XK VY Z Mission

In October, 1797, Marshall, Pinckney and Gerry were dispatched to France to treat with Talleyrand and endeavor to restore harmony and a good understanding, and commercial and friendly intercourse between the two republics. They had great difficulty in obtaining an interview with Talleyrand, being met instead by the latter’s special agents, Hottinguer, Bellamy and Hauteval. In dispatches. to the home Government the United States Commi ioners designated these agents respectively as ‘X,"? ‘‘Y" and ‘‘Z,” and hence the name. The special agents suggested that the Americans propose to Talleyrand the loan of a large sum of money by the United States, or that the latter Government accept the a ignment from France of an extorted Dutch loan, and that one of the envoys return to America to arrange matters. The commi ion indignantly refused these proposals, and broke up in 1798, having accomplished nothing definite. The envoys’ report of their negotiations aroused inteuse feeling against France in the United States. Y.