1439. COMMISSIONERS, Executive.—
To the list may be added the appointment of
Gouverneur Morris to negotiate with the
court of London, by letter written and signed
by General Washington, and David Humphreys
to negotiate with Liston by letter.
Commissions were not given in form because
no ministers had been sent here by those
courts. But all the powers were given them,
and half the salary (as they were not to display
the diplomatic ranks, half-salary was
thought sufficient) but they were completely
officers on salaries, and no notice given the
Senate till afterwards.—
To Wilson C. Nicholas.
Ford ed., viii, 131.
(W.
Jan. 1802)
