The Department has varied in its scope somewhat from time to time, now enlarging its domain as the country grew, and greater needs developed, and now surrendering some of its functions to other departments, mainly the Department of the Interior. It was first known before the outbreak of the Revolution as the “Committee of Secret Correspondence”, with Benjamin Franklin at its head. Next it was known (1777) as the “Committee for Foreign Affairs”, and its first Secretary, Thomas Paine, was dismissed for making an official matter public. Next (1789) it was known as the Department for Foreign Affairs, and finally as the Department of State, with Thomas Jefferson as the Secretary. The Patent Office originated under this Department, but in 1849, when the Department of the Interior was organized, it was formally transferred to that department. In the same way the Census Bureau was transferred to the Department of the Interior in 1850. Likewise, until the organization of the Department of the Interior, the affairs of the Territories remained under the Department of State. One important functionary not mentioned among the bureaus is the Solicitor. This officer is detailed from the Department of Justice to “examine claims by or against foreign governments” and to advise upon points of international law involved in treaties, protocols, etc. The Solicitor is not subject, in the discharge of his duties, to the direction of the Attorney General. Besides the regular business of this department, and in addition to the work of the Diplomatic Service, there are a number of bureaus and foreign commissions appointed for purposes more or less temporary, many of which require diplomatic ability of the highest order and others technical skill and knowledge. There are at present under commission the following: (1) Bureau of the American Republics, with a Director, a Secretary, five translators, an Editor of the Monthly Bulletin, a Chief Clerk and a Chief of the Division of Information. (2) Intercontinental Railway Commission, four members. (3) United States and Mexican Water Boundary Commission, three American and three Mexican members. (4) Nicaragua Canal Commission, three members. (5) Commission to the Paris Exposition of 1900, three members. (6) Reciprocity Commission, a special Commissioner, a Secretary, an Assistant Secretary and a Messenger. (7) Consular Board of Examiners, under Executive Order of Sept. 20, 1895, three members. (8) Joint High Commission, six members besides a Secretary and a Messenger. (9) International Tribunal of Egypt, three members. (10) Dispatch Agents, three; at New York, San Francisco and London, England, respectively. * * * * *