In consequence of intimations from the court of Russia to our minister plenipotentiary, at the court of Great Britain, of the desire of that power to have a treaty of amity and commerce with the United States, and that the negociation might be conducted in London.

I nominate Rufus King, our minister plenipotentiary at the court of Great Britain, to be a minister plenipotentiary, for the special purpose of negotiating with any minister of equal rank and powers, a treaty of amity and commerce, between the United States and the emperor of all the Russias.