The Jefferson Conspiracy

Thousands roared their welcome to the 34-gun French frigate sailing into Charleston, South Carolina, in April, 1793. At the bow stood a colorfully dressed young Frenchman doffing his feathered chapeau and waving to the cheering throng. The Frenchman was the celebrated Edmond-Charles Genêt--the first French ambassador to the U.S. What the welcoming crowd did not--could not--know was that Citizen Genêt, as he was called, was also a master spy carrying two sets of instructions. One set directe...