9196. X. Y. Z. PLOT, Astonishment over.—
The public mind appears still in a
state of astonishment. There never was a moment
in which the aid of an able pen was so
important to place things in their just attitude.
On this depend the inchoate movement in the
eastern mind, and the fate of the elections in
that quarter. * * * I would not propose to
you such a task on any ordinary occasion. But
be assured that a well-digested analysis of
these papers would now decide the future turn
of things, which are at this moment on the
creen.—
To James Madison. Washington ed. iv, 234.
Ford ed., vii, 237.
(Pa.,
April. 1798)
