Lot 4

John Adams Reveals Contents of the Secret Diplomatic Messages in the XYZ Affair

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John Adams Reveals Contents of the Secret Diplomatic Messages in the XYZ Affair

Estimate: $300 - $400

Current Bid: $120

(2 Bids)

by University Archives
July 28, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
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88 Danbury Road
Suite 2A
Wilton, CT, US 06897

John Adams
New Haven, CT, April 12, 1798
John Adams Reveals Contents of the Secret Diplomatic Messages in the XYZ Affair
Broadside

The April 12, 1798 edition of The Connecticut Journal. New Haven: Printed by Thomas and Samuel Green, opposite the Post-Office. 4pp, 10" x 16.25". Light to moderate dampstains, weak at spines with partial separations, light creases and expected marginal wear, overall paper still pliable and soft. Very good condition.

A superb issue documenting the furor in Federalist circles over the recently-disclosed XYZ Affair which precipitated the undeclared naval conflict with France known today as the "Quasi War." This issue concerns the Congressional demand, led by Albert Gallatin of Pennsylvania, to President John Adams to turn over decoded diplomatic messages revealing that the French foreign ministry had demanded bribes to "sweeten" negotiations – an offer that the American delegation led by Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, John Marshall, and Elbridge Gerry steadfastly refused. The Journal recites the Congressional floor debate from March 27 through April 3 when Adams, "In compliance with the request … transmit to both Houses the instructions to and dispatches from the Envoys Extraordinary of the United States to the French Republic."

That message was not transcribed for print, but the Journal gave a summation of the contents of the decoded message: "IMPORTANT. Philadelphia, April 6. CONFIDENTIAL MESSAGE. After considerable discussion, the senate yesterday determined to make public all the communications lately received by congress from the president of the United States, relative to our dispute with France… By ordering 500 copies of the dispatches to be printed, so that a few days will develope [sic] the secret, to be informed of which the public mind has for several days been very anxious. To gratify, in some degree, that anxiety, we give the following as being, but we have reason to believe, a tolerably correct outline as far as it goes; When the last dispatches left our ministers, they had not been, nor were they likely, to be acknowledged by the French Directory. They had, however, had some conferences with two persons, (whose names are omitted by the President) who informed them that they were commissioned by Talleyrand… to state to them upon what terms an advantageous treaty, might be made with the French Directory…" After describing the bribes required, "X and Y stated that these were the only conditioned upon which the American Ministers can expect a favorable reception from the directory…"

The bottom of the first page features an advertisement taken out by Jehial Bryan, Jr. of Milford, 26 March 1798: "RAN-away from the subscriber on or about the 20th day of February last past, a negro man, about 25 years old, large & stout built, with a scar or gash in one of his cheeks, he took with him a fiddle, which he poorly plays upon, he goes by the name of Si–…" Connecticut had enacted a gradual emancipation act in 1784, and by 1800 the enslaved population had dropped below 1,000 people. The 1820 census would count only 97.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 10" x 16.25
  • Medium: Broadside

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