tion of a committee. The second resolution is to take away the necessity of making it greater than our circunstances will allow. The merits of the other gentlemen mentioned by Mr Adams, together with his recommendation, might justly perhaps induce Congress to show them some marks of their attention, if the situation of their finances would permit, but as neither of those gentlemen are in the service of Congress, it is to be presumed that they will not choose to take any public notice of that part of his letter, till they are in circumstances to satisfy the just claims of those who have demands upon them. I have the honor to be, &c. ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON. TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. Office of Foreign Affairs, September 12th, 1782. Sir, Having carefully examined Mr Laurens's letter,* I believe Congress will think with me, that the subjects of it are such as I can in no other way report on, by recommending it to be submitted to a special committee. than The two great points are his resignation and exchange. The first of these Congress only are competent to decide upon; and the last, not relating in any way to my Department, is intimately connected with a subject already under the consideration of a commit # * See this letter in Henry Laurens's Correspondence, Vol. II. p. tar. This may perhaps be concluded as an indication. of their hope of success in the attempt to reduce it. I have the honor to be, &c. ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON. Sir, TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. Philadelphia, September 12th, 1782. I have the honor to enclose two reports upon Mr Adams's letters. I would propose in addition to the first to direct the substance of Mr Adams's letter of the 23d of April, containing his note, and the appointment of a committee, to be printed as articles of intelligence, not under the express direction of Congress, since the business is not concluded. With respect to the second report, I am led to make it by 'Mr Adams's recommendation, and by my sense of the zeal and diligence, which M. Dumas has so long testified in the cause of America, when it was very far from being a popular one in Ind. Though I must confess I feel some reluctance ing any but an American in the line, which serve as a school for future Ministers. But t has peculiar circumstances by which it must mined. The commission of Chargé d'Affaires conceive too important and too confident placed in any hands, but those of a citi United States. There are other reasons, suggest themselves which it is unnecess tion of a committee. The second resolution is to take away the necessity of making it greater than our circumstances will allow. The merits of the other gentlemen mentioned by Mr Adams, together with his recommendation, might justly perhaps induce Congress to show them some marks of their attention, if the situation of their finsu ces would permit, but as neither of those gentlemen are in the service of Congress, it is to be presumed that they will not choose to take any public notice of that part of his letter, till they are in circumstances to satisfy the just claims of those who have demands upon them. tar. This may perhaps be concluded as an indication of their hope of success in the attempt to reduce it. I have the honor to be, &c. ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON. Sir, TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. Philadelphia, September 12th, 1782. I have the honor to enclose two reports upon Mr Adams's letters. I would propose in addition to the first to direct the substance of Mr Adams's letter of the 23d of April, containing his note, and the appointment of a committee, to be printed as articles of intelligence, not under the express direction of Congress, since the business is not concluded. With respect to the second report, I am led to make it by 'Mr Adams's recommendation, and by my sense of the zeal and diligence, which M. Dumas has so long testified in the cause of America, when it was very far from being a popular one in Holland. Though I must confess I feel some reluctance in seeing any but an American in the line, which ought to serve as a school for future Ministers. But this case has peculiar circumstances by which it must be determined. The commission of Chargé d'Affaires I should conceive too important and too confidential to be placed in any hands, but those of a citizen of the United States. There are other reasons, which will suggest themselves to Congress, against this measure, which it is unnecessary to mention. The salary I tion of a committee. The second resolution is to take away the necessity of making it greater than our circumstances will allow. The merits of the other gentlemen mentioned by Mr Adams, together with his recommendation, might justly perhaps induce Congress to show them some marks of their attention, if the situation of their finances would permit, but as neither of those gentlemen are in the service of Congress, it is to be presumed that they will not choose to take any public notice of that part of his letter, till they are in circumstances to satisfy the just claims of those who have demands upon them. I have the honor to be, &c. ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON. Sir, TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. Office of Foreign Affairs, September 12th, 1782. Having carefully examined Mr Laurens's letter,* I believe Congress will think with me, that the subjects of it are such as I can in no other way report on, than by recommending it to be submitted to a special committee. The two great points are his resignation and exchange. The first of these Congress only are competent to decide upon; and the last, not relating in any way to my Department, is intimately connected with a subject already under the consideration of a commit * See this letter in Henry Laurens's Correspondence, Vol. II. p. |