The Patowmac Guardian, And Berkeley Advertiser

From the NEW YORK JOURNAL. &c.

TO THE PUBLIC.

It has been matter of much surprise, to see a publication in Loudon's Diary, of Monday evening last, by John Jay and Rufus King, avowing themselves the authors of a certain report concerning Mr. Genet, the French minister. Many are the reports, which, to answer some purposes, have been lately circulated, injurious to the public character of this gentleman; but only this one, that Mr. Genet said, that "he would appeal to the people from certain decisions of the President," appears, as yet, to have any foundation. Of this report Mr. Jay and Mr. King are willing to stand fathers.

But what those decisions were, on what occasion, or in what manner Mr. Genet made the declaration, when, and how they heard it, we are not informed. They have authorized others to assert it, but they have not told us who authorized them. We know that Mr. Jay and Mr. King are men of respectable character, and hold high places, but their word alone, without any proof or circumstances given, ought not to be sufficient to fix a charge of this kind.

So much depends upon the time and manner in which a thing is said, that the declaration of Mr. Genet will, according to these, be taken in an innocent or offensive light. By the People, he might mean the Congress, or he might mean, that the people, in general, would interpret the treaty as he did, and that he would venture to appeal to them.

Admitting, then, that he uttered such words, where was the harm or insult? Mr. Genet, as representing a great nation, has as good a right to assert his Opinion, as the President has to assert his. Some allowance, too, is to be made to a foreigner, when he expresses himself in our language, and still more to that glorious enthusiasm which fills a Frenchman for the cause of Liberty, and of which some cold-hearted Americans are at this day little susceptible.

Did the President allow these men to carry this report and spread it in New-York? If he did not, were they not officious, and actuated by improper motives, in coming forward at this time? In my opinion, the President has reason to be displeased with them. They are the greatest enemies to his dignity, and the support of our present government. I will tell them a secret, if they do not know it, and they will bear with me--that the people revere the President and are firmly united in supporting the government, and preserving peace, if some gentlemen will let them stand farther, that the people are attached to the French nation, and wish to preserve treaties inviolate with them; they wish them success, and are astonished to find this matter and the other matter conjured up by some to throw a prejudice on their cause. Enough at present from

A CITIZEN.