Ordered, That a warrant for 30,000 dollars be drawn on Joseph Clarke, esq. a commissioner of the loan-office for the state of Rhode-Island, in favor of Daniel Tillinghast, esq. for the use of the ships of war in that state:

That a warrant for 20,000 dollars be drawn on John Lawrence, esq. commissioner of the loan-office for the state of Connecticut, in favor of Barnabas Deane, for the use of the ships of war in that state:

That a warrant for 60,000 dollars be drawn on Nathaniel Appleton, esq. commissioner of the loan-office for the state of Massachusetts-Bay, in favor of Thomas Cushing, esq. for the use of the navy in that state:

That a warrant for 40,000 dollars be drawn on Nicholas Gilman, esq. commissioner of the loan-office for the state of New-Hampshire, in favor of John Langdon, esq. for the use of the ships of war in that state.

A letter, of the Sd, from general Washington, enclosing an extract of a letter of the 21st of April, from general Heath, at Boston, was read: Ordered, That the same be referred to the board of war.

Congress resumed the consideration of the report from the board of war, of the 29th of April; Whereupon,

Ordered, That a warrant be drawn on Nathaniel Appleton, esq. commissioner of the loan-office for the state of Massachusetts-Bay, in favor of the president of the council of the said state, for 2000 dollars, to be by him paid to John Allen, esq. agent for Indian affairs, in the eastern department, for the service of that department; the said Mr. Allen to be accountable for the expenditure.

Ordered, That the remainder of the report be re-committed.

Congress proceeded to the election of a board of assistants to the marine committee in the eastern department; and, the ballots being taken,

William Vernon, James Warren, and John Deshon, esqs. were elected. Resolved, That the said board be empowered to employ a clerk, with a salary of 500 dollars per annum.

The committee on the treasury reported,

That there should be advanced to lieutenant William Reily, for the use of a detachment of col. Carvil Hall's regiment, from Maryland, on their march to join general Washington, the sum of 60 dollars; colonel Hall to be accountable:

That there should be put into the hands of the commissioners of accounts, for the payment of such of the Pennsylvania troops as, having been taken in Canada, and released on their parole, shall apply for the same, the sum of 500 dollars; the commissioners to be accountable:

That there should be advanced to colonel Marshall, of the third Virginia regiment, for the use of the said regiment, the sum of 500 dollars; he to be accountable:

That there is due to Gunning Bedford, for his pay as muster-master general, from the 17th of September, 1776, to the 12th of April, 1777, being 6, months and 26 days, at 40 dollars per month, 274.60 dollars; for his rations, 206 days, at 4 rations a day, is 824 rations, at 8 pence, 73.22 dollars; the whole amounting to 347.82 dollars:

To brig. gen. Thompson, for his pay from the month of December last, to April, inclusive, being five months, at 125 dollars per month, 625 dollars: To Frederick Kelhopper, for sundry meals supplied men of col. Wood's battalion, 8.30 dollars:

Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

The committee on the treasury brought in a farther report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

Resolved, That the appointment of Messrs. James Calhoon and William Young, by the board of treasury at Baltimore, after the adjournment of Con-> gress from that place to Philadelphia, as superintendents of the press, be confirmed by Congress.

Resolved, That the governor and council of Maryland be desired to appoint superintendents of the press in the room of such as shall discontinue in that office, and return their names to Congress, together with their qualifications, agreeable to a form in the hands of the present superintendents.

Resolved, That any continental officers, being in Baltimore, on their march to the camp, at the time when money is ordered by Congress to Philadelphia, shall, at the request of the treasurer, escort the same, and detain a sufficient guard for this purpose, for a time not exceeding three days.

Ordered, That 400,000 dollars be forthwith paid to the board of war, to be by them sent to the pay-master general, for the use of the army; he to be accountable.

Ordered, That the treasurer pay to John Gibson, esq. auditor-general, the sum of 500,000 dollars, to be draughted out of his hands by order of Congress; he to be accountable.

A memorial from Bajeu de Porte, was read:

Ordered, That it be referred to the board of war.

The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

WEDNESDAY, May 7, 1777.

A letter, of the 6th, from J. M'Kinley, president of the state of Delaware and a memorial from major-general Schuyler, were read:

Ordered, That the letter from Mr. president M'Kinley, be referred to the board of war.

It having been represented to Congress, that sundry pieces of cloth were taken by the order of general Washington from John Hart, esquire's fulling mills, in the month of December last, to prevent the same from falling into the hands of the enemy; and that part of the said cloth was in the possession of the quarter-master general, and part used for the public service.

Ordered, That the quarter-master general, and his deputies, deliver to John Hart, esq. all such cloth as he or they may have in their possession, taken from Mr. Hart's fulling-mills, near Rocky-Hill, in New-Jersey, in December last; and also account and pay for all the cloth taken from thence, which has been used and cannot be delivered.

Ordered, That the sum of 1266 2-3d dollars be advanced to Uriah Forrest, major of the 3d Maryland regiment, for the use of such part of the said regiment as is under his command; and that the same be charged to the account of the said regiment.

Ordered, That a warrant, for 200,000 dollars, be drawn on Nathaniel Appleton, esq. commissioner of the loan-office for the state of MassachusettsBay, in favor of Joseph Trumbull, commissary-general, he to be accountable. Resolved, That the consideration of the memorial of general Schuyler be postponed till to-morrow.

The marine committee brought in a report, which was read:

Ordered, That the consideration thereof be postponed till to-morrow.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

THURSDAY, May 8, 1777.

Ordered, That a warrant issue on Thomas Smith, esq. commissioner of the loan-office for the state of Pennsylvania, for 100,000 dollars; and another for 20,000 dollars on the continental treasurer at Baltimore, both in favor of James Mease, clothier-general, for the public service; he to be accountable. Ordered, That Mr. Nelson have leave to return to Virginia, for the recovery of his health.

A letter, of the 6th, from Joseph Trumbull, esq. commissary-general, with an account referred to him, enclosed, was read:

Ordered, That the same be referred to the board of treasury.

A letter, of the 7th, from governor Livingston, at Haddonfield, to Dr. Witherspoon, was laid before Congress, and read, requesting a guard of 25 or 30 continental troops, for purposes therein mentioned; Whereupon,

Resolved, That general Schuyler be empowered and directed to send to governor Livingston, at Haddonfield, in New-Jersey, a guard of 25 or 30 continental troops, under proper officers, to be under the command and direction of the said governor Livingston.

The secret committee having laid before Congress sundry letters and papers, received by the Amphitrite, arrived at Portsmouth, from France; and the same being read,

Ordered, That the said committee furnish the board of war with copies of the invoices of military stores and entrenching tools, with a list of the French officers, and copies of their agreements with Mr. Deane, in order that the said board may give the necessary directions relative thereto :

That the said committee furnish the clothier-general with copies of the invoices of all clothing and articles that relate to his department, that he may give the proper orders relative thereto :

That the board of war send copies of the invoices, agreements, and list of the officers, with copies of their orders relative to the same, to general Washington,

That the secret committee give such directions relative to the Amphitrite, and other French ships employed in bringing stores from France, as they shall judge most likely to promote the public service.

Resolved, That Mr. J. Langdon be empowered to advance to the French officers arrived in the state of New-Hampshire, with whom Mr. Deane has contracted, such sums of money as may be necessary for their subsistence, and to enable them to proceed to such posts and places as they may be ordered to by general Washington; and transmit an account of the money so advanced to the pay-master general.

Congress took into consideration the memorial from major-general Schuyler; Whereupon,

Resolved, That the explanation given in major-general Schuyler's memorial, of the expressions used in his letter of the 4th of February last, to Congress, is satisfactory; and that Congress entertain now the same favor able sentiments concerning him which they entertained before that letter was received.

It being represented, that the standing committee, for hearing and determining appeals, is too numerous,

Resolved, That the said committee be discharged, and that a new committee of five be appointed, they or any three of them to hear and determine upon appeals brought to Congress.

The men.bers chosen, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Duane, Mr. J. Adams, Mr. Sergeant, and Mr. Burke.

Resolved, That Mr. Clymer be discharged from serving as a member of the board of treasury, in order that he may be enabled to give attendance at the board of war.

Resolved, That a member be added to the board of war :

The member chosen, Mr. Carroll.

Resolved, That a member be added to the board of treasury:

The member chosen, Mr. Walton.

Ordered, That the secret committee sell 1000 lb. of sulphur to Mr. Wisner, and 1000 lb. to Mr. Livingston, for the use of their powder-mills. The committee on the treasury reported,

That there is due to Robert Jewell, for the maintenance of state prisoners, from the 21st of February to the 11th of April, including fire-wood and candles, 14.80 dollars, the balance of his account:

To captain Thomas Rodney, for pay, subsistence and mileage of a volunteer company from the Delaware state, 424.8 dollars:

To Cæsar Rodney, esq. for his pay and rations as brigadier-general from the 6th of January to the 6th of March, 314 dollars:

To lieutenants M'Kinnan, Cox, Bratten and Duff, of the Delaware battalion, commanded by col. Hall, for 11 days in going to Lancaster, and returning as an escort to prisoners sent from hence, 115.18 dollars:

To James Gillingham, for two chests and letter-cases made for the treasury office, 27.30 dollars:

To Lieutenant Thomas Houston, for the pay of a company of Bucks county militia, in colonel Kirkbride's battalion, 115.69 dollars.

To Thomas Plunket, for the expense of himself and a guard with money from Baltimore to this city, and for their expenses returning, 59.89 dollars: To lieutenant William Bird, of the 3d Pennsylvania regiment, for a balance of pay between the first of March, 1776, and the 5th of January, 1777, 109.30 dollars:

To Dr. Thomas Hendrey, for his extraordinary services in New-Jersey, 50 dollars:

To Reuben Smith, for 5 days service, taking a list of medicine in Woodbury, Connecticut, 11.7 dollars:

To John Brick, for expenses paid for two sick privates of colonel Seely's battalion of New-Jersey militia, 22.36 dollars:

To Dr. John Griffith, for medicine and attendance on sundry sick soldiers, 88.45 dollars:

To William Hurrie, for sundry expenses he paid while attending Congress, 8.12 dollars; and for 36 days attendance as door-keeper, from the 10th of March to the 1st of May, at 1 dollar a day, 36 dollars:

To captain Thomas Hanson, for mileage of his company of Maryland flying-camp, from Philadelphia to Charlestown, Maryland, 200 miles out and home, 391.10 dollars.

Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

The committee for foreign affairs reported the draught of a new commission for commanders of private ships of war, and a bond to be given by them, which were read and agreed to.

The form of the commission is as follows:

IN CONGRESS.

The delegates of the United States of New-Hampshire, MassachusettsBay, Rhode-Island, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina and Georgia, to all unto whom these presents shall come, send greeting. KNOW YE, That we have granted, and, by these presents, do grant license and authority to mariner, commander of called the of the burthen of mounting

out and set forth the said said

carriage guns, and navigated by men, to fit in a warlike manner, and by and with the and the crew thereof, by force of arms, to attack, subdue, and take all ships and other vessels whatsoever, carrying soldiers, arms, gun-powder, ammunition, provisions or any other contraband goods to any of the British armies or ships of war employed against these United States: And also to attack, seize, and take all ships or other vessels belonging to the inhabitants of Great-Britain, or to any subject or subjects thereof, with their tackle, apparel, furniture and ladings, on the high seas, or between high and low water marks, (the ships or vessels, together with their cargoes, belonging to any inhabitant or inhabitants of Bermuda, Providence, and the Bahama islands, and such other ships and vessels bringing persons with intent to settle and reside within any of the United States, or bringing arms, ammuni

tion, or warlike stores to the said states, for the use thereof; which said ships or vessels you shall suffer to pass unmolested, the commanders thereof permitting a peaceable search, and giving satisfactory information of the contents of the ladings, and destination of the voyage, only excepted,) and the said ships or vessels so apprehended as aforesaid, and as prize taken, to carry into any port or harbour within the dominions of any neutral state willing to admit the same, or into any port within the said United States, in order that the courts there instituted to hear and determine causes civil and maritime, may proceed in due form to condemn the said captures, if they be adjudged lawful prize; or otherwise according to the usage in such cases at the port or in the state where the same shall be carried. The said having given bond with sufficient sureties, that nothing be done by the said

or any of his officers, marines, or company thereof, contrary to, or inconsistent with the usage and custom of nations; and that he shall not exceed or transgress the powers and authorities contained in this commission. And we will and require all our officers whatsoever in the service of the United States, to give succour and assistance to the said in the premises. This commission shall continue in force until the Congress shall issue orders to the contrary. Dated at

Attest,

By order of Congress,

The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

FRIDAY, May 9, 1777.

President.

The board of war brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

Resolved, That a reward of 24 dollars be paid to every non-commissioned officer or soldier who shall come over with his arms from the enemy.

Ordered, That the remainder of the report be re-committed.

Ordered, That a warrant for 22,336 2-3 dollars be drawn on Joseph Clarke, esq. commissioner of the loan-office for the state of Rhode-Island, in favour of Daniel Tillinghast, esq. and charged to the account of James Mease, esq. clothier-general; the same being in full for clothing purchased by the said Daniel Tillinghast for the use of the army.

Ordered, That the sum of 2319 2-3 dollars be advanced to Samuel Ewing, pay-master of the 2d Maryland battalion of continental troops, for the use of the said battalion, he to be accountable.

Resolved, That the president write to the executive powers of each of the thirteen United States, requesting them to transmit to Congress, with all convenient despatch, authenticated copies of all the petitions, memorials, and remonstrances, that were sent to the king and parliament of GreatBritain, respecting American grievances, between the 1st of January, 1764, and the 1st of September, 1774, inclusive, with the answers to such, if any have been received.

The committee on the treasury reported,

That there is due to John Jarvis, for the pay of a company of Bucks county militia in colonel Kirkbride's battalion, between the 28th of December and the 27th of March, 461.67 dollars :

To captain Stephen Porter, for balance of pay and mileage of a company of Philadelphia county militia, between the 17th of December and the 4th of February, 79.81 dollars:

To captain Francis Nichols, for difference between the pay of a lieutenant and captain, from the 1st of January to the 15th of November, 1776, 109 dollars:

To James Millegan, John Carter, and John Wells, for their pay as comVOL. II.

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