Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-04-10
SS,5l5'

8. Interest on outfit for this mission, from
10th January, 1908, 10 lst April,
1910, when the outfit was allowed, 4,455
A. Amount paid for demurrage, sc to ].
Hicks, in whose vessel MIR. Monroe
had taken passage for France, $50
5. Contingent expenses OF the mission to
Great Britain, disallowed upon the
settlement of his account in 1910, 1900
g. Remuneration for extraordinary ex-
penses incurred by his detention In
ENGLAND, BY direction of the Govern
menI, for . years and months, at
S4,5co per annum, 10000
Z. Interest on these several sums, from the time
the services on which they are respective
ly founded, was rendered
In relation to the first item above stated, II
appears that Mr.. Monroe was suddenly recall
ed from Mission to France, by a letter receiv-
ed from Mr. Pickering, then Secretary OF State,
on the 9th December, 1896, and agreeably to
his orders, obtained an audience Of leave soon
after, viz on the Isl Jan. 1897; but, owing 10
the season Of the year, and the almost total IN
terruption of TIE commerce between the United
States and France, it was extremely difficult TO
obtain passage home for considerable time,
and which he did not effec, until the Goth A.
pril following (See the letters of Messrs. Rus
sci, Champlain, and Mitchell, marked A. Is. {.
annexed)
1t has been the practice of the Government,
in settling the accounts Of public ministers, to
allow three months salary from the date OF the
audience Of leave, as an average estimate Oh the
time necessary to return home; but II has also
been the practice, TO give them the opportuhi-
~ of choosing the time for taking leave, best
suited to their personal convenience, by which
an expensive detention IN foreign country,
after their salary ceased, could be always a
voided.
This opportunity was not given to Mr. Mon
roe; the public service was deemed to require
his sudden recall, without regard to the season
or the circumstances which might prevent him
from returning within the usual time; he was
consequently exposed to an expense wnlch he
could not guard against, and which, II is be-
lieyed. has not happened to any other Ameri
can minister. The committee therefore consi-
der that the allowance Of this item is not only
Just, but in conformity with the spirit OF the es'
tablished usage OF the government.
lem 2-Contingent expenses OF the mission
to France. Thi. claim is made on the ground
that the allowance to Mr.. Monroe, on the set
Element of his account, viz Sllo for the con-
tingent expenses of years and months, was
evidently inadequate. 1t should be observed,
that the period and particular circumstances OF
Mr.. Monroe's mission to France, must have ex-
posed him tot a considerable disbursement for
contingent expenses. The country was in a
state Of revolution; very serious difficulties
had existed for some time between the two Co
yernments; extensive spoliations had been COM
mitted on American commerce, and MIR. Mon,
roe was no sooner accredited, than he was
messed by numerous American citizens, seek
ing, through his interposition, reclamation of
their property, or indemnity Tor their losses,
(see the letters of Messrs. Gelston and Skip
with. marked D. E.) Mr.. Monroe was obliged,
therefore, to rent house for the Legation, and
to employ several Secretaries at his own ex-
nense. 10 attend to the business then crowding
upon him, for all which, and the other ordinary
contingent expenses of his mission Tor two
years and four months, he received the sum of
Sllo. The committee are of opinion that, un-
der these 81. e4u.s .au.es, al allowance ought to