Sundry letters being received, were laid before Congress, and read; viz.

2 letters from General Washington, with sundry papers enclosed.

One from General Schuyler, dated at the German Flats, August 1st.

One of the 29 July, from General Gates, with copies of two letters enclosed.1

Resolved, That a letter be addressed to General Lee, with an account of the intelligence received, that the troops from Charleston were arrived at New York; and directing him, in case the [British] troops have left the southern colonies, that he repair, with all possible expedition, to Philadelphia, and there wait the orders of Congress.2

Resolved, That to morrow be assigned for electing four major generals and six brigadier generals.

Resolved, That the post riders be exempted from military duty.

Resolved, That the Secret Committee be directed to supply Colonel Galbreath with 9 lbs. of powder, and 27 lbs. of lead, for the use of three of the companies of his batallion.

The Board of Treasury reported, that there is due,

To George Kennedy, for three riffles purchased in Frederick county, Virginia, for the use of Captain Morgan's company of rifflemen, and to be charged to the said company, the sum of 40 dollars:

To William Webb, for services in, and articles purchased for, the use of the treasury office, one hundred and

'The letters of Washington, both dated August 7, are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, 11, folios 343 and 359. One of them is printed in Writings of Washington (Ford), IV, 321. That of Schuyler is in No. 153, II, folio 248. That of Gates is in No. 154, I, folio 19. It inclosed a copy of a letter from Washington to Gates, July 19, and Gates's reply of July 29.

"This letter is in the Lee Papers, (New York Historical Society,) II, 205.

thirty seven and 54/90 dollars; to be charged to the account of contingent expences:

To Captain Thomas Haslet, for subsistence of 13 men of his company, on their march from Chester county to New Jersey, 9 82/90 dollars:

To Captain Benjamin Wallace, for subsistence of his company, on their march from Chester county to New Jersey, 32 20/90 dollars:

To Captain Matthew Boyd for subsistence of 53 men of his company, in Colonel Moore's batallion, on their march from Chester county, to New Jersey, 27 42/90 dollars:

To Tobias Rudolph, for the hire of two horses and a chair, by Captain Alexander Graydon, to conduct money to Ticonderoga, and for one of the said horses which was lost at Albany, 125 54/90 dollars:

To Mr. Smith, at the city tavern, for the expences of a guard at his house, over the prisoners of war brought from Burlington, 16 27/90 dollars:

To John Tomkins, for the subsistence of Captains Crowlle's, Heisler's, and Ludwigg's companies of militia, on their march to New Jersey, 21 36/90 dollars:

To Captain James M'Candless, for subsistence and ferriage of his company of the 4th batallion of York county militia, on their march to New Jersey, 41 78/90 dollars: Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

Resolved, That an order for 2,000 dollars be drawn on the treasurer in favour of the delegates of Georgia, for the use of the continental forces in that state; the said delegates to be accountable.

The Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into their farther consideration the articles of confederation; and, after some time, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. [John] Morton reported, that the committee have made farther progress in the matter

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referred to them; but not having yet come to a conclusion, desire leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this Congress will, to morrow, again resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into their farther consideration the articles of confederation. Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 1776

Congress having proceeded to the election of a regimental pay master for the Delaware batallion,

John Yates, Esq was elected.

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed, to devise a plan for encouraging the Hessians, and other foreigners, employed by the King of Great Britain, and sent to America for the purpose of subjugating these states, to quit that iniquitous service:

The members chosen, Mr. [James] Wilson, Mr. [Thomas] Jefferson, and Mr. [Richard] Stockton.

The Board of War brought in a report, which was read: Ordered, To lie on the table.

Resolved, That the Secret Committee be directed to deliver to the order of the Board of War, such articles in their possession, belonging to the Continent, as, in the opinion of the said Board of War, are necessary for the Delaware batallion:

That the said committee be directed to send to General Washington 30,000 flints.

A petition from William Bell & Co. was presented to Congress, and read:

Resolved, That it be referred to the committee on Governor Trumbull's letter.

Resolved, That Mr. Mease be directed to supply the captains, now in Philadelphia, belonging to Colonel Hand's batallion, with such sums of money as will be

sufficient to pay the bounty voted to non-commissioned officers and soldiers, who inlist for three years.

The delegates of Pensylvania and Maryland, to whom the petition of Lewis de Linkensdorff was referred, brought in their report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

Resolved, That Lewis de Linkensdorff be appointed adjutant to the German batallion, ordered to be raised for the continental service.

Agreeable to the order of the day, the Congress proceeded to the election of major generals and the ballots being taken and examined,

William Heath, Esqr

Joseph Spencer, Esqr

John Sullivan, Esqr

Nathanael Greene, Esqr]

were elected major generals.

Resolved, That the hearing Commodore Hopkins be postponed to Monday next, at 11 o'clock, and that Captain Jones be directed to attend the hearing at the time above mentioned.

The Congress proceeded to the election of brigadier generals, and the ballots being taken,

Colonel James Read

Colonel John Nixon

Colonel Arthur St. Clair

Colonel Alexander McDougall

Colonel Samuel Holden Parsons

Colonel James Clinton

were elected brigadier generals.

Resolved, That the several matters to this day referred, be postponed till to morrow.1

"We find some difficulty to give satisfaction in the appointment of officers; and, on the whole, it was thought the appointing the first Continental Colonel in the respective States to the rank of Brigadiers was the least liable to objection." Josiah Bartlett to John Langdon, 11 August, 1776.

Resolved, That 10,000 dollars be advanced to Colonel J[ohn] Haslet for the use of his batallion, he to be accountable.

Resolved, That William Brown, master carpenter, who is here from the camp on furlow, be ordered not to return, his service being necessary at the yard.

Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 1776

Resolved, That Isaac Cooper, ship joiner, be ordered not to go to New Jersey; his service being wanted:

That William Whiting, a wounded soldier, be sent to the hospital of Pensylvania, and supported at the expence of the United States; and, in case he dies, the expences of his funeral be paid by the United States.

The Board of treasury report, that there is due,

To Colonel Jeremiah Duggan, three hundred and nineteen dollars and 60/90 in part payment of his account against the continent, and for which he is to be charged:

To Daniel Smith, for the weekly allowance of the following prisoners of war, viz. James Hughes, town major of Montreal, and Captain Duncan Campbell, from the 19th January, to the 18 July last, is 24 6/7 weeks, at 2 dollars a week each, is 99 38/90 dollars:

Major Stopford

Major Dunbar

Lieut. Harrison

Lieut. Shuttleworth

Lieut. MacDonnel and

Captain Algeo

from the 26th April to 12th

July, 1776, is eleven weeks each, at 2 dollars per week, is 132 dollars.

To Colonel Jacob Stroud, for expences of waggon hire, in conducting Canadian prisoners, and part of the 26th regiment, from Walpack, in New Jersey, to Reading and