Complete Works. Hamilton AlexanderЧитать онлайн книгу.
made of Mr. Genet, by order of the President, for the detention of the vessel. All that part, however, which is scored or underlined, may be freely
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made up. This part is so circumstanced as to take away all scruples of personal or political delicacy. 'Tis not so much with the rest. It can therefore only be confidently disclosed to persons whose discretion may be relied on, and whose knowledge of it may be useful.
It is true (as you have heard) that things, if possible still more insulting, have since been done by Mr. Genet; but of this at present no use can be made, no more than of some antecedent transactions nearly, if not quite, as exceptional. The mass would confound Mr. Genet and his associates. Perhaps it may not be long before a promulgation will take place.
I am of opinion with you that the charge ought to be insisted upon.
P. S. -- The case does not require the naming General Knox or myself, and it will therefore not be done. It is to be observed that the equipments of the Petit Democrat are, in strictest sense, an original fitting out. She was before a merchant vessel; here she was converted into a vessel commissioned for war, of considerable force.
General Schuyler, who was in Albany, wrote from that place, December 15, 1793, to his son-in-law:
MY DEAR SIR: I am happy that the children are safely arrived with you. I hope that you and my Eliza are in health.
The president's message of the 5th has reached us. I am rejoiced that he has been so explicit relative to the French anarchists. The parties here who had boldly asserted that the imputation of an appeal to the people was a fabrication to injure the French cause, stand abashed, -- and I am persuaded that Genet's intemperance has served the Federal interest instead of injuring It.
We are all in health and join in love. My Angelica is perfectly happy, and very lively.
I am Sir Your Affectionate
PH. SCHUYLER.
Genet's offensive methods were such that, in 1793, the President issued a proclamation of neutrality, referred to in Schuyler's letter, and which, though distasteful to the Democrats who called it an "edict of royalty," put an end to his activities. He was succeeded by Jean Antoine Fauchet, a less explosive and more rational man, who represented the republic in 1794-95, and by Pierre Augustus Adet in 1795-97. This latter made an issue of the treaty of 1778, and presented a note from the Directory which "declared that the flag of the republic would treat all neutral flags as they permitted themselves to be treated by the English."
It is somewhat remarkable that Washington, with all his experience of Genet, should have received either of the two later representatives of the republic as he did. The papers of the day refer to the presentation by Adet of a "beautiful flag of silk -- the tri-color," and print Washington's fraternal and sympathetic response to Adet's speech; but it is to be supposed that diplomacy of this kind was a necessity, though a distasteful concession to a cause which both he and the Federalists generally abominated. The activity of the press at the time was ceaseless, and no occasion was lost to lampoon, either in letter, press, or caricature, the government or its opponents, Jefferson even coming in for his share. He was held up to ridicule in a broadside entitled Observations on the Dispute between the United States and France by Harper, which contained an especially stinging caricature. Numerous other broadsides also appeared -- one of them bearing the title, "The Guillotine -- or a Democratic Dirge," which was published by Thomas Bradford in Philadelphia, in 1796.
It is difficult to conceive the discomfort of those who had daily to witness the low imitation of the doings in Paris during the Reign of Terror. Sympathy with the specious and picturesque doctrines and teachings of the French was evident in the adoption of all the horrors except the guillotine. The high and low were all citizens or citizenesses, and the marriage notices in the Philadelphia newspapers invariably gave these appellations to the contracting parties. It was "Citizen Brown," or "Citizenesse Jones," and this continued until it became too ridiculous to be tolerated.
Upon the occasion of Genet's dinner, one of the taverns showed a painting of the gory body of Marie Antoinette, and the sheets covering it were decorated with the tri-color.
Herman Le Roy was a prosperous merchant of New York, and a partner of Bayard McEvers. He, like others who were sane citizens, suffered from persecution not only at home, but in France, and on March 29, 1793, he wrote to his friend and lawyer, Hamilton, suggesting an ingenious method of reimbursement for this seizure of his property by those in control of France at the time:
DEAR SIR: A part of the Estate which my Father has left consists in French Funds, while from the distracted situation that Country is in, neither principal or interest can be procured upon same. Since the United States are indebted to France, and they are now actually discharging same, pray would it not be possible to indemnify us, as American Citizens, out of the debt due them, by producing the Funds at their Charge, which can be proved have been in the family for upwards of half a Century? Some of our Law Characters here have suggested the possibility of such a scheme being practicable, which alone induces me to sollicit the favor of your giving me your kind advice and opinion upon the subject, in doing of which you will render me a particular service, which on all occasions I shall be always happy to repay with sincere gratitude.
I am ever with Sincere esteem & respects
Dear Sir Your humble Servant,
HERMAN LE ROY.
Alex. Hamilton, Esq.
When the Hamiltons went to Philadelphia with the other members of the Cabinet they found themselves in a merry throng of agreeable people who entertained frequently and lavishly. The Binghams and their connections were chief among the non-official set -- William Bingham had married the beautiful young daughter of Thomas Willing, and after their return from England built a grand house, and hither flocked the charming society which Chastellux, and other writers, declared to be far more gay and agreeable than that of New York. The President occupied the Morris house, and immediately entered upon the social duties of his office. Levees, drawing-rooms, and dinners were in order, and in their way were elaborate and attractive, although it is stated by one carping critic, a lady who had been abroad, that the rooms were "despicable" and "etiquette was not to be found."1 At these functions we find the "ladies of the Court," as they were called by Mrs. John Adams, and these include the wives of the Cabinet -- the Binghams, Willings, Morrises, the Misses Allen and Chew, "Sally" McKean, daughter of the Chief Justice, and "Dolly" Madison, Mrs. Stewart, Henry Clymer, James Greenleaf, George Clymer; the delightful French gentlemen who were in Philadelphia, and Van Berkle, Lord Wycombe, the eldest son of the Marquis of Lansdowne, who, as Lord Shelburne, did so much to further the treaty of 1783, and the Spanish and Portuguese ministers. Neither Genet, Adet, nor Fauchet seemed to be in good favor, because of their offensive conduct.
Theophilus Bradbury described a men's dinner, given by the President, in 1795, as follows: "In the middle of the room was placed a piece of table furniture about six feet long and two feet broad, rounded at both ends. It was either of wood gilded or polished metal raised only about one inch, with a silver rim round it like that round a tea-board. In the centre was a pedestal of plaster of Paris with images upon it and on the end figures male and female of the same. It was very elegant and used for ornament only. The dishes were placed all around and there was an elegant variety of roast beef, veal, turkey, ducks, fowl, ham, puddings, jellies, oranges, apples, nuts, almonds, figs, raisins and a variety of wines and punch. We took our leave at six, more than an hour after the candles were introduced. No lady but Mrs. Washington dined with us. We were waited on by four or five men servants dressed in livery."
It may, perhaps, have been this very dinner of which the ascetic William Maclay, senator from Pennsylvania, in his "Sketches," said: "Dined with the President of the United States. It was a dinner of dignity. All the Senators present, and the Vice-President. I looked often around the company to find the happiest faces. Wisdom, forgive me if I wrong thee, but I thought folly and happiness were the most nearly allied. The President seemed to bear in his countenance a settled aspect of melancholy. No cheering ray of convivial sunshine broke through the cloudy gloom of settled seriousness. At every interval of eating and