That such militia be entitled to continental pay and rations, and be continued in service until the last day of November next, unless sooner relieved by continental troops, or discharged; and that it be earnestly recommended to the executive powers of the said states, to exert their most vigorous efforts in complying with the requisition of the said commanding officer, without delay, that a speedy and effectual stop may be put to the progress of the enemy in that quarter. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, WEDNESDAY, August 6, 1777. A letter, of this day, from gen. Washington, was read. A letter from the continental navy-board was read; Whereupon, Resolved, That John Rodeg be appointed a second-lieutenant in the navy of the United States. Whereas, major-general Gates, by virtue of the power and authority to him given and granted by Congress, did, on the 1st of May last, grant to Louis Jean Baptist Cham baron d'Antignac the commission of captain in the army of the United States: Resolved, That a continental commission be granted to him, the said Louis Jean Baptist Cham baron d'Antignac, in lieu of the warrant given to him by major-general Gates. A memorial from Mons. du Coudray, was read: Ordered, That it be dismissed. A letter of the 5th, from Henrich Klean, was read: Resolved, That John M'Coomb, of Princeton, be authorized to act as quarter-master at that place, for such detachments of the army as may be passing that way, until the quarter-master general shall give further directions on this subject; and that he take care that no damage be done to the college at that place. Resolved, That major-general Gates inform those states to whom he shall apply for militia, that Congress think it imprudent to adhere to settled quotas which ought to be called forth from each particular state. Congress proceeded to the appointment of a deputy commissary-general of purchases, a deputy commissary-general of issues, and a deputy pay-master general of Georgia: Whereupon, Resolved, That James Roe, esq. be commissary-general of purchases; John Bohun Garardeau, deputy commissary-general of issues; and Joseph Clay, deputy pay master general in Georgia. Resolved, That gen. R. Howe be directed to order brigadier M'Intosh to repair, with all expedition, to head-quarters, where his service is necessary. Resolved, That the sum of 4000 dollars be paid to the officers and men on board every fire-ship in the river Delaware, and to the officer and crew of any chain of fire-rafts, which shall actually set on fire and destroy any One of the enemy's ships of war of 20 guns and upwards; and 3000 dollars for every ship or vessel of war under 20 guns; and 1500 dollars for every transport; the proof of the execution done to be certified by the commodore, or commanding officer, or by the oath of such person or persons, as may have been a witness to the fact. Resolved, That the rewards aforesaid shall be divided in the following proportions: one-fourth to the captain or commander, one-seventh to the lieutenant, and the remainder to the crew, to be equally divided among them. A petition from John Green and Peter Knight, was read, praying that they may have leave to enter an appeal against a sentence of a court of adVOL. II, 28 miralty for the state of Georgia, on the 20th day of December last, on the libel John White, &c. vs. the sloop Polly: Ordered, That it be referred to the committee on appeals. Congress proceeded to the election of officers in the commissary's department; and, the ballots being taken, Ephraim Blaine, esq. was elected deputy commissary-general of purchases, in the room of Mr. Buchanan : Archibald Stewart, esq. deputy commissary-general of issues, in the room of Mr. Hoops, who has resigned: James Blicker, esq. deputy commissary-general of issues in the room of Mr. Avery, resigned: Resolved, That in case Mr. Blicker decline the office, the commanding officer in the northern department be authorized to appoint another person in his stead, and inform Congress thereof. Resolved, That another deputy commissary-general of issues be appointed for the eastern department: the ballots being taken, Samuel Gray, esq. was elected. Resolved, That the appointment of a deputy commissary-general of purchases, in the room of Mr. Wadsworth, be postponed, till to-morrow. The committee on the treasury brought in a report: Whereupon, Ordered, That there be advanced to William Palfrey, esq. pay-master general, 500,000 dollars, for the use of the army, he to be accountable: That there be advanced to Richard Bache, esq. post-master general, 2000 dollars, for which he is to be accountable: That a warrant issue in favor of the board of war, for 300,000 dollars, to be transmitted to Jonathan Trumbull, esq. deputy pay-master general in the northern department, for the use of the said department, he to be ac countable: That a warrant issue from the president on the commissioner of the loanoffice in the state of Massachusetts-Bay, in favor of William Sever, esq. president of the council of the said state, for 30,000 dollars, for building a magazine, laboratory, and barracks in that state, agreeable to the order of Congress, for which the said council is to be accountable: That there be paid to Richard Bradley, esq. pay-master of the 3d battalion of continental troops raised in North-Carolina, 3500 dollars, he to be accountable: That there be paid to John Taylor, pay-master of the 8th battalion of continental troops raised in North-Carolina, 1000 dollars, for which he is to be accountable: That there be advanced to Dr. W. Shippen, director-general of the hospital, 50,000 dollars, for the use of the hospital, he to be accountable: That there be advanced to the chevalier de Failly, 100 dollars, for two months' pay, he to be accountable: That the president issue a warrant on the commissioner of the continental loan-office in the state of Rhode-Island, in favor of Daniel Tillinghast, esq. for 10,059 4-90 dollars, in discharge of a bill drawn by Abraham Livingston and William Turnbull, agent for James Mease, esq. clothier-general, on Robert Morris, esq. chairman of the secret committee, and tendered for payment to Congress, dated Boston, June 16th, 1777; the clothier-general to be accountable : That the president issue a warrant on the commissioner of the loan-office in the state of Pennsylvania, in favor of James Mease, esq. clothier-general, for 50,000 dollars, for the use of his department, he to be accountable. The committee farther report, "That they have conferred with the managers of the state lottery, and find that a considerable number of tickets remain unsold, in the hands of the managers, as well as their agents in the several states; that from the present state of the lottery, and the uncertain ty of the enemy's intentions, the committee recommend the drawing to be postponed till the 6th day of November next, and that a farther quantity of tickets be transmitted to the several states; and that it be recommended to their several executive powers to give all the assistance they can to expedite the sales thereof: Resolved, That Congress agree with the committee, and that the board of treasury take measures accordingly. Resolved, That the commissary-general of musters be hereafter allowed the pay and rations of a colonel; that the pay of his deputy commissaries be increased to 60 dollars a month, and that of the muster-masters to 45 dollars per month. Resolved, That the several muster-masters be directed to omit making returns to the pay-master and deputy pay-masters general. On motion, it was resolved as follows: Whereas, Joseph Trumbull, esq. having resigned his commission of commissary-general of purchases under the new regulations, has signified his intentions of discontinuing his service under the former establishment on the 20th day of the present month; and whereas the commissaries-general of purchases and issues, who are to succeed him in office, may not be prepared with their respective assistants to proceed in the business at the time aforesaid, and a failure of supplies may be attended with the most dangerous consequences: Resolved, That Mr. Trumbull, with the officers under him, be desired to continue in the business of supplying the army under the former establishment, until the commissaries-general of purchases and issues shall signify their readiness to proceed therein under the new regulations, which they are required to do as speedily as possible: It was then moved, "that general Washington be authorized, during the present campaign, to remove such officers and make such appointments in the commissary's department, as he shall judge necessary, reporting their names to Congress; and if, in carrying into execution the resolutions aforesaid, any alterations shall appear to him essential to the service, he is further authorized to propose the same to Congress ;" and on the question put, passed in the negative. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, THURSDAY, August 7, 1777. A letter, of the 7th, from gen. Washington, was read, enclosing a copy of a a letter of the 1st, from gen. Schuyler, at Saratoga, and sundry other papers: Ordered, That copies thereof be sent to major-general Gates. Resolved, That major-general Prescot be retained as a pledge for the good treatment and release of major-general Lee, and that he be treated as nearly as circumstances will admit, in the same manner as the enemy shall treat the officer last mentioned. Resolved, That general Washington be authorized to negotiate the exchange of prisoners with the enemy, in such manner, and on such terms, as he shall judge expedient, notwithstanding the resolution of Congress respecting lieutenant-colonel Campbell, and the five Hessian field officers. Resolved, That the pay of the deputy commissaries-general of issues, be increased to 100 dollars a month, and the pay of the clerks to the commissaries-general, to 50 dollars a month. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, FRIDAY, August 8, 1777. A letter, of the 4th, from governor Johnson, at Annapolis, enclosing a letter from Darby Lux, was read; Whereupon, Congress came to the following resolution: It having been represented to Congress, that Darby Lux, Amon Butler, Nicholas Haite, Thomas James, and Nathaniel Owings, of Baltimore county, in the state of Maryland, gentlemen, have in company undertaken to open a lead-mine, and to erect works for smelting the ore, and that the inhabitants in the neighborhood have refused to permit them to proceed in the prosecution of their design, without credentials from Congress, that they are friends to the United States; and it appearing to Congress, by the representation of the governor and delegates of Maryland, that the said gentlemen are faithful friends to the American cause, Resolved, That it be recommended to the inhabitants in the neighborhood of the lead-mine aforesaid, to permit the same to be worked by the above gentlemen, and to give them every encouragement in the prosecution of a work of such public utility, and from which a supply of lead may be drawn for the service of these states. The committee of commerce, to whom the petition of James le Mare was referred, report, "that they enquired into the merits of his claim on the United States, and are of opinion, that the said James le Mare, and his sloop, the Mary, were in the continenal service at the time she was taken and burnt by the enemy in Chingoteague inlet, and that he ought to be paid a reasonable value for the said sloop, with such reasonable charges and expenses as may have arisen to him in consequence of this misfortune;" Whereupon, Resolved, That the committee of commerce be empowered to make the said James le Mare, a reasonable and just compensation for his losses in the public service, and to despatch him on the business in which he was employed by the secret committee. A letter, of the 3d, from brigadier-general Scott, to B. Harrison, esq. was laid before Congress, and read: Ordered, To lie on the table. A petition from William West, major, James M'Henry and Hugh Hodge, surgeons of the 4th and 6th regiments of Pennsylvania forces, commanded by colonels Magaw and Cadwallader, prisoners on parole, praying to be informed, whether, as continental officers holding commissions only revocable by this or a future Congress, they are not entitled to pay while on parole, as well as when in the hands of general Howe: Ordered, To lie for consideration till Monday next. A letter, of the 24th March, from Recules de Basmeireen Raimbeaux, of Bourdeaux, was read, and referred to the committee of commerce. A letter, of the 24th July, from brigadier-general Hand, at Fort-Pitt, to Thomas Wharton, esq. president of the council of Pennsylvania, with sundry papers enclosed, was laid before Congress, and read: Ordered, That the same be referred to the board of war. The medical committee, to whom the memorial of Dr. J. Morgan was referred, brought in a report. A motion was made, that a new commission be made out, and sent to major-general Benedict Arnold, giving him the rank of major-general in the army, from the 19th February last: To this it was moved to add, "On account of his extraordinary merit and former rank in the army :" Question put, and passed in the negative. Question was then put on the first motion, and passed in the negative. Mr. Folsom, Mr. Dyer. YEAS. Mr. Roberdeau, Mr. Walton A memorial from J. Jay and Gouverneur Morris was read: The members chosen, Mr Chase, Mr. Wilson and Mr. Sergeant. Ordered, That the committee immediately sit on the business, and that they confer with general Washington and the memorialists. In consequence of an adjustment by the commissioners of claims, the auditor-general reports, That there is due, To major Samuel Nichols, for himself and a detachment of three companies of marines which he commanded on artillery duty, for which they were to receive additional pay, viz. captain Porter's company, from the 1st February to 1st July; captain Mullen's company, from 1st February to 1st March; and captain Deane's company, from 1st February to 1st April, 895 15-90ths dollars: To William Hurrie, door-keeper to Congress, for a balance of his account, 26 60-90ths dollars: To Allan M'Donald, his son and servant, for their allowance as prisoners, from 18th September, 1776, to 5th August, 1777, being 46 weeks, 230 dollars: To Daniel Smith, of the city tavern, for his bill of expenses of Congress, on the 4th of July last, including a balance of an old account, 729 68-90ths dollars; also a bill for materials, workmanship, &c. furnished for the fireworks on the 4th July, 102 69-90ths dollars; amounting in the whole to 832 47-90ths dollars: To the Rev. John Hart, chaplain to the 6th Virginia regiment, for his extra services in officiating to the 4th and 5th Virginia regiments, from 3d November, 1776, to 28th April last, being 5 months and 26 days, at 41 60-90ths dollars, per month, 243 52-90ths dollars: Ordered, That the said accounts be paid. Ordered, That a warrant issue to the treasurer, to transmit from Maryland to the auditor-general, one million of dollars, for which the said auditor is to account. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow. SATURDAY, August 9, 1777. Congress took into consideration the report of the medical committee on the memorial of Dr. John Morgan, wherein they set forth, that Dr. Morgan was appointed director-general and chief physician of the hospital, in the room of Dr. Church, October 17, 1775; that, on the 9th of January, 1777, he was dismissed from the said appointment; that though no cause is assigned for his discharge, yet, upon enquiry, they find, that the general complaints of persons of all ranks in the army, and not any particular charges against him, together with the critical state of affairs at that time, rendered it necessary for the public good and the safety of the United States, that he should be displaced, and were the reasons of his dismission; that the doctor's memorial appears to be a hasty and intemperate production; notwithstanding which, as he conceives himself injured, and requests an enquiry into his conduct, they are of opinion that he ought to be heard, and that a committee of Congress should be appointed for that purpose: Resolved, That Congress agree to the said report. |
