5254. MINISTERS (Foreign), Outfit of.—[continued].
The outfit given to ministers
resident to enable them to furnish their
house, but given by no nation to a temporary
minister, who is never expected to take a
house or to entertain, but considered on the
footing of a voyageur, our predecessors gave
to their extraordinary ministers by the wholesale.
In the beginning of our administration,
among other articles of reformation in expense,
it was determined not to give an outfit
to ministers extraordinary, and not to incur
the expense with any minister of sending a
frigate to carry or bring him. The Boston
happened to be going to the Mediterranean,
and was permitted, therefore, to take up Mr.
Livingston, and touch in a port of France. A
frigate was denied to Charles Pinckney, and
has been refused to Mr. King for his return.
Mr. Madison's friendship and mine to you
being so well known, the public will have eagle
eyes to watch if we grant you any indulgences
out of the general rule; and on the other hand,
the example set in your case [as Minister
Extraordinary to France] will be more cogent
on future ones, and produce greater approbation
to our conduct. The allowance, therefore,
will be in this, and all similar cases, all the expenses
of your journey and voyage, taking a
ship's cabin to yourself, nine thousand dollars
a year from your leaving home till the proceedings
of your mission are terminated, and
then the quarter's salary for the expenses of
your return, as prescribed by law.—
To James Monroe. Washington ed. iv, 455.
Ford ed., viii, 191.
(W.
1803)
