From George Washington to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, 28 May 1796
To the United States Senate and House of Representatives
United States 28th May 1796
Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives.
The extraordinary expenses, to be incurred in the present year in supporting our foreign intercourse, I find will require a provision beyond the ordinary appropriation, and the additional twenty thousand dollars lately granted.1
I have directed an estimate to be made, which is sent herewith, and will exhibit the deficiency, for which an appropriation appears to be necessary.2
Go: Washington
LS, DNA: RG 46, entry 47; copy, DNA: RG 59, entry 142; copy, DNA: RG 233, entry 28; copy, DLC:GW.
1. The ordinary appropriation was $40,000. For the additional $20,000, see section 2 of “An Act making further provision for the expenses attending the intercourse of the United States with foreign nations; and to continue in force the act, intituled ‘An act providing the means of intercourse between the United States and foreign nations,’” delivered to GW on this date and approved on 30 May ( 487–88; see also 8:455, 510; and 8:289–90).
2. The enclosed “Estimate of the sums necessary for defraying the expenses of foreign intercourse, for the year 1796,” signed by Secretary of State Timothy Pickering, estimated $36,000 for ministers plenipotentiary at Paris, London, Madrid, and Lisbon; $18,000 for outfits at the latter three cities; $5,400 for four secretaries; $5,600 for salaries of ministers returning home; $3,000 for contingent expenses of ministers; and $20,000 “Probable expenses of obtaining papers and prosecuting the claims of our citizens for spoliations on their Commerce.” Given the $60,000 appropriation and a deduction of $4,500 for the half-year difference between the salaries of two ministers plenipotentiary and two ministers resident, there remained a deficit of $23,500 (DNA: RG 46, entry 47).
To defray “the extraordinary expenses … for foreign intercourse,” section 3 of “An Act making further appropriations for the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six,” approved on 1 June, appropriated “a sum not exceeding” $23,500 (
493).