New York March 4th. 1789
My dear Gouverneur
I got to this place about seven oclock this morning and did intend to
have written a long letter, but the day has been consumed in firing of Guns,
ringing of Bells, an receiving and paying visits, and in
meeting at the new Federal Building (called the Trap) such of the
Senators and Deputies to the Assembly as have found their way hither--in the
senate we counted eight Members and in the Assembly thirteen, and it requires
twelve of the first and thirty of the last to make a Quorum so as to entitle
us to count the Votes for President & Vice President--We hope to have a
sufficient number for this purpose in a day or two--Expresses will then be
dispatched to General Washington and Mr. Adams (for there is no doubt but they
are elected, the first unanimously we beleive & the latter by a sufficient
majority) When that is done there is little else to be done untill they join
us, at least untill General Washington comes hither and at present it is my
intention to return to Philada. and come here in company with the General--The
public expectation seems to be so highly wound up that I think disappointment
must inevitably follow after a while, notwithstanding that I beleive there
will be inclination and abilities in the two houses to do every thing that
reasonable and sensible men can promise to themselves, but you know well how
impossible it is for public measures to keep pace with the sanguine desires of
the interested, the ignorant, and the inconsiderate parts of the
Community.
The question about residence is in full view--I beleive it
will be conducted with good temper, but I beleive the Philadelphians had
better look to the permanent residence than to the temporary one--The former
being of more consequence to Pensylvania & more in their power.
I brought with me my Colleague and four of our Delegates, and from present
appearances I think we shall draw well together--New York has not chosen
senators--The election of Members for the Federal Assembly is now holding, and
although in a former letter I said the New Jersey election was closed, yet I
found afterwards it was only closed in some of the Counties, in others it is
yet open.
Major Lenfant has not finished his work, although we
met to day in the Room intended for the senate--The ship this goes by is on
the point of departure--therefore I cannot say more of Politics.
Upon further enquiry and investigation I find that all the voyages for Cotton that
have failed has been entirely owing to bad choice of the article, and bringing
away that which had grown untill it was too ripe, when it gets so entangled
with seeds & Husks that it is impossible to clean it--You may rely
therefore that everything in this undertaking depends upon choosing Cotton
that is clean & white, without mixture of seeds husks and Dirt, or yellow
colour.
God bless you, I am in haste, but alway,
Yours--
(Duplicate)
(Letter courtesy of the Cornell University Library)
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