With respect to my continuing to charge £2500 Sterling per Annum as my Salary, of which you desire some Explanation, I send you, in support of that Charge, the Resolution of Congress which is in these Words:

Resolved,

“That each of the Ministers Plenipotentiary be allow’d at the Rate of two thousand five hundred Pounds Sterling per Annum, and each of their Secretarys at the rate of one thousand Pound sterling per Annum, in full for their Services and Expences respectively.

That the Salalry of each of the said Officers be computed from the time of his leaving his Place of abode to enter on the Duties of his Office, and be continued three Months after Notice of his Recall.”

Extract from the Minutes

The several Bills I afterwards received drawn on the Congress Banker, Mr. Grand, for my Salary, were all calculated on that Sum as my Salary. and neither the Banker nor myself have receiv’d Notice of any Change respecting me. He has accordingly, since the drawing ceased, continu’d to pay me at the same rate. I have indeed heard that a Resolution was pass’d last Year, that the Salaries of Plenipotentiarys should be no more, than £2000 Sterling per Annum. But the Resolution, I suppose, can relate only to such Plenipotentiaries as should be afterwards appointed; for I cannot conceive that the Congress, after promising a Minister £2500 a Year, and when he has thereby been encourag’d to engage in a way of living for their Honor which only that Salary can support, would think it just to diminish it a fifth, and leave him under the Difficulty of reducing his Expences proportionably, a thing scarce practicable, the Necessity of which he might have avoided, if he had not confided in their original Promise. But the Article of Salary, with all the rest of my Accounts will be submitted to the Judgment of Congress, together with some other considerable Articles I have not charged, but on which I shall expect from their Equity some Consideration. If for want of knowing precisely the Intention of Congress, what expences should be deem’d Public and what Private, I have charged any Article to the Public, which should be defray’d by me, their Banker has my Order, as soon as the Pleasure of Congress shall be made known to him to rectify the Error, by transferring the Amount to my Private Account, and discharging by so much that of the Public. I have the honor to be Sir, Your most obedient and most humble Servant.