From James Madison to Uriah Tracy, 26 March 1806
To Uriah Tracy
Department of State, March 26th. 1806.
Sir.
In answer to your letter of the 24th. inst.1 I have the honor to state that the deficiency of Clerk hire for the last year was occasioned by the employment of a gentleman to arrange some of the old diplomatic correspondence in French, and his services have been continued on account of a particular pressure of business attending the Session of Congress. It must be added that the encreasing number of patents for lands, and the multiplication of territorial governments, which necessarily encrease the quantity of business in this Department, appear to require at least an additional Clerk, for the year.2 The statement of the expenditure of the contingent fund of this Dept. in the last year is enclosed, according to your request. I am &c.
James Madison.
Letterbook copy (DNA: RG 59, DL, vol. 15).
1. Letter not found.
2. On 21 Apr. 1806 Congress passed the “Act to regulate and fix the compensation of clerks, and to authorize the laying out certain public roads; and for other purposes” that allowed $7,150 in total for the compensation of clerks in the State Department. On 1 Jan. 1807 JM wrote the House of Representatives stating that the work done by the department had increased enormously, especially that dealing with patents for the useful arts, land patents, and impressed sailors, and repeated his judgment “that the public service would be promoted by a provision at least sufficient for the employment of an additional Clerk” (, 2:396; DNA: RG 59, DL, vol. 15; 1 p.).