Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. I.djvu/247

JAMES MONROE 201 For this difficult place he was not the first choice of the president, nor the second ; but he was known to be favorably disposed toward the French govern ment, and it was thought that he might lead to the establishment of friendly relations with that power, and, besides, there is no room to doubt that Wash ington desired, as John Quincy Adams has said, to hold the balance between the parties at home by appointing Jay, the Federalist, to the English mis sion, and Monroe, the Republican, to the French mission. It was the intent of the United States to avoid a collision with any foreign power, but neutrality was in danger of being considered an offense by either France or England at any mo ment. Monroe arrived in Paris just after the fall of Robespierre, and in the excitement of the day he did not at once receive recognition from the commit tee of public safety. He therefore sent a letter to the president of the convention, and arrangements were made for his official reception August 15, 1794. At that time he addressed the convention in terms of great cordiality but his enthusiasm led him be yond his discretion. He transcended the authority that had been given to him, and when his report reached the government at home Randolph sent him a despatch, "in the frankness of friendship, "criticis ing severely the course that the plenipotentiary had pursued. A little later the secretary took a more conciliatory tone, and Monroe believed he never