On the report of a Committee to whom were referred a Letter of November 1st and one of December 25th from Doctor Franklin with sundry papers enclosed together with a Letter of 20th October and one of 14th November from Thomas Barclay—

Resolved That it is inconsistent with the Interest of the United States to appoint any person not a Citizen thereof to the Office of Minister, charge des affaires, Consul, Vice-Consul or to any other Civil Department in a foreign Country and that a Copy of this resolve be transmitted to Messrs. Adams, Franklin and Jay—Ministers of the said States in Europe.

That the said Ministers be instructed to inform Mr. William Hodgson Merchant of London that Congress have a grateful sense of his benevolent and humane attention to the Citizens of these United States who were Prisoners in Great Britain during the late War.

That a Copy of the application of the Danish Minister to Doctor Franklin and of a paragraph of his Letter to Congress on the subject of the Capture of the Danish Ship Providentia be sent to the Supreme Executive of Massachusetts who are requested to order duplicate and authentic Copies of the proceedings of their Court of Admiralty respecting the said Ship and Cargo to be sent to Congress.

That a Copy of all the Letters from Mr. Robert Montgomery of Alicant with their Enclosures, to Congress and the Secretary for Foreign Affairs be transmitted to the said Ministers, who are instructed to enquire on what grounds Mr. Montgomery has undertaken to write in the name of the United States to the Emperor of Morrocco a Letter by which their Characters and Interest may be so materially affected and to take such measures thereon as may be proper and consistent with the interest of the said States.

That a Copy of a Letter from Thomas Barclay, Consul of the United States in France of the 20th. of October last to Congress be transmitted to the said Ministers who are instructed to take the necessary measures for obtaining free Ports in that Kingdom, one or more on the Atlantic, and one on the Mediterranean.