d at the partiality shown by Hamilton to a foreign
sovereign over his own President, that he mentioned it to a Mr.
Schwart-house, an American merchant of New York, who mentioned it to
Smith.

Mr. Smith also tells me, that calling one evening on Mr. Evans, then
Speaker of the House of Representatives of Pennsylvania, and asking
the news, Evans said, Harper had just been there, and speaking of the
President's setting out to Braintree, said, 'he prayed to God that his
horses might run away with him, or some other accident happen to break
his neck before he reached Braintree.' This was in indignation at his
having named Murray, &c. to negotiate with France. Evans approved of the
wish.

February the 1st. Doctor Rush tells me that he had it from Asa Green,
that when the clergy addressed General Washington on his departure
from the government, it was observed in their consultation, that he had
never, on any occasion, said a word to the public which showed a belief
in the Christian religion, and they thought they should so pen their
address, as to force him at length to declare publicly whether he was a
Christian or not. They did so. However, he observed, the old fox was
too cunning for them. He answered every article of their address
particularly except that, which he passed over without notice. Rush
observes, he never did say a word on the subject in any of his public
papers, except in his valedictory letter to the Governors of the States
when he resigned his commission in the army, wherein he speaks of 'the
benign influence of the Christian religion.'

I know that Gouverneur Morris, who pretended to be in his secrets and
believed himself to be so, has often told me that General Washington
believed no more of that system than he himself did.

March, 1800. Heretical doctrines maintained in Senate, on the motion
against the Aurora. That there is in every legal body of men a right of
self-preservation, authorizing them to do whatever is necessary for that
purpose: by Tracy, Read, and Lawrence. That the common law authorizes
the proceeding proposed against the Aurora, and is in force here: by
Read. That the privileges of Congress are and ought to be indefinite: by
Read.

Tracy says, he would not say exactly that the common law of England in
all its extent is in force here; but common sense reason, and morality,
which are the foundations of the common law, are in force here, and
establish a common law. He held himself so