d. Yet so wild and unthinking was the popular enthusiasm
that appeared on the surface of society, that scarcely a word in
condemnation of his conduct was offered. On the contrary, these things
appeared to increase the zeal of his political sympathizers, and made
Genet's reception, in some respects, more flattering to his personal and
national pride. In a letter to Madison at this time, Jefferson,
influenced by the exultation of the movement, and in apparent
forgetfulness of the serious offence which the ardent Genet had
committed against the dignity of the United States and the courtesy of
nations, wrote:--

"The war between France and England seems to be producing an effect
not contemplated. All the old spirit of 1776, rekindling the
newspapers from Boston to Charleston, proves this; and even the
monocrat papers are obliged to publish the most furious philippics
against England. A French frigate took a British prize (the
_Grange_) off the capes of Delaware, the other day, and sent her up
here. Upon her coming into sight, thousands and thousands of the
_yeomanry_ of the city crowded and covered the wharves. Never was
there such a crowd seen there; and when the British colors were
seen reversed, and the French flying above them, they burst into
peals of exultation. I wish we may be able to repress the spirit of
the people within the limits of a fair neutrality.... We expect
Genet daily."

So eager were the republicans of Philadelphia to do honor to Genet,
that, before he had presented his credentials to the president, he was
invited to an evening feast. Indeed, preparations for his reception and
the "republican dinner" had been made several days before, and this
invitation was only a part of the programme. Genet was delighted by this
demonstration--a demonstration (arranged chiefly by the labors of Peter
S. Duponceau, who came to America originally as the secretary of Baron
Steuben, and who was now secretary of a secret society of Frenchmen,
which met at Barney M'Shane's, sign of the bunch of grapes, number
twenty-three North Third street) that should strike with terror the
"cowardly, conservative, Anglo-men, and monarchists," led by President
Washington; and his joy was heightened by reading an approving history
of the proceedings in Freneau's paper, the organ of the secretary of
state. He even seemed for a moment to doubt the expediency of presenting
hi