WHAT WASHINGTON THOUGHT OF A THIRD TERM. 329 of mind in which Washington approached the assumption of the great office in the first instance, in 1789, will have no trouble in doing so. Ford, volume xn, pp. 124-131, with the notes affixed, makes it plain that he intended to remain in the office two years at the furthest, when he went to New York and took the oath. He seized upon the earliest opportunity for his Eastern tour in October of that year, and made another through the Southern States in the following March ; then, having been beguiled into continuing in the Chief Magistracy by exigent affairs somewhat beyond his self-imposed limit of two years, he with characteristic public spirit decided to say no more about his cherished wish to retire, until the normal constitutional period should afford him a final discharge. This course would have brought the coveted release early in 1793. His age would have been sixty-one. Accordingly, as early as February, 1792, he began revolving in his mind the best time and the best means for announcing his fixed determination to retire. He talked with Jefferson, his Secretary of State. He wrote to Madison, his coadjutor in the Convention and his confidential adviser. With Hamilton and with Knox, his financial and his war ministers, he was no less open. Before May fifth, 1792, he had unbosomed himself to no others, unless it were to Randolph. They, with one voice and with much vehemence, begged him to forego his purpose. The views they urged upon him will readily be conceived and so will the earnest tone of their remonstrance. They wrote him long and friendly letters, — Jefferson, May 23, 1792, Hamilton, July 30th, Randolph, August 5th,—to which he replied at length, as appears from Sparks, volume x, pp. 254, 258, 286, 504- 515. Washington found himself therefore in a position of friendly antagonism with his chosen advisers, which challenged him to marshal the best reasons he could muster for his proposed retirement. He was addressing public men attached to his political fortunes and, as he at that time supposed, to his person as well, and jealously anxious for his prestige and fame. He must either give way to their importunities or assign strong and sufficient reasons for not doing so. Had the principle of rotation
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