It appears to me important both to Congress and their officers, that the Duties & Rights of the latter, be ascertained with Precision. Until that be done, the greatest Circumspection cannot preserve their Conduct from Error, nor their Feelings from being sometimes unintentionally hurt.— I have some Reason Sir! to apprehend, that I have come into the office of Secretary for foreign Affairs,...
I have received from the Chargé des Affaires of France a Letter dated the 28 th . Instant, which I herewith enclose.— He called upon me and spoke on a variety of Subjects. It appeared to me prudent to request the favor of him to reduce his Communications to writing, in a summary way. He did so, but prefered doing it in an unformal manner, and therefore did not sign it.— I think it my duty to...
On Friday last M r . DeMarbois called upon me to enquire whether Congress had as yet directed any Answers to be given to his Memorials under their Consideration. In the course of Conversation he mentioned the Affair of Longchamps and informed me that his Court would not persist in their Demand of him. He proposed that the Paper containing that Demand together with those that accompanied it...
Having well considered the Nature of the proposed Negociation with the Encargodo de negocios of his Catholic Majesty, and of the Commission and Instructions which Congress has been pleased to give me on that Subject; it appears to me proper to submit the following Remarks to their Consideration.— The Commission in my Opinion is well drawn. The Instruction which restrains me from agreeing to...
The English Packet which arrived the Day before Yesterday, brought me no Letters from M r . Adams, which I impute to its being a Mode of Conveyance to which nothing very important can prudently be trusted.— Some private Intelligence by that Vessel, leads me to consider the Surrender of our Posts as being more problematical, than it has lately appeared to be.— I hear that the Circumstance of...
I have the Honor of transmitting to your Excellency herewith enclosed, a Memorial and Petition of Pierre du Calvet of Montreal and a Letter of 14 th . June last from D r . Franklin recommending him to me.— He presented to me the Account mentioned in it and the Vouchers he has to authenticate it—But as both the one and the other must be referred to the proper Department to report, I advised him...