Resolved, That the Secretary for the Department of Foreign Affairs, and each of the persons employed under him, shall take an oath before a Judge of the State where Congress shall sit, for the faithful discharge of their respective trusts, and an oath of fidelity to the United States, before they enter upon office. Resolved, That the act of the 10th of January, 1781, respecting the Department of Foreign Affairs, be and hereby is repealed. * * * * * TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. Office of Foreign Affairs, February 23d, 1782. Sir, The resolution passed by Congress on the 22d of February, for the more perfect organization of the Department of Foreign Affairs, having no reference to the time past in fixing the salaries of the secretaries or clerks, I am left without a rule for that purpose, but presume as I have had two gentlemen employed for some time, without any distinction of rank, that no objection will lie to my giving them orders for the time that they have served at the rate of seven hundred and fifty dollars a year each. I am sorry to be the means of taking up a moment of the time of Congress, but find myself embarrassed by their present arrangement, which fixes one secretary, and reduces the other gentleman in the office to the rank of a common clerk. If no material objection should lie against the measure, I would propose, as the business of the office naturally divides itself into two branches, foreign and domestic, that instead of a secretary there should be two under secretaries, whose rank and pay shall be settled according to their merit and abilities by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, provided that the pay of both taken together shall not exceed the sum of fifteen hundred dollars; this will not only be an incitement to diligence and attention, but possibly enable me to procure two persons, in whose integrity and abilities I can confide, instead of a common clerk, without increasing the expense of the department. I have the honor to be, &c. ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON. * * * * * TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. Office of Foreign Affairs, February 26th, 1782. Sir, I am somewhat at a loss to determine upon what principle the petition of John Jordan and others, was referred to me, but presume, that it was with a view to obtain from me such information relative to the distribution of the prize money arising from the prizes taken by the Bon Homme Richard, as the papers in this office can afford.