at the same time serves to cement the union which it

manifests.

Major general the marquis de la Fayette has in this campaign so greatly added to the reputation he had before acquired, that we are desirous to obtain for him, on our behalf, even notice, in addition to that favourable reception which his merits cannot fail to meet with from a generous and enlightened sovereign; and in that view we have directed our minister plenipotentiary to present the marquis to your majesty.

We pray God, great, faithful and beloved friend and ally, always to keep your majesty in his holy protection

Done at Philadelphia, the twenty-ninth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-one, and in the sixth year of our independence. By the United States in Congress assembled. Your faithful friends and allies.

(Signed)

JOHN HANSON, President.

CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.

JANUARY 2, 1782.

On the report of the committee, consisting of Mr. Randolph, Mr. Lovell and Mr. Montgomery, to whom was referred a letter of 18th November, 1781, from the secretary of foreign affairs,

Ordered, That the secretary for foreign affairs lay before Congress an estimate of the expenses which will probably be incurred by the ministers of the

United States, respectively, at foreign courts, and their secretaries.

That the superintendent of finance take order for supplying the ministers of the United States at foreign courts, their secretaries, and the publick agents, with their respective salaries.

A report of a committee, consisting of Mr. Randolph, Mr. Sherman and Mr. Clymer, to whom was referred a plan of a convention between his most christian majesty and the United States of America, for regulating the powers and duties of consuls and vice consuls, was agreed to by nine states as follows:

Resolved, That the minister plenipotentiary of the United States at the court of Versailles be authorized and instructed to enter into a convention with his most christian majesty, on the part of the United States, for the establishment of consular powers and privileges, according to the scheme hereto subjoined.

ARTICLE I.

It shall be the duty of the copsuls of his most chris tian majesty to present their commissions in the first instance to the United States in Congress assembled,. by whom an act shall be made recognising them as such. This act shall be delivered by the consuls to the supreme executive power of the state or states to which they may be sent. Two copies of the exequatur, that is, a publick notification of the quality of the consuls, shall thereupon issue from the supreme exccutive power, without any fee or perquisites of office, one to be retained by the consuls, the other to be pub

lished in one or more gazettes. This being done, the pre-eminences, authority and privileges stipulated in this convention shall be allowed to them, in all places, before all tribunals, and by all persons.

ARTICLE II.

The consuls of his most christian majesty may appoint any number of vice consuls within their department. Upon the notification of their appointment by the consuls, to the supreme executive power of the state to which they may be sent, the exequatur shall be applied for and delivered by the several states to them in the same manner as to consuls; and thereupon the pre-eminences, authority and privileges, stipulated in this convention in favour of vice consuls, shall be allowed in all places, before all tribunals, and by all

persons.

ARTICLE III.

Consuls and vice consuls shall be subjects or citizens of the power appointing them, and interdicted from all traffick or commerce for their own or another's benefit.

ARTICLE IV.

Consuls may also appoint any number of agents within their department, who may be of their own nation, or not, at pleasure. They shall receive a commission from the consul appointing They shall not

assume any pre-eminence, authority or privileges herein granted to consuls and vice consuls, nor exact any fees or reward, under any pretence whatever. But they shall confine themselves wholly to the assisting of merchants, mariners and vessels, and giving information respecting them to the nearest consul or vice consul.

ARTICLE V.

Besides consuls, vice consuls and agents, there may be attached to the consulate, at the will of the consuls within their departments, any number of persons. Neither the papers nor houses of consuls or vice consuls shall be searched. Consuls and vice consuls shall enjoy full and entire immunities for their persons, and be exempt from personal service, publick offices, finding quarters for soldiers, militia duty, watch, ward, guardianship, attorneyship, committeeship, and from all duties, taxes and imposts whatsoever on moveable property, but shall be liable in respect of real and landed property, in the same manner as the subjects or citizens of the country. The arms of his most christian majesty, or of the United States, as the case may be, shall be placed upon the outer door of their house; and being so placed, shall entitle the house to the exemptions aforesaid: but no asylum shall thereby be obtained for malefactors or criminals, who shall be delivered up immediately on demand. The same privileges and immunities, as those granted in this fifth article to consuls and vice consuls, shall be granted to persons attached to the consulate, and living under

the same roof with the consuls or vice consuls; provided approbation shall be given of their number and appointment by the supreme executive power of the state to which they may belong.

ARTICLE VI.

Consuls, and vice consuls in places where there are no consuls, may have a chapel in their own houses for the celebration of divine service according to their religious profession: and his most christian majesty and the United States shall cause particular care to be taken that no obstacle or hindrance be thrown in the way of the funeral obsequies or ceremonies observed towards the deceased of either nation.

ARTICLE VII.

In all cases in which it may be necessary that the consuls or vice consuls should perform any juridical or official act, the publick bodies, or the persons in publick authority who shall require such act, shall either inform them thereof in writing, or send a military or civil officer with a verbal message respecting it; and the consuls or vice consuls shall, on their part, readily and bona fide do whatsoever may be demanded of them on these occasions.

ARTICLE VIII.

The consuls and vice consuls respectively may establish a chancery as a depository of the consular acts