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The Department of State of the United States.

THE

I.

BEFORE THE CONSTITUTION.

HE first Congress of the Revolution assembled in Carpenter's Hall, Philadelphia, September 5, 1774. An address to the King of England was adopted and transmitted to the agents of several of the Colonies in London, with instructions to present it to the King. They were to ask the aid of such Englishmen as they might have reason to believe were "Friends to American Liberty." These instructions were drafted October 26, 1774, by John Jay and Richard Henry Lee,* and were sent to Paul Wentworth, who represented New

*Secret Journals of Congress, I, 58.

Hampshire Charles Garth, a member of Parliament, the agent of South Carolina: William Bollan, agent of the Massachusetts Council; Thomas Life, the agent of Connecticut: E4

tent, diplomatic, and they were the representatives of a power that was soon to become independent.

The first effort by the Congress to establish a foreign service and a channel through which to conduct its business was made November 29, 1775, when the Secret Committee of Correspondence was created by the following resolutions:

Resolved, that a committee of five be appointed for the sole purpose of corresponding with our friends in Great Britain, Ireland, and other parts of the world; and that they lay their correspondence before Congress when directed.

Resolved, that this Congress will make provision to defray all such expenses as may arise by carrying on such correspondence, and for the payments of such agents as they may send on this service.

The members chosen-Mr. Harrison, Dr. Franklin, Mr. Dickinson, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Jay.*

Franklin was chairman.

The Committee at

once opened correspondence with several resi

*Secret Journals of Congress, II, 5.

dents of Europe, chief among whom were Arthur Lee, who was instructed to communicate with Count Vergennes, in Paris, and Charles W. F. Dumas, a Swiss gentleman, then residing at the Hague, a friend of Franklin's and a student of international law.* The first The first representative sent by the Committee abroad was Silas Deane, of Connecticut. His instructions,† dated March 3, 1776, are to appear in France "in the character of a merchant," as the "Court of France may not like it should be known publicly that any agent from the Colonies is in that country," but to confide to Count Vergennes that he has come "upon business of the American Congress." He is to endeavor to obtain arms and ammunition for the defense of the Colonies, and to ascertain whether, in the event of their being "forced to form themselves into an independent state," France would

* Parton's Franklin, II, 3.

Dumas afterwards acted with John Adams when the latter was on his mission to the Hague, and held office after the adoption of the Constitution (see p. 67).

† Diplomatic Correspondence, I, 8.

feel disposed to enter into a treaty of friendship and alliance with them.

September 26, 1776, the mission to France was made a Commission, with Deane, Franklin, and Jefferson as the members. They were elected by Congress, and a committee composed of Robert Morris, Richard Henry Lee, George Wythe, and John Adams was chosen "to prepare a draft of letters of credence to the Commissioners" and their instructions.* Jefferson declining to serve, Arthur Lee was elected in his place. The Secret Committee was composed at this time of Benjamin Harrison, Richard Henry Lee, John Witherspoon, and William Hooper, but the two last did not act continuously.

It was decided later to send Commissioners to other European states, and Franklin and Arthur Lee were selected for Spain, Ralph Izard

*Secret Journals of Congress, II, 31.

† Ibid., II, 35.

Department of State MS. archives.

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