, to
which place you had addressed it, forgetting my still being in
public life at Washington. I suppose you think that so old a
man, and one who has led so busy and active a life, should
take the evening of his days to his comfort and quiet
reflection, and I am not sure but that you are right. Public
life ought to have but little charms for either you or me; we
have both seen enough of active service, and should devote the
remnant of time which is left us, to settling our accounts
with this world, and preparing for a better.

"I am gratified to hear of the task in which you tell me you
are engaged. I do not know that it is in my power to afford
you much of the assistance which you seem to think I can give;
but such information as I can communicate is very cheerfully
at your service. Upon my return to Baltimore, I will examine
my papers; and whatever letters I can spare, which I may think
likely to aid you in your labors, or illustrate the times of
which you propose to write, shall be forwarded to your
direction.

"I agree with you that many of the men, and not few of the
events, of the Revolution, are very imperfectly understood.
Take General Washington himself, for example: he is
represented as having been cold and repulsive in his manner,
when the very reverse was the fact. True, he was dignified and
reserved, but always courteous, and, what I admired above all,
always sincere. I never knew a man capable of stronger
attachments; he had none of the vices of humanity, and fewer
of its weaknesses than any man I ever knew. I do not believe
Mr. Jefferson _meant_ to be unjust; but the character drawn of
Washington, which appears in his recently published papers and
correspondence, falls, in all respects, very far short of
doing him justice. Mr. Jefferson had not the sort of mind
which was entirely capable of appreciating, or even exactly
understanding, a character like that of Washington's. I saw
much of the old General in his latter days; visited him
several times at Mount Vernon, and frequently at Washington.
Doctor Craih, (my near connexion by marriage,) was long his
physician and intimate friend, and was in attendance upon his
death-bed. He has given me anecdotes innumerable of
Washington's generosity and kindness of heart, which, though,
not known to the w