PREFACE.
This volume has no controversial purpose. Under the ashes of half a century the fires of personal and party passion still glow in these pages; but only curious students in history care any longer to stir them. For such as these this volume is printed; not with a view to controversy, but to place before them historical matter which there is no further reason to withhold.
Indeed, so far as controversy is concerned, the recent publication, by Mr. H. Cabot Lodge, of "The Life and Letters of George Cabot" has put at rest for ever the point which was chiefly in dispute fifty years ago. The appearance of that biography, marking as it does the moment when party-spirit begins to yield to the broader spirit of impartial investigation, has removed the last objection to publishing the paper entitled "Reply to the Appeal of the Massachusetts Federalists," which makes the larger portion of this volume. Both Mr. Lodge, and Mr. Plumer in preparing his "Life of William Plumer," had the free use of this paper in manuscript. Their books, in each case, need, and almost assume in their readers, a previous acquaintance
