_In the Federal Convention_. Speech attributed to Washington by Morris on duties of delegates, 31, 32; chosen to preside, 33; takes no part in debate, 34; his influence in convention, 34, 35; despairs of success, 35; signs the Constitution, 36; words attributed to him, 36; silent as to his thoughts, 36, 37; sees clearly danger of failure to ratify, 37; tries at first to act indifferently, 38; begins to work for ratification, 38; writes letters to various people, 38, 39; circulates copies of "Federalist," 40; saves ratification in Virginia, 40; urges election of Federalists to Congress, 41; receives general request to accept presidency, 41; his objections, 41, 42; dreads failure and responsibility, 42; elected, 42; his journey to New York, 42-46; speech at Alexandria, 43; popular reception at all points, 44, 45; his feelings, 46; his inauguration, 46. _President_. His speech to Congress, 48; urges no specific policy, 48, 49; his solemn feelings, 49; his sober view of necessities of situation, 50; question of his title, 52; arranges to communicate with Senate by writing, 52, 53; discusses social etiquette, 53; takes middle ground, 54; wisdom of his action, 55; criticisms by Democrats, 55, 56; accused of monarchical leanings, 56, 57; familiarizes himself with work already accomplished under Confederation, 58; his business habits, 58; refuses special privileges to French minister, 59, 60; skill of his reply, 60, 61; solicited for office, 61; his views on appointment, 62; favors friends of Constitution and old soldiers, 62; success of his appointments, 63; selects a cabinet, 64; his regard for Knox 65; for Morris, 66; his skill in choosing, 66; his appreciation of Hamilton, 67; his grounds for choosing Jefferson, 68; his contrast with Jefferson, 69; his choice a mistake in policy, 70; his partisan characteristics, 70, 71; excludes anti-Federalists, 71; nominates justices of Supreme Court, 72; their party character, 73; illness, 73; visits the Eastern States, 73; his reasons, 74; stirs popular enthusiasm, 74; snubbed by Hancock in Massachusetts, 75; accepts Hancock's apology, 75; importance of his action, 76; success of journey, 76; opens Congress, 78, 79; his speech and its recommendations, 81; how far carried out, 81-83; national character of the speech, 83; his fitness to deal with Indians, 87; his policy, 88; appoints commission to treat with Creeks, 90; ascribes its failure to Spanish intrigue, 90; succeeds by a personal interview in making treaty, 91; wisdom of his policy, 92; orders an expedition against Western Indians, 93; angered at its failure, 94; and at conduct of frontiersmen, 94; prepares St. Clair's expedition, 95;