Philadelphia April 23 1800 Gentlemen The President of the United States proposes to the consideration of the heads of department a subject, which although at first view, it may appear of inconsiderable moment, will upon more mature reflection, be found to be of some difficulty, but of great importance to the honor dignity & consistency of the government. In every government of Europe, I believe there is a gazette in the service of the government, and a printer appointed, acknowledged & avowed by it. in every regular government at least. The gazette of France, before the revolution, answered the same purpose with the London gazette in England. Mr Strahan is appointed as the kings printer by Patent, & is the editor of the London gazette. This gazette is said by lawyers & judges to be prima facie evidence in courts of justice, of matters of State & of the public acts of the government. As it is published by the authority of the crown, it is the usual way of notifying such acts to the public & therefore is entitled to credit in respect to such matters. It is a high misdemeanor to publish any thing as from royal authority, which is not so. The gazette is evidence of the kings proclamations — even the articles of war, printed by the kings printers are good evidence of those articles. Addresses of the subjects in bodies or otherwise to the king & his answers are considered as matters of State, when published in the gazette, and are proved by it prima facie in the kings courts in Westminster Hall. The gazette is said to be an authoritative mean of proving all acts, relating to the king & State. Justice Buller asserts that every thing which relates to the king as king of Great Britain &c is in its nature public, & that a gazette, which contains any thing done by his majesty, in his character of king, or which has passed his majesty's hands, is admissible evidence in a court of law to prove such thing. — Without running a parallel between the President of the United States and the King of England, it is certain that the honor, dignity & consistency of government is of as much importance to the people, in one case as the other. The President must issue proclamations, articles of war, articles of the navy & must make appointments in the army, navy, revenue & other branches of public service & these ought all to be announced by authority in some acknowledged gazette. The laws ought to be published in the same. It is certain, that a President's printer must be restrained from publishing libells, & all paragraphs offensive to individuals, public bodies, or foreign nations, but need not be forbid advertisements. The gazette need not appear more than once or twice a week. Many other considerations will occur to the minds of the Secretaries. The President requests their opinions^it 1. Whether a printer can be appointed by the President either with or without the advice & consent of the Senate. 2. Whether a printer can be obtained without salary or fee for the profit which might be made by such a gazette? 3. Where shall we find such a printer? It is certain that the present desultory manner of publishing the laws — Acts of the President & proceedings of the Executive departments is infinitely disgraceful to the government & nation & in all events must be altered. John Adams Secretaries of State Treasury War Navy & Attorney General. [rotated notation: 28 April 1800 / [undecipherable] / Gazette.]