No. XII. JEFFERSON'S VIEWS ON THE CESSION OF LOUISIANA, IN A LETTER TO CAPTAIN LEWIS. "Washington, July 15, 1803. “DEAR SIR: I dropped you a line on the 11th inst., and last night received yours of the 8th. Last night also we received the treaty from Paris, ceding Louisiana, according to the bounds to which France had a right-price, eleven and a quarter millions of dollars, besides paying certain debts of France to our citizens, which will be from one to four millions. I received also from Mr. Lacepede at Paris, to whom I had mentioned your intended expedition, a letter, of which the following is an extract: 'Mr. Broughton, one of the companions of Captain Vancouver, went up Columbia River one hundred miles, in December, 1792. He stopped at a point which he named Vancouver, latitude 45° 27', longitude 237° 50′ E. Here the river Columbia is still a quarter of a mile wide, and from twelve to thirtysix feet deep. It is far then to its head. From this point Mount Hood is seen, twenty leagues distant, which is probably a dependance of the Stony Mountains, of which Mr. Fiedler saw the beginning about latitude 40°, and the source of the Missouri is probably in the Stony Mountains If your nation can establish an easy communication by rivers, canals, and short portages, between New York, for example, and the city [they were building, or to be built, for the badness of the writing makes it uncertain which is meant, but probably the last] at the mouth of Columbia, what a route for the commerce of Europe, Asia and America' "Accept my affectionate salutations, (૨ No. XIII JEFFERSON'S FAMILY AND DESCENDANTS. I. One daughter-Martha Wayles Randolph, widow of the late Governor Randolph. II. Eleven grandchildren, to wit 1. Thomas Jefferson Randolph. 2. Ellen Coolidge, wife of Joseph Coolidge of Boston. 3. Virginia Trist, wife of Nicholas P. Trist, consul at Havana. 4. Cornelia Randolph. 5. Mary Randolph. 6. James Madison Randolph, since deceased. 7. Benjamin Franklin Randolph, a physician in Albe marle. 8. Meriwether Lewis Randolph, residing in Arkansas. 9. Septimia Randolph. 10. George Wythe Randolph, midshipman in the navy. 11. Francis Eppes, the only grandchild by his daughter Maria Eppes. III. Fourteen great-grandchildren, to wit: The children of Thomas Jefferson Randolph-six. A daughter of Mrs. Coolidge. The children of Francis Eppes-two. A daughter of Mrs. Trist. Since Mr. Jefferson's death, time has made its usual changes, both by deaths and births, and the number of his descendants now exceeds forty, among whom are several of the fifth generation. No. XIV. JEFFERSON'S OPINIONS IN REFERENCE TO THE SOCIETY OF THE CINCINNATI.* "Having been in America during the period in which this institution was formed, and being then in a situation. which gave me opportunities of seeing it in all its stages, I may venture to give M. de Meusnier materials for a succinct history of its origin and establishment. I should write its history in the following form. When, on the close of that war which established the independence of America, its army was about to be disbanded, the officers who, during the course of it had gone. through the most trying scenes together, who, by mutual aids and good offices had become dear to one another, felt with great apprehension of mind the approach of that moment which was to separate them, never, perhaps, to meet again. They were from different States, and from distant parts of the same State. Hazard alone could therefore give them but rare and partial occasions of seeing each other. They were, of course, to abandon altogether the hope of ever meeting again, or to devise some occasion which might bring them together. And why not come together. on purpose at stated times? Would not the trouble of such a journey be greatly overpaid by the pleasure of seeing. each other again, by the sweetest of all consolations, the talking over the scenes of difficulty and er.dearment they had gone through? This, too, would enable them to know. who of them should succeed in the world, who should be *The remainder of this Appendix is taken from the "Observations of Henry Lee, of Virginia, on the Writings of Thomas Jefferson," &c. This is a very valuable work, and not generally accessible to the reader. The following extracts possess more than ordinary interest. unsuccessful and to open the purses of all to every laboring brother. This idea was too soothing not to be cherished in conversation. It was improved into that of a regular association, with an organized administration, with periodical meetings, general and particular, fixed contributions for those who should be in distress, and a badge, by which not only those who had not had occasion to become personally known should be able to recognize one another, but which should be worn by their descendants, to perpetuate among them the friendship which had bound their ancestors together. "Gen. Washington was, at that moment, oppressed with the operation of disbanding an army which was not paid; and the difficulty of this operation was increased, by some two or three States having expressed sentiments, which did not indicate a sufficient attention to their payment. He was sometimes present when his officers were fashioning in their conversations their newly proposed society. He saw the innocence of its origin, and foresaw no effects less innocent. He was at that time writing his valedictory letter to the States, which has been so deservedly applauded by the world. Far from thinking it a moment to multiply the causes of irritation, by thwarting a proposition which had absolutely no other basis but that of benevolence and friendship, he was rather satisfied to find himself aided in his difficulties by this new incident, which occupied, and at the same time, soothed, the minds of his officers. He thought too, that this institution would be one instrument the more for strengthening the federal bond, and for promoting federal ideas. The institution was formed. They incorporated into it the officers of the French army and navy, by whose sides they had fought, and with whose aid they had finally prevailed.” After stating that Gen. Washington accepted the office of President of the society, (which he held until his death) and mentioning the opposition which its supposed tendency to divide the community into distinct orders, soon excited, he proceeds: The uneasiness excited by this institution, had very early caught the notice of Gen. Washington. Still recollecting all the purity of the motives which gave it birth, he became sensible that it might produce political evils, which the warmth of those motives had masked. Add to this, that it was disapproved by the mass of citizens of the Union. This alone was reason strong enough in a country where the will of the majority is the law, and ought to be the law. He saw that the objects of the institution were too light to be opposed to considerations as serious as these; and that it was become necessary to annihilate it absolutely. On this, therefore, he was decided. The first annual meeting at Philadelphia, was now at hand; he went to that, determined to exert all his influence for its suppression. He proposed it to his fellow-officers, and urged it with all his powers. It met an opposition which was observed to cloud his face with an anxiety that the most distressful scenes of the war had scarcely ever produced. It was canvassed for several days, and at length it was no more a doubt what would be its ultimate fate. The order was on the point of receiving its annihilation, by a vote of a great majority of its members. In this moment their envoy arrived from France, charged with letters from the French officers, accepting with cordiality the proposed badges of union, with solicitations from others to be received into the order, and with notice that their respectable sovereign had been pleased to recognize it, and to permit his officers to wear its badges. The prospect was now changed. The question assumed a new form. After the offer made by them, and accepted by their friends, in what words could they clothe |