e
party, has not, with his usual good sense and _sang froid_, looked on
the efforts and effects of this free press, and seen that though some
bad things have passed through it to the public, yet the good have
preponderated immensely.'"

On the day succeeding his presentation to the president, Genet addressed
an official letter to Mr. Jefferson, announcing his mission, as
follows:--

"Single, against innumerable hordes of tyrants and slaves who
menace her rising liberty, the French nation would have a right to
reclaim the obligations imposed on the United States by the
treaties she has contracted with them, and which she has cemented
with her blood; but strong in the greatness of her means, and of
the power of her principles, not less redoubtable to her enemies
than the virtuous arm which she opposes to their rage, she comes,
in the very time when the emissaries of our common enemies are
making useless efforts to neutralize the gratitude, to damp the
zeal, to weaken or cloud the view of your fellow-citizens; she
comes, I say, that generous nation, that faithful friend, to labor
still to increase the prosperity and add to the happiness which she
is pleased to see them enjoy.

"The obstacles raised with intentions hostile to liberty, by the
perfidious ministers of despotism--the obstacles whose object was
to stop the rapid progress of the commerce of the Americans and the
extension of their principles, exist no more. The French republic,
seeing in them but brothers, has opened to them, by the decrees now
enclosed, all her ports in the two worlds; has granted them all the
favors which her own citizens enjoy in her vast possessions; has
invited them to participate the benefits of her navigation, in
granting to their vessels the same rights as her own; and has
charged me to propose to your government to establish, in a truly
family compact--that is, in a national compact--the liberal and
fraternal basis on which she wishes to see raised the commercial
and political system of two people, all whose interests are
blended. I am invested, sir, with the powers necessary to undertake
this important negotiation, of which the sad annals of humanity
offer no example before the brilliant era at length opening on
it."[53]

Notwithstanding the boast, in this letter, of his country being