e Jefferson and Hamilton, he was served by
Edmund Randolph and Oliver Wolcott, Jr., and James McHenry, good
routine men at the best, mediocrities if judged by comparison with
their predecessors. Moreover, the reputation for discretion of some
of them, suffered. Thus Randolph had not long been Secretary of State
when Joseph Fauchet, the French Minister, produced some papers which
could be construed as implying that Randolph had accepted money.
Randolph was known to be impecunious, but his personal honor had never
been suspected. Washington with characteristic candor sent Randolph
the batch of incriminating letters. Randolph protested that he
"forgave" the President and tried to exculpate himself in the
newspapers. Even that process of deflation did not suffice and he
had recourse to a "Vindication," which was read by few and popularly
believed to vindicate nobody. Washington is believed to have held
Randolph as guiltless, but as weak and as indiscreet. He pitied the
ignominy, for Randolph had been in a way Washington's protege, whose
career had much interested him and whose downfall for such a cause was
doubly poignant.

CHAPTER XII

CONCLUSION

Washington's term as President ended at noon on March 4, 1797. He was
present at the inauguration of President John Adams which immediately
followed. On the 3d, besides attending to the final necessary routine,
he wrote several letters of farewell to his immediate friends,
including Henry Knox, Jonathan Trumbull, Timothy Pickering, and James
McHenry. To all he expressed his grief at personal parting, but also
immense relief and happiness in concluding his public career. He said,
for instance, in his letter to Trumbull:

Although I shall resign the chair of government without a single
regret, or any desire to intermeddle in politics again, yet there
are many of my compatriots, among whom be assured I place you,
from whom I shall part sorrowing; because, unless I meet with them
at Mount Vernon, it is not likely that I shall ever see them more,
as I do not expect that I shall ever be twenty miles from it,
after I am tranquilly settled there. To tell you how glad I should
be to see you at that place is unnecessary. To this I will add
that it would not only give me pleasure, but pleasure also to Mrs.
Washington, and others of the family with whom you are acquainted,
and who all unite, in every good wish for you and yours.[1]