OCTOBER 5, 1780.

To follow proceedings of October 4, 1780. Page 325.

On the report of a committee, to whom was referred a motion of Mr. Adams, relative to certain propositions of the empress of Russia respecting the rights of neutral nations, Congress passed the following

act:

Her imperial majesty of all the Russias, attentive to the freedom of commerce, and the rights of nations, in her declaration to the belligerent and neutral powers, having proposed regulations, founded upon principles of justice, equity and moderation, of which their most christian and catholick majesties, and most of the neutral maritime powers of Europe, have declared their approbation

Congress, willing to testify their regard to the rights of commerce, and their respect for the sovereign, who hath proposed and the powers who have approved the said regulation :

Resolve, That the board of admiralty prepare and report instructions for the commanders of armed vessels commissioned by the United States, conformable to the principles contained in the declaration of the empress of all the Russias, on the rights of neutral vessels.

That the ministers plenipotentiary from the United States, if invited thereto, be and hereby are respectively empowered to accede to such regulations, conformable to the spirit of the said declaration, as may

be agreed upon by the Congress expected to assemble in pursuance of the invitation of her imperial majesty.

Ordered, That copies of the above resolution be transmitted to the respective ministers of the United States, at foreign courts, and to the honourable the minister plenipotentiary of France.

OCTOBER 14, 1780.

To follow proceedings of October 7, 1780. Page 326. On a report of the board of treasury,

Resolved, That Samuel W. Stockton, esquire, late secretary to the honourable William Lee, late commissioner for the United States at the courts of Vienna and Berlin, be considered on salary, at the rate of three hundred pounds sterling per annum, from the time he left London, to go to Mr. Lee, at Vienna, which was in the month of May, 1778, until he came to this city with letters to Congress, from Mr. Lee, in the month of December, 1779. That Mr. Stockton be not allowed for any expenses; and that the several sums of money he has received, agreeably to his liquidated account, be deducted from the salary aforesaid, and the balance paid to Mr. Stockton, in specie, or current money equivalent; rating specie dollars at four shillings and six pence sterling.

OCTOBER 28, 1780.

To follow proceedings of October 25, 1780. Page 343,
On motion of Mr. Lovell, seconded by Mr. S. Adams,
Resolved, That the honourable John Adams be and
hereby is authorized and instructed to accept the bills
of exchange drawn on the honourable Henry Laurens,
in pursuance of the resolution of Congress of the 6th
instant, in the same manner as he is authorized and in-
structed to accept those heretofore drawn on Mr:
Laurens, according to the resolutions of November
23, 1779 and in case of the absence of Mr. Adams,
the authority hereby granted be and is hereby extend-
ed to the honourable Francis Dana.

NOVEMBER 3, 1780.

Resolved, That the consul, to be appointed to reside
in France, be allowed a salary of one thousand five
hundred dollars per annum, in lieu of all commissions
for business done on account of the United States.

NOVEMBER 4, 1780.

Congress proceeded to the election of a consul to
reside in France; and the ballots being taken, William
Palfrey, esquire, was elected.

NOVEMBER 23, 1780.

To follow proceedings of November 22, 1780. Page 348.

On a report of the board of treasury,

Resolved, That the board of treasury furnish the

honourable Ralph Izard with bills of exchange, out of

those already ordered to be drawn on doctor Franklin
and Mr. Jay, to the amount of fifty-two thousand one
hundred and thirteen livres, being the balance of his
account, as accepted by Congress on the 11th of
August last; thirty thousand livres thereof to be on
Mr. Jay, and the remainder on doctor Franklin.

Resolved, That the honourable John Adams be in-
formed of this transaction, which is to supersede the
orders given to the honourable Henry Laurens, on the
11th of August last, for the payment of the said balance
of fifty-two thousand one hundred and thirteen livres
to Mr. Izard.

NOVEMBER 28, 1780.

To follow proceedings of November 28, 1780. Page 351.
Ordered, That Saturday next be assigned for elect-
ing a secretary to the embassy at the court of Ver-
sailles.

DECEMBER 1, 1780.

Resolved, That the order of the day to-morrow for
electing a secretary to the embassy at the court of
Versailles be postponed to Wednesday next.

DECEMBER 15, 1780.

To follow proceedings of December 15, 1780. Page 358.
Ordered, That the board of treasury, in adjusting
the salary of Arthur Lee, esquire, compute the same

from the 15th day of December, 1776, to the 25th day

of March, 1780.

DECEMBER 21, 1780.

To follow proceedings of December 21, 1780. Page 360. On motion of Mr. Duane, seconded by Mr. Witherspoon,

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to take into consideration the case of the honourable Henry Laurens, made a prisoner on his passage to Europe, and said to be committed to the tower of London, on suspicion of high treason, and to report thereon.

The members-Mr. Duane, Mr. Witherspoon, Mr: Burke.

On motion of Mr. S. Adams, seconded by Mr. Bee,

Ordered, That the President write to our ministers plenipotentiary at the courts of Versailles and Madrid, desiring them to apply to the courts at which they respectively reside, to use means for obtaining the release and exchange of the honourable Henry Laurens.

JANUARY 10, 1781.

To follow proceedings of January 10, 1781. Page 393. The committee, appointed to consider and report a plan for the department of foreign affairs, report, That the extent and the rising power of these United States entitle them to a place among the great poten