1. GW was referring to Edmond Genet’s letter to Jefferson of 20 Dec., in which he asked that GW transmit to Congress translations of Genet’s instructions from the French government (see Jefferson to GW, 28 Dec., and n.1). In Jefferson’s letter to Genet of 31 Dec., he returned the instructions and informed Genet “that your functions as the missionary of a foreign nation here, are confined to the transaction of the affairs of your nation with the Executive of the United States, that the communications, which are to pass between the Executive and Legislative branches, cannot be a subject for your interference” (Jefferson Papers description begins Julian P. Boyd et al., eds. The Papers of Thomas Jefferson. 41 vols. to date. Princeton, N.J., 1950–. description ends , 27:649).

2. The previous Sunday was 29 December.