1. By a resolution of Congress of April 18, 1794, the one-month embargo of March 20, 1794, had been extended to May 25, 1794 (1 Stat. description begins The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America (Boston, 1845). description ends 401).

2. Section 1 of “An Act making further provision for the expenses attending the intercourse of the United States with foreign nations; and further to continue in force the act intituled, ‘An act providing the means of intercourse between the United States and foreign nations’” authorized the President to defray diplomatic expenses to the amount of one million dollars in Treasury funds or from the proceeds of loans (1 Stat. description begins The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America (Boston, 1845). description ends 345 [March 20, 1794]). This sum was intended for the negotiation of a settlement with the Barbary powers.

For information concerning the problems of the United States with the Barbary powers, see Willink, Van Staphorst, and Hubbard to H, November 18, 1793, note 2; Thomas Jefferson to H, December 12, 1793. On December 17, 1793, a letter from the President concerning relations with the Barbary powers, enclosing a report and supporting documents from Thomas Jefferson on past negotiations, was presented to the House of Representatives (Annals of Congress description begins The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States; with an Appendix, Containing Important State Papers and Public Documents, and All the Laws of a Public Nature (Washington, 1834–1849). description ends , IV, 143). These documents are printed in ASP description begins American State Papers, Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States (Washington, 1832–1861). description ends , Foreign Relations, I, 288–300. On January 2, 1794, after considerable debate, the House “proceeded to consider the resolutions reported yesterday from the Committee of the Whole House on the confidential communications from the President, respecting the measures which have been pursued for obtaining a recognition of the Treaty between the United States and Morocco, and for the ransom of prisoners, and establishment of peace with the Algerines. Whereupon, the first and second of the said resolutions being severally twice read, were, on the question put thereupon, agreed to by the House, as follows:

“Resolved, That a sum not exceeding —— dollars, be appropriated, in addition to the provision heretofore made, to defray any expense which may be incurred in relation to the intercourse between the United States and foreign nations.

“Resolved, That a naval force, adequate to the protection of the commerce of the United States against the Algerine corsairs, ought to be provided.” (Annals of Congress description begins The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States; with an Appendix, Containing Important State Papers and Public Documents, and All the Laws of a Public Nature (Washington, 1834–1849). description ends , IV, 154.)

On March 3 the House appointed a committee to prepare a bill for the necessary appropriation. The committee presented the bill on March 5, and the House passed it on March 11 (Annals of Congress description begins The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States; with an Appendix, Containing Important State Papers and Public Documents, and All the Laws of a Public Nature (Washington, 1834–1849). description ends , IV, 475, 481, 499). See also Henry Knox to H, April 21, 1794, note 1.