(Private)
Philadelphia, September 9, 1793.
Dr. Sir: It was the opinion of the Gentlemen at their meeting, on Saturday last if I mistake not, that Mr. Wolcott26 should be desired to request Mr. Webster to substantiate the language of the Minister of the French Republic as related by him in the enclosed letter.
[Note:Oliver Wolcott. ]
Colo. Hamilton's situation, for which I feel extreme regret, does not permit his having any agency in the matter at present; I therefore send the letter which he forwarded to me from Mr. Webster to Mr. Wolcott to your care, being persuaded that whatever measure shall be deemed right and proper will be put in train by you.
I think it would not be prudent either for you or the Clerks in your Office, or the Office itself to be too much exposed to the malignant fever, which by well authenticated report, is spreading through the City; The means to avoid it27 your own judgment under existing circumstances must dictate.
[Note:The word "it" was inserted and afterwards crossed off inadvertently. ]
As the spreading and continuance of the disorder may render it unadvisable for me to return to this City as soon as I at first intended, I wd. thank you, in case you should remain in the vicinity of it to write me a line by every Monday's Post informing me concisely of the then state of matters; with other occurrences which may be essential for me to be made acquainted with.
And I would thank you also for your advice to Mr. Fraunces or Mrs. Emmerson (the House keeper) if, by means of the Disorder my Household Affairs in this City should be involved in any delicacy. I sincerely wish, and pray, that you and yours, may escape untouched and, when we meet again, that it may be under circumstances more pleasing than the present. I am etc.28
[Note:To this letter Ford prints the following footnote: "On August 12th, Webster had dined at the same table with Genet, Captain Bompard, and one of Genet's secretaries. In the course of the conversation Paschal (the secretary) asserted that Washington made war upon the French nation. Genet agreed in this, and went on to say that the Executive of the United States (not the President) was under the influence of British gold, and the officers were in the British influence and had formed a plan to subject America to Great Britain. He asserted that he had very good letters to prove this." No letters of Webster or Wolcott on this matter, nor copies of them, are now found in the Washington Papers. ]