To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 21 February 1794
From Edmund Randolph
Friday 2 o’clock. 21st Feb. [1794]
E. Randolph has the honor of informing the President, that Fauchet, and Petrie have just this moment left him. They brought sealed credentials; but upon my informing them, that an open copy was necessary for me, they will send it instante⟨r⟩.1 I am this instant at dinner; but shall wait upon you immediately after—They make the demand; but I told them, that the requisition must be in writing—They have a writing from the executive council to this effect—I this morning mentioned this subject again to the other gentlemen. But I have directed my messenger to receive orders from Mr Dandridge, whether he is to proceed to summon the other gentlemen to your house immediately—If you approve of this, Mr Dandridge will only say to the Messenger to deliver the message Which I have given him for the other gentlemen.2
AL, DLC:GW.
1. Jean-Antoine-Joseph Fauchet had recently arrived in the United States to replace Edmond Genet as the French minister plenipotentiary (James McHenry to GW, 18 Feb., and n.2 to that document). Jean-Baptiste Petry, a former consul ad interim at Charleston, S.C., 1786–92, and vice-consul at Wilmington, N.C., 1783–86, was to become the new French consul at Philadelphia in place of François Dupont, who died in September 1793 during the yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia. Both men presented their credentials to GW on 22 Feb., along with Antoine-René-Charles Mathurin de La Forest, who was to be consul general (, 286). For additional preparations for this meeting, see Randolph to GW, 22 February. For Fauchet’s credentials, see Provisional Executive Council of France to GW, 15 Nov. 1793. Other accompanying letters have not been identified.
2. Randolph’s message for the other members of GW’s cabinet has not been identified.