Plan your visit. 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NY 10016.

Plan your visit. 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NY 10016.

Letter signed : London, to Messrs. Pinckney, Marshall and Gerry, 1798 Apr. 2.

BIB_ID
104801
Accession number
MA 157.66
Creator
King, Rufus, 1755-1827.
Display Date
1798 Apr. 2.
Credit line
Purchased by Pierpont Morgan, 1907.
Description
1 item (2 p.) ; 24.8 cm
Notes
Endorsed on verso.
Part of a collection of autograph letters signed of Elbridge Gerry and others relating to the French Commission and the XYZ Affair. Items in the collection have been described individually in separate catalog records; see collection-level record for more information.
Written in English and in cipher; summary of text from deciphered published letter cited below.
Provenance
Purchased by Pierpont Morgan from J.F. Sabin in 1907.
Summary
Writing in cipher; informing them that South America is on the verge of Revolution; discussing the involvement of England and France and the implications for South America; adding that if French control is established in South America the United States will be at great risk, but if an independent South America is built on "wise principles" it will greatly benefit the United States and the balance of power among nations; advising them this communication is strictly confidential; adding a postscript, In English, telling them that their letter No. 6 has been sent by ship and No. 7 is still with him and will go in a day or two.