James Madison to Congress, 1 January 1807
To Congress
Department of State January 1st. 1807
In pursuance of the Act of Congress entitled “An act to regulate and fix the compensation of Clerks” &c,1 the Secretary of State has the honor to report to Congress, the annexed list of the persons employed in his office, and to state th⟨a⟩t th⟨e⟩ Business of the Department generally is in a state of progressive increase; that particularly the business, relating to patents issued for useful arts, has increased at the rate of doubling in four years, and that patents for lands, and the business attending the impressment of American Seamen have also much increased. It is his opinion therefore, that the public service would be promoted by a provision at least sufficient for the employment of an additional Clerk. All which is respectfully submitted
James Madison
[Enclosure]
List of the names and compensation of the persons employed in the Department of State in the year 1806, viz
| Mr. Wagner | Dollars 2,000 |
The Chief Clerk distributes the business among the others and superintends its execution under the direction of the Secretary. His active duties are diversified according to the nature and pressure of the general business of the Department, and among them may be particularized his assistance in its correspondence upon minor subjects.
| Mr Brent | 1,000 |
In conjunction with Mr Smith he attends to the business of impressed seamen, and assists in collating the laws preparatory to their publication which he superintends.
| Mr Thom | 881 |
Makes out and records Virginia military land patents, pays the awards under the 7th Article of the British Treaty, so far as they are payable in the Department, and keeps the contingent accounts of the Department.
| Mr Pleasonton | 906 |
Makes out and records Patents for military bounty lands; for Lands in John Cleves Simme’s tract; Exequaturs for Consuls; all Civil Commissions, and Commissions for Militia officers within the District of Columbia; records the correspondence with our Ministers in foreign Countries, and transmits the laws to the printers for promulgation.
| Mr Smith | 800 |
Records all the correspondence except that with the Ministers abroad, and in conjunction with Mr Brent attends to the business relative to impressed seamen, and to collating the laws previous to their publication.
| Mr Forrest | 800 |
Makes out and records patents for lands sold under the direction of the Registers; and also passports for citizens going abroad. His knowledge of the French language, which he speaks, is found an useful quality.
| Mr J. Gardner for occasional service in filling up and recording land patents. | 25. |
Among other business too various to be detailed, there is a considerable quantity of copying, particularly of correspondence with our Ministers and Agents abroad, frequently including voluminous documents. This is performed by the gentlemen of the office, according to the state of their other engagements, without its being the stationary business of any.
Patents and Copy rights.
For services rendered by Dr. Thornton, in superintending and issuing patents for useful inventions and discoveries, in securing copy rights &c. &c, a compensation has been allowed to him of
| Dollars 1,400 |
RC (DNA: RG 46, Reports and Communications from the Secretary of State, 9A-F1); RC (DNA: RG 233, Reports and Communications from the Secretary of State, 6A-E1); letterbook copy (DNA: RG 59, DL, vol. 15); Tr (DNA: RG 233, Transcribed Reports and Communications from the Secretary of State, 5C-B1, 3:441–42). Both RCs in Pleasonton’s hand, signed by JM.
1. “An Act to regulate and fix the compensation of clerks, and to authorize the laying out certain public roads; and for other purposes” (, 2:396–97).