Page:Lamb - History of the city of New York - Volume 3.djvu/37

 365 districts. But the commissioners, of whom the scholarly Chancellor Livingston was one of the most conspicuous, were in 1790 empowered to declare the consent of New York to the admission of Vermont into the Union — New York relinquishing all claims to lands in Vermont or jurisdiction over them, upon the payment of thirty thousand dollars; and the commissioners were also to decide upon the perpetual boundary between the two States. Vermont acceded to the proposition, and in March of the following year had the honor of being the first State admitted into the Federal Union.

Foreign affairs created intense anxiety at this juncture. With Great Britain several points of difference existed; Adams had found it impossible to negotiate a commercial treaty on favorable terms, and the British Cabinet declined to send a minister to the United States. The old grudges and jealousies of the war had by no means been extinguished, and Americans, regarding the Britons as natural enemies, were ready to take offense easily, as well as eager for an opportunity to retaliate. An effort to treat with Portugal had failed, owing — it was confidently believed — to the adverse influence of England. The Emperor of Morocco had been faithful to his agreements : but the corsairs of Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli plundered American vessels and enslaved their masters, which many attributed, together with the bloody incursions of the western savages, to the machinations of the British. And the intricate and embarrassing disputes with Spain concerning the free navigation of the Mississippi helped to render the commerce of the country more restricted than when it had formed a part of the British Empire.

Washington had just returned from St. Paul’s Chapel on the morning of March 21, when Jefferson was announced. “Show him in,” exclaimed the President, his face brightening with real pleasure, then, not waiting an instant, advanced to meet his guest in the entrance passage. The greeting was one of special warmth and cordiality. Jefferson’s coming on that day was particularly opportune. Not twenty-four hours had elapsed since Washington and Jay had been engaged in earnest consideration of the course to be pursued with regard to certain captives in Algiers, and the sending of persons in the character of charges d’affaires to the courts of Europe. Jefferson, fresh from the Old World atmosphere, and bringing the latest intelligence concerning its public affairs, was welcome indeed. He had been a fortnight on the route from Monticello — his beautiful Virginia country-seat — a storm of snow having greatly impeded his progress. Obliged, on account of bad roads, to leave his private carriage in Alexandria, to be sent to New York by water, he had consigned himself to a slow stage, which moved only two or three miles