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THE CRAFT

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Chapter One

Spring in Washington was sudden and pleasant this year. The warm, fragrant air drifted over Georgetown down to the former swamp that was now the nation's capital. The sound of birds and the soft greens of new leaves made the recent departure of winter distant and nearly forgotten. The rider, Matthew Prescott, was a good-looking man in his thirties with sandy blond hair, blue eyes, and a medium build. He let the horse find her own way around the mud and pools of water scattered along Pennsylvania Avenue. He had made excellent time from the Baltimore waterfront. With the new capitol building far behind him, he was only a few minutes from the President's Mansion. The warm sun lightened his mood as he reflected on why President Adams had sent for him.

The letter he received a few days ago, hand delivered by military messenger, said it was urgent that he meet with President Adams today. It was a good thing he did not leave for Boston when he had originally planned; otherwise, the message would have missed him. His shipping business would have to wait until he discovered the nature of this urgent matter.

Matthew was a well-known Boston shipping entrepreneur with offices in Boston, New York, and Baltimore. After his father died from a brief illness, Matthew successfully took over. Hard work and New England ingenuity had improved the business and brought him a substantial profit. During the War of 1812, he had fought at the Battle of New Orleans. He single-handedly rallied his men to hold their position against the British regulars and prevented them from breeching his part of the defensive line. The ragtag collection of frontiersmen, pirates, and soldiers fought heroically. Matthew took a bullet in the leg that left him with a star-shaped scar.

Washington appeared to have recovered from the British attack in August of 1814. Repairs had been made on most of the public buildings that were damaged or burned, and little evidence of the attack remained. New buildings were under construction using solid Vermont marble and obviously were meant to last many generations. The little town on the Potomac that became the capital at the turn of the century certainly looked better. The streets were being paved with cobblestones, and L'Enfant's plans were apparently being carried out with a good degree of faithfulness to the original.

When Matthew reached the White House, a servant took his horse, and he was directed to wait in an antechamber. As time passed, he considered the Georgian chair in which he sat and smiled at the irony it represented. Here he was sitting in a piece of English furniture that symbolized everything the new country had fought against-twice. It was only twelve years since the English had put this building to the torch. Adams really had a strange sense of history.

"The president will see you now, Mr. Prescott."

Matthew Prescott acknowledged the announcement with a slight nod and followed the thin, angular man into the adjoining room where he was announced to the president. John Quincy Adams rose from behind a huge mahogany desk to greet Matthew. President Adams was nearly sixty and had been in government service most of his life. Matthew wondered if the story about President Adams swimming nude in the Potomac last summer was true. Apparently, his boat, which contained his clothes, overturned. His servant had to return to the White House for dry clothes, and President Adams hid in some bushes on the riverbank.

"My apologies for detaining you, Mr. Prescott. I hope you have not been inconvenienced."

"Not at all, Mr. President. It was good to rest a few minutes after the ride from Baltimore. And, please, Mr. President, call me Matthew."

President Adams offered Matthew a chair. His manner was very pleasant, not at all what Matthew expected. The secretary poured two glasses of wine, left them on a silver tray, and took his leave. President Adams offered Matthew a glass, and he accepted it with thanks. The ride that day had been long and warm, and he was thirsty.

"Matthew it shall be. I realize you must find this request somewhat of a surprise."

"Mr. President, you are absolutely right. I cannot, for the life of me, imagine why you would want to speak with me, or, for that matter, about what."

"Matthew, let me be frank with you. I have asked you here regarding a matter that may involve our young nation's security, as well as a man you knew during the last war. I would like your assistance, not only because you knew the man, but also because you have the ability to successfully complete a task I want you to undertake. Before I tell you what that task is, let me give you a little background."

"Certainly, Mr. President." Matthew wondered who the man could be and what the task would require of him. He was tempted to ask, but he waited for the president to continue.

"Our country has been tested on several occasions since we gained our independence from England. We have managed to take advantage of every opportunity available to enhance our diplomatic position with Europe. The Jay and Pinckney treaties in 1794 and 1795 helped keep us clear of military entanglements with England and Spain. We fought an undeclared war with the French from 1798 to 1800 and managed to survive. We purchased Louisiana from Napoleon when his plans for expansion in our hemisphere went awry. This expanded our nation's boundaries considerably to great advantage, as Lewis and Clark eventually proved. We had to deal with British incursions on our fur trade in the West and the Russians trying to attain a sphere of influence in the Pacific near our boundaries adjacent to Oregon. The British impressed our sailors and went so far as to attack the Chesapeake and forcibly take four men from her crew. This led to the second war with them in a thirty- year period. Incidentally, I regard Jackson's role in that conflict as critical and his contribution as significant. No one can dispute that." Matthew nodded in agreement. President Adams continued. "President Monroe just recently declared our hemisphere out of the European sphere of influence. Based on events in Europe after the Congress of Vienna, as well as the problems in the Spanish colonies to our south, this will prove to be a critical and important turning point in our nation's history. At least, that is my opinion. We are still a young nation, Matthew. Our fiftieth birthday is this year."

Matthew said nothing. He sensed that President Adams was not finished. The president continued. "The matter I am about to discuss with you may directly affect the security of this country, and it is known by only a few of my most trusted men. I know I will be able to count on your discretion as a gentlemen and a patriot."

"You may be assured of that, Mr. President."

"During the recent war with England, now being called the War of 1812 by some, the British infiltrated several agents-spies, if you will-into this country. These agents joined forces with others who had been recruited before the war and became established in several locations. Some of them were British, while others were Americans. We have been able to identify most of them. Many were captured during the war or within a few years after it ended. Some were executed for treason, and the rest were imprisoned or deported. One man in particular has eluded us. You knew this man, Matthew,...