But even while his recall was being decided, before he knew of it himself, and long before his successor came, Genet’s folly produced more trouble than ever, and his insolence rose to a higher pitch.  The arming of privateers had been checked, but the consuls continued to arrogate powers which no self-respecting nation could permit, and for some gross offense Washington revoked the exequatur of Duplaine, consul at Boston.  An insolent note from Genet thereupon declared that the President had overstepped his authority, and that he should appeal to the sovereign State of Massachusetts.  Next there was riot and the attempted murder of a man from St. Domingo who was accused by the refugees.  Then it began to get abroad that Genet had threatened to appeal from the President to the people, and frantic denials ensued from all the opposition press; whereupon a card appeared from John Jay and Rufus King, which stated that they were authority for the story and believed it.  Apologies now took the place of denial, and were backed by ferocious attacks on the signers of the card.  Unluckily, intelligent people seemed to put faith in Jay and King rather than in the opposition newspapers, and the tide, which had turned some time before, now ran faster every moment against the French.  To make it flow with overwhelming force and rapidity was reserved for Genet himself, who was furious at the Jay card, and wrote to the President, demanding a denial of the statement which it contained.  A cool note informed him that the President did not consider it proper or material to make denials, and pointed out to him that he must address his communications to the State Department.  This correspondence was published, and the mass of the people were at last aroused, and turned from Genet in disgust.  The leaders tried vainly to separate the minister from his country, and Genet himself frothed and foamed, demanded that Randolph should sue Jay and King for libel, and declared that America was no longer free.  This sad statement had little effect.  Washington had triumphed completely, and without haste but with perfect firmness had brought the people round to his side as that of the national dignity and honor.

The victory had been won at no little cost to Washington himself in the way of self-control.  He had been irritated and angered at every step, so much so that he even referred in a letter to Richard Henry Lee to the trial of temper to which he had been put, a bit of personal allusion in which he rarely indulged.  “The specimens you have seen,” he wrote, “of Mr. Genet’s sentiments and conduct in the gazettes form a small part only of the aggregate.  But you can judge from them to what test the temper of the executive has been put in its various transactions with this gentleman.  It is probable that the whole will be exhibited to public view in the course of the next session of Congress.  Delicacy towards his nation has restrained the doing of it hitherto.  The best that can be said of this agent is, that he is entirely unfit for the mission on which he is employed; unless (which I hope is not the case), contrary to the express and unequivocal declaration of his country made through himself, it is meant to involve ours in all the horrors of a European war.”