Autograph letter signed : Philadelphia, to Charles Pinckney, John Marshall and Elbridge Gerry, 1798 Mar. 23.

Listing the receipt of dispatches from them and saying that they have been "laid before Congress and confirming that they felt "there existed no hope of your being officially received by that government or that the objects of your mission would be in any way accomplished;" continuing in cipher, trusting that they "closed their mission by demanding passports to leave the territory of the french republic;" continuing in English that "An official copy of your letters of credence having been delivered to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and by him laid before the Directory, they were sufficiently informed of the great objects of your mission; and considering that you were an extraordinary delegation from an independent nation, you had a right to expect a prompt and respectful reception. The fair and honorable views of the American Government, which dictated your appointment and your powers, entitled you to expect the early appointment of a commission by the French government, with equal powers, to negociate on all the matters in controversy between them." continuing in cipher, "had the french Government been influenced by similar views the object of your mission would long since have been accomplished to the advantage and peace of both nations but instead of coming forward on such equal and proper ground they have treated you and your court with extreme neglect. Under these circumstances the president presumes that you have long since quitted paris and the french dominions yet activated as you were with an ardent desire to preserve peace which you knew would be so grateful to your country and having for this object manifested unexampled patience and submitted to a series of mortifications as you also propose to make one more direct attempt subsequent to the date of your last letter to draw the french government to an open negotiation there is a bare possibility that this last effort may have succeeded the president therefore thinks it proper to direct;" directing them to remain and complete negotiations if they "are in treaty" when they receive the letter or if they are not in treaty when they receive the letter to demand their passports and return; lastly, in cipher, "in no event is a treaty to be purchased with money by loan or otherwise there can be no safety in a treaty so obtained;" concluding, in cipher, "It is proper to apprise you that motion has been made in the senate and will doubtless be repealed in the house of representatives to desire the president to lay before them your communications and he will probably be under the necessity of doing it only withholding the two names which you promised should in no event be made public."