o the Department of Foreign
Affairs; to receive and report the applications of all foreigners; to
correspond with the Ministers of the United States at foreign Courts,
and with the Ministers of foreign powers and other persons, for the
purpose of obtaining the most extensive and useful information
relative to foreign affairs, to be laid before Congress when required;
also to transmit such communications, as Congress shall direct, to the
Ministers of the United States and others at foreign Courts, and in
foreign countries; the said Secretary shall have liberty to attend
Congress, that he may be better informed of the affairs of the United
States, and have an opportunity of explaining his reports respecting
his Department; he shall also be authorised to employ one, or, if
necessary, more clerks to assist him in the business of his office;
and the Secretary, as well as such clerks, shall, before the President
of Congress, take an oath of fidelity to the United States, and an
oath for the faithful execution of their respective trusts.

* * * * *

APPOINTMENT OF A SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

In Congress, August 10th, 1781.

Congress proceeded to the election of a Secretary of Foreign Affairs;
and, the ballots being counted, Robert R. Livingston was elected,
having been previously nominated by Mr Floyd.

* * * * *

TO MAJOR GENERAL NATHANIEL GREENE.

Philadelphia, October 20th, 1781.[20]

Dear Sir,

Congress having done me the honor to appoint me their Secretary of
Foreign Affairs, and made it my duty to collect and transmit such
intelligence as may be useful to our Ministers, I take the liberty to
open a correspondence with you. From the past, I have reason to hope,
that your future operations will furnish the most agreeable and useful
information at foreign Courts; for nothing is more incontrovertibly
true, than that splendid victories and a wise Administration at home,
are the best negotiators abroad.

Give me leave, Sir, to congratulate you upon your success. We have
reason to hope, that it will be attended with the most important
consequences, more especially, if as we may expect, the Commander in
Chief should be enabled to make a considerable addition to the brave
corps you command.

The enemy have sailed from New York with twentysix ships o