Thus a body of officers deliberated not only a mutiny of the army, but a _coup d'etat_, in which they planned to overthrow the flimsy Federation of the thirteen States and to set up a monarchy.

They wrote to Washington announcing their intention and their belief that he would make an ideal monarch.

He was amazed and chagrined.

He replied in part as follows, to the Colonel who had written him: I am much at a loss to conceive what part of my conduct could have given encouragement to an address, which to me seems big with the greatest mischiefs, that can befall my country.

If I am not deceived in the knowledge of myself, you could not have found a person to whom your schemes are more disagreeable.