commerce. Three envoys extraordinary Pinckney, Marshall and Gerry were sent to try to settle our differences with that nation. Their instructions were: "Peace and reconciliation to be pursued by all means compatible with the honor and the faith of the United States, but no national engage ments to be impaired." Copies of the papers transmitted to the state department lie before me in Chief-Justice Marshall's clear, plain handwriting, that handwriting that was so indicative of the character of the man. They had several interviews with Talleyrand, the French minister of foreign affairs, but in vain " the prince of Diplo mats" brought all his powers to bear upon them. The following story gives a good idea of the character of the man they had to deal with. The incident occurred during a visit of Talleyrand to the old Prince de Conde, who, though he still retained his natural urbanity and politeness, had in a great measure lost his memory. Me ad dressed Mr. Talleyrand several times by a title that did not belong to him, and his valet endeavored to set him right by whispering to him the real name of his visitor. The old prince flying into a passion demanded of his servant how he dared to mention to him the name of such a scoundrel, and turning to Tallyrand himself, asked him if he knew the rascal. " My lord," replied the arch hypocrite, " it has been two years since I knew the person of whom you speak." The following is the final letter sent by the envoys to the 'secretary of state : Par1s, November 27, 1797.
Frequent and urgent attempts have been made to inveigle us again into negotiations with persons not officially authorized, of which the obtaining of money is the basis; but we have persisted in declining to have any further com munication relative to diplomatic business with persons of that description, and we mean to ad here to this determination. We are sorry to in
form you that the present disposition of the government of this country appears to be as un friendly towards ours as ever, and that we have very little prospect of succeeding in our mission. We are all of the opinion that if we were to re main here six months longer, without we were to stipulate the payment of money, and a great deal of it, in some shape or other, we should not be able to effectuate the object of our mission, should we be even officially received, unless the pro jected attempt on England was to fail, or a total change take place in the persons who at pres ent direet the affairs of this government. We have the honor to be your most obedient servants, Charles Cotesworth P1nxkney, J. Marshall, E. Gerry. To T1mothy P1cker1ng, Esq., Seeretary of Slate.
Mr. Pickering continued secretary of state until the diff1culties with France, growing out of the X. V. Z. papers, had reached a crisis and had led to a serious disagreement between Mr. Adams and his cabinet, when Colonel Pickering was dismissed from office. He was very poor, and some citizens of Bos ton, who admired him, subscribed $25,000, paid his debts, and bought him a farm in Massachusetts. He married, April 8, 1776, Rebecca White, who was born in Bristol, England, and their married life was very happy. When Mr. Adams removed Colonel Pickering, he appointed John Marshall to the position. It was in 1800, and he was forty-five years old. He was born Septem ber 24, 1755, at Germantown, Fauquier county, Virginia. The place is now called Midland and is on the Virginia and Midland railroad. He came of a long line of dis tinguished men, among whom were many soldiers. His ancestral tree goes back to William le Mareschal, a commander in the army of William the Conqueror, whose share of the conquered lands the Domes day Book shows were on the Welsh border, now Pembrokeshire, England. Other an cestors were John Marshall, the leader of
