deavours to change the manners of the Indians, & as far as practicable to civilize them. For this purpose, we at stated periods deliver to them seeds of various kinds, Cattle, Sheep & the different implements of Agriculture.

With perfect Respect &c. &c.

RUFUS KING.

R. KING TO LORD GRENVILLE.

GT. CUMBERLAND PLACE, 30th April, 1799.

Mr. King presents his Compliments to Lord Grenville, & has the honor to acknowledge the rect. of his Ldp's. Note of the 22d inst., enclosing a specification of such Nails as are understood not to be included in the Catalogue of Articles deemed Contraband of War. Mr. K. is not certain that the proposed Specification includes the different Sorts of Nails used for Housebuilding and various other purposes other than Shipbuilding in Gt. Britain, as the rose headed Nail, & perhaps others are omitted; & he is the more apprehensive that any description by mere names will be insufficient, as different names are given to nails of the same sizes in the U. S. and Engd., the American names being generally taken from the uses to whh. the nail is apply'd, or from the price per hundred or per thousand; other names differing from those of Engd. & the States may be given to the same nails in the British Colonies & the article intended to be explanatory may itself require explanation.

To avoid this want of precision Mr. King takes the Liberty to suggest instead of the enumeration or a Specification as has been proposed, that it shd. be agreed that all Iron Nails under the size of Spikes or Deck Nails should be excepted from and not included within the provisions of the 18th article of the Treaty of Amity, Commerce & Navigation between the U. States & Gr. Britain.

APPENDIX I.

THE kindness of Mrs. Daniel Kilham Dodge, of Brooklyn, N. Y., enables the Editor to publish here, though properly belonging to the previous volume, some letters, found in March, 1894, in an old trunk of her husband's great uncle, Daniel Kilham, of Newburyport, Massachusetts. They are letters between Dr. Kilham and Rufus King, and throw some new light upon the public affairs of the day and illustrate Mr. King's private as well as public life.

DEAR KILHAM:

R. KING TO D. KILHAM.

BOSTON, Feby. 18th, 1784.

By the Gazette you learn that the def. Treaty is at last ratified by Congress. The General Court are now agitating the propriety, and calculating the expence of some public exhibitions of Joy, accompanying the proclamation of the peace completed. Some say it has become an old story, others reply that granting the fact it will bear telling again and again. How the question will be determined is perhaps immaterial; but the spirit which governs very generally here, is very pitiful and I fear will prove prejudicial.

Notwithstanding a liberality of sentiment upon some subjects and a general toleration of almost all opinions, except political, prevail, yet is it certain, that there is not a great deal still to be corrected? The ability of the country is substantial-her debts are trivial, but there is a parsimony which many in office call Republicanism, that casts an ill feature upon all public doings. This mistaken sentiment of political economy checks all public grants

to the servants of Government; and in effect discourages men of abilities from qualifying themselves for national departments; of consequence the state is badly served. When justice is withheld from those who have ably and faithfully served the public, little is to be expected from such a government in favor of the arts and sciences and the prevailing spirit above referred to, I fear, will wholly suppress an institution which I could wish at least attempted; I mean that of a Botanical Garden at Cambridge.

By a letter from St. John, the French Consul at N. York, addressed to President Willard and Doctr. Holyoke, as Pres. of the Academy, it appears that the King of France in aid of such an institution has directed his minister to communicate to the University of Cambridge in Massachusetts that, as a testimony of the Respect he bears to that University and to enable them to effect a purpose ornamental as well as beneficial, he will, by their permission, cause to be sent and transported to them annually, at the proper season, free from every charge, the annual seeds and plants of his own Royal Gardens, of every description. No answer has been as yet made. It strikes many persons agreeably, and it is supposed that the purpose would be very extensively practical at Cambridge. Amongst a few friends I have heard the subject canvassed-and my own sentiments have been flattered in the frequent observation of others, that, should the distribution be attempted, it would be most safely trusted to your protection and guidance. Could a fund be established that would give an independent annuity to a man of genius and letters, for his attention to such an institution, I should feel most happy in seeing you in such a character. I have some sentiments upon the practicability that I will waive until we meet. Perhaps the matter is not so utopian as you may imagine. I am anxious to attempt something for the medical professors. I wish altho' it is small, that it may succeed -something like a general infirmary at Cambridge, to be under your care &c-this last idea you will receive in confidenceShould you meet with good Parson Bass congratulate him for me on this intelligence, viz

"His holiness the Pope has caused to be written to Congress a letter congratulatory upon the peace and independence of the United States, and to convince them of the sincerity of his congratulations, informs, that as the English Church have a special

union with their civil government in the King of the one being the head of the other, and as a difficulty from that source may be in the way of a regular ordination of Ministers of the Gospel in the United States thro' the English Bishops, he offers to ordain such person or persons as Congress shall designate as Bishop or Bishops in the United States by the true apostolic imposition of hands-and agreeable to such ritual as Congress may adopt."

This information is true-I expect in a few days a copy of the Letter. But your time nor friendship can be no apology for me adding, except that I am with the utmost sincerity your friend & Hum. Servt.

DEAR SIR :

RUFUS KING.

R. KING TO D. KILHAM.

TRENTON, 12th Dec., 1784.

I have been here so short a time, that I can say very little to you upon the subject of our general affairs; wait a little time, and I will give you a general state of them. This place for the residence of Congress has many inconveniences and a motion was a few days since made to adjourn to Philadelphia, but passed in the negative. We shall however adjourn I think from this place, either to the city of New York or to Philadelphia.

We have before us a serious remonstrance from the Spanish Agent against our navigating the River Mississippi; they deny the right under our treaty with the Court of London, and say that any American Vessel which may come into that River will be confiscated.

This is a subject that alarms the Southern States, and will require a considerable degree of delicacy and firmness to be conducted with safety.

No account from the British Court favors the idea of a cordial amity towards the United States, and the detention of the Forts on the western frontier is probably under positive instruction.

With esteem and friendship,

R. KING.

MY DEAR SIR:

R. KING TO D. KILHAM.

NEW YORK, March 8, 1785.

I wish to know how you proceed in your affairs: how is honest Nat. Carter? Does he think of me ever as he smokes his pipe? If he does, pray tell him that I am gratified, that my idea associates with agreeable objects; for such alone pass the mind of a hearty smoker. You will oblige me in mentioning me to Swett that I am truly interested in his friendship and prosperity. I think he deserves as much as he has a prospect of obtaining, and his prospect is good in the situation where he is. When I shall be fortunate in meeting him and you again, which I hope is not far distant, I think I can remark to him some ideas which will be to his benefit.

Smith I suppose gives you a dinner twice or thrice in a winter -you take your supper with him, hear a German battle and ogle Miss Hannah once a week.

With real esteem,

R. KING.

R. KING TO D. KILHAM.

NEW YORK, Ap. 26, 1785.

Yours of the 30th of March was received this evening; it is written in the stile of friendship and with the most obliging expressions of attachment; accept in return my most sincere acknowledgments, and rely upon this, that my friendship is founded on so long an acquaintance, and so full a conviction of ingenuous merit, that I shall not soon relinquish it..

You obligingly inquire of my affairs; I reply that I never have spent any period of my life with so close an application to business, or with so few amusements as since I left you. In a situa tion the duties of which may subject me to public examination, and with some little ambition, I have been desirous of pursuing a conduct that would not hazard me in the first view, nor dishonor me in the second. As to my victim condition, that you say is reported, I assure you that there could no report be circulated con