The Secretary of the United States for the Department of foreign Affairs, to whom was referred two Letters from the Honorable Mr. Adams of the 24th. & 27th. January last—

Reports.1—

The first of these Letters gives Occasion to several Questions.

Shall Mr. Adams return after the Expiration of his commission to the Court of London, vizt. 24th. Feby. 1788?

Your Secretary is persuaded that Mr. Adams really wishes and means to return next Spring, and therefore thinks it would be proper for Congress to Resolve, that the Hon’ble John Adams Esqr., the Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States at the Court of London, be permitted (agreeably to his Request) to return to America at any Time after the 24th. February in the Year of our Lord 1788; and that his Commission of Minister Plenipotentiary to their High Mightinesses do also then determine.—

Resolved, that Congress entertain a high Sense of the Services which Mr. Adams has rendered to the United States in the Execution of the various important Trusts which they have from time to time committed to him, and that the Thanks of Congress be presented to him for the Patriotism, Perseverance, Integrity and Diligence with which he ably and faithfully served his Country

The Second Question arising from this Letter is, whether it will be expedient for the United States to appoint another Minister to take the place of Mr. Adams at the Court of London?—

On this Head your Secretary is of Opinion that it will be expedient to appoint another, because there do exist Differences between the United States and the Court of London which cannot too soon be adjusted, which must become the Subject of occasional Explanations and Negociations, and which on the part of the United States cannot be so well managed and conducted, as by means of an intelligent and discreet Minister on the Spot. Your Secretary’s Feelings strongly prompt him to retaliate the Neglect of Britain in not sending a Minster here; but as he conceives that such Retaliation would eventually produce more Inconveniences than Advantages, he thinks it had better be omitted; especially as he is persuaded that this Neglect will cease the Moment that the American Government and the Administration of it shall be such as to impress other Nations with a Degree of Respect, which various Circumstances deny to Congress the means of imposing at present. He thinks it should be the Policy of the United States at present to keep all Things as smooth and easy, and ^to^ expose themselves to as few Embarrassments as possible, until their Affairs shall be in such a Posture as to justify and support a more nervous Stile of Conduct and Language.—

Britain disputes the Eastern Boundary of the United States, she holds important Posts and Territories on the Frontiers, and she complains that the Treaty of Peace has been violated by America. These Affairs are important, and the Management of them requires Prudence and Temper, especially considering how little the actual State of our national Affairs tends to repress the Influence, either of unfriendly Dispositions and Passions, or of that kind of Policy which the Weakness of Neighbours is very apt to suggest and promote. If Congress should concur in the Opinion that a Minister to succeed Mr. Adams should be appointed, a Resolution like the following would perhaps be the most proper.—

Whereas divers important Affairs still remain to be arranged and adjusted between his britannic Majesty and the United States, which on their part cannot be so well conducted as by means of a Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of London.—therefore

Resolved, that a Minster Plenipotentiary to reside at that Court be appointed, and that his Commission take Effect on the 25th. day of February 1788 and continue in Force for the Space of three Years thereafter unless sooner revoked.—

Your Secretary conceives it would be best that this Minister should be appointed so early as that he might have Time to reach London by the first of February, in Order that he may have an Opportunity of receiving Information from Mr. Adams respecting Characters and Affairs, and that the Progress of the Business of the Legation may not be stopped by the Expiration of Mr. Adams Commission.—

But if Congress should either not incline to appoint another Minister, or should think ^proper^ to postpone it so long as that he will not probably be in London in February, then he thinks it would be right to consider another Question arising from the Letter, vizt.

Whether it would be expedient to constitute Coll. Smith Chargé des Affaires?—

On this Head your Secretary finds himself embarrassed; for on the one Hand he esteems Coll. Smith as a Gentleman of acknowledged Merit, who has uniformly deserved well of his Country; and on the other, the Light in which the Duties of his Office have hitherto been viewed, gives the Colour of Propriety only to his reporting on the Expediency of Appointments, and not on the Persons most proper to be appointed—And as the Letter referred to him and now under Consideration, does nevertheless raise the Question relative to the Person as well as the Place, he thinks it proper to make these Remarks, lest (if not adverted to) his omitting to report on the former as well as the latter, might be ascribed to other than the true Reasons. He thinks that, if when Mr. Adams quits the Affairs of the Legation, they are not to pass immediately into the Hands of a Successor, there can be little Doubt of the Expediency of appointing a proper Person to take Charge of them.—

In that Case therefore, it would in his Opinion be proper to Resolve, That a Person be appointed to take Charge of the Affairs of the American Legation at the Court of London, from the Expiration of the Commission of the present Minister, to the Arrival there of another Minister to succeed him, or until the further Order of Congress.—

The next Question that arises on this Letter is, what should be done respecting the Commissions granted jointly to Mr. Adams and Mr. Jefferson?—

One of two Things may be done, vizt. either appoint a Successor to Mr. Adams and associate him with Mr. Jefferson, or commit the Execution of those Commissions solely to Mr. Jefferson.

Your Secretary further reports, that the Courts of London and the Hague will naturally be desirous to know the Intentions of Congress relative to their appointing Ministers to succeed Mr. Adams at both; and he wishes to be directed on this Subject, in order that his Letters to Mr. Adams may perfectly correspond with the Views of Congress.—

All which is submitted to the Wisdom of Congress.—