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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 17832
[Note 2: 2 The proceedings for this day were also entered in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs.]
The President having this day laid before Congress a letter from the hon. P. J. Van Berckel, enclosing a copy of a letter of credence, by which it appears, that he is appointed minister plenipotentiary from their High Mightinesses the States General of the United Provinces of the Netherlands, to the United States of America; and the said minister having requested to be informed when and where Congress will admit him to an audience;
Resolved, That the said hon. P. J. Van Berckel, be received as minister plenipotentiary from their High Mightinesses the States General of the United Provinces of the Netherlands; and that agreeably to his request, he be admitted to a public audience in Congress.3
[Note 3: 3 These two paragraphs, in the writing of Elias Boudinot, are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, II, folio 303.]
The Committee [Mr. James Duane, Mr. Daniel Carroll and Mr. Abraham Clark] to whom was referred a letter from Mr. P. J. Van Berckel Minister Plenipo. from their High Mightinesses dated the 19th of October Instant submit the following Report.
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That it is the opinion of the Committee that the Honorable P. J. Van Berckel Minister Plenipotentiary from their High Mightinesses the States General of the United Provinces be agreeably to his Request admitted to an audience in Congress.
That he shall receive his audience at the Congress room in Princeton on Thursday next at noon be appointed as the time and place for such audience, and that the President of Congress inform the said Minister thereof.
That the Secretary of War shall officiate on this occasion as Secretary for foreign affairs Superintendent of Finance and the Secretary at War shall perform the duties assigned by the Ceremonial on this occasion, and that they or either of them shall communicate to the said Minister the ceremonial prescribed for the reception of foreign Ministers by the act of Congress of the 11th day of June last acts of Congress, and shall provide suitable apartments for the accommodation of the said Minister during his residence at Princeton.
That the door of the Congress Chamber be open during the audience of the said Minister.
That they inform the Supreme Executives of New Jersey and Pensylvania, His Excellency the Commander in Chief and his family, Honorable the Minister of France, and such civil and military Gentlemen as are in or near to Princeton of such intended audience.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of James Duane, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, II, folio 299.]
That the Congress room in Princeton, on Thursday next at noon, be appointed as the time and place for such audience.
That the Superintendant of finance and Secretary at War, or either of them, perform on this occasion, the duties assigned to the Secretary for foreign affairs, in the ceremonial respecting foreign ministers; and that they inform the supreme executives of New Jersey and Pensylvania, his Excellency the Commander in Chief, the honorable the minister plenipotentiary of France, and such civil and military gentlemen as are in or near to Princetown, of the public audience to be given to the honorable the minister plenipotentiary of their High Mightinesses the States General of the United Provinces of the Netherlands.
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Resolved, That the Superintendant of Finance or Secretary at War take order that suitable apartments be provided for the accommodation of the Honorable the Minister Plenipo. from their High Mightinesses the States General of the United Provinces of the Netherlands during his Residence attendance on Congress at Princeton.
Ordered, That the Superintendant of finance and Secretary at War, or either of them, take order for an entertainment to be given at the public expence, to the hon. P. J. Van Berckel, minister plenipotentiary from their High Mightinesses the States General of the United Provinces of the Netherlands, to the United States of America, and that the Superintendent of Finance and Secretary at War or either of them direct them direct the same on on Thursday next, the day assigned for the public audience of the said minister.1
[Note 1: 1 These two paragraphs in the writing of James Duane and Charles Thomson, are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, II, folio 305. The first paragraph, as a motion, in Charles Thomson's writing is in No. 149, III, folio 261. The indorsement states that it was referred to the Secretary at War to take order.]
A Copy of the Ceremonial on the Reception of Foreign Ministers, with Which Mr. Van Berckel was Furnished by Order of Congress.
When a minister plenipotentiary or Envoy shall arrive within any of the United States he shall receive at all places; where there are guards, sentries and the like, such military honors as are paid to a general officer of the second rank in the armies of the United States.
When he shall arrive at the place in which Congress shall be, he shall wait upon the President and deliver his credentials or a copy of them.
Every minister on his being admitted to his first audience shall be introduced by the Secretary for foreign affairs to a seat provided for him facing the President of Congress, the President and members being seated, and the President covered, the minister being uncovered and so to remain unless he be of the rank of an Ambassador.
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The minister being seated shall deliver his letter of credence to the Secretary of Congress by his own secretary who shall stand by him during his audience. If the minister chuses to address Congress he shall rise when he speaks.
The letter of credence being delivered by the Secretary of Congress to the interpreter, when such officer shall be necessary, he shall read it in its original language and then present a translation of it to the Secretary of Congress who shall read the same. Upon which the President after reading his answer uncovered shall deliver the same to the Secretary of Congress who shall present it to the minister who shall rise to receive it.
The minister then shall be reconducted to his carriage by the Secretary for foreign affairs.
If the minister is of the rank of an Ambassador ordinary or extraordinary he shall be covered when he takes his seat. In that case too the President shall rise when the Ambassador is introduced and also when he reads his answer.
In any subsequent public audience of a foreign minister the same ceremonial shall be observed except so far as relates to the delivery and reading the credentials.
Every minister after his first audience shall pay the first visit to the President and other members of Congress.
A foreign minister on his arrival at the place where Congress shall reside shall be informed by the Secretary for foreign affairs that if in any audience he shall chuse to speak, it will be necessary previously to deliver in writing to the President what he intends to say at the audience, and if he shall not incline thereto, it will, from the constitution of Congress, be impracticable for him to receive an immediate answer.
All speeches or communications in writing may if the public ministers chuse it, be in the language of their respective countries and all replies or answers shall be in the language of the United States.
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The committee of the week [Mr. Benjamin Huntington, Mr. John Montgomery and Mr. David Howell] report that the petition of Enos Granniss lieutenant late of Colonel Baldwin's regiment of Artificiers be referred to the Secretary at War to report.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Benjamin Huntington, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, III, folio 255, the petition being on folio 254. It was referred to the Secretary at War, as the indorsement states.
On this, or an approximate date, was read the act of October 20 of the General Court of Massachusetts granting to Congress power to levy an impost tax. It is in No. 74, folio 197.]
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