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.

508 LIFE OF WASHINGTON. [1795.
fidential, than was compatible with the office he held
in the administration. At all events, it seemed a fair
inference from the language of the letter, that M. Fauchet valued his services as having been useful to the
French interests, and calculated on them for the future.
In the presence of the other members of the cabinet,
the President handed this letter to Mr. Randolph and
asked an explanation. He had not before heard of it;
and, although he read it without emotion, he expressed
much displeasure at the President's manner of bringing
it to his notice, and complained that he did not first
converse'with him on the subject privately. He said
that he wished more leisure to examine the letter, before making any detailed remarks on its contents, but
added, that, considering the treatment he had received,
he could not think of remaining in his office a moment
longer. Accordingly he sent in his resignation the
same day.
Mr. Randolph published a pamphlet vindicating his
conduct, and explaining such parts of the intercepted
letter as related to him. From M. Fauchet, who was
then on the point of leaving the country, he also obtained a certificate, in which that minister declared, that
in his letter he had no intention to say any thing to the
disadvantage of Mr. Randolph's character. The statements presented by Mr. Randolph, in proof of his innocence, were not such as to produce entire conviction;
but the nature of his task rendered it difficult, if not
impossible, for him to adduce positive evidence. He
moreover allowed himself to be betriayed into a warmth
of temper, and bitterness of feeling, not altogether favorable to his candor. After all that has been made
known, the particulars of his conversations with Fauchet, and his designs, are still matters of conjecture.
One fact connected with this affair should be men