Franklin.
Let it be understood, that Congress can only correspond through the
executive, whose organ in the case of foreign nations is the Secretary
of State. The President of the United States being co-ordinate with
Congress, cannot personally be their scribe.
7. Some papers in a case interesting to Dr. M'Henry, of Baltimore. He
at first sent them to me, with a desire to commit the subject of them
wholly to you. I informed him, we could not consent that you should be
used as the agent of private individuals, but that if he would provide
an agent on the spot who would undertake the details of solicitation,
management, correspondence, &c. I would desire you to patronize the
measure so far as you should find it prudent and just. It is put on this
footing, as you will see by his answer to me.
8. A correction of the report on weights and measures.
You are desired to have a medal of gold struck from the diplomatic die
formerly ordered, and present it with a chain of gold to the Count de
Moustier, who is notified that this will be done by you. I formerly
informed you, that we proposed to vary the worth of the present, by
varying the size of the links of the chain, which are fixed at three
hundred and sixty-five in number. Let each link, in the present
instance, contain six livres worth of gold, and let it be made of
plain wire, so that the value may be in the metal and not at all in the
workmanship.
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