governors, whose duty it was to appear at the head of the requisitions, the Governor of Pennsylvania" (Mifflin) "alone enjoyed the name Republican: his opinion of the Secretary of the Treasury" (Hamilton) "and of his system was known to be unfavorable. The Secretary of this State" (Dallas) "possessed great influence in the popular society of Pennsylvania, which in its turn influenced those of other States: of course he merited attention. It appears, therefore, that these men, with others unknown to me, all having without doubt Randolph at their head, were balancing to decide on their party. Two or three days before the proclamation was published, and of course before the Cabinet had resolved on its measures, Mr. Randolph came to see me with an air of great eagerness, and made to me the overtures of which I have given you an account in my No. 6. Thus with some thousands of dollars the" (French) "Republic could have decided on civil war or on peace! Thus the consciences of the pretended patriots of America have already their prices (tarif)!"
When it had once been privately brought to Hamilton's colleagues in the Cabinet that he was charged with official corruption, they hastened to tell him, and to hear his explanations. The same gentlemen now had to deal with the libel of a foreigner on Randolph, but the stakes were too high for nice considerations of honor to prevail. Wolcott was jubilant at the "fortunate discovery," as he called it, and writes to Hamilton, "Feel no concern, for I see a clue which I know will conduct us through every labyrinth except that of war." It would seem that even the prospect of war with France was a trifle to the Treasurer in that jubilant moment. The dispatch was not mentioned, however, to Hamilton, nor to Washington. The explosion was skilfully arranged between the three ministers,—Wolcott, Pickering, and Bradford,—between whom it was kept a profound secret until the two most important witnesses, Hammond and Fauchet, should be out of the way, both being on the eve of departure for Europe. Sixteen days elapsed, after Hammond showed his bomb, before Washington heard of it, and twenty-four before it fell on the astounded Secretary. The British minister was then well out at sea, and Fauchet supposed to be still farther away. The dates are significant. On July 26 Wolcott had been invited to dinner by Hammond and shown the dispatch. On July 31 Washington was urged to return to Philadelphia, without being told why. On August 11 he arrives, and is shown the dispatch. August 17, Hammond sails from New York. August 19, Randolph is for the first time shown the dispatch.
It will be observed that eight days had elapsed after the President had seen the dispatch before it was communicated to Randolph. During that time Washington's behavior towards Randolph was remarkable. Regardless of his usual etiquette, he visited Randolph, in a friendly way, in his own house. He invited him to dine with a chosen friends, and gave him the place of honor at the table. Indeed, Randolph twice enjoyed Washington's hospitality during the eight days, and was treated with exceptional marks of friendship up to the fatal morning when, coming at an appointed time, he found the President with the hostile Secretaries, was received with formality, and
