[XYZ Affair]:

$500 · Offered by William Reese Company

THE WHOLE OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE ENVOYS OF THE AMERICAN STATES, AND MONS. TALLEYRAND...ON THE SUBJECT OF THE DISPUTES BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES; AND ALSO, THE PURPORT OF SOME PRIVATE ... An early London printing of these controversial diplomatic exchanges, which first appeared in President John Adams' MESSAGE... of April 3, 1798. The incident known as the XYZ affair had its origins in a French attempt to coerce a bribe from American envoys in order to engage in negotiations to improve relations between the two countries. The incident only served to sour Franco-American relations, leading to the so-called "Quasi War." These French machinations were of great interest to the English, who had been at war with France for several years, hence the present publication. Howes includes this edition, but not the more extensive version published as AUTHENTIC COPIES...., also in 1798.

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