I enclose the list of salaries you requested. The charges of those who act as secretaries to Dr Franklin and Mr Adams are not yet settled. I shall lay the list before Congress and make them some propositions on the subject. It will be necessary to afford a small sum to each of the Ministers to enable them to defray contingent expenses, which are continually happening, particularly to Dr Franklin, who is at the centre of all our communications. I will converse with you on this subject, and endeavor to form an estimate of what this ought to be. I am, Sir, &c. ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON. * * * * * TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. Office of Foreign Affairs, May 8th, 1782. Sir, The enclosed account of the annual expense of the Department of Foreign Affairs, exclusive of contingent expenses, was made out at the request of the Superintendent of Finance, that measures might be taken to discharge the salaries of the gentlemen in Europe, who express great uneasiness on the subject; but as it is incomplete till the allowance to the private secretaries of Dr Franklin and Mr Adams are ascertained, I have thought it proper to lay the whole before Congress, for their direction thereon. Congress were pleased to order by their resolution of the 2d of January last, that the Secretary of Foreign Affairs should lay before them an estimate of the expenses, which will probably be incurred by the foreign Ministers of the United States respectively, and their secretaries. I find myself under great embarrassments in preparing a report agreeably to their order, from not being able to enter fully into their views. I should presume, that the expense of foreign Ministers ought to be regulated by their salaries, though I feel that the desire of supporting the dignity of an office, to which the salary is incompetent, often urges men to quit the line, how much soever they may be embarrassed thereby. Justice and policy suggest, that the salaries of officers, who are engaged in so delicate and difficult a department as that of Foreign Affairs, should have such appointments as to free them from embarrassments with respect to their private affairs. I believe Congress had this in view when they settled those of their foreign Ministers, none of whom complain of their being inadequate, unless it be Mr Jay, who has given us some reason to think his salary, in his opinion, is barely sufficient for his support, and that his manner of living is not equal to what he conceives the dignity of the United States requires. With respect to the salaries of the secretaries to the Embassies, it is in my opinion, (founded upon the practice of other nations) at least the double of what it ought to be.