Hamilton is commander-in-chief of the Senate, of the House of Representatives, of the heads of departments, of General Washington, and last, and least, if you will, of the President of the United States!

But the President’s advisers were free to seek advice without the Cabinet if they chose, and Washington had encouraged them to go to Hamilton.  Hamilton was at liberty to give it, and Adams could find no evidence that he had counselled rebellion against himself; nor that he had used his great influence for any purpose but the honour of the country.

And never had the country needed his services more.  When Adams, grim and obstinate, stepped forward as head of the Nation, he found himself confronted with the menace of France.  In retaliation for Genet’s disgrace, the Revolutionists had demanded the recall of Gouverneur Morris, whose barely disguised contempt, and protection of more than one royalist, had brought him perilously near to the guillotine.  Burr had desired the vacant mission, and his pretensions were urged by Monroe and Madison.  Washington recognized this as a device of the Opposition to embarrass him, and he had the lowest opinion of Burr’s rectitude and integrity.  Pressure and wrath produced no effect, but he offered to appoint Monroe.  It might be wise to send a Jacobin, and the President hoped that ambition would preserve this one from compromising the country.  He made the mistake of not weighing Monroe’s mental capacity more studiously.  The least said of the wild gallop into diplomacy of our fifth President the better.  He was recalled, and Charles Cotesworth Pinckney sent in his place.  The French, who had found Monroe entirely to their taste, refused to receive the distinguished lawyer and soldier.  To escape indignity he was forced to retire to Holland.  The new Republic violated her treaties with increasing insolence, and Bonaparte was thundering on his triumphant course.  France was mocking the world, and in no humour to listen to the indignant protests of a young and distant nation.  To dismember her by fanning the spirit of Jacobinism, and, at the ripe moment,—­when internal warfare had sufficiently weakened her,—­reduce her to a French colony, was a plot of which Hamilton, Rufus King, then minister to England, and other astute statesmen more than suspected her.  But although Hamilton abhorred France and was outraged at her attitude, the spirit of moderation which had regulated all his acts in public life suffered no fluctuation, and he immediately counselled the sending of a commission to make a final attempt before recourse to arms.  War, if inevitable, but peace with honour if possible; it was not fair to disturb the prosperity of the young country except as a last resort.  For once he and Adams were agreed.  Hamilton suggested Jefferson or Madison as a sop to the Revolutionists, with two Federalists to keep him in order.  But the President would have his own commissioners or none.  He