The House shall rise, and the President shall deliver the answer standing. The Minister shall stand while the President delivers the answer.
Having spoken, and being answered, the Minister and the President shall bow to each other, at which time the House shall bow, and then the Minister shall be conducted home in the manner in which he was brought to the House.
Resolved, That the door of the Congress chamber be open during the audience to be given to the Minister Plenipotentiary of his Most Christian Majesty.
That the delegates of Pennsylvania be requested to inform the Vice President, the Supreme Executive Council, and the Speaker and Assembly of the said State, that the Minister Plenipotentiary of his Most Christian Majesty, the King of France, will receive his audience of Congress at twelve o'clock tomorrow, when the doors of the chamber will be opened.
That each member of Congress may give two tickets for the admittance of other persons to the audience, and that no other persons except those specified in the foregoing resolution, be admitted without such a ticket signed by the members appointed to introduce the Minister to the Congress.
Thursday, August 6th. According to order the honorable M. Gerard was introduced to an audience by two members of Congress, and being seated, his Secretary delivered to the President a letter from his Most Christian Majesty, directed "To our very dear and great Friends and Allies, the President and Members of the General Congress of the United States," in the words following;
[See this letter above, p. [235], dated March 28th, 1778.]
The Minister was then announced to the House, whereupon he arose and addressed Congress in a speech which, when he had finished, his Secretary delivered in writing to the President, and is as follows;
Translation.
"Gentlemen,