By The United States in Congress Assembled—

May 7th, 1784.

Congress proceeded to the election,& being this day informed by a Letter of the 9th March last from the Hon Doctor Franklin1 that Mr. J. Jay proposed to embark for America in the month of April and this information corresponding with the intelligence communicated to Congress by Mr. Jay himself in his Letters of last year, Mr. Jay was put in nomination and the ballots being taken

Mr. John Jay was elected Secretary for Foreign Affairs having been previously nominated by Mr. Gerry.2

Be it remembered that on twenty first day of december in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty four at Trenton in the State of New Jersey personally appeared before me Isaac Smith one of the Justices of the supreme Court of said State

John Jay Esquire and took an Oath which I administered to him in the words following Viz.

“I John Jay do acknowledge the Thirteen United States of America namely, New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina & Georgia, to be free, independent and sovereign States, and declare that the people thereof owe no allegiance or obedience to George the third King of Great Britain, and I renounce, refuse, and abjure any allegiance or obedience to him; and I do Swear that I will, to the utmost of my power support, maintain, and defend the said United States against the said King George the third, and his heirs & successors, and his or their abettors, assistants and adherents; and will Serve the said United States in the Office of Secretary for Foreign Affairs, which I now hold, and in any other Office which I may hereafter hold by their appointment, or under their authority, with fidelity and honor, and according to the best of my Skill and understanding. So help me God.