By July 7, Jefferson was writing to Madison that Genet "renders my position immensely difficult," and thereafter in the correspondence of Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe, Genet figures as a rash man whose indiscretions embarrassed his friends and impeded his own objects.

This view has to a large extent passed over into history, but when it is considered that Genet did not come to America for Jefferson's comfort but to accomplish certain things for his own government, it must be owned that he had considerable success.

Although his means were small, he managed to engage in the French service an active American fleet including such vessels as _Le Cassius, L'Ami de le Point a Petre, L'Amour de la Liberte, La Vengeance, La Montagne, Le Vainqueur de la Bastille, La Carmagnole, L'Esperance, Le Citoyen Genet, Sans Pareil_, and _Le Petit Democrate._ The last-mentioned vessel was originally an English merchantman, the brig _Little Sarah_, brought into Philadelphia harbor as a French prize.

When it was learned that this vessel had been armed and equipped for service as a French man-of-war, Governor Mifflin of Pennsylvania gave orders that the vessel should be detained.

Genet threatened forcible resistance, and a clash might have occurred, had Jefferson not intervened.