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But, lest some unlucky event should happen, unfavorable to my reputation, I beg it may be remembered, by every gentleman in the room, that I, this day, declare with the utmost sincerity, I do not think myself equal to the command I am honored with.

"As to pay, sir, I beg leave to assure the Congress, that, as no pecuniary consideration could have tempted me to accept this arduous employment, at the expense of my domestic ease and happiness, I do not wish to make any profit from it. I will keep an exact account of my expenses. Those, I doubt not, they will discharge, and that is all I desire."

Resolved, That a committee be appointed to draught a commission and instructions for the general.

The persons chosen to compose the committee, were Mr. Lee, Mr. E. Rutledge, and Mr. J. Adams.

The papers transmitted from the convention of New-York, being read, Resolved, That the same be referred to a committee of five, and that they report what steps, in their opinion, are necessary to be taken for securing and preserving the friendship of the Indian nations.

The following persons were chosen for this committee, viz. Mr. Schuyler, Mr. Henry, Mr. Duane, Mr. Wilson, and Mr. P. Livingston.

The Congress then resumed the consideration of the report from the committee of the whole, and came to the following resolutions :

Resolved, That two major-generals be appointed for the American army. That the pay of each of the major-generals be one hundred and sixty-six dollars per month.

That when any of these act in a separate department, he be allowed, for his pay and expenses, three hundred and thirty-two dollars per month.

That there be eight brigadiers-general.

That the pay of each of the brigadiers-general be one hundred and twentyfive dollars per month.

That there be one adjutant-general.

That his pay be one hundred and twenty-five dollars per month.

That there be one commissary-general of stores and provisions.

That his pay be eighty dollars per month.

That there be one quarter-master-general for the grand army, and one deputy, under him, for the separate army.

That the pay of the quarter-master-general be eighty dollars per month, and that of the deputy forty dollars per month.

That there be one pay-master-general, and a deputy under him, for the army in a separate department; that the pay, for the pay-master-general himself, be one hundred dollars per month, and for the deputy pay-master, under him, fifty dollars per month.

That there be one chief engineer at the grand army, and that his pay be sixty dollars per month.

That two assistants be employed under him, and that the pay of each of them be twenty dollars per month.

That there be one chief engineer for the army, in a separate department, and two assistants under him; that the pay of the chief engineer be sixty dollars per month, and the pay of the assistants each, twenty dollars per month. That there be three aids-de-camp; and that their pay be thirty-three dollars per month each.

That there be a secretary to the general; and that his pay be sixty-six dollars per month.

That there be a secretary to the major-general, acting in a separate department; and that his pay be thirty-three dollars per month.

That there be a commissary of the musters.

That his pay be forty dollars per month.

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A letter from the convention of New-York, received by express, was laid before the Congress and read, and the same being taken into consideration, Resolved, That the provincial convention of New-York, be desired immediately to apply to governor Trumbull to order the Connecticut troops, now stationed at Greenwich, Stanford, and parts adjacent, to march towards NewYork.

Adjourned till to-morrow at nine o'clock.

SATURDAY, June 17, 1775.

Met according to adjournment.

The committee appointed to draught a commission to the general, reported the same, which, being read by paragraphs and debated, was agreed to as follows:

IN CONGRESS.

The delegates of the United Colonies of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, the counties of New-Castle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, and South-Carolina;

To George Washington, Esq.'

WE, reposing special trust and confidence in your patriotism, valor, conduct, and fidelity, do, by these presents, constitute and appoint you to be general and commander in chief, of the army of the United Colonies, and of all the forces now raised, or to be raised, by them, and of all others who shall voluntarily offer their service, and join the said army for the defence of American liberty, and for repelling every hostile invasion thereof: And you are hereby vested with full power and authority to act as you shall think for the good and welfare of the service.

And we do hereby strictly charge and require all officers and soldiers, under your command, to be obedient to your orders, and diligent in the exercise of their several duties.

And we do also enjoin and require you, to be careful in executing the great trust reposed in you, by causing strict discipline and order to be observed in the army, and that the soldiers be duly exercised, and provided with all convenient necessaries..

And you are to regulate your conduct in every respect by the rules and discipline of war, (as herewith given you,) and punctually to observe and follow such orders and directions, from time to time, as you shall receive from this, or a future Congress of these United Colonies, or committee of Congress. This commission to continue in force, until revoked by this, or a future Congress.

By order of the Congress.

Ordered, That the same be fairly transcribed, signed by the president, attested by the secretary, and delivered to the general.

Resolved unanimously, Whereas, the delegates of all the colonies, from Nova-Scotia to Georgia, in Congress assembled, have unanimously chosen George Washington, esq. to be general and commander in chief, of such forces. as are, or shall be, raised for the maintenance and preservation of American liberty; this Congress doth now declare, that they will maintain and assist him, and adhere to him, the said George Washington, with their lives and fortunes in the same cause.

The Congress then proceeded to the choice of the officers in the army by ballot:

Artemus Ward, esq. was chosen first major-general.

Horatio Gates, esq. adjutant-general.

Resolved, That Horatio Gates, esq. now chosen adjutant-general, shall have the rank of brigadier-general.

Charles Lee, esq. second major-general.

Adjourned till Monday at nine o'clock.

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MONDAY, June, 19, 1775.

Met according to adjournment.

The president laid before the Congress, sundry letters he had received from Massachusetts-Bay and New-York, which were read.

Ordered, That Mr. Henry, Mr. Lynch, and Mr. J. Adams, be a committee to wait upon general Lee, and to inform him of his appointment, and request his answer, whether he will accept the command.

The committee returned and reported, that they had waited on general Lee, and informed him of his appointment, and that he gave for answer; "That he had the highest sense of the honor conferred upon him by the Congress; that no effort in his power shall be wanting to serve the American.

cause."

The letters from Massachusetts-Bay being taken into consideration, the Congress come to the following resolve:

That the governor of Connecticut be requested to direct all the forces raised in that colony, not employed at Ticonderoga and Crown-Point, or recommended by this Congress to be marched towards New-York, to be immediately sent. to join the combined army before Boston: And it is earnestly recommended to the colony of Rhode-Island, and to the provincial convention of New-Hampshire, to send immediately to the army before Boston, such of the forces as are already embodied, towards their quotas of the troops agreed to be raised by the New-England colonies.

Resolved, That Mr. Lee, Mr. E. Rutledge, and Mr. J. Adams, be a committee to prepare the form of a commission for the major-generals, also for the brigadier-generals, and other officers in the army.

Resolved, That there be four major-generals.

The Congress then proceeded to chuse the two remaining major-generals, when Philip Schuyler, esq. was chosen third major-general, and Israel Putnam, esq. was unanimously chosen fourth major-general.

The committee appointed to prepare the form of a commission for the major and brigadier-generals, reported the same, which being agreed to,

Ordered, That a copy thereof be made out, signed by the president, and attested by the secretary, for each of the major-generals and brigadier-gene

*rals.

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Ordered, That the secretary get à number of commissions, with proper blanks, printed for the other officers.

The committee appointed to prepare a petition to the king, reported a ́ draught of one, which was read.

Adjourned till to-morrow nine o'clock.

TUESDAY, June 20, 1775.

Met according to adjournment.

The committee appointed to prepare instructions to the general,, reported the same, which being read and debated, were agreed to.

Adjourned till to-morrow at nine o'clock,

WEDNESDAY, June 21, 1775.

Met according to adjournment.

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Mr. Thomas Jefferson appeared as a delegate for the colony of Virginia, and produced his credentials, which were read and approved, and are as follows:

At a convention of the delegates, for the counties and corporations in the colony of Virginia, at the town of Richmond, in the county of Henrico, on Monday, 27th March, 1775.

On a motion made, Resolved, That Thomas Jefferson, esq. be appointed a deputy to represent this colony in general Congress, in the room of the hon

orable Peyton Randolph, esq. in case of the non-attendance of the said Peyton Randolph, esq. JOHN TAZEWELL, clerk of convention.

Attest,

At a general assembly, began and held at the capitol, in the city of Williamsburgh, on Thursday, 1st June, in the fifteenth year of the reign of our lord, George the third, by the grace of God, of Great-Britain, &c. A. D. 1775, MONDAY, June 5, 15th G. III. 1775.

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Resolved, N. C. D. That this house doth entirely approve of the proceedings and resolutions of the convention of delegates, for the couny and corporations in the colony of Virginia held at Richmond town, in the county of Henrico, the 20th of March, 1775; and that it be recommended to all the good people of this colony, strictly to conform to, and observe the same.

By the house of burgesses,

PEYTON RANDOLPH, Speaker.

Mr. Henry informed the Congress, that the general had put into his hand sundry queries, to which he desired the Congress would give an answer. The queries being read and debated,

Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to prepare proper answers. The persons chosen, were Mr. Deane, Mr. Henry, Mr. J. Rutledge, Mr. S. Adams, and Mr. Lee.

On a motion made, Resolved, That the general be allowed three aids-decamp.

That each of the major-generals have two aids-de-camp.

That their pay be thirty-three dollars per month each.

Adjourned till to-morrow at nine o'clock.

THURSDAY, June 22, 1775.

Met according to adjournment.

The committee appointed to prepare answers to the general's queries, reported the same, which were read.

The Congress then came to the following resolutions :

Resolved, That the number of brigadier-generals be augmented to eight: and the same were chosen by ballot, as follows:

Seth Pomeroy, esq. first brigadier-general.
Richard Montgomery, esq. second do.
David Worster, esq. third do,

William Heath, esq. fourth do.

Joseph Spencer, esq. fifth do.
John Thomas, esq. sixth do.
John Sullivan, esq. seventh do.
Nathaniel Green, esq. eighth do.

Resolved, That the troops, including the volunteers, be furnished with camp equipage, and blankets, where necessary, at the continental expense.

Resolved, That the officers, now in the army, receive their new commissions through the hands of the general.

Resolved, That a sum not exceeding two millions of Spanish milled dollars be emitted by the Congress in bills of credit, for the defence of America. Resolved, That the twelve confederated colonies be pledged for the redemption of the bills of credit, now directed to be emitted.

Upon motion made, Resolved, That the colony of Pennsylvania raise two more companies of riflemen, and that these, with the six before ordered to be by them raised, making eight companies, be formed into a battalion, to be commanded by such field officers, captains and lieutenants, as shall be recommended by the assembly or convention of said colony.

Adjourned till to-inorrow nine o'clock.

TUESDAY, June 23, 1775.

Met according to adjournment.

A letter from Crown-Point, dated June 10, was laid before the Congress and read. Information being given, that two officers who brought the letter were at the door, and had some things of importance to communicate,

Ordered, That they be introduced, and they were introduced. After they withdrew, the Congress came to the following resolutions:

Resolved, That it be recommended to the officer commanding in the New-York department, to procure, as soon as possible, a list of the men employed in taking and garrisoning Crown-Point and Ticonderoga, and keeping possession of the lakes, and also of their disbursements, in order that they may be paid.

Resolved, That their pay be the same as that of the officers and privates in the American army; the highest of the officers not to exceed that of a captain, and that the pay commence the third day of May last, and continue till they are discharged.

Resolved, That it be recommended to the convention of New-York, that they, consulting with general Schuyler, employ in the army to be raised for the defence of America, those called Green Mountain Boys, under such officers as the said Green Mountain Boys shall chuse.

On a motion made, Resolved, That a committee of five be chosen to draw up a declaration, to be published by general Washington, upon his arrival at the camp before Boston.

The committee chosen are Mr. J. Rutledge, Mr. W. Livingston, Mr. Franklin, Mr. Jay, and Mr. Johnson.

Agreeable to order, the Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into further consideration the state of America, and after some time spent therein, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. Ward reported certain resolutions come into by them, and that not having yet finished, they desired leave to sit again.

The report of the committee being read, was agreed to as follows:

Resolved, That the number and denomination of the bills to be emitted be as follows:

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THIS bill entitles the bearer to receive

Spanish milled dollars, or the value thereof in gold or silver, according to the resolutions of the Congress, held at Philadelphia, on the 10th day of May, A. D. 1775.

Resolved, That Mr. J. Adams, Mr. J. Rutledge, Mr. Duane, doctor Franklin, and Mr. Wilson, be a committee to get proper plates engraved, to provide paper, and to agree with printers to print the above bills.

The order for a committee of the whole renewed, and the Congress adjourned till to-morrow at nine o'clock.

SATURDAY, June 24, 1775.

Met according to adjournment.

On a motion made, Resolved, That a committee of seven be appointed to devise ways and means to put the militia of America in a proper state for the defence of America.

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