[Copy collected] [Quarrel with Genet, Neutrality. Objections to popular meetings in Subjects already acted on by Government] New York Saturday 3 Aug 1793 [undecipherable] The french Jacks from the Chesapeake [undecipherable] coming [undecipherable] the north, twice above the Battery - the Ambuscade also arrived, [undecipherable] and her account, confirmed by those of many Spectators of the combat, leave no doubt of the flight of the English frigate - You will have seen in our news papers, an invitation for a meeting in the Fields to address M^r. [undecipherable] who is daily expected here - this has been originated [undecipherable] M^r. Smith, [undecipherable] Osgood, [undecipherable], Nicholson, and others of like politics. Thereupon, between two & three hundred persons assembled, and I am told, they were generally antifederal - Nicholson was in the Chair, an Address was produced, & adopted, and a Committee of thirty or forty Persons appointed to present it - These Gentlemen will not be stopped by trifles, they already [undecipherable] that the Cause of France is that of America, that it is time to [undecipherable] with its [undecipherable] the Enemies of the Nation in order to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of Mr. Genet's appeal to the people from the decision of the Executive the people are competent Judges of their own Interest & obligations, that there can be no Danger to them from the free exercise of their Judgment on so great & interesting an occasion - true it is that their Decision may displease men in high Authority, but that will not prove their Judgment to have been erroneous - Nay some of these Gentlemen go further, and not only excuse, but applaud the Decree of the french Convention, which not only contravenes our Treaty of commerce, but grossly violates the best established Rules in the law of Nations - In short my friend, unless the Executive will quickly & vigorously exercise its powers in checking the influence of M^r. Genet, it may experience the mortification, of seeing them perish in its hands - Our Chamber of Commerce will on Tuesday [undecipherable] appointing the President [undecipherable] power to try the Citizens for [undecipherable] - But that is altogether wrong - We have with great Trouble established a Constitution which vests competent powers in the hands of the Executive - it is the duty of that Department to see that the laws are executed, & the peace and order of the Community preserved - It was never expected that the executive should sit with folded Arms, and that the Government should be carried on by Town Meetings, and those irregular measures, which disorganize the Society, destroy the voluntary influence of regular Government, and render the Magistracy a mere pageant. This decree of the french Convention has thrown the American trade people into the greatest embarrassments - Insurance [undecipherable] cannot be made without [undecipherable] Provinces - I am told that where four & five per Cent was given, eighteen & twenty are now required. [undecipherable] yours &^c [undecipherable]