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chevalier de Colerus, and Mons. Faneuil; and that the committee aforesaid be empowered to order a like certificate to such other foreigners applying for rank and service in the army of the United States, as they shall think proper. Resolved, That the count de Mountfort be recommended to general Washington for a brevet of lieutenant.

Ordered, That 300 dollars be paid to Mons. Faneuil, to free him from those embarrassments which he has been brought into by pursuing his own great desire to enter into the service of these United States, in consequence of advice from the assembly of Massachusetts-Bay and general Washington.

Ordered, That 100,000 dollars be advanced to James Mease, clothiergeneral: he to be accountable.

Resolved, That one million of dollars be sent by the treasurer to John Gibson, esq. auditor-general; the said money to be subject to the orders of Congress, and the auditor-general to be accountable.

Ordered, That 30,000 dollars be advanced to Richard Dallam, esq. deputy pay-master general of the flying-camp; he to be accountable.

The board of war brought in a report, which was read and considered; Whereupon,

Ordered, That 500,000 dollars be immediately sent to the pay-master general.

Resolved, That for preventing unnecessary expense, when the militia of any of the states is called to serve in the pay of the United States, no more officers shall be entitled to pay than a proper number in proportion to the privates, viz. for every company consisting of not less than 36 and under 50 privates, two commissioned officers; for every company not less than 50 and under 68 privates, three commissioned officers; for every company of 68 or more privates, four commissioned officers; and for every battalion of 500 and more privates, three field officers; for every battalion under 500, and not less than 300, a lieutenant-colonel and major; and for any number of privates above 150 and under 300, one lieutenant-colonel or major.

Ordered, That general Sullivan's letter, relative to Monsieur Vernejoul, be referred to the committee on foreign applications.

Ordered, That general Mifflin's plan, with two letters from general Washington, for regulating the duty of the quarter-master's department, be referred to the committee appointed to confer with general Gates, and general Green. Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the board of war of the 12th; Whereup,

Resolved, That it be recommended to the council of the state of Massachusetts-Bay, to erect, at the expense of the United States, in some convenient place in the county of Worcester, in the said state, barracks, with a stockade or enclosure surrounding the same, capable of containing 1500 prisoners, to be built of wood, as may appear to them most conducive to the public service, and, in the end, least expensive to the public.

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

SATURDAY, March 22, 1777.

A letter, signed John Ross, dated New-York, having been intercepted, was read.

The board of war brought in a report, which was read and considered ; Whereupon,

Ordered, That 300,000 dollars be advanced to major-general Mifflin, for the use of the quarter-master's department; he to be accountable.

Ordered, That 42 dollars be paid to William Sproat, being a balance due to him for his services as clerk to the board of war.

Ordered, That the petition from Robert Lilly, with the annexed account, be referred to the board of treasury.

Resolved, That two members be added to the board of treasury:
The members chosen, Mr. J. B. Smith, and Mr. L. Morris.

Ordered, That the managers of the lottery of the United States, draw the same, agreeably to the mode usually practised in the state-lotteries in Europe, and frequently used in large lotteries in America, by putting all the numbers in one wheel, and the prizes only in the other.

Congress proceeded to the choice of three additional managers of the United States' lottery; and, the ballots being taken,

John Ord, Robert Ritchie, and James Budden, were elected.

Ordered, That the bill dated March 9th, 1777, drawn by William Palfrey, pay-master general, for 3000 dollars in favor of John Ramsey, be paid, and charged to the account of the pay-master general.

The report of the medical committee was taken up and considered; and, after debate,

Ordered, That the said report, together with Dr. Shippen's plan, be recommitted.

Ordered, That a committee of five be appointed to devise ways and means for preserving the health of the troops, and for introducing better discipline into the army:

The members chosen, Mr. Wolcott, Mr. Roberdeau, Mr. Witherspoon, Mr. S. Adams, and Mr. Clark.

Resolved, That the board of war be empowered to contract with Mr. Wheeler, for a number of cannon of the new construction, invented by the said Wheeler.

Ordered, That one million of dollars be sent, by the continental treasurer, to the auditor-general, the said money to be subject to the order of Congress, and the auditor-general to be accountable.

The committee on departments, brought in a report, which was read and considered; Whereupon,

Resolved, That a secretary's office be forthwith established, and constantly kept in or near the state-house or building where Congress shall, from time time, hold its session:

That it be under the direction of the secretary, and provided with a deputysecretary, to be appointed by Congress, with a salary of 800 dollars a year, and such a number of clerks as Congress shall direct, to be appointed by the secretary, with a salary of 480 dollars a year each:

That the secretary, deputy-secretary, and clerks, before entering upon their office, shall severally take an oath, to be administered by the president, "well and faithfully to execute the trust reposed in them, in their respective capacities, according to their best skill and judgment, and to disclose no matter, the knowledge of which shall be acquired in consequence of such their office, and which they shall be directed to keep secret ;" also the oath prescribed for officers of the army, and passed by Congress the 21st of October, 1776; and that certificates thereof be given by the president, and lodged with the secretary:

That such of the journals and papers of Congress, as are secret in their nature, be kept by the secretary, and communicated to none, unless by particular order, but members of Congress and the deputy-secretary, and that all others be kept and filed in the office aforesaid :

That all letters and other papers of Congress, in the war-office, or hands of the president, treasury or marine boards, the secret committee, or committee on Indian affairs, or any other committee or member of Congress, (excepting such as relate only to the business of the said boards or committees, and have never been received in Congress, or having been received, have been committed to the same, as belonging to the respective offices) be delivered to the secretary, to be by him disposed of as aforesaid :

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That all letters and other papers that shall hereafter be committed by Congress to any board, committee, or member thereof, be returned to the president or secretary, with the report that may be made thereon: and that no original journal, letter, or paper, be delivered out of the office, without an order of Congress and receipt thereof:

That such of the journals and papers belonging to the secretary's office as are in daily use by Congress, be, each day after the adjournment, sent to the said office; and attested copies of all the resolutions to be carried into execution by any state, officer, person, or persons whatever, and papers necessary to accompany the same, to be sent, without delay, to the president, to be by him transmitted by express, post, or other conveyance, as shall appear expedient or necessary; and that attested copies of any resolutions of Congress, or public papers in the office, be delivered to any of its members requiring the same.

Ordered, That Monday next be assigned for electing a deputy secretary. The committee on the treasury reported, that there is due,

To Stewart Rowan, for ferriage of continental troops over Susquehanna, 13.54 dollars:

To Price and Haywood for travelling expenses from Philadelphia to Albany, in consequence of a resolve of Congress of the 13th of August last, and from Boston to Philadelphia, and back, 220 dollars :

To Francis Trumbull, for eight chairs bought of him for the use of the treasury office, 19.18 dollars :

To Thomas Burke, esq. for an advance made by him to 19 North-Carolina prisoners, to enable them to pay their expenses from Baltimore to Fredericktown, 139.30 dollars; the said sum to be deducted from the allowance due to the prisoners:

Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

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

MONDAY, March 24, 1777.

A letter, of the 22d, from general Gates; one, of the 26th of February, from brigadier R. Howe, at Charleston; one, of the 12th of March, from captain F. Wade; sundry papers delivered in by colonel Flower; and a remonstrance and petition from sundry inhabitants of the counties of Accomac, Somerset, and Worcester, were read:

Ordered, That the letter from general Gates be referred to the committee on foreign applications:

That the papers from. col. Flower be referred to the board of war: That the letter from captain Wade be referred to the committee appointed to enquire into the conduct of the commissaries :

That the remonstrance and petition from the inhabitants of the counties of Accomac, Somerset, and Worcester be referred to the delegates of Virginia and Maryland; and that the said delegates send to their respective states, a copy of the said remonstrance and petition.

Resolved, That Monsieur Faneuil have the rank of a colonel by brevet in the continental army, without pay or rations.

The committee appointed to confer with major-general Green, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

Resolved, That general Washington be informed that it never was the intention of Congress, that he should be bound by the majority of voices in a council of war, contrary to his own judgment:

That the commander in chief in every department be made acquainted, that though he may consult the general officers under him, yet, he is not bound by their opinion, but ought finally to direct every measure according to his own judgment:

That if the officer commanding the army of the enemy will acknowledge major-general Lee to be a prisoner of war, and entitled to be treated and exchanged as such, general Washington be authorized to proceed in the exchange of prisoners, either according to the principles and regulations of the cartel already agreed to, or according to such other and farther principles and regulations as shall appear to him most proper and advantageous:

That the pay of aids-de-camp be equal to that of other officers of their rank. Congress being informed that a vessel is just arrived with a quantity of arms belonging to the continent, and also with some arms belonging to private persons:

Ordered, That the secret committee purchase such of the arms and military stores as belong to private persons.

The medical committee, to whom the plan of the general hospital was recommitted, brought in a report, which was read:

Ordered, That the consideration thereof be postponed till to-morrow. A letter, of the 14th, from col. F. Johnson, was read; Whereupon, Ordered, That the independent company, commanded by captain J. Nelson, be annexed to the battalion commanded by colonel F. Johnson. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

TUESDAY, March 25, 1777.

A letter, of the 15th, from colonel G. Morgan, at Pittsburg, with sundry papers enclosed, was read; Whereupon,

Ordered, That the committee on Indian affairs transmit to the commissioners of Indian affairs in the northern department, the letter addressed to them by colonel Morgan, and signify to them, that Congress approve of the measures mentioned therein.

Resolved, That the governor and council of Virginia, be desired to suspend any operations against the gang of Indians, commonly called Pluggy's people, till they shall receive farther advice from Congress.

Ordered, That a copy of colonel Morgan's letter of the 15th and of the advices therein contained, be transmitted to the governor and council of Virginia.

The committee on the treasury brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon, Congress came to the following resolution: Whereas by a resolve of Congress of the 3d of October, 1776, the commissioners of the loan-office were directed "to transmit to the continental treasurer, once a month, an account of the cash in their respective offices, and to answer all draughts of the treasurer to the amount of the cash which they shall have in their hands as aforesaid ;"

Resolved, That the several commissioners of the loan-offices, hereafter, make monthly returns to the board of treasury of the cash in their respective offices, and that the same be draughted by warrants from the president only, which, previous to their being paid, shall be entered at the treasury-office, and the entry certified on the warrant by one of the commissioners of the treasury, the auditor-general, or one of his assistants or clerks.

A memorial from Lewis Prahl was read:

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

Ordered, That the opinion of the council of officers on colonel Morgan's commission, enclosed in the colonel's letter of the 15th, be referred to the board of war.

Congress proceeded to the election of a deputy-secretary, and, the ballots, being taken,

Mr. William Churchill Houston was elected.

The marine committee laid before Congress a paper, signed by sundry VOL II.

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officers in the fleet, containing charges and complaints against commodore Esek Hopkins; which was read, and laid upon the table.

Resolved, That the board of war be directed to order the new battalions, raised and raising on the west side of the Alleghany mountains, to join the army, under gen. Washington, with all possible expedition.

Resolved, That general Gates be directed to repair immediately to Ticonderoga, and take command of the army there.

A letter, of the 18th, from the convention of New-York, was read, recommending the appointment of a commandant of the forts in the Highlands; Whereupon.

Resolved, That a commandant of the forts in the Highlands be appointed, with the rank of brigadier-general:

The ballots being taken,

George Clinton, esq. was elected.

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

WEDNESDAY, March 26, 1777.

A letter, of the 14th, from William Aylett, esq. deputy commissary-general, at Williamsburg, with sundry papers enclosed, and one, of the 8th, from general Schuyler, with sundry papers, were read:

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

A letter, of the 20th, from the committee of Lancaster to the delegates of the state of Pennsylvania, enclosing sundry papers, was laid before Congress, and read:

Ordered, That the same be referred to a committee of three:

The members chosen, Mr. Wilson, Mr. J. Adams, and Mr. Sherman.

The board of war brought in a report, which was read and considered ; Whereupon,

Resolved, That the government of the Delaware state, be desired to place such a guard at Lewistown, at continental expense, as they shall think sufficient to protect the persons employed as pilots, and such property of the good subjects of these states as shall be thrown upon their or the adjacent coasts.

Ordered, That general Schuyler's general orders of February, 1777, be transmitted to gen. Washington, for his perusal and consideration.

Ordered, That 8000 dollars be advanced to colonel Thomas Hartley, for clothing and arming his battalion; he to be accountable.

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

The member chosen, Mr. G. Clymer.

Ordered, That 3000 dollars be advanced to captain Jacob Weaver, for the use of his independent company at Lancaster; he to be accountable.

The marine committee, to whom the petition of William Bernard was referred, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon, Resolved, That it is improper for Congress to interpose in the matter therein submitted to them in the present stage thereof.

Ordered, That the president acquaint general Washington, that Congress expect the office of adjutant-general to be filled by a speedy appointment of a person of abilities and unsuspected attachment to these United States; and recommend colonel William Lee to his consideration for this purpose.

Congress took into consideration the paper containing charges and complaints against commodore Hopkins; Whereupon,

Resolved, That Esek Hopkins be immediately, and he is hereby, suspended from his command in the American navy.

The committee on the treasury reported,

That there should be presented to Sterling Wade Cannon, 4 dollars, to enable him to proceed to Maryland:

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