advantages which would result from the reëstablishment of a good understanding, proposed to employ his influence to obtain that object, and would assist the commissioners of the United States in their demands on the French government, inasmuch as they might not be contradictory to those which he himself proposed to make, and of which the principal would be communicated confidentially." As a preliminary to the employment of his influence, "a softening turn" was to be given to those parts of the President's speech which had irritated the Directory. The nomination of commissioners to decide on reclamations, it was said, would then be consented to on the same terms as in the treaty between the United States and England; the sums awarded against France, were however, to be advanced by the United States, and it was desired that the funds which by this measure should again enter into American trade, should be employed in new supplies for the French colonies. A "masked loan" was also demanded, from which should first be taken "certain sums for the purpose of making the customary distributions in diplomatic affairs." The person of note mentioned in this paper, M. Hottinguer said, was Talleyrand himself. The amount of the loan he could not state precisely, but understood it would be according to the ability of the United States to pay; the sum for distribution would be 1,200,000 livres. He promised further information in a day or two; but on the 20th, announced that M. Bellamy, the confidential friend of M. Talleyrand, instead of communicating through him, would see them himself, and make the necessary explanations. On the same evening he introduced that gentleman, who immediately stated to the envoys the favorable impressions of Talleyrand towards the United States, arising from the civilities he had received there; that "impressed by his solicitude to repay those kindnesses, he was willing to aid them in the present negotiation by his good offices with the Directory,

who were, he said, extremely irritated against the government of the United States on account of the President's speech, and who had neither acknowledged nor received them, and consequently, had not authorized M. Talleyrand to have any communication with them." Talleyrand, he continued, could not see them himself, but had authorized him to communicate certain propositions, and to receive their answers, and to promise on his part, that if the envoys would engage to consider them as the basis of the proposed negotiation, he would intercede with the Directory to acknowledge them and give them a public audiIn making these statements, M. Bellamy expressly disavowed any other character than that of a friend of Talleyrand, and as such, trusted by him. In further explanation of Talleyrand's views, he communicated a copy of the speech with the passages referred to, marked upon it, and also a second set of propositions which were dictated by him and written down by M. Hottinguer, in the presence of the envoys.

ence.

In these was demanded "a formal disavowal in writing," declaring that the speech of President Barras did not contain anything offensive to the United States, nor anything which deserved the epithets contained in the whole paragraph; an atonement for the remarks, by a declaration that the decree of the Directory mentioned in it, did not contain anything contrary to the treaty of 1778; and a declaration that it was not intended that the government of France or its agents, had intermeddled in the affairs of the United States. In consideration of these reparations, France was disposed to renew with the United States a treaty which should place them reciprocally in the same state as in 1778, reserving to the former the advantages stipulated by the British treaty in favor of that power. "A secret article of this new treaty would be, a loan to be made by the United States to the French republic; and once agreed upon the amount of the loan, it

would be endeavored to consult the convenience of the United States with respect to the best means of preventing its publicity." M. Bellamy at this interview, dilated at length upon the resentment produced by the President's speech, and on the satisfaction for it which must precede negotiation; but "this satisfaction being made, the essential part of the treaty remained to be adjusted; MONEY— MUCH MONEY WAS NECESSARY." The same language was held at subsequent interviews, and with even more. openness of corruption. The Directory was for a valuable consideration, willing to sacrifice even their lofty indignation. It was, said M. Bellamy, "jealous of its own honor and the honor of the nation; it insisted on receiving the, same respect with which the king had been treated, and this honor must be manifested in the manner before required, unless the envoys substituted in the place of those reparations, something perhaps more valuable; that was MONEY." This, and a slavish submission to their other demands, was to be the price on which alone they would consent even to open negotiations. Nor was the result of negotiations thus to be bought, left to imagination. If the envoys, they were told, satisfied the Directory that their powers were ample, France would then consent that Commissioners should be appointed to ascertain the claims of the United States, in like manner as under our treaty with England; but no reparation would be made for vessels seized for want of a rôle d' equipage, as "Merlin, while Minister of Justice, had written a treatise" on the subject that Merlin, who, M. Bellamy said, would receive none of the douceur, because he was already paid by the privateers!

Thus far the American negotiators seemed to have listened to these propositions with a view to learn the true intentions of France. To prevent further spoliations until measures could be adopted at home, they offered that one of their numbers should return for fresh instructions, pro

vided hostilities were in the meantime suspended. This was refused. To the claim of satisfaction, they answered that neither M. Bellamy nor the minister, could imagine that such a proposition could require an answer; to the demand of the bribe as an alternative, that they would not pay a sixpence.

About the 27th of October, news reached Paris of the signing of definitive articles of peace with the Emperor. The tone of the government towards the United States and other neutrals, became more decisive. The trial of prizes was ordered to be hastened, and to judge was to condemn. The Directory, said M. Hottinguer in a visit on that day, "were becoming impatient, and would take a decided course with regard to America, if the envoys could not soften them." The danger of war was intimated as the result of a refusal to comply with its wishes. At this time, Talleyrand, finding that his agents made no progress in the business, condescended to appear in person in the affair. M. Hauteval, the third of the triumvirate, had informed Mr. Gerry that the minister had expected to have seen the envoys frequently in their private capacities, and had authorized him to make the communication. It was agreed that Mr. Gerry, who had known him in America, should accordingly call upon him. On the 28th the interview took place; M. Talleyrand began the conference. He said that the Directory had passed an article, in which they demanded of the envoys explanations of some parts, and reparations for others of the speech; he was sensible that difficulties would exist on their part relative to the demand, but he thought that on their offering money, he could prevent the effect of the arrête.

Mr. Gerry replied to Talleyrand, that the uneasiness of the Directory, with respect to the speech, was a subject unconnected with their mission; that M. Barras, in his speech to Mr. Monroe, had expressed himself in a man

ner displeasing to the government and the citizens of the United States; that the President had made such observations upon it as were necessary to vindicate the honor of the United States; that this was not considered by the American government as a subject of dispute between the two nations; and that, having no instructions on the subject, they could make no explanations or reparations relating to it. He further stated, that their powers were adequate to the discussion and adjustment of all points of real difference between the two countries, to the amendment of the treaty, or the making a new one; that as to a loan, they had no powers; but if the other subjects could be discussed and adjusted, they could send one of their number home for instructions. As M. Talleyrand had expressed a desire to see the envoys individually, it was Mr. Gerry's wish that he should see his colleagues on the subject. To this Talleyrand, in answer said, “that he should be glad to confer with the other envoys individually; but that this matter about the money must be settled directly, without sending to America; that he would not communicate the arrête for a week; and that if they could adjust the difficulty respecting the speech, an application would nevertheless go to the United States for a loan.

The interview was here abruptly terminated by Talleyrand, who directed M. Hauteval to repeat to Mr. Gerry what he had said. Mr. Gerry then returned with that gentleman, and took down the particulars above stated, which he read to his colleagues in the presence of M. Hauteval, who confirmed it. The information was at once sent back to the minister, that the other envoys had nothing to add to this conference, and did not wish the arrête delayed on their account. It must here be noticed that M. Talleyrand repeated the same propositions which had before been made by the agents, distinguishing the "matter of the money, which must be settled directly,"