At
length he yielded, and left it to Humphreys and some others to settle
the forms. Accordingly, an antechamber and presence-room were provided,
and when those who were to pay their court were assembled, the President
set out, preceded by Humphreys. After passing through the antechamber,
the door of the inner room was thrown open, and Humphreys entered first,
calling out with a loud voice, 'The President of the United States.' The
President was so much disconcerted with it, that he did not recover it
the whole time of the levee, and when the company was gone, he said
to Humphreys, 'Well, you have taken me in once, but, by God, you shall
never take me in a second time.'
There is reason to believe that the rejection of the late additional
Assumption by the Senate was effected by the President through Lear,
operating on Langdon. Beckley knows this.
February the 26th, 1793. Notes on the proceedings of yesterday. [See the
formal opinions given to the President in writing, and signed.]
First question. We were all of opinion that the treaty should proceed
merely to gratify the public opinion, and not from an expectation of
success. I expressed myself strongly, that the event was so unpromising,
that I thought the preparations for a campaign should go on without the
least relaxation, and that a day should be fixed with the commissioners
for the treaty, beyond which they should not permit the treaty to be
protracted, by which day, orders should be given for our forces to enter
into action.
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