The Secretary of the United States for the Department of foreign Affairs to whom was referred his Letter of 28th. December 1785 and ^enclosing^ Mr. Adams of 15th. 17th. 21st. 25th. & 27th. October last—1 Reports

That in his Opinion it should be

Resolved, That Congress approve of the Manner in which Mr. Adams appears from his several Letters to have executed the Duties of his Legation to the Court of Great Britain, and that they are greatly pleased with the Diligence, Attention and Intelligence he has manifested therein.—

Resolved, That ways and means should be seasonably devised for placing such further Funds in Europe as will probably be necessary as well for the Support of the public Servants there, as for supplying any Deficiency in the Sum appropriated for the Negociations with the Barbary Powers—Ordered That this Resolution be referred to the Treasury to report.—

From the Tenor and Complection of all Mr. Adams Letters it appears evident to your Secretary

1. That general and full Powers to regulate the Trade of the United States both Foreign and Domestic should be Vested in Congress.—

2. That the United States should be put in a very respectable Posture of Defence, by forming ample Magazines of military Stores, and by having a considerable part of the Militia always well prepared to take the Field.

3. That proper Measures should be devised to cause a punctual Compliance with and Payment of the Requisitions of Congress, and to prevent unconstitutional Dismemberments of any of the States which manifestly tending to weaken the Force and impair the Union by creating domestic Contention & affording Objects for foreign manoeuvres are highly impolitic.

4. That Mr. Jefferson should be directed to communicate to the Court of France the exact State of the United States with Great Britain relative to the Posts, to urge the Guarantee of France as a Reason for their friendly Interference, and to ascertain how far he United States may expect his Most Christian Majesty’s good Offices and Aid on that Subject.—2

5. That Pursuant to the 8th. Article in the Treaty with France it would be proper to request his most Christian Majesty’s good offices with the Barbary Powers to promote the present Negociations with them.—

Your Secretary is also induced to believe as well from Conversations with Mr. Gardoqui as from Mr. Carmichaels Letter, that Spain would if applied to very sincerely endeavour to exert her Influence with the Emperor of Morocco in favor of the United States, Wherefore he thinks that Application should be made to his Catholic Majesty for that purpose.—3

Your Secretary sees many good Consequences that might result from communicating Mr. Adams Letters to the Executives of the different States, and accompanying them with a Letter from Congress urging the Necessity of ordering all the general Concerns of the Union by a stable, well digested System, and to that End of delegating such Powers as may be adequate to the great Objects of duly regulating the Commerce, protecting the Union, and of drawing forth & directing its Resources both of Wealth and Power, as Exigencies may require. Your Secretary nevertheless has great Doubts of the Prudence of communicating Mr. Adams Letters, lest copies of them should return to England and place him there in a Situation neither agreeable to himself nor advantageous to the Public.—

Your Secretary has Reason to believe that too much of their Contents has already slipped out—He having been lately told by a person, who ought not to have had such Information, that Mr. Adams had written that the Situation of the British Debts was made an Objection to the Evacuation of our Posts. He is however of Opinion that a Letter from Congress cautiously stating the general State of our Affairs and strongly impressing the Necessity of Efficiency and Vigour in the fœderal Government would be very expedient.—

All which is submitted to the Wisdom of Congress.