Unfortunately for the federalists, Mr. Henry, whose powerful influence, whose undoubted patriotism, and unequalled eloquence would have added so much to their strength, died before the meeting of the legislature. The avowed accession of this honest, and great man, to the ranks of federalism, is a striking instance of the light in which the contest between the two parties now began to be viewed by the more moderate, and right minded in the nation. It is also worthy of notice, that Washington, who had always kept aloof from political strife, who had stood, as it were, upon an eminence, above the excitement of the battle, no longer thought fit to repress his sentiments, or his concern. His letters at this period, show that he was not merely in name, a federalist.

But he too, was now to follow his illustrious compatriot.

As Mr. Jefferson has been frequently spoken of in this work as the patron of Callender, it seems proper here to give the evidences of the assertion.

a

This Callender was a Scotchman, who had fled from his own country to avoid prosecution for publishing a scurrilous work under the title of the "Political Progress of Great Britain." In 1797, he had signalized himself by the publication in Philadelphia of a libel on the administration of Washington. During this year he prepared another on the administration of Adams, for which, when published, he was duly prosecuted under the sedition law, convicted and imprisoned. These works were as despicable in point of ability, as scandalous in their depravity of falsehood. The proofs that Mr. Jefferson countenanced them, are beyond dispute. Extracts from

b

a"The American Annual Register, b"The Prospect Before Us," Vols. I. &c. for the year 1796." 8vo. Phila., 1797. and II. Part I. Richmond, Va., 1800.

two letters of Jefferson to Callender, which the latter after their breach, had given to a gentleman in Virginia, have been published by Mr. Pickering, in whose possession the originals had been deposited. These extracts contain the material part of the letters, and are as follows. The first was dated at Monticello, September 6th, 1799.

By a want of arrangement in a neighbouring post office, during the absence of the postmaster, my letters and papers for two posts back were detained. I suppose it was owing to this, that your letter, though dated August 10, did not get to my hand till the last day of the month, since which this is the first day that I can through the post office acknowledge the receipt of it. Mr. Jefferson b happens to be here, and directs his agent to call on you with this, and pay you fifty dollars on account of the book you are about to publish. When it shall be out, be so good as to send me two or three copies, and the rest only when I shall ask for them.

With every wish for your welfare, I am, with great regard, sir, your most obedient servant,

THOS. JEFFERSON.

The paragraph omitted, Mr. Pickering mentions, had no reference to "the book." The other letter, he adds, was dated Monticello, October 6th, 1799. The first line acknowledged the receipt of one from Callender of September 29th, and concluded with these words:

"I thank you for the proof sheets you enclosed me; such papers cannot fail to produce the best effect. They inform the thinking part of the nation; and these again, supported by the tax gatherers as their vouchers, set the people to rights. You will know from whom this comes without a signature, the omission of which has been rendered almost habitual with me by the curiosity of the post offices. Indeed, a period is now approaching, during which I shall discontinue writing letters as much as possible, knowing that every snare will be used to get hold of what may be perverted in the eyes of the public. Adieu."

So far the letters themselves. After Mr. Jefferson's accession to the Presidency, and his refusal to appoint Callender to office, the latter betrayed the fact of his having

a" Review," Section I.

b George Jefferson, his nephew.

been paid for this work by Mr. Jefferson. The letters themselves had not then been published. As a general expression of indignation followed, in consequence of the character of the book, Mr. Jefferson seemed to have considered it necessary to make an effort for his defence. In July, 1802, he thus writes to Mr. Munroe:

So.

"Your favour of the 7th has been duly received. I am really mortified at the base ingratitude of Callender. It presents human nature in a hideous form. It gives me concern, because I perceive that relief, which was afforded him on mere motives of charity, may be viewed under the aspect of employing him as a writer. When the Political Progress of Britain' first appeared in this country, it was in a publication called the 'Bee,' where I saw it. I was speaking of it in terms of strong approbation to a friend in Philadelphia, when he asked me if I knew that the author was then in the city, a fugitive from persecution on account of that work, and in want of employ for his subsistence. This was the first of my learning that Callender was the author of the work. I considered him as a man of science, fled from persecution, and assured my friend of my readiness to do whatever could serve him. It was long after this before I saw him; probably not till 1798. He had in the meantime, written a second part of the 'Political Progress,' much inferior to the first, and his History of the United States.' In 1798, I think, I was applied to by Mr. Lieper to contribute to his relief. I did In 1799, I think, S. T. Mason applied for him. I contributed again. He had, by this time, paid me two or three personal visits. When he fled in a panic from Philadelphia to General Mason's, he wrote to me that he was a fugitive in want of employ, wished to know if he could get into a counting-house or a school in my neighbourhood, or in that of Richmond; that he had materials for a volume, and if he could get as much money as would buy the paper, the profits of the sale would be all his own. I availed myself of this pretext to cover a mere charity, by desiring him to consider me a subscriber for as many copies as the money inclosed (fifty dollars) amounted to; but to send me two copies only, as the others might lie till called for. But I discouraged his coming into my neighbourhood. His first writings here had fallen far short of his original Political Progress,' and the scurrilities of the subsequent ones began evidently to do mischief. As to myself, no man wished more to see his pen stopped; but I considered him still as a proper object of benevolence. The succeeding year he again wanted money to buy paper for another volume. I made his letter as before, the occasion of giving him another fifty dollars. He considers these as proofs of my approbation of his writings, when they were mere charities, yielded under a strong conviction that he was injuring us by his writings. It is known to many that the sums given to him were such, and even smaller, than I was in the habit of giving to others in distress, of the federal as well as the republican party, without attention to political principles. Soon after I was elected to the government, Callender came on here, wishing to be made postmaster at Richmond. I knew him

to be totally unfit for it; and however ready I was to aid him with my own charities, (and I then gave him fifty dollars) 1 did not think the public offices confided to me to give away as charities. He took it in mortal offence, and from that moment has been hauling off to his former enemies, the federalists. Besides the letter I wrote him in answer to the one from General Mason's, I wrote him another, containing answers to two questions he addressed to me: 1. Whether Mr. Jay received salary as Chief Justice and Envoy at the same time; and 2. Something relative to the expenses of an embassy to Constantinople. I think these were the only letters I ever wrote him in answer to volumes he was perpetually writing to me. This is the true state of what has passed between him and me." a

Other letters to Mr. Monroe, of the 17th July, 1802, and to Mrs. Adams some years subsequently, further detail, with some variations, the same story. Any commen tupon these letters seems almost needless. The fact is admitted that Mr. Jefferson on several occasions contributed to the support of a common libeller, while pursuing his vocation; on one, as it appears, when he himself had the proof sheets of a libel before him; on a second for the purpose of "buying paper," wherewith to print a fresh one. It is further admitted that after Callender's release from prison, upon his modest application for a responsible office, Mr. Jefferson in denying the request, yet made a further present. The credulity must be boundless which, under these circumstances, can attribute such repeated donations of liberal sums by a person of embarrassed fortune, fowards a worthless object, to mere motives of charity, or that can suppose the last to have given other than as hush money.

Sir,

TO OLIVER WOLCOTT.

RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE, December 26, 1799.

I take the liberty to send you a diploma of the degree of Doctor of Laws, conferred on you in September last by the Fellows of this college. This diploma I request you to accept, as a testimony of respect and esteem from this college. Your abilities, virtue, and public character command our most ardent wishes for

a Jefferson's Writings, III. 494.

your prosperity and happiness. I am, sir, with great respect, your friend and

servant.

JONA. MAXCY.

FROM OLIVER WOLCOTT.

PHILADELPHIA, Jan'y 25th, 1800.

Sir,

I acknowledge with great pleasure your favour of December 26th, informing me that I have been honoured with the degree of Doctor of Law, by the fellows of Rhode Island college. I request you to assure the gentlemen of the corporation that I shall ever entertain a grateful sense of this testimony of their respect, and I beg you to accept personally my best thanks and sincere wishes that you may long continue a distinguished ornament, example, and pattern of science and virtue. I have the honour to be, with perfect deference, sir, your obedient servant,

OLIV. WOLCOTT.

Wolcott, during this fall, received the same compliment from Princeton college. The degree was likewise conferred some twenty years after, by that of Yale.