Wooster, to whom they refer, respecting the plunder of their baggage, and that he says he knows nothing of the matter, and that no information or complaint was ever made to him respecting that matter: And farther, inform them, that Congress have given orders to General Schuyler to make strict enquiry into this affair, and report thereon. A letter, of the 2d, from General Washington, and a letter from William Palfrey, pay master general, were laid before Congress, and read.1

Resolved, That the letter from General Washington be referred to a committee of the whole Congress:

Congress then resolved itself into a committee of the whole to take into consideration the letter from General Washington; and, after some time, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. [Thomas] Nelson reported, that the committee have had under consideration the letter to them referred, and have come to sundry resolutions,. which he was ordered to report.

The resolutions reported from the committee of the whole Congress, being [severally] read, were agreed to as follows:

Resolved, That General Washington be acquainted, that the Congress would have especial care taken, in case he should find it necessary to quit New York, that no damage be done to the said city by his troops, on their leaving it: The Congress having no doubt of being able to recover the same, though the enemy should, for a time, obtain possession of it.

Resolved, That three more batallions be ordered from Virginia, to reinforce the army at New York, of which that commanded by Colonel Stephen to be one:

That for the same purpose, two of the North Carolina

'The letter of Washington is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, II, folio 519. It is printed in Writings of Washington (Ford), IV, 378.

batallions be ordered to march, with all possible expedition, to New York, under the command of Brigadier General Moore:

That it be recommended to the assemblies and conventions of the several states to the northward of Virginia, immediately to send all the aid in their power to the army at New York:

That one of the continental batallions in Rhode Island be ordered immediately to march, to reinforce the army at New York:

That it be recommended to the assembly of Massachusetts bay, to send to Rhode Island a batallion of their militia, to supply the place of the continental batallion ordered from thence.

The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,

Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.1

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1776

Resolved, That Mr. J. Mease be directed to pay the Virginia batallion, now on their march to New York, one month's pay, and to supply them with such necessary cloathing as they may stand in need of.

Resolved, That another brigadier general be appointed in the continental army:

The ballots being taken, Adam Stephen was unanimously elected.

Resolved, That the Board of War be directed to call in the several recruiting parties of the German batallion, and they have them formed and armed, with all possible

"The Congress is, at this time, very thin. Colonel Lee is arrived here, but several others have taken leave of absence, among them Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Heyward." Josiah Bartlett to William Whipple, 3 September, 1776.

expedition, and forwarded to New York, taking measures, and giving proper directions to have the batallion recruited to the full complement, as soon as the same can conveniently be done.

Resolved, That the proposal made by General Howe, as delivered by General Sullivan, of exchanging General Sullivan and Lord Sterling for General Prescot and General M'Donald, be complied with.

Mr. J. Mease having, in consequence of the resolution of the 30th August, made a report, that he cannot find there is any cloth in this city, fit for making tents, except a parcel of light sail cloth, which is in the hands of the Marine Committee: Whereupon,

Resolved, That the Marine Committee be directed to deliver to Mr. J. Mease all the light sail cloth in their hands: And that Mr. Mease be directed to have the same made into tents, as soon as possible, and forwarded to General Washington:

That the Secret Committee be directed to write to the continental agents in the eastern states, desiring them to purchase all the duck and other cloth fit for tents, which they can procure in their respective states, for the use of the continent.

Congress took into consideration the report of the Board of War; and, after some time spent thereon,

Resolved, That the farther consideration thereof be postponed till to morrow.

The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,

Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.

15664-VOL V-06- -21

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1776

A petition from John Schott was presented to Congress, and read.

Resolved, That it be referred to the Board of War.' Two petitions from the owners of the privateers Lee and Putnam were presented to Congress, and read.

Resolved, That they be referred to the Marine Committee.

A memorial from Jeremiah Halsey was presented to Congress, and read.

Resolved, That it be referred to the Board of War.2

Resolved, That General Prescot and General M'Donald, be sent by the Board of War, under an escort, to General Washington, to be exchanged for General Sullivan and Lord Sterling.

Resolved, That the Marine Committee be directed to supply Mr. [Joseph] Hewes with 400 three pound cannon shot, for the use of the continental army in North Carolina. Two soldiers having escaped from Quebec, and applied to Congress for their pay,

Resolved, That this matter be referred to the Committee on the Treasury.

A memorial from Captain John Doyle was presented to Congress, and read, setting forth, that in consequence of the resolution passed the 16 July, he has inlisted 80 men, whereof about 60 have passed muster, as appears by the roll produced, and that the other 20 are at Lancaster, and, therefore, praying that a commission be granted to him, pursuant to the said resolution:

Resolved, That the prayer of the petition be granted; and that commissions be granted to Samuel Brady to be

1This petition from John Paul Schott, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, VII, folio 15.

"This petition, without date, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, III, folio 333.

first lieutenant, David Brown second lieutenant and to William M'Murray, second lieutenant of the company commanded by Captain Doyle.

The Congress then resumed the consideration of the report of the Board of War; and thereupon,

Resolved, That General Sullivan be requested to inform Lord Howe, that this Congress, being the representatives of the free and independent states of America, cannot, with propriety, send any of its members to confer with his lordship in their private characters; but that, ever desirous of establishing peace on reasonable terms, they will send a committee of their body to know whether he has any authority to treat with persons authorized by Congress for that purpose, in behalf of America, and what that authority is, and to hear such propositions as he shall think fit to make respecting the same:1

That the president be desired to write to General Washington, and acquaint him that it is the opinion of Congress, that no proposals for making peace between Great Britain and the United States of America ought to be received or attended to, unless the same be made in writing, and addressed to the representatives of the said states in Congress, or persons authorized by them: And, if application be made to him by any of the commanders of the British forces on that subject, that he inform them that these United States, who entered into the war only for the defence of their lives and liberties, will cheerfully agree to peace on reasonable terms, whenever such shall be proposed to them in manner aforesaid.

Ordered, That a copy of the first of the two foregoing resolutions be delivered to General Sullivan, and that he be directed immediately to repair to Lord Howe.2

1 Printed in the Pennsylvania Gazette, 18 September, 1776.

For a speech by John Witherspoon, on this matter, see Appendix.