fact as a proof of their writing in the character of their adversaries; to wit, the day after the little incident of Richet’s toasting ‘the man of the people’ (see the gazettes), Mrs. Washington was at Mrs. Powel’s, who mentioned to her that, when the toast was given, there was a good deal of disapprobation appeared in the audience, and that many put on their hats and went out:  on inquiry, he had not found the fact true, and yet it was put into ------’s paper, and written under the character of a republican, though he is satisfied it is altogether a slander of the monocrats.  He mentioned this to the President, but he did not mention to him the following fact, which he knows; that in New York, the last summer, when the parties of Jay and Clinton were running so high, it was an agreed point with the former, that if any circumstances should ever bring it to a question, whether to drop Hamilton or the President, they had decided to drop the President.  He said that lately one of the loudest pretended friends to the government, damned it, and said it was good for nothing, that it could not support itself, and it was time to put it down and set up a better; and yet the same person, in speaking to the President, puffed off that party as the only friends to the government.  He said he really feared, that by their artifices and industry, they would aggravate the President so much against the republicans, as to separate him from the body of the people.  I told him what the same cabals had decided to do, if the President had refused his assent to the bank bill; also what Brockhurst Livingston said to ------, that Hamilton’s life was much more precious to the community than the President’s.

August the 1st.  Met at the President’s, to consider what was to be done with Mr. Genet.  All his correspondence with me was read over.  The following propositions were made. 1.  That a full statement of Mr. Genet’s conduct be made in a letter to G. Morris, and be sent with his correspondence, to be communicated to the Executive Council of France; the letter to be so prepared, as to serve for the form of communication to the Council.  Agreed unanimously. 2.  That in that letter his recall be required.  Agreed by all, though I expressed a preference of expressing that desire with great delicacy; the others were for peremptory terms. 3.  To send him off.  This was proposed by Knox; but rejected by every other. 4.  To write a letter to Mr. Genet, the same in substance with that written to G. Morris, and let him know we had applied for his recall.  I was against this, because I thought it would render him extremely active in his plans, and endanger confusion.  But I was overruled by the other three gentlemen and the President. 5.  That a publication of the whole correspondence, and statement of the proceedings should be made by way of appeal to the people.  Hamilton made a jury speech of three quarters of an hour, as inflammatory and declamatory as if he had been speaking to a jury.  E. Randolph opposed it.  I chose to leave the contest between them.  Adjourned to next day.