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