The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution Volume XI Part 35

Resolved, That Mr Carmichael be appointed Secretary to the Emba.s.sy from the United States to the Court of Versailles, with a salary of four thousand dollars per annum.

Resolved, That Mr Jay be empowered to appoint a private secretary, with a salary of one thousand dollars per annum.

Resolved, That Mr Laurens, when he enters upon his mission to the United Provinces of the Low Countries, be empowered to appoint a Secretary with a salary of one thousand dollars per annum.

Resolved, That the Commissioners for negotiating a peace, in case Mr Dana shall not return, appoint a Secretary to the Commission, with a salary of one thousand dollars per annum.

Resolved, That the commission of Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States of America to the Court of Petersburg be revoked, and that a commission issue to Francis Dana, const.i.tuting him Resident at the said Court.

Resolved, That when he shall have been received in that character, he be empowered to appoint a private secretary, with a salary of eight hundred dollars per annum, who shall remain in office till Congress think it proper to make another appointment.

Resolved, That the appointment of no Secretary to any of the Northern Courts in future, shall exceed a thousand dollars per annum, and that the appointments of a Secretary to the Emba.s.sy in France, Spain and Holland, shall in future be twelve hundred dollars, excepting such Secretaries have been heretofore appointed.

Resolved, That the salary of a Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States, from the 1st day of January next, shall not exceed five thousand dollars, or that of a Resident three thousand, but that an allowance be made for household expenses, at and after the following manner;

To the Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of Versailles,

To the Minister in Spain,

To the Resident in the United Provinces, (a Minister being unnecessary,)

To the Resident at the Court of Petersburg, and each of the other Northern Courts.

CHARLES THOMSON TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

May 9th, 1782.

Sir,

The United States in Congress a.s.sembled, having appointed Monday, the 13th instant, at twelve o'clock, for giving a public audience to the Minister of France, and having resolved, that a place be a.s.signed to the princ.i.p.als in the three Executive Departments under Congress,

I have the honor to inform you, that the place a.s.signed to those gentlemen, is within the bar to the right, and next to the members of Congress on the left of the chair.

The United States in Congress a.s.sembled have further resolved, That the a.s.sistants and princ.i.p.al secretaries in each of the departments, be admitted without the bar of the house. The Messenger of Congress has orders to furnish you with tickets for such of the gentlemen in your department, as come within the above description.

I have the honor to be, &c.

CHARLES THOMSON, _Secretary_.

TO THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF, AND MAJOR GENERAL GREENE.

Philadelphia, May 13th, 1782.

Sir,

I have the honor to inform you, that the Minister Plenipotentiary of France this day announced to the United States in Congress a.s.sembled, at a public audience, the birth of a Dauphin, and that Congress received this annunciation of an event, in which the happiness of their ally was so deeply engaged, with the most lively marks of satisfaction. It is their wish, that your Excellency, and the troops under your command should partake in this pleasure. I have their orders to inform you of this event, to the end, that you may cause the same to be published in the army, until such demonstrations of joy as you shall direct.[24]

I have the honor to be, &c.

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

FOOTNOTES:

[24] The same intelligence was communicated in the same formal way to the Governors of the States.

TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Philadelphia, May 13th, 1782.

Sir,

The late change in the measures and in the administration of Great Britain, and the arts that are daily practised to infuse a belief in Europe, that the most perfect harmony does not subsist between the United States and their ally, induce me to wish that Congress would embrace the opportunity, which this day's audience affords, to declare their attachment to the alliance in such terms, as will serve fully to defeat every expectation of sowing the seeds of division between the United States and France.

For which purpose I humbly submit the following addition to the answer proposed to be given to the address of the Ministry Plenipotentiary of France.

I have the honor to be, with the greatest respect,

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

Office of Foreign Affairs, May 13th, 1782.

The following addition to the answer to the address proposed to be made by the Minister of France, is humbly submitted to the approbation of Congress, by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs.

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

"A union, the mutual advantages of which become daily more conspicuous, and which has derived new l.u.s.tre and additional force from every effort of the common enemy to dissolve it; Congress do not enlarge upon the subject, but satisfy themselves with the representations, which your own observations will enable, and your regard to the interests of both countries will induce you to make of the affectionate attachment, which every rank of people within these United States manifest to your Sovereign, and of their inviolable fidelity to the principles of the alliance."

TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Philadelphia, May 15th, 1782.

Sir,

In order to have the sense of Congress upon Mr Jay's request, contained in his letter of the 6th of February last, I do myself the honor to submit the enclosed resolve; for though I do not see any advantage, which would at present result from his leaving Madrid, yet as cases may arise, which would render it proper, it may safely be left to his discretion.

I have the honor to be, &c.