The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

528 LIFE OF WASHINGTON. [1799.
and his prediction was verified. When it was discovered, that a war with the United States would not be
against the government alone, but that the whole people
would rise to resist aggression and maintain their rights
and dignity as a nation, the French rulers relaxed into
a more pacific temper. Intimations were given by them
of a willingness to cooperate in effecting a friendly
and equitable adjustment of existing differences. Listening to these overtures, the President again appointed
three envoys extraordinary, and invested them with
full powers to negotiate with the' French government.
When they arrived in Paris, they found Bonaparte at
the head of affairs, who, having taken no part in the
preceding disputes, and perceiving no advantage in continuing them, readily assented to an accommodation.
No event was more desired by Washington, but he did
not live to participate in the joy with which the intelligence was received by his countrymen.
Since his retirement from the Presidency, his health
had been remarkably good; and, although age had not
come without its infirmities, yet he was able to endure
fatigue and make exertions of body and mind with
scarcely less ease and activity, than he had done in the
prime of his strength. On the 12th of December he
spent several hours on horseback, riding to his farms,
and giving directions to his managers. He returned
late in the afternoon, wet and chilled with the rain and
sleet, to which he had been exposed while riding home.
The water had penetrated to his neck, and snow was
lodged in the locks of his hair. A heavy fall of snow
the next day prevented his going abroad, except for a
short time near his house. A sore throat and hoarseness convinced him, that he had taken cold; but he
seemed to apprehend no danger from it. He passed
the evening with the family, read the newspapers, and
conversed cheerfully till his usual hour for going to rest.