Still further, the habits of our country, unacquainted with the double diplomacy of France, not being used to an ostensible and a real functionary, will associate the character of the college with that of the President. He will stand foremost in the public estimation; you may explain a thousand times and your explanation will be forgotten. At public commencements and other special occasions, your president must take the lead, and be the prominent figure, unless you mean to make him the laughing stock for boys, a subject for caricatures. How, then, on the one hand, will an able man put up with all the compliments due to the ignorance or incapacity of his Vice? Being constituted a scape-goat for iniquities not his own? Or how on the other hand, will an able man submit to have the praise of his genuis & truth transferred to another who did nothing? This proxy-scheme, for such it will be in the experiment, cannot answer. No man of intelligence & spirit will permit himself to be either applauded for what he does not deserve, or robbed of what he does. If he is the luminary in the system he will never allow an opake body, a smoked glass, to intervene between him & the eye of the spectator. He will not be viewed as if he were under an eclipse. Besides, whatever little notions may fill the heads of both the great vulgar and the small, you, my dear Sir, and every one who thinks largely, perceives that a man who is capable of performing the service which we should expect in our first officer, cannot shut himself up in the college alone. He will consider it in the twofold light of an end and of a means. But as it furnishes opportunity for the exercise of high talent in acting directly upon Society, it is only a means. No small doer up of lessons understands this. No one who understands it, will ever be a doer up of lessons, or a literary mill-horse. He will take his stand upon the great theatre of human life, and there is no keeping him from it. Now, no consideration will induce such a man, and such an one we want, to place himself behind a master of ceremonies, and play second fiddle to one whom, if multiplied by 1000 or 10,000, he could crush with his grasp. It is not in human nature. Such a man will be in your college aut Cæsar aut Nullus. There are very few among secondary men who would deign to accept the post of your efficient officer with a harlequin superior, dancing before him; and he, to whom it would be an object of ambition, is of course, much less than harlequin.

Upon the whole, the proposed arrangement appears to me to have originated in that most fatal policy which sacrifices general principles to partial and temporary expedients; and which it is therefore impossible for me either to approve, to support, or not to resist.

I have disclosed my sentiments with unreserved plainness; not only because such a disclosure comports with the frankness of our conversations on matters of great interest; and because I wish to lay before you the extent of my feeling on this particular subject; but also, and chiefly, because the very liberal treatment I have received from your friendship ever since I have had the happiness of your acquaintance both justifies and requires a corresponding candour. You will give to my opinions and reasonings their just weight; and should your results be different from my own, although I should regret the circumstances, it will not disparage in your mind, the freedom of my communications; nor assuredly in mine, the respect and esteem with which I have the honor to be, dear Sir, your obliged & faithful

J. M. MASON.

CHAPTER XI.

King to Gore-Hopes the best if England moderate-King to WilberforceThinks no incompatible Claims or Pursuits exist between the CountriesHopes final Rupture will be avoided-Murray to King-Slave TradeTroup to King-New York Mayoralty-King to Pickering-Jackson says temperate Conduct likely to prevail-King to Gore-Jackson likely to be withdrawn-England's Desire to live in Peace with the United StatesBonaparte's Views prevent Continental Peace-Pickering to King-England will show her Willingness to discuss Propositions from this Country-King to G. Morris-Presidency of Columbia College-Conditions on which the College holds its Property-Ingersoll to King—Fête by Daschkoff in Philadelphia-Mob caused by Crown in a Transparency-Trumbull to King— Mail opened in London-Denounces the Administration-Trumbull to King-European News-Siege of Cadiz-Sale of American Property in France-Berlin and Milan Decrees revoked-Probably English orders in Council will be modified-Mason to King-Proposition to lease Lots in rear of Columbia College-Duties of the President.

DEAR SIR:

R. KING TO C. GORE.

February 19, 1810.

I will write a letter to

I have just received your letter of Gr. whose sentiments on the Georgia business I am ignorant ofaltho' I should be disinclined to discuss the subject with the view of changing any opinion he may have formed respecting it. I can have no objection to suggest to him considerations in favour of his abstaining from taking a share in the debate and confining himself to the giving of his vote.

From the time of the joint Report, I have been willing to believe that the public opinion has already, or is likely to undergo a favourable change in your quarter. The offering of Gerry as their candidate cannot have been very satisfactory, and does not manifest great confidence of success,-very much will depend upon the information received from abroad, before the election.

If England conducts with moderation, I think the good cause will succeed; otherwise the worst may happen not only in Massachusetts but elsewhere.

I hear that a vessel is here arrived in a short passage from Lisbon, where news from England had been received up to the 3rd of January. I have heard but little of the news she is said to bring. Canning it seems has returned into the ministry, and holds the place of first Lord of the Admiralty. In a speech, full of insolence, by Bonaparte to the Legislature, he proclaims his purpose of persisting in the subjugation of Spain & Portugal from whence he announces the retreat of the Leopard as soon as he there shows himself.

It is this speech, or in a letter to the Emperor of Russia, in which he declares "that the U. S. of America are seriously and sincerely disposed to accede to their System against England."

Logan is

As the news of the dismission of their minister must have reached England before Christmas, and I do not hear that the reports by the Lisbon vessel make any mention of anything unusual concerning this country, I am inclined to hope that no measure of irritation had been adopted, and if time be given for Reflection, I also hope that none such will be adopted. here, has taken his passage in the British Packet, and is understood to be going to England upon a similar errand to that which some years ago carried him to France. He has been at Washington and has Dispatches & Letters of Introduction from the Govt. to Mr. Pinkney. Bonaparte has repudiated his wife, if the news from Lisbon be true, to marry whom is not mentioned. Mr. Jackson, as I have heard, had some thoughts of making a tour thro' the Eastern States-You may however be assured, if he did intend it, he has relinquished his intention, and remains where he is until he receives the orders of his Govt.

farewell and believe me always & faithfully

YRS.

Political extract from a letter to Mr. Wilberforce from R. King. Feb. 21, 1810.

Upon the topic of general politicks, I am not sufficiently informed and therefore forbear to express any opinion; but as respects the misunderstandings, which are permitted to exist

between our respective Countries, we have more information and therefore may speak freely. I, as you know, have long thought, as I still firmly do think, that there are no such interfering claims, or incompatible pursuits between the two nations, as should prevent their living harmoniously and in friendship with each other. Jealousies which in no small degree are unfounded, are entertained on both sides. Every step taken by either instead of being regarded in its fair and obvious light, is suspected as a measure designed to promote a concealed and unfriendly purpose. Instead of the salutary presumption of good faith in their mutual intercourse, the reverse takes place, and every proposition is suspected to be not only unfriendly but insidious. In this temper we are more likely to increase than to diminish our misunderstandings-and nothing short of a return to a more frank and confidential mode of discussing our differences will be likely to heal them. When this necessary change may arrive I know notin the meantime I derive Consolation from the belief, that the U. S. will not declare war agt. Eng., nor enter into any such engagements, as, according to the maxims of your statesmen, shall oblige Eng. to declare war agt. the U. S. Notwithstanding the diplomatic quarrels and commercial regulations, which may happen or be proclaimed, I am not without hope that a final rupture will be avoided, and that things being left to the operation of time, temper and reflexion, the former harmony & mutual intercourse of the two Countries will be again restored and established. With sentiments of the highest esteem etc.

R. K.

JOHN MURRAY, JR., TO R. KING.

NEW YORK 2mo. 23d. 1810.

John Murray Junior's respects wait on his friend Rufus King, and informs him, that the subject, contained in the letter from Willm. Willberforce, relative to the Slave Trade, has obtained careful attention, and the object of that communication put in train for further investigation. J. M. has taken the liberty to copy so much of the Letter as appeared necessary to be retained, and if agreeable, the Act of Parliament may usefully be kept, as some guide in giving further attention to the business. J. M. has