1. JM’s original entry for this date probably was only “see Journal” (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, 1904–37). description ends , XXIV, 343–45). Upon discovering that the journal failed to mention the committee’s report concerning the “Dept of For: Affairs,” he crowded his sentence on that subject in tiny handwriting within the small space he had left above his entry, “Friday May 16. see Journal.”

On 7 May Congress had appointed a committee, Arthur Lee, chairman, to consult with Robert R. Livingston “respecting his continuance in Office” as secretary for foreign affairs (NA: PCC, No. 186, fol. 100). The committee’s report of 9 May consisted only of a letter of that date from Livingston, explaining again why he felt obliged to resign. On earlier occasions he had pointed out that his salary of $4,000 was about $3,000 less than his living expenses in Philadelphia as secretary for foreign affairs. See Papers of Madison description begins William T. Hutchinson, William M. E. Rachal, et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison (7 vols. to date; Chicago, 1962——). description ends , V, 342–43; 449; VI, 223; 224, n. 7; 281, n. 9; 418–19, and n. 4.

Probably few of the delegates on 15 May favored an increase in Livingston’s salary, for Congress on 9 May had appointed a committee, Hamilton, chairman, “to consider and report the means of reducing expenditures in all” executive departments (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, 1904–37). description ends , XXIV, 337). See JM Notes, 23 May 1783.