The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

488 LIFE OF WASHINGTON. [1793.
him from his steady purpose of sacrificing every other
consideration to the interests of his country.
In the midst of these ferments, M. Genet came to the
United States as minister from the French republic.
He landed at Charleston, in South Carolina, and travelled
thence through the country to Philadelphia. He was
received everywhere with such enthusiasm and extravagant marks of attention, as to deceive him into a belief,
that the great body of the American people heartily
espoused the cause of the French revolution, and was
ready to join the citizens of the new republic in carrying the banner of liberty and equality to the ends of
the earth. Being of an ardent temperament, and emboldened by these indications, the citizen minister, as
he was called, at once commenced a career, as unjustifiable as it was extraordinary. Even before he left
Charleston he gave orders for fitting out and arming
vessels in that port to cruise as privateers, and commit
hostilities on the commerce of nations at peace with the
United States. Notwithstanding this act of presumption and rashness, which was known before he reached
Philadelphia, he was received by the President with
frankness, and with all the respect due to the representative of a foreign power.
Genet declared, that his government was strongly
attached to the United States, and had no desire to engage them in the war; but his secret instructions, which
he afterwards published, were of a different complexion,
and proved very clearly, that the designs of his employers were contrary to the professions of their minister. Indeed his whole conduct, from beginning to end,
could have no other tendency than to bring the United
States into an immediate conflict with all the powers
at war with France. The privateers commissioned by
him came into the American ports with prizes. This