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.

AET. 63.] LIFE OF WASHINGTON. 507
But however they might excite his commiseration, they
could not disturb his peace of mind. "I have long
>since resolved," said he, writing to the governor of
Maryland, "for the present time at least, to let my,calumniators proceed without any notice being taken of
their invectives by myself, or by any others with my
participation or knowledge. Their views, I dare say,
are readily perceived by all the enlightened and welldisposed part of the community; and by the records
of my administration, and not by the voice of faction,
I expect to be acquitted or condemned hereafter."
In relation to the treaty, time disappointed its enemies, and more than fulfilled the expectations of its
friends. It saved the country from a war, improved its
commerce, and served in no small degree to lay the
foundation of its durable prosperity. The great points,
which were said to be sacrificed or neglected, the im-..pressment of seamen, neutral rights, and colonial trade,
have never yet been settled, and are never likely to be
settled satisfactorily, while England maintains the ascendency she now holds on the ocean.
The day following that on which the President affixed
his name to the treaty, Mr. Randolph resigned the
office of Secretary of State. The circumstances are
these. While Washington was at Mount Vernon, the
British minister, Mr. Hammond, put into the hands of
the Secretary of the Treasury a letter from M. Fauchet
to the French government, which had been intercepted
at sea, whence it found its way to the British cabinet,
and was forwarded to Mr. Hammond. The letter was
translated by Mr. Pickering, and shown to the President when he arrived in Philadelphia. Its contents
were such, as to excite suspicions of Mr. Randolph's
conduct. It appeared that;his political relations with
the French minister had been more intimate and con