"Colonel Duer came to me with proposals from a number of the principal characters in the city, to extend our contract, and take in another company; but that it should be kept a profound secret. He explained the plan they had concerted and offered me generous conditions if I would accomplish the business for them. The plan struck me agreeably; Sargent insisted on my undertaking; and both urged me not to think of giving the matter up so soon.

"I was convinced it was best for me to hold up the idea of giving up a contract with Congress, and making a contract with some of the States, which I did in the strongest terms, and represented to the Committee and to Duer and Sargent the difficulties I saw in the way, and the improbability of closing a bargain when we were so far separated; and told them I conceived it not worth while to say any thing further to Congress on the subject. This appeared to have the effect I wished. The Committee were mortified and did not seem to know what to say; but still urged another attempt. I left them in this state, but afterwards explained my views to Duer and Sargent, who fully approved my plan. Promised Duer to consider his proposals.

"I spent the evening (closeted) with Colonel Duer, and agreed to purchase more land, if terms could be obtained, for another company, which will probably forward the negotiation. Saturday, July 21. Several members of Congress called on me early this morning. They discovered much anxiety about a contract, and assured me that Congress, on finding I was determined not to accept their terms, and had proposed leaving the city, had discovered a much more favorable disposition; and believed, if I renewed my request I might obtain conditions as reasonable as I desired. I was very indifferent and talked much of the advantages of a contract with one of the States. This I found had the desired effect. At length I told them that if Congress would accede to the terms I proposed, I would extend the purchase to the tenth township from the Ohio to the Scioto inclusively; by which Congress would pay more than four millions of the public debt; that our intention was, an actual, large, and immediate settlement, of the most robust and industrious people in America, and that it would be made systematically, which would instantly advance the price of the Federal lands, and prove an important acquisition to Congress. On these terms, I would renew the negotiation, if Congress was disposed to take the matter up again.

"I spent the evening with Mr. Dane and Mr. Milliken. They informed me that Congress had taken up my business again."

July 23. My friends had made every exertion, in private conversation to bring over my opponents in Congress. In order to get at some of them so as to work more powerfully on their minds, were obliged to engage three or four persons before we could get at them. In some instances we engaged one person who engaged a second, and he a third, before we could effect our purpose. In these manœuvres I am much beholden to Colonel Duer and Major Sargent.

now

"The matter was taken up in Congress and warmly debated till three o'clock, when another ordinance was obtained. This was not to the mind of our friends, who were considerably increased in Congress; but they conceived it better than the former; and they had obtained an additional clause, empowering the Board of Treasury to take order upon this ordinance, and complete the contract on the general principles contained in it, which still left room for negotiation.

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Spent the evening with Colonel Grayson and other members from the Southward, who were in favor of a contract."

"Having found it impossible to support General Parsons, as a candidate for Governor, after the interest that General H. St. Clair had secured, I embraced this opportunity to declare, that if General Parsons could have the appointment of first judge, and Sargent secretary, we should be satisfied; and that I heartily wished his Excellency General St. Clair might be the governor; and that I would solicit the Eastern members in his favor. This I found rather pleasing to Southern members.

"July 24. I received this morning a letter from the Board of Treasury, enclosing the resolutions of Congress which passed yesterday, and requesting to know whether I was ready to close a contract on those terms."

At this stage of the business, Dr. Cutler solicited and obtained the coöperation of Winthrop Sargent in the agency. The Doctor took this step on his own responsibility. Cutler and Sargent then addressed the Treasury Board, and proposed to contract on terms somewhat different from those proposed by Congress. The struggle now was to bring Congress to consent to the terms they proposed in behalf of the Ohio Company.

"Dined with Mr. Hillegas, Treasurer of the United States. Spent the evening with Mr. Osgood, President of the Board of Treasury, who appeared to be very solicitous to be fully informed of our plan. No gentleman has a higher character for planning and calculating than Mr. Osgood; I was therefore

much pleased to have an opportunity of fully explaining it to him. But we were interrupted by company; we however went over the outlines, and he appeared well disposed."

'July 25. This morning the Board of Treasury sent our letter to the Secretary of Congress requesting him to lay it before Congress for their approbation or rejection."

"Mr. Osgood requested me to dine with him, assuring me he had purposely omitted inviting any other company, that we might not be interrupted in going over our plan. I had been repeatedly assured that Mr. Osgood was my friend, and that he censured Congress for not contracting on the terms I had offered; but such is the intrigue and artifice often practised by men in power, I felt suspicious and was cautious as possible. Our plan, however, I had no scruple to communicate, and went over it in all its parts. Mr. Osgood made many valuable observations: the extent of his information astonished me. His views of the Continent of Europe were so enlarged that he appeared to be a perfect master of every subject of this kind. He highly approved our plan and told me he thought it the best ever formed in America. He dwelt much on the advantages of system in a new settlement, said system had never before been attempted, that we might depend on accomplishing our purposes in Europe; that it was a most important part of our plan; if we were able to establish a settlement as proposed, however small in the beginning, we should then have encountered our greatest difficulty; that every other object would be within our reach; and if the matter was pursued with spirit, he believed it would prove one of the greatest undertakings ever yet attempted in America. He thought Congress would do an essential service to the United States, if they gave us the land, rather than our plan should be defeated; and promised to make every exertion in his power in our favor. We spent the afternoon and evening alone and very agreeably."

"July 26. This morning I accompanied General St. Clair and General Knox on a tour of morning visits, and particularly to the Foreign ministers. Sieur Ollo,' French charge, Don Diego Guardoqui,' Spanish, Mynheer Van Berckle,' Dutch; a frank, open Dutchman who speaks bad English but is very talkative. He is fond of conversing about the Western Country, and seems to interest himself much in the settlement of the Western lands."

Being now eleven, General St. Clair was obliged to attend Congress. After we came into the street, General St. Clair assured me he would make every possible exertion to prevail with Congress to accept the terms contained in our letter. He appeared much interested and very friendly, but

said we must expect opposition. I am fully convinced that it was good policy to give up Parsons and openly appear solicitous that St. Clair might be appointed governor. Several gentlemen have told me that our matters went on much better since St. Clair and his friends had been informed that we had given up Parsons, and that I had solicited the Eastern members in favor of his appointment. I immediately went to Sargent and Duer, and we now entered into the true spirit of negotiation with great bodies. Every machine in the city that it was possible to set to work we now put in motion. Few, Bingham, and Kearney are our principal opposers. Of Few and Bingham there is hope; but to bring over that stubborn mule of a Kearney, I think is beyond our power. The Board of Treasury, I think, will do us much service, if Dr. Lee is not against us; though Duer assures me I have got the length of his foot, and that he calls me an open, frank, honest, NEW ENGLAND MAN, which he considers an extraordinary animal.”

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"Dined with Sir John Temple, in company with several gentlemen. Immediately after dining, called on Dr. Holton. He told me Congress had been warmly engaged in our business the whole day, that the opposition was lessened, but our friends did not think it prudent to come to a vote, lest there should not be a majority in favor. I felt much discouraged, and told the Doctor I thought it in vain to wait any longer, and should certainly leave the city the next day. He cried out on my impatience, said if I obtained my purpose in a month from that time, I should be far more expeditious than was common in getting much smaller matters through Congress; that it was of great magnitude; for it far exceeded any private contract ever made before in the United States. That if I should fail now, I ought still to pursue the matter; for I should most certainly, finally obtain the object I wished. To comfort me he assured me it was impossible for him to conceive by what kind of address I had so soon and so warmly engaged the attention of Congress; for, since he had been a member of that body, he assured me on his honor, that he never knew so much attention paid to any one person, who made application to them on any kind of business, nor did he ever know them to be more pressing to bring it to a close. He could not have supposed that any three men from New England, even of the first characters, could have accomplished so much in so short a time.

This, I believe was mere flattery, though it was delivered with a very serious air; but it gave me some consolation. I now learned very nearly who were for and who were against the terms. Bingham is come over; but Few and Kearney are stubborn.

"Unfortunately there are only eight States represented, and unless seven of the eight are in favor, no ordinance can pass.* "Every moment of this evening until two o'clock was busily employed; a warm siege was laid on Few and Kearney from different quarters; and if the point is not effectually carried, the attack is to be renewed in the morning. Duer, Sargent, and myself have also agreed, if we fail, that Sargent shall go on to Maryland, which is not at present represented, and prevail on the members to come on, and to interest them in our plan. I am to go to Connecticut and Rhode Island to solicit the members from those States to go on to New York and lay an anchor to the windward with them. As soon as those States are represented, Sargent is to renew the application; and have promised Duer, if it is found necessary. I will then return to New York again."

We come now to the LAST DAY of the negotiation which opened on the Doctor with little hope, but closed with the joys of victory.

"Friday, July 27. I rose very early this morning, and, after adjusting my baggage for my return, for I was determined to leave New York this day, I set out on a general morning visit, and paid my respects to all the members of Congress in the city, and informed them of my intention to leave the city that day. My expectations of obtaining a contract, I told them, were nearly at an end. I should, however, wait the decision of Congress; and if the terms I had stated, - and which I conceived to be very advantageous to Congress, considering the circumstances of that country, were not acceded to, we must turn our attention to some other part of the country. New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts would sell us lands at half a dollar, and give us exclusive privileges, beyond what we have asked of Congress. The speculating plan, concerted between the British of Canada, was now well known. The uneasiness of the Kentucky people, with respect to the Mississippi, was notorious. A revolt of that country from the Union, if a war with Spain took place, was universally acknowledged to be highly probable; and most certainly a systematic settlement in that country, conducted by men thoroughly attached to the Federal Government, and composed of young, robust and hardy laborers, who had no idea of any other than the Federal Government, I conceived to be an object worthy of some attention. Besides, if Congress rejected the terms now

* Our readers remember, that, in the Congress of the Old Confederation, the vote was taken by States, each State having one vote.