AMERICA AND FRANCE. THE INTIRE MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS: COVERING THE FULL POWERS TO, AND DISPATCHES FROM, THE ENVOYS EXTRAORDINARY OF THE UNITED STATES, TO THE FRENCH REPUBLIC. PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF CONGRESS

Boston: B. Russell, 1798. 71, [1 blank] pp. Uncut, untrimmed, loose. Generously margined. Lightly dusted, outer leaves toned with a few small blank edge chips, light scattered foxing. Good+ to Very Good

This private Boston printing of Adams's Message includes "the famous 'XYZ' correspondence." The document includes Adams's letters credentialing Marshall, Pinckney, and Gerry as his envoys to adjust difficulties with France; and their blow-by-blow description of the whole sordid affair, in which Mr. X demanded that "a sum of money was required for (truncated) the pocket of the Directory and ministers, which would be at the disposal of M. Talleyrand: and that a loan would also be insisted on. Mr. X. said, if we acceded to these measures, M. Talleyrand had no doubt that all our differences with France might be accommodated." Mr. Y. advised, "You must pay money, you must pay a great deal of money."
Adams asked Congress to keep this document secret while an appropriate response was considered.
Evans 34815. Howes A199. (Inventory #: 26099)