together, agree on any changes we should think for the better, and
that he should willingly conform to what we should advise. We met at
my office.
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