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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Sir, Philadelphia 22nd Augt. 1779. I have the honor of informing You that the Honorable the Sieur Gérard, has laid before Congress a Commission from his most Christian Majesty appointing him Consul-General of France, in the United States of America with Power to appoint Consuls & Vice-Consuls- And that in virtue thereof he did on the 15th day of July 1778, appoint the Sieur John Holker, Inspector General of the Commerce and Manufactures of France, to be Consul of France in the Ports of Pennsylvania, and on the l9th day of September 1778 did appoint the Sieur Martin Oster to be Vice-Consul of France in the Ports of Pennsylvania. These Appointments have been made known to and approved of by Congress, and with the said Commission are duly entered in the Secretary's Office.(1)
I have the honor to be with great Respect your Excellencys most Obedient & Humble Servant.
LB (DNA: PCC, item 14).
1 This letter is Jay's somewhat belated reaction to resolutions adopted by Congress on August 2. Responding to Conrad Alexandre Gérard's complaints over Pennsylvania's treatment of the French consul at Philadelphia, Jean Holker, Congress had resolved that all consular appointments registered with the United States be "properly notified by the President to the executive authorities of the respective states in whose ports such consuls may reside." For the background of the controversy stirred up by Holker in Pennsylvania, and Gérard's concern over the treatment accorded French consular officials in the United States, see Committee of Congress to Holker, June 25, note 2; and Jay to Gérard, August 3, 1779, note. See also Jay to Reed, June 29, 1779, note 2. For Gérard's original announcements of the appointments of Holker and Oster in July and September 1778, See JCC, 12:713, 948.
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