RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Mrs A”; endorsed: “J A Nov’br / 16 / 1798.”

That is, Rev. Timothy Dwight, for whom see JA, Papers , 18:19–20. In 1783 Dwight founded the Greenfield Academy in Fairfield, Conn., a school that admitted and instructed male and female students without differentiation. In 1795 he assumed the presidency of Yale, a position he held until his death in 1817 ( ANB ).

Alexander Hamilton, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, and George Washington arrived in Philadelphia between 9 and 13 Nov. 1798 to discuss plans for the provisional army. On 10 Nov. Washington sent Hamilton and Pinckney a set of questions that James McHenry had drafted along with a list of his own “Queries.” The objective was to address issues on commissioning officers and to determine how many troops were to be raised and in what locations. On 13 Dec. Washington submitted the final report to McHenry in three letters and also commented on the possibility of appointing WSS lieutenant colonel commandant of New York, provided he could clear allegations of “very serious instances of private misconduct,” specifically his lawsuit with William Ward Burrows, for which see vol. 12:377. Washington left Philadelphia for Mount Vernon on 14 Dec.; Hamilton departed for New York City the following day.

On 17 Dec. McHenry submitted a copy of Washington’s report to WSS, also showing a copy to JA. WSS replied to McHenry on 20 Dec. to answer the charges against him. He informed McHenry that the “infamous and cruel callumny” that he was being subjected to was unjust. He admitted that he made an error when attempting to settle debts with Burrows but claimed “the mistake was soon discovered and as soon rectified,” and he considered the matter resolved. McHenry was satisfied with WSS’s report, telling Washington on 28 Dec.: “Upon a deliberate weighing of all circumstances as they may affect the public concerns, it may be expedient his name should be presented to the Senate, Something must be yeilded to obtain harmony, and yet I do not know that this will secure it. If presented I think he will be appointed” (Hamilton, Papers , 22:199, 232–233, 341–366; Washington, Diaries , 6:323; Washington, Papers, Retirement Series , 3:191–197, 250–265, 267, 291–293; Philadelphia Gazette of the United States, 13 Nov.; Bernard C. Steiner, “Miscellaneous Letters from the McHenry Papers,” Publications of the Southern History Association, 11:38–43 [Jan. 1907]). For WSS’s subsequent appointment, see JA to AA, 31 Dec., and note 1, below.

On 10 Nov. Dr. George Logan returned to Philadelphia from his unauthorized diplomatic mission to France, for which see JQA to AA, 14 Sept., and note 3, above. Logan brought with him dispatches indicating that the French Directory sought peace. On 11 Nov., eager to present them to government officials, Logan departed Philadelphia for Trenton, N.J., and the next day he met with Timothy Pickering, who reprimanded him for his mission: “Sir, it is my duty to inform you that the government does not thank you for what you have done.” On 13 Nov., accompanied by Rev. Robert Blackwell, rector of Philadelphia’s St. Peter’s Church, Logan met with an equally unresponsive Washington. JA met with Logan on 26 Nov., offering him a more receptive audience than either Pickering or Washington. JA questioned him on whether France would receive another envoy. Logan assented, allegedly sparking JA to remark: “I suppose if I were to send Mr. Madison or Mr. Giles or Dr. Logan they would receive either of them. But I’ll do no such thing; I’ll send whom I please.” JA was satisfied with Logan’s answers, later stating that Logan spoke with such “candour and sincerity” that he “convinced me of its truth” (Philadelphia Aurora General Advertiser, 13 Nov.; Amer. State Papers, Foreign Relations , 2:236; Deborah Norris Logan, Memoir of Dr. George Logan of Stenton, ed. Frances A. Logan, Phila., 1899, p. 85, 86; Washington, Papers, Retirement Series , 3:200–202; Tolles, George Logan , p. 175–180; Boston Patriot, 22 April 1809). For William Smith Shaw’s account of the meeting, see his letter to AA, 18 Dec. 1798, below.