To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 2 April 1794
From Edmund Randolph
[Philadelphia] Wednesday afternoon [2 April 1794].
Sir
The message and papers appear to me to be right. The Minister of France has certified a copy of the letter, the original of which is sealed. To say therefore that the sealed letter shall not be sent, seems to argue such a distrust of his veracity, that it would be very unkindly received. It was not the opinion of Colo. Hamilton or myself, that it should be suppressed, after this assurance was given.1
The sealed letter is in fact the highest original; having been written by the commission of Guadeloupe—The letter from them to Mr Genet is also original, so far as relates to me; it being that paper, from which I made the translation. I have the honor sir to be with the highest respect yr mo. ob. serv.
Edm: Randolph.
P.S. I have seen Mr Jay and General Knox. But nothing very marked or particular occurred.
ALS, DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB, DNA: RG 59, GW’s Correspondence with His Secretaries of State.
1. The documents under discussion in this letter have not been identified, but they may be related to Fauchet’s request for a passport so that diplomatic dispatches could be sent during the recently enacted American embargo (see Randolph’s first letter to Fauchet of 29 March, in n.1 of Randolph to GW, 29 March [second letter]). For the embargo, see . 1:400.