219.  More Trouble with France.—­France was now (1796-97) governed by five chiefs of the Revolution, who called themselves “the Directory.”  They were very angry when they heard of Jay’s Treaty (p. 168), for they had hoped that the Americans would make war on the British.  James Monroe was then American minister at Paris.  Instead of doing all he could to smooth over this difficulty, he urged on the wrath of the Directory.  Washington recalled Monroe, and sent in his stead General Charles Cotesworth Pinckney of South Carolina.  The Directory promptly refused to receive Pinckney, and ordered him to leave France.  News of this action of the Directory reached Philadelphia three days after Adams’s inauguration.

[Sidenote:  Adams’s message, 1797.]

[Sidenote:  A commission sent to France, 1797.]

[Sidenote:  The X.Y.Z.  Affair, 1797-98.]

220.  The X.Y.Z.  Affair, 1797-98.—­Adams at once summoned Congress and addressed the members in stirring words.  He denied that the Americans were a “degraded people, humiliated under a colonial sense of fear ... and regardless of national honor, character, and interest.”  It seemed best, however, to make one more effort to avoid war.  Adams therefore sent John Marshall, a Virginia Federalist, and Elbridge Gerry, a Massachusetts Republican, to France.  They were to join Pinckney and together were to negotiate with the French Directory.  When they reached Paris three men came to see them.  These men said that America (1) must apologize for the President’s vigorous words, (2) must lend money to France, and (3) must bribe the Directory and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.  These outrageous suggestions were emphatically put aside.  In sending the papers to Congress, the three men were called Mr. X., Mr. Y., and Mr. Z., so the incident is always known as the “X.Y.Z.  Affair.”

[Sidenote:  Excitement in America.]

221.  Indignation in America.—­Federalists and Republicans joined in indignation.  “Millions for defense, not one cent for tribute,” was the cry of the day.  French flags were everywhere torn down.  “Hail Columbia” was everywhere sung.  Adams declared that he would not send another minister to France until he was assured that the representative of the United States would be received as “the representative of a great, free, powerful, and independent state.”

[Sidenote:  Washington appointed Commander-in-chief.  Hamilton and Adams.]

[Sidenote:  The navy.]

[Sidenote:  Naval warfare, 1798-99. McMaster, 213-214.]

222.  War with France, 1797-98.—­The organization of a provisional army was now at once begun.  Washington accepted the chief command on condition that Hamilton should have the second place.  There were already a few vessels in the navy.  A Navy Department was now organized.  The building of more warships was begun, and merchant vessels were bought and converted into cruisers.  French privateers