That it was the practice of the treasury, when a sum had been appropriated for the current year, to pay it to that gentleman occasionally, as the situation of the family might require.

The expenses at some periods of the year exceeded, and at others fell short of the allowance for the quarter; so that at some times money was paid in advance on account of the ensuing quarter, and at others, that which was due at the end of the quarter was not completely drawn out.

The secretary entered into an examination of the constitution and laws to show that this practice was justifiable, and illustrated his arguments by many examples in which an advance on account of money appropriated to a particular object, before the service was completed, would be absolutely necessary.

However this might be, it was a transaction in which the President personally was unconcerned.[37] [Footnote 37: Gazette of the United States, 16th November, 1795.] When possessed of the entire fact, the public viewed, with just indignation, this attempt to defame a character which was the nation's pride.

Americans felt themselves involved in this atrocious calumny on their most illustrious citizen; and its propagators were frowned into silence.
[Sidenote: Mr.Randolph resigns.