In this course they had the cordial approval of leading Federalists, who would write privately to members of the Cabinet and give counsel as to procedure.

Wolcott, a Federalist leader in Connecticut, warned his son, the Secretary of the Treasury, that Adams was "a man of great vanity, pretty capricious, of a very moderate share of prudence, and of far less real abilities than he believes himself to possess," so that "it will require a deal of address to render him the service which it will be essential for him to receive." The policy to be pursued was still unsettled when news came of the insulting rejection of Pinckney and the domineering attitude assumed by France.

On March 25, Adams issued a call for the meeting of Congress on May 15, and then set about getting the advice of his Cabinet.

He presented a schedule of interrogatories to which he asked written answers.

The attitude of the Cabinet was at first hostile to Adams's favorite notion of a special mission, but as Hamilton counseled deference to the President's views, the Cabinet finally approved the project.