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Cannot settle or pay the accounts of American Consuls until the Congress of the United States acts on the matter; the three have agreed to transcend their powers to a limited extent in order to liberate distressed American seamen and return them to the United States.

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Presents his compliments to Marshall; called at his lodgings twice this morning, but John Marshall was not in; regrets that he will not be able to dine with him due to a previous engagement. Original is located in the Collection of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, on deposit at Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, Virginia.

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Arrived in Richmond a week ago but hasn't been able to attend to his business because of his many callers and because of the heat; he enjoys the company of his three year old daughter, Mary; discusses the health of his son, John, who is cutting teeth.

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Discusses Gerry's letter of 20 October 1798 to President John Adams, in which Gerry makes several misstatements about his part in the XYZ Affair, which Marshall now refutes point by point; "I must hope sir that you will think justly on this subject & will thereby save us both the pain of an altercation..."

Scope and Contents The captain of a British frigate of Admiral Duncan's fleet at the mouth of the Texel boarded their ship on August 29 but treated them extremely politely upon learning that a US minister was on board; observed the Dutch fleet in the Texel ready to move on the British if negotiations at Lille failed; describes the internal politics of the French government: the Directory presses for war while the Council of Five Hundred desires peace, fearing the politicization of the French army; Lord...

Scope and Contents Arrived at the Hague and met with General Charles C. Pinckney on September 3; has just heard from an express from the Dutch minister at Paris to the Committee of Foreign Affairs about the Directory with the aid of the army moving against royalist and right wing opponents in the Directory, the Council of Five Hundred and the Council of Elders; discusses the impact which this coup d'etat of 18 Fructidor should have upon foreign policy; the French government is now in the hands of those...

Scope and Contents Reached the Hague on August 3 and is very much pleased with General Charles C. Pinckney; had intended to set out for Paris immediately, but Pinckney received news from Elbridge Gerry on August 5 that he will arrive at the end of August; is perplexed and mortified at the delay; describes the Hague and its social life; mentions lack of companions for Pinckney's wife and daughter; has enjoyed the theatre even though he does not understand the language, and applauds the performances of Madame...

Scope and Contents The reports on the revolution in Paris have been confirmed; discusses violations of the French constitution, under the hand of the army, the very essence of a republic is destroyed, but "French liberty may survive the shock it has sustained;" "All power is now in the undivided possession of those who have directed against us those hostile measures of which we so justly complain;" will set out for Paris on Monday with or without Elbridge Gerry; contrary to previous reports, negotiations still...

Scope and Contents Includes a copy of the letter which the three submitted to the French minister of foreign affairs after waiting to be received for a month; they have yet to receive an answer to this November 11 letter, and the condemnation of American vessels continues; the following is written in a numeric cipher which is decoded in superscript: "Frequent and urgent attempts have been made to inveigle us again into negociation [sic] with persons not officially authorized, of which the obtaining of money is...

Scope and Contents Has enclosed an issue of the Conservateur, a Paris paper, as an example of the abuse of the U.S. by the French press; discusses the arrests of innocent American citizens in Paris, including the cases of Jesse Putnam, James V. Murray and his brother George W. Murray; discusses the situation of American merchant marines who, being forced ashore after their vessels were captured, have no choice but to become French privateers; "France resounds with the proposd [sic] invasion of England," but...

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Has received no letters from her nor from his friends in the U.S.; will not be home until May and hopes that the Randolph's Executors case can be postponed until then; mentions amusements and dissipations of Paris; describes his new living arrangements with Madame de Villette.