placed himself at ease, above all favors of government.  This is a weakness, and betrays too little knowledge of the world; too little penetration; too little discretion.  I wish, however, that my boys had a little more of his activity.  I must soon treat them as the pigeons treat their squabs—­push them off the limb, and make them put out their wings or fall.  Young pigeons will never fly till this is done.  Smith has acquired the confidence of the French ministry, and the better sort of the members of the National Convention.  But the Executive is too changeable in that country to be depended on, without the utmost caution. 
                                    “Adieu, adieu, tendrement, J. A.”

One of the sons of the noble patriot, soon “put out his wings,” and soared, ultimately, to a pinnacle of honor and renown attained by few among men.  In the winter of 1793 and 1794, the public mind had become highly excited from the inflammatory appeals in behalf of France, by Citizen Genet, the French Minister to the United States.  A large portion of the anti-Federal party took sides with Mr. Genet, against the neutral position of our Government, and seemed determined to plunge the Union into the European contest, in aid of the French Republic.  Some idea may be obtained of the excitement which prevailed at this time, and of the perilous condition of the country, by an extract or two from letters of Vice-President John Adams.  In a letter dated Philadelphia, Dec. 5, 1793, he writes as follows:—­

“It will require all the address, all the temper, and all the firmness of Congress and the States, to keep this people out of the war; or rather, to avoid a declaration of war against us, from some mischievous power or other.  It is but little that I can do, either by the functions which the Constitution has entrusted to me, or by my personal influence; but that little shall be industriously employed, until it is put beyond a doubt that it will be fruitless; and then, I shall be as ready to meet unavoidable calamities, as any other citizen.”

Under date of Jan. 9, 1794, he says:—­

“The prospects of this country are gloomy, but the situation of all Europe is calamitous beyond all former examples.  At what time, and in what manner, and by what means, the disasters which are come, and seem to be coming on mankind, may be averted, I know not.  Our own people have been imprudent, as I think, and are now smarting under the effects of their indiscretion; but this, instead of a consolation, is an aggravation of our misfortune.  Mr. Genet has been abusive on the President [Washington] and all his ministers, beyond all measure of decency or obligations of truth, and in other respects, not yet publicly investigated, his conduct has been such as to make it difficult to know what to do with him. * * * * * The news of this evening is, that the Queen of France is no more. [Footnote:  Marie Antoinette was beheaded in Paris, on the 16th of October, 1773.] When will savages be satiated with blood?  No prospect of peace in Europe, and therefore none of internal harmony in America.  We cannot well be in a more disagreeable situation than we are with all Europe, with all Indians, and with all Barbary rovers.  Nearly one half of the Continent is in constant opposition to the other, and the President’s situation, which is highly responsible, is very distressing.”