ed to the said election by ballot, when Joseph Reed, esq. William Clingan, esq. and Dr. Samuel Duffield, were duly elected.

"Extract from the minutes,

"J. MORRIS, Clerk of Assembly."

Resolved, That another major-general be appointed in the army of the United States; the ballots being taken, baron de Kalb was elected. The several matters to this day referred being postponed, Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

TUESDAY, September 16, 1777.

A letter, of the 15th, from governor Livingston, at Haddonfield, was read, requesting a supply of ammunition: Whereupon,

Resolved, That the commissary-general of military stores be directed to supply the state of New-Jersey with the quantity of cartridges mentioned in the resolve of the assembly of that state, dated the 15th of September, taking care that a sufficient quantity be reserved for the use of the army under general Washington; but if the quantity of cartridges aforesaid cannot safely be spared, that, in that case, he supply the quantity of powder and lead mentioned in the said resolve.

A letter, of the 15th, from general Dickinson, at Trenton; one, of the 15th, from gen. Washington, at the Buck-Tavern, and another of the same day, from him, dated camp, between the Warren and White-Horse-Taverns, were read.

Resolved, That the president and supreme executive council of Pennsylvania be informed of general Washington's desire, that the provisions in this city should be removed to a place of safety; reserving only what may be necessary for the use of the inhabitants and for the army under his command; and that the president and council be desired, in the name of this Congress, to take the most speedy and effectual measures to have the same carried into execution; also, that the president and council be requested to exert the most vigorous efforts to obtain from this city as many blankets as possible, and with the greatest expedition, as the general represents many of the soldiers to be without blankets, and that their health will be much exposed by remaining so.

Ordered, That a warrant issue on the commissioner of the loan-office in the state of Connecticut, for 200,000 dollars, in favor of William Buchanan, esq. commissary-general of purchases, for the use of the northern department, the said commissary-general to be accountable:

That there be advanced to the said W. Buchanan, esq. commissary-general of purchases, 200,000 dollars, for the use of his department, he to be accountable.

Sundry letters and invoices of cargoes imported in the Neptune, captain Isaac Lee, and the Success, captain Cabbot Gerrish, from Bilboa to Boston, were laid before Congress :

Ordered, That they be referred to the committee of commerce.

Resolved, That the commissary-general of issues, the quarter-master general, the commissary-general of military stores, the director-general, and clothier-general, be severally directed to remove without delay, to Bethlehem, or some other place of safety, the patients, or stores belonging to their respective departments, ordered to, or deposited in, Trenton.

Ordered, That a warrant issue on the commissioner of the loan-office in the state of Massachusetts-Bay, in favor of the committee of commerce, for 5000 dollars, for which they are to be accountable:

That a warrant issue on the said loan-officer for 8000 dollars, in favor of the continental navy-board in Philadelphia, they to be accountable:

That there be advanced to the delegates of the state of Georgia, 25,000 dollars, to discharge a bill drawn on them by that state, in favor of col. John White, and that it be considered as part of the sum appropriated for the military chest in the said state, and for which the said state is to be accountable:

That there be advanced to the delegates for the state of Georgia, 3000 dollars, out of the sum appropriated to that state on account of its claim against the United States for expenditures for the public service, forwhich sum the said state is to be accountable.

Congress took into consideration the letter of the 15th from gen. Washington Whereupon, it was moved to be resolved,

:

That the execution of the resolution of Congress, for the recall of general Sullivan from the army in the present critical situation of affairs, be left to the discretion of general Washington until further orders:

To which it was moved to add, " And that Congress submit to the discretion of general Washington, whether it would not be adviseable to place the Maryland and Delaware troops under the command of some other major-general, it being at the request of the delegates of those states ?" The question put on the addition;

So it was passed in the negative.

Question to agree to the first motion, resolved in the affirmative.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

WEDNESDAY, September 17, 1777.

A letter, of this day, from governor Livingston, and ore enclosed to him from general Dickinson, were read; Whereupon,

Resolved, That, in the present situation of affairs, it be left to the discretion of governor Livingston, to retain the whole of the militia of NewJersey for the defence of that state, or to send a part of the said militia to reinforce the army under general Washington, as circumstances may make, it necessary :

That governor Livingston be requested to afford every assistance in his power for the speedy removal of the public stores from Trenton to Bethlehem, or some other place of safety.

Ordered, That copies of the letters received from gov. Livingston and gen. Dickinson, be forwarded immediately to general Washington.

Whereas, Mons. du Coudray, colonel brigadier in the service of his most Christian Majesty, the king of France, and commander in chief of the artillery in the French colonies of America, gallantly offered to join the American army as a volunteer, but, in his way thither, was most unfortunately drowned in attempting to cross the Schuylkill:

Resolved, That the corpse of the said Mons. du Coudray be interred at the expense of the United States, and with the honors of war; and that the town-major carry this order into execution.

Whereas, notwithstanding the brave exertions of the American army, the city of Philadelphia may possibly, by the fortune of war, be, for a time, possessed by the enemy's army, which availing itself of the provisions and other necessary supplies now in it, may be enabled to prosecute the war with vigor; and whereas it is absolutely essential to the liberties of the United States, that the most effectual and speedy means should be adopted for securing, for the use of the American army, every article which may be necessary for their equipment and subsistence; and whereas, from the near approach of the enemy's army, and by the wicked arts of extortioners, engrossers and others, enemies to the liberties of America, it may be impracticable to collect in time, and by way of regular purchase, a competent supply; and whereas it may be essential to the public welfare, that Congress should adjourn to some place more remote than this city from the scene of action, in order that its deliberations may be conducted without interruption; therefore,

Resolved, That general Washington be authorized and directed to suspend all officers who shall misbehave, and to fill up all vacancies in the American army, under the rank of brigadiers, until the pleasure of Congress shall be communicated; to take, wherever he may be, all such provisions and other articles as may be necessary for the comfortable subsistence of the army under his command, paying or giving certificates for the same: to remove and secure, for the benefit of the owners, all goods and effects which may be serviceable to the enemy; provided, that the powers hereby vested shall be exercised only in such parts of these states as may be within the circumference of 70 miles of the head-quarters of the American army, and shall continue in force for the space of 60 days, unless sooner revoked by Congress.

Resolved, That the public faith be pledged for the payment of the provisions or other articles to be taken, and for which certificates shall have been given, at such prices as are expressed in the certificates; or, if the prices are not expressed, to be paid for as the same shall be valued by commissioners for that purpose to be hereafter appointed by Congress.

Ordered, That Mr. Frost have leave of absence for recovery of his health. A letter, of this day, from the executive council of Pennsylvania, in answer to the resolves of yesterday, was read:

Ordered, That a copy thereof be sent to general Washington.
Adjourned to six o'clock.

SIX O'CLOCK, P. M.

Congress met, and, postponing the several matters to this day referred, Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

THURSDAY, September 18, 1777.

A letter, of the 17th, from general Washington, at the Yellow-Springs, was read.

Resolved, That the order for removing the sick and wounded, and hospital stores from Trenton, be suspended.

A letter, of the 14th, from colonel Joseph Wood, was read:
Ordered, That it be transmitted to general Washington.

A memorial from col. Flower was read, together with a list of the corps of the artillery, artificers and other officers under the command, and in the department of the commissary-general of military stores; Whereupon,

Resolved, That commissions be granted to the said officers, agreeable to their respective ranks.

Resolved, That chaplains be appointed to the hospitals in the several departments, and that their pay be each 60 dollars a month, and three rations a day, and forage for one horse :

The Rev. Mr. Noah Cook was elected chaplain of the hospitals in the eastern department.

Resolved, That major-gen. Armstrong be directed, forthwith, to cause all the printing-presses and types in this city and Germantown, to be removed to secure places in the country, excepting Mr. Bradford's press in this city, with English types.

Resolved, That there be paid to Robert Towers, acting as commissary of military stores, and continental armourer, from 19th November, 1775, to 19th May, 1777, two dollars a day, including the keeping of a horse.

A letter, of the 16th, from gen. Putnam, at Peekskill, was read.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

During the adjournment, the president received a letter from col. Hamilton, one of gen. Washington's aids, which intimated the necessity of removing the Congress immediately from Philadelphia; Whereupon, the members left the city, and, agreeably to the resolve of the 14th, repaired to Lancaster.

LANCASTER, SATURDAY, September 27, 1777.

A letter, of the 15th, from general Gates, at the heights above Behman's; one, of the 16th, from colonel Gist, at Christiana-bridge; one, of the 16th, from col. Gibson, at Alexandria; and one, of the 23d, from gen. Washington, at Pottsgrove, were read:

A letter from brigadier-gen. Conway, one from col. G. Morgan, at FortPitt, with several papers enclosed, and a letter from the baron de Kalb to col. R. H. Lee, were read:

Ordered, That they be referred to the board of war.
A letter, of the 16th, from Joseph Trumbull, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the board of treasury.

Resolved, That the board of war be directed to co-operate with general Washington in devising and carrying into execution effectual measures for supplying the army with fire-arms, shoes, blankets, stockings, provisions, and other necessaries; and that, in executing this business, these collections be confined, as much as circumstances will admit, to persons of disaffected and equivocal characters.

Resolved, That the treasury board direct the treasurer, with all his papers, forms, &c. to repair to the town of York, in Pennsylvania.

Adjourned to York-town, there to meet on Tuesday next, at ten o'clock.

YORK-TOWN, TUESDAY, September 30, 1777.

Met and adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

WEDNESDAY, October 1, 1777.

Congress having appointed the Rev. Mr. White and the Rev. Mr. P. Allison their chaplains, and the latter having declined,

Resolved, That the Rev. Mr. George Duffield be appointed in his room. Resolved, That the appointments of the chaplains to Congress be the same as to chaplains of the hospitals in the several departments.

Resolved, That, till further orders, Congress shall meet at ten o'clock A. M. sit till one, then adjourn to four.

A memorial from Daniel and Samuel Hughes, and a letter from the baron de Kalb, were read:

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

The committee on the treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,

Ordered, That a warrant issue on the commissioner of the loan-office in Connecticut, and another on the commissioner of the continental loan-office

in the state of Rhode-Island, each for 50,000 dollars, in favor of Joseph Trumbull, esq. late commissary-general, on his application by letter, dated Hartford, September 16th, 1777, to discharge his engagements in that department, and for which he is to be accountable.

A letter of the 18th, one of the 19th, and one of the 29th, of September, from gen. Washington; two, of the 22d of September, from general Gates, with sundry papers enclosed; five from brigadier-gen. R. Howe, at Charleston, viz. one of the 25th August, two of the 28th, one of the 29th August, and one of the 12th of September; a letter and memorial from A. Gwinnett, of Georgia; a letter from John Adam Treutlan, governor of Georgia, with sundry papers enclosed; one from lieutenant-col. Hale; one from col. Lewis Nícola, and one from Barnabas Deane, were read.

A memorial from Monsieur de Borre was read:

Ordered, That it be dismissed.

A petition from Abraham Nimham, and one from James Hallet, were read.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

THURSDAY, October 2, 1777.

Ordered, That the letter from gen. Gates be referred to the board of war: That the letter, of the 25th August, from brigadier-gen. Howe, be referred to the medical committee.

Resolved, That the resignation of brigadier-gen. Gadsden be accepted. Ordered, That the letters of 28th and 29th August, and 12th September, from brigadier-gen. Howe, be referred to the board of war.

That the letters from Mrs. Gwinnett, and the governor of Georgia, be referred to a committee of three:

The members chosen, Mr. Laurens, Mr. Brownson, and Mr. Harnett. Ordered, That the letter from lieutenant-col. Hale be referred to the committee for conducting the enquiry into the causes of the loss of Ticonderoga, and the conduct of the general officers in that department.

Ordered, That a warrant issue on Mr. Lawrence, commissioner of the loan office in Connecticut, for 20,000 dollars, in favor of Barnabas Deane, the same being in lieu of a like order in his favor, dated 6th May last, which was presented for payment 18th August, but has not been paid, the order being lost.

A letter, of 17th September, from Jeremiah Powell, president of the council of Massachusetts-Bay, enclosing a copy of a letter from Joshua Loring, British commissary of prisoners, to Dr. Benjamin Church, proposing an exchange of Dr. M Henry, of Philadelphia, for him, was read; Whereupon, It was moved to comply with the proposal;

Question put, passed in the negative.

A letter, of the 20th Sept. from Jonathan Trumbull, jun. was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the board of treasury.

A letter, of the 8th August, and two, of the 11th September, from J. Rutledge, president of South-Carolina, were read:

Ordered, That the letter of the 11th, respecting prisoners, be referred to the marine committee, and the other two to the board of war.

A letter, of 30th September, from Issac Melchior, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the board of war.

A memorial from Daniel Batwel, was read:

Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer or auditor-general of the United States, or on either of them, to pay to Josias Clapham, esq. colonel of a regiment of militia from the state of Virginia, 2000 dollars, for the use of the said regiment, he to be accountable.