dined with him. The Secretary of State assured me that he
received it kindly, and I can hope something good from him. If any
come it will be your work. I never before spoke or wrote to
Bonaparte on any affair other than public business. It will be very
pleasing to you if we succeed, that your silent agency works good
to the unhappy and meritorious at such a distance. I know nothing
better belonging to reputation.

Poor Adams!

General Davie arrived by the next ship, bringing with him a convention
concluded with France on the 30th of October. He also brought a letter
to Hamilton from one of the commission, with a copy of the document and
a journal of the proceedings of the negotiators. The writer was Oliver
Ellsworth, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Adams might
occupy the chair of State, but to the Federals Hamilton was President in
all but name.

Sedgwick and Gouverneur Morris, now a member of the Senate, not knowing
of the communication, wrote immediately to Hamilton, acquainting him
with the contents of the treaty.

It contains no stipulation for satisfaction of the injuries we have
received [Sedgwick wrote in wrath]. It makes the treaty of '78 a
subject for future negotiation. It engages that we shall return, in
the condition they now are, all our captures. It makes neutral
bottoms a protection to their cargoes, and it contains a
stipulation directly in violation of the 25th article of our treaty
with Great Britain. Such are the blessed effects of our mission!
These are the ripened fruits of this independent Administration!
Our friends in the Senate are not enough recovered from their
astonishment to begin to reflect on the course they shall pursue.

This treaty was a far more deadly weapon in Hamilton's hands than the
entire arsenal he had manipulated in his pamphlet, for campaign
literature is often pickled and retired with the salt of its readers.
But did this mission fail, did Adams lose his only chance of
justification for sending the commission at all, did the Senate refuse
to ratify, and war break out, or honourable terms of peace be left to
the next President, then Adams's Administration must be stamped in
history as a failure, and he himself retire from office covered with
ignominy. But had Hamilton not recovered his balance and trimmed to
their old steady duty the wicks of those lamps whose brilliance had