From George Washington to James Lloyd, 15 April 1798
To James Lloyd
Mount Vernon 15⟨th⟩ April 1798
Sir,
For your kindness in forwarding a copy of the dispatches from our Envoys in France to the Government here, I pray you to accept my best thanks.1
What a scene of corruption and profligacy has these Communications disclosed in the Directors of a People with whom the United States have endeavoured to Treat upon fair, just & honorable ground!
If they should be attended with the effect of “Speedily uniting our fellow-citizens in a firm determination to support our Government, and preserve our Independence” as you seem to expect, it wd indeed be cause for much congratulation and no one would rejoice more at such an event than I should; But—I wish it may be so. With esteem & respect I am Sir Your most Obedt ⟨Servt⟩
Go: Washington
ALS (letterpress copy), DLC:GW; LB, DLC:GW.
1. James Lloyd (c.1756–1830), a native of Kent County, Md., was elected on 11 Dec. 1797 to the U.S. Senate to replace John Henry who had resigned to become governor. Beginning on 9 April Lloyd took it upon himself for several months to keep GW informed of developments in Philadelphia, particularly those relating to the XYZ affair (see Lloyd to GW, 6, 18, 21 June, and 4 July). His letter of 9 April from Philadelphia reads: “I do myself the honor to enclose you the dispatches from our Envoys to France, and I congratulate you on the prospect we have of speedily seeing our fellow Citizens united in a firm determination to support our Government and preserve our Independence” (PHi: Gratz Collection).