taken by General Washington were sufficiently advanced, of which he was the proper judge."

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28TH.

No Congress.

[Mr. Livingston, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, called upon me, and mentioned his intention to resign in a short time his office; observing, that as he ultimately was decided to prefer his place of Chancellor in New York to the other, and the two had become incompatible by the increase of business in the former, he thought it expedient not to return to Philadelphia, after a visit to New York which was required by this increase. In the course of conversation, he took notice that the expense of his appointment under Congress had exceeded his salary about three thousand dollars per annum. He asked me, whether it was probable Mr. Jefferson would accept the vacancy, or whether he would accept Mr. Jay's place in Spain, and leave the vacancy to the latter. I told him, I thought Mr. Jefferson would not accept it himself, and doubted whether he would concur in the latter arrangement; as well as whether Congress would be willing to part with Mr. Jay's services in the negotiations of peace; but promised to sound Mr. Jefferson on these points by the first opportunity. ]

No Congress until

MONDAY, DECEMBER 2ND.

The Secretary of Foreign Affairs resigned his office, assigning as a reason the increase of business in his office of Chancellor of New York, whereby it was become impossible for him to execute the duties of both; informing Congress at the same time, as a rule for providing for his successor, that his expenses exceeded his salary upwards of three thousand dollars per annum. The letter of resignation was committed to Mr. McKEAN and Mr. OSGOOD.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3RD.

After a verbal report of the Committee above-mentioned, who acquainted Congress that in conference with Mr. LIVINGSTON he professed a willingness to remain in office till the first of January, to give time for the choice of a successor, Mr. McKEAN proposed the resolution which stands on the Secret Journals; several alterations having been made, however, in the course of its consideration. With respect to the preamble, particularly, a change took place. As it was first moved, it recited as the ground of the resignation the incompatibility of the Office of Foreign Affairs with the Chancellorship of New York. To this recital it was objected by Mr. MADISON, that such a publication of preference of the Office of Chancellor of a particular State, to the Office of

Foreign Affairs under the United States, tended to degrade the latter. Whereupon, the preamble on the Journal was substituted. In the course of this business, the expediency of augmenting the salary was suggested, but not much supported. Mr. HowELL and Mr. CLARK opposed it strenuously.

The report of the Committee on the case of Vermont, mentioned on Thursday, the fourteenth of November, was called for by Mr. McKEAN, and postponed, on his motion, to make way for a set of resolutions, declaring that as Vermont, in contempt of the authority of Congress and their recommendations of 1799, exercised jurisdiction over sundry persons professing allegiance to the State of New York, banishing them and stripping them of their possessions, the former be required to make restitution, &c.; and that in case of refusal or neglect, Congress will enforce the same, &c. A motion was made by Mr. CLARK, seconded by Mr. HOWELL, to strike out the latter clause; in favor of which it was said, that such a menace ought to be suspended until Vermont should refuse to comply with the requisition; especially, said Mr. HOWELL, as the present proceeding, being at the instance of Phelps and other exiles, was an ex parte one.

Against the motion for expunging the clause, it was observed, that a requisition on Vermont without such a menace would have no effect; that if Congress interposed, they ought to do it with a decisive tone; that as it only enforced restitution in cases where spoliations had been committed, and therefore was conditional, the circumstance of its being ex parte was of no weight, especially as Congress

could not call on Vermont to appear as a party after her repeated protestations against appearing.

On this occasion, Mr. CARROLL informed Congress, that he had entirely changed his opinion with regard to the policy requisite with regard to Vermont, being thoroughly persuaded that its leaders were perfidious men, and that the interest of the United States required their pretensions to be discountenanced; that in this opinion he was not a little confirmed by a late conversation with General Whipple, of New Hampshire, at Trenton, in which this gentleman assured him, that the governing party in Vermont were perfidiously devoted to the British interests, and that he had reason to believe that a British commission for a governor of that district had come over, and was ready to be produced at a convenient season. Some of the members having gone out of Congress, and it being uncertain whether there would be more than six States for the clause, an adjournment was moved for and voted.

The proceedings on this subject evinced still more the conciliating effect of the territorial cession of New York, on several States, and the effect of the scheme of an ultra-montane State within Pennsylvania, on the latter State. The only States in Congress which stood by Vermont, were Rhode Island, which is supposed to be interested in lands in Vermont, and New Jersey, whose Delegates were under instructions on the subject."

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4TH.

After the passing of the resolution concerning Captain Paul Jones, a motion was made by Mr. MADISON to reconsider the same, that it might be referred to the Agent of Marine to take order, as a better mode of answering the same purpose; since it did not become the sovereign body to give public sanction to a recommendation of Captain Jones to the Commander of the French Squadron, especially as there was no written evidence that the latter had signified a disposition to concur in the project of Captain Jones. The motion was lost; a few States only being in favor of it.

The reason assigned by those who voted against the promotion of Colonels to Brigadiers, according to districts, was, that such a division of the United States tends to foster local ideas, and might lead to a dismemberment.

The Delegates from Pennsylvania reminded Congress that no answer had been given to the memo rials (see November the twentieth) from that State; that the Legislature were proceeding in the measure intimated in the said memorials, and that they meant to finish it and adjourn this evening. The reasons mentioned by the Delegates as prevailing with the Legislature, were-first, the delay of Congress to give an answer, which was deemed disrespectful; secondly, the little chance of any funds being provided by Congress for their internal debts; thirdly, the assurance (given by one of their members, Mr. Joseph Montgomery, mentioned privately, not on the