About twelve we received another visit from M. X. He
immediately mentioned the great event announced in the
papers, and then said, that some proposals from us had been
expected on the subject on which we had before conversed:
that the Directory were becoming impatient, and would take
a decided course with regard to America, if we could not
soften them. We answered, that on that subject we had
already spoken explicitly, and had nothing further to add.
He mentioned the change in the state of things which had
been produced by the peace with the Emperor, as warranting
an expectation of a change in our system; to which we only
replied, that this event had been expected by us, and would
not, in any degree, affect our conduct. M. X. urged, that
the Directory had, since this peace, taken a higher and
more decided tone with respect to us, and all other neutral
nations, than had been before taken; that it had been
determined, that all nations should aid them, or be
considered and treated as their enemies. We answered, that
such an effect had already been contemplated by us, as
probable, and had not been overlooked when we gave to this
proposition our decided answer; and further, that we had no
powers to negotiate for a loan of money; that our
Government had not contemplated such a circumstance in any
degree whatever; that if we should stipulate a loan, it
would be a perfectly void thing, and would only deceive
France, and expose ourselves. M. X. again expatiated on the
power and violence of France; he urged the danger of our
situation, and pressed the policy of softening them, and of
thereby obtaining time. M. X. again returned to the subject
of money. Said he, you do not speak to the point; it is
money: it is expected that you will offer money. We said
that we had spoken to that point very explicitly: we had
given an answer. No, said he, you have not: what is your
answer? We replied, it is no; no; not a sixpence. He again
called our attention to the dangers which threatened our
country, and asked, if it would not be prudent, though we
might not make a loan to the nation, to interest an
influential friend in our favor. He said we ought to
consider what men we had to treat with; that they
disregarded the justice of our claims, and the reasoning
with which we might support them; that they disregarded
their own colonies, and considered themselves as perfectly
invulnerable with respect to us; that we could only acquire
an interest among them by a judicious application of money,
and it was for us to consider, whether the situation of our
country did not require that these means should be resorted
to.
He said that all the members of the Directory were not
disposed to receive our money; that Merlin, for instance,
was paid from another quarter, and would touch no part of
the douceur which was to come from us. We replied, that we
had understood that Merlin was paid by the owners of the
privateers; and he nodded an assent to the fact. He
proceeded to press this subject with vast perseverance. He
told us that we had paid money to obtain peace with the
Algerines and with the Indians; and that it was doing no
more to pay France for peace. To this it was answered, that
when our Government commenced a treaty with either Algiers
or the Indian tribes, it was understood that money was to
form the basis of the treaty, and was its essential
article; that the whole nation knew it, and was prepared to
expect it as a thing of course; but that in treating with
France, our Government had supposed that a proposition,
such as he spoke of, would, if made by us, give mortal
offence. He asked if our Government did not know that
nothing was to be obtained here without money? We replied,
that our Government had not even suspected such a state of
things. He appeared surprised at it, and said, that there
was not an American in Paris who could not have given that
information. The conversation continued for nearly two
hours; and the public and private advance of money was
pressed and re-pressed in a variety of forms. At length M.
X. said that he did not blame us; that our determination
was certainly proper, if we could keep it; but he showed
decidedly his opinion to be that we could not keep it. He
said that he would communicate, as nearly as he could, our
conversation to the Minister, or to M. Y. to be given by
him to the Minister; we are not certain which. We then
separated. On the 22d of October, M. Z., a French gentleman
of respectable character, informed Mr. Gerry, that M.
Talleyrand, Minister of Foreign Relations, who professed to
be well-disposed towards the United States, had expected to
have seen the American Ministers frequently in their
private capacities; and to have conferred with them
individually on the object of their mission; and had
authorized M. Z. to make this communication to Mr. Gerry.
The latter sent for his colleagues; and a conference was
held with M. Z. on the subject; in which General Pinckney
and General Marshall expressed their opinions, that, not
being acquainted with M. Talleyrand, they could not, with
propriety, call on him; but that, according to the custom
of France, he might expect this of Mr. Gerry, from a
previous acquaintance in America. This Mr. Gerry
reluctantly complied with on the 23d, and with M. Z. called
on M. Talleyrand, who, not being then at his office,
appointed the 28th for the interview. After the first
introduction, M. Talleyrand began the conference. He said
that the Directory had passed an arrêt, which he offered
for perusal, in which they had demanded of the Envoys an
explanation of some part, and a reparation for others, of
the President's speech to Congress, of the 16th of May: he
was sensible, he said, that difficulties would exist on the
part of the Envoys relative to this demand; but that by
their offering money, he thought he could prevent the
effect of the arrêt. M. Z., at the request of Mr. Gerry,
having stated that the Envoys have no such powers, M.
Talleyrand replied, they can, in such a case, take a power
on themselves; and proposed that they should make a loan. A
courier arriving at this moment from Italy, and M.
Talleyrand appearing impatient to read the letters, Mr.
Gerry took leave of him immediately. He followed to the
door, and desired M. Z. to repeat to Mr. Gerry what he, M.
Talleyrand, had said to him. Mr. Gerry then returned to his
quarters with M. Z., took down the particulars of this
interview, as before stated, sent for Gens. Pinckney and
Marshall, and read it to them in the presence of M. Z., who
confirmed it. Generals Pinckney and Marshall then desired
M. Z. to inform M. Talleyrand that they had nothing to add
to this conference, and did not wish that the arrêt might
be delayed on their account.