aking about General
Greene, he said that he and General Greene had always differed in
opinion about the manner of using militia. Greene always placed them
in his front: himself was of opinion, they should always be used as a
reserve to improve any advantage, for which purpose they were the finest
fellows in the world. He said he was on the ground of the battle of
Guilford, with a person who was in the action, and who explained the
whole of it to him. That General Greene's front was behind a fence at
the edge of a large field, through which the enemy were obliged to pass
to get at them; and that, in their passage through this, they must have
been torn all to pieces, if troops had been posted there who would have
stood their ground; and that the retreat from that position was through
a thicket, perfectly secure. Instead of this he posted the North
Carolina militia there who only gave one fire and fell back, so that the
whole benefit of their position was lost. He thinks that the regulars,
with their field-pieces, would have hardly let a single man get through
that field.

Eodem die (June the 7th). Beckley tells me that he has the following
fact from Governor Clinton. That before the proposition for the present
General Government, i.e. a little before Hamilton conceived a plan for
establishing a monarchical government in the United States, he wrote
a draught of a circular letter, which was to be sent to about
-------persons, to bring it about. One of these letters in Hamilton's
hand-writing, is now in possession of an old militia General up the
North River, who, at that time, was thought orthodox enough to be
entrusted in the execution. This General has given notice to Governor
Clinton, that he has this paper, and that he will deliver it into
his hands, and no one's else. Clinton intends, the first interval of
leisure, to go for it, and he will bring it to Philadelphia. Beckley is
a man of perfect truth as to what he affirms of his own knowledge, but
too credulous as to what he hears from others.

June the 10th, 1793. Mr. Brown gives me the following specimen of
the phrenzy which prevailed at New York on the opening of the new
government. The first public ball which took place after the President's
arrival there, Colonel Humphreys, Colonel W. S. Smith, and Mrs. Knox
were to arrange the ceremonials. These arrangements were as follows:
a sofa at the head of the room, raised on several steps whereon the
President and Mrs.