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Resolved, That 12,600 dollars be paid to George Noarth, esq. and charged to the account of William Palfrey, esq. pay-master general, the same being in full of an order in his favour, drawn by the said William Palfrey, dated Newton, January 22, 1777.

Resolved, That 200,000 dollars be sent to the committee of Congress, in Philadelphia, for public service; they to be accountable.

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

MONDAY, February 10, 1777.

A letter, of the 8th, from the council of safety of Maryland, with sundry papers enclosed, relating to the insurrection on the Eastern-Shore of Maryland; one, of the 3d, from Southy Simpson, of Accomac; and one, of the 11th of December last, from general Lee, at Morristown, were read:

Ordered, That the letter from Southy Simpson be referred to the board of

war.

Resolved, That it be recommended to the council of safety of Maryland, to prevent the sailing of all provision vessels, while the enemy's ships of war infest the bay; as, there is the greatest reason to apprehend, they cannot avoid falling into the possession of the enemy.

Resolved, That 400 dollars be advanced to James Betton, towards defraying the expenses of carrying money to the eastern states, he to account with the state of New-Hampshire.

Resolved, That the committee of Baltimore be desired to send William Pigot, a prisoner, under a trusty guard, to the town of York, in Pennsylvania, and deliver him with this order, to the committee of York-Town, who are desired to have the said William Pigot safely and securely confined in prison till farther orders.

A petition from colonel Dugan was read:

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

A petition from Timothy Folger was read:

Ordered, To lie on the table.

Ordered, That the board of war inform brigadier Smallwood, by letter, that Congress have ordered such a number of troops as they judge necessary, for suppressing the insurgents on the Eastern-Shore of Maryland, and direct him to order the officers, employed on the recruiting service, to apply themselves diligently to that business.

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

TUESDAY, February 11, 1777.

A letter, of the 6th, from general Mifflin, was read; Whereupon, Resolved, That 450,000 dollars be sent to gen. Mifflin, in lieu of a like sum ordered to be paid him by a draught on T. Smith, esq. commissioner of the loan-office, in the state of Pennsylvania; and that the board of treasury use their utmost endeavors in preparing and forwarding this sum.

Resolved, That a committee of seven be apppointed to devise ways and means of supporting the credit of the continental currency, and supplying the treasury with money:

The members chosen, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Burke, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Chase, Mr. Ellery, Mr. Middleton, and Mr. Brownson.

Resolved, That James Franklin and William Gibson be appointed signers of the bills of credit, in addition to those already appointed.

Resolved, That four members be added to the salt-petre committee: The members chosen, Mr. Page, Mr. Thornton, Mr. Elmer, and Mr. Burke. The board of treasury, to whom the petition of col. Dugan was referred, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration;

Whereupon, Resolved, That so much of the said petition as relates to the pay and subsistence of colonel Dugan, be referred to the commanding officer in the northern department.

Information being given to Congress, that sundry officers complain of the conduct of colonel Haussegger,

Ordered, That the board of war enquire into the nature of the charges against col. Haussegger, and transmit the same to gen. Washington, with the names of the informants and witnesses to support the charges, and desire him to take speedy and effectual measures for bringing the said colonel Haussegger to trial.

The committee of treasury reported, that there is due to capt. William Galbraith, for the hire of a guard on the Carolina prisoners in Baltimore, the sum of £.47 5 7, and for the allowance to prisoners, being 13 in number, 17 days, from the 25th of January to the 11th of February, inclusive, at 15s. per week, £.23 13 5, both sums being £.70 19, equal to 189.18 dollars:

To Thomas Rutter, for the expenses of his guard of 11 men, himself included, in conducting prisoners from Baltimore to Leesburg, 70.43 dollars: To William Lavely, inn-keeper, for entertaining Hessian officers and their servants while in Baltimore, 40.12 dollars :

To Charles Jones, quarter-master of the 7th Virginia regiment, for the hire of two teams, in bringing baggage to Baltimore, 73.55 dollars: Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

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

WEDNESDAY, February 12, 1777.

A letter, of the 6th, from the council of safety of Pennsylvania, was read: Ordered, That it be referred to the board of treasury.

Resolved, That John Barney and Hans Creery be appointed signers of the bills of credit, in addition to those already appointed.

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to consider the most effectual means of discouraging and preventing desertions from the army: The members chosen, Mr. Chase, Mr. Sergeant, and Mr. R. H. Lee. The board of war brought in a report, which was taken into consideration : Whereupon,

Resolved, That a copy of the letter from Southy Simpson, written by direction of the committee of Accomac and Northampton counties, in Virginia, be sent to the governor and council of that state; and that they be desired to station in those counties, two companies of the troops raised for the particular defence of that state; and, in case such companies cannot be spared, brigadier Lewis is directed to send over two companies of continental troops. Ordered, That the second paragraph in the report, be committed to the committee on desertions.

Ordered, That brigadier Waterbury be referred to the commissioners for settling the continental accounts in the eastern department, for a settlement of his accounts of monies expended on account of the intended expedition against the tories on Long-Island.,

Resolved, That gen. Schuyler be empowered to make the most advantageous use of the salt-springs mentioned in his letter of the 23d of January last; to employ proper persons, skilled in making salt, and to purchase boilers and other things necessary for the purpose:

That such parts of the said letter as relate to Indian affairs, be referred to the committee on Indian affairs.

Resolved, That gen. Washington be empowered to settle all matters of rank and pay among the officers of the Virginia and Maryland regiments,

and to fill up and date their commissions as he shall think just and proper; and that he also settle any disputes that may arise in the army respecting

rank.

Resolved, That 8000 dollars be advanced to Mr. Thomas Cummings, commissary of provisions, for the purpose of supplying the troops going on the expedition to Somerset and Worcester counties; and 1,500 dollars to colonel Henry Hollingsworth, for supplying the troops marching through the Head of Elk to join general Washington:

That 6000 dollars be advanced to colonel McClenaghan, of the 7th battalion of Virginia troops, for the purpose of re-inlisting his men for three years, and recruiting his battalion.

Ordered, That the medical committee write to general Washington, and consult him on the propriety and expediency of causing such of the troops in his army, as have not had the small-pox, to be inoculated, and recommend that measure to him, if it can be done consistent with the public safety, and good of the service.

Ordered, That Mr. Babcock, who brought a letter from colonel Stewart, at Lebanon, in Connecticut, respecting cannon, and other public business, be paid as an express.

The committee of treasury reported, that there is due to Charles Jones, quarter-master of the 7th Virginia regiment, for forage supplied by him to the wagon-horses attending the said regiment on their march to Baltimore, 59.41 dollars:

That they have examined the accounts of William Bausman, barrackmaster, at Lancaster, being for sundry supplies of wood, &c. and for his and his son's pay, amounting to £773 1 10, of which he received £500 from the committee of Lancaster county, and £30 from the state of Pennsylvania, and there remains due to him a balance of £243 1 10, equal to 648.22 dollars. Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

The committee on the northern department, laid before Congress a letter from colonel Stewart, who was sent, agreeable to the orders of Congress, to procure cannon at Mr. Livingston's and Salisbury founderies, wherein he informs, that there is a quantity of cannon at Salisbury foundery, which the governor and council of Connecticut are willing to dispose of to the continent, but demand the price of £70, lawful money, per ton, for 18 and 9 pounders; £80, lawful money, per tøn, for 6, 4, and 3 pounders:

Ordered, That the committee aforesaid write to governor Trumbull, and inform him of the contracts entered into by Congress; that they state to him the prejudice it will do those contracts, and the ill-effects that must ensue to the continent, should so high a price be given for these cannon; and, therefore, request him to lend the cannon which are much wanted for the defence of Ticonderoga, and assure him Congress will return them, or others in lieu of them, as soon as possible.

Resolved, That Clement Brook and William Hammond, be appointed signers of the bills of credit, in addition to those already appointed.

The committee appointed to consider the proceedings of the committees from the four New-England states, made a report, which, with the report of the committee of the whole, was taken into consideration; and, after debate, Resolved, That the farther consideration thereof be postponed. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

THURSDAY, February 13, 1777.

Resolved, That 15,000 dollars be advanced to Mr. Jonathan Hudson for public service; be to be accountable.

Resolved, That Saturday next be assigned for taking into consideration the propriety of appointing commissioners to audit and settle the accounts of

the several states against the continent, and of such of the said states as have received public money in the eastern and middle departments.

Resolved, That James Walker, Horatio Johnson, and John Taylor, be appointed signers of the bills of credit, in addition to those already appointed. Resolved, That 2000 dollars be paid to Benjamin Crocket, and charged to the account of colonel Moses Hazen, for the use of his battalion, the same being in full of an order of lieutenant colonel Edward Antil, in favour of the said B. Crocket, dated Wilmington, February, 1777.

Resolved, That 100,000 dollars be advanced to the council of safety of Pennsylvania for the recruiting service; the said state to be accountable. The committee on promoting the manufacture of salt-petre, reported, "That they have had a conference with Jacob Robsamen; from which it appears, that he has been very usefully employed for one year, next preceding the 25th of December past, in the state of Virginia, in the manufacture of salt-petre, and the instruction of all persons applying to him in the process of making salt-petre, under a contract for that purpose with this committee: that, in the execution of this business, he has received nothing more than his expenses; and that it is the opinion of the committee, that he is entitled to a farther reward;" Whereupon,

Ordered, That there be paid to the said Jacob Robsamen, the sum of 600 dollars, as a compensation for his extraordinary services in the prosecution of this important business,

The committee on Indian affairs, to whom a petition from divers inhabitants of the county of Westmoreland, in Pennsylvania, and a letter from Thomas Cressap, of Maryland, were referred, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

Resolved, That it would be improper and inexpedient to raise at present any more companies for the defence of the western frontiers, as there appears to be no immediate danger of an Indian war.

A letter, of the 12th, from the council of safety of Maryland, was read. The committee to whom the memorial of colonel Campbell was referred, made a verbal report; Whereupon,

Resolved, That the commissioners for auditing accounts in the northern department, be directed to make enquiry concerning the loss of colonel Campbell's baggage, in the retreat of the army from Quebec, and to report to Congress a state of the facts and the evidence relating to them.

Resolved, That, colonel Campbell be continued in his former pay and rank; that he be directed to repair immediately to the commissioners for auditing and settling the accounts of the northern army, and settle with them the accounts of his late department.

Resolved, That a copy of general Lee's letter, respecting captain Gibson, be sent to general Washington, and that captain Gibson be recommended to the general for promotion in the army of the United States.

The committee of treasury reported,

That there is due to George M'Candles, for entertaining the Virginia lighthorse on their march to join general Washington, 66.66 dollars:

To Jacob Myers, for entertaining the Virginia light-horse, on their march to join general Washington, and for wagonage, his extraordinary expenses and trouble, and taking care of the sick, 439.75 dollars:

To captain Henry Sheafe, for the pay of a guard of militia over the prisoners, from the 24th of December, to the 3d of February, 118.54 dollars: To Robert Jewell, for maintaining prisoners in the new gaol of Philadelphia, and for the salary of himself and his two assistants, to the 24th of January, 766.79 dollars:

To John Griffith, for sundry supplies of provisions, wood, &c. in the guardhouse and prison for prisoners, and for cash he paid for the support of Carolina prisoners in Baltimore, 301.15 dollars:

To John Gibson, esq. for cash he paid to Michael Watman, for the hire of his wagon, bringing paper for continental money from Philadelphia to Baltimore, 38.6 dollars.

To Daniel Grant, for provisions, firing, &c. to a guard over the treasury, nine days, by order of the board of treasury at Baltimore, 22.26 dollars: Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

The committee on deserters, brought in a report, which was read.

Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee on the proceedings of the committees from the four New-England states; and, after debate,

Ordered, That the farther consideration thereof be postponed till to

morrow.

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

FRIDAY, February 14, 1777.

A memorial from Thomas Erwing, of Baltimore, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the secret committee.

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

Ordered, To lie on the table, and that the same be taken into consideration to-morrow.

Resolved, That Mr. R. T. Paine be empowered and directed to contract with colonel Gridley, for forty 8-inch iron howitzers, upon terms that he shall judge reasonable, and cause ten of them to be mounted, and sent to Ticonderoga.

Ordered, That the board of treasury direct the managers of the lottery, to send, with all expedition, tickets of the first class to the several states.

Resolved, That 500 dollars be advanced to captain Antoine Selin, towards raising major Ottendorf's corps, and that the same be charged to the account of major Ottendorf.

The board of war brought in a report, which was read:

Ordered, To lie on the table.

A letter, of the 5th, from general Washington, was read:

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

Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee on the proceedings of the committees from the four New-England states, and after debate,

Ordered, That it be re-committed.

Ordered, That Dr. Elmer have leave of absence, public business requiring his attendance at home.

The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

SATURDAY, February 15, 1777.

A letter, of the 10th, from governor Henry, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the board of war.

Ordered, That the copy of general Howe's letter, which was enclosed in general Washington's letter of the, 5th, be referred to the committee appointed to enquire into the conduct of the British and Hessian officers.

The committee to whom was re-committed the report on the proceedings of the committees from the four New-England states, brought in another report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon,

Resolved, That considering the situation of the New-England states, Congress approve of the measures adopted and recommended by the committees from the four New-England states, for the defence of the state of RhodeIsland; and also of the measures to be taken for preventing the depreciation VOL. II.

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