be no necessity for deciding it now; the propositions before
agreed on might be put into a train of execution, and perhaps events
would show whether the appeal would be necessary or not. He desired we
would meet at my office the next day, to consider what should be done
with the vessels armed in our ports by Mr. Genet, and their prizes.

* He said that Mr. Morris, taking a family dinner with him
the other day, went largely, and of his own accord, into
this subject; advised this appeal, and promised, if the
President adopted it, that he would support it himself, and
engage for all his connections. The President repeated this
twice, and with an air of importance. Now Mr. Morris has no
family connections; he engaged then for his political
friends. This shows that the President has not confidence
enough in the virtue and good sense of mankind, to confide
in a government bottomed on them, and thinks other props
necessary.

August the 3rd. We met. The President wrote to take our opinions,
whether Congress should be called. Knox pronounced at once against it.
Randolph was against it. Hamilton said his judgment was against it, but
that if any two were for it, or against it, he would join them to make
a majority. I was for it. We agreed to give separate opinions to the
President. Knox said we should have had fine work, if Congress had
been sitting these two last months. The fool thus let out the secret.
Hamilton endeavored to patch up the indiscretion of this blabber, by
saying 'he did not know; he rather thought they would have strengthened
the executive arm.'

It is evident they do not wish to lengthen the session of the next
Congress, and probably they particularly wish it should not meet till
Genet is gone. At this meeting I received a letter from Mr. Remsen at
New York, informing me of the event of the combat between the Ambuscade
and the Boston. Knox broke out into the most unqualified abuse of
Captain Courtnay. Hamilton, with less fury, but with the deepest
vexation, loaded him with censures. Both showed the most unequivocal
mortification at the event.

August the 6th, 1793. The President calls on me at my house in the
country, and introduces my letter of July the 31st, announcing that I
should resign at the close of the next month. He again expressed his
repentance at not having resigned himself, and how much it was increased
by seeing that he was to be desert