In pursuance of an adjustment by the commissioners of claims, the auditorgeneral reports,

That there is due to captain Benjamin Williams, acting as pay-master to the Virginia and North-Carolina troops in this town, by the appointment of the board of treasury, for the balance of pay due to a detachment of the 1st, 2d, 4th, 5th, 6th, 9th, 10th, 12th, 14th, 15th, and 16th regiments of Virginia troops; for an advance to a drill-serjeant, and for his services as pay-master from the 1st to the 27th inst. 80 dollars:

Ordered, That the said account be paid.

Resolved, That the resignation of J. Rush be accepted.

The committee to whom the petition from J. Zane, and others, was referred, reported verbally :

Ordered, That the consideration of this matter be postponed till to-morrow. Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

THURSDAY, January 29, 1778.

A letter, of the 28th, from brigadier de Roche Fermoy, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the board of war.

In pursuance of an adjustment by the commissioners of claims, the auditor-general reports,

That there is due to brigadier Thompson, for sundry advances made on his credit by Mr. Freeman and Mr. Cord, merchants in Quebec, to sundry officers and wounded soldiers, who were there prisoners, the sum of 2343 33-90 dollars, which sum is to be accounted for as follows, viz.

By col. Christopher Green, for himself and officers, 1340 51-90 dollars; by capt. now col. Daniel Morgan, 421 21-90 dollars; by capt. now col. John Lamb, 229 12-90 dollars; by lieut. now major Francis Nichols, 64 53-90 dollars; by captain Moses M'Clane, 34 39-90 dollars; by army, for advances to wounded soldiers, 252 46-90 dollars; add for fractions, 11-90ths of a dollar; making in the whole, 2343 33-90 dollars:

To brigadier Thompson, for his pay from the 1st of May to the 31st of Dec. 1777, and for his rations from the 1st of March to the 31st of July, 1164 dollars:

Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

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

Ordered, That 1300 dollars be advanced to the delegates of New-York, on the application of Mr. Duer, one of the said delegates, for which sum the said state is to be accountable.

A memorial from lieut. col. Thomas Dyer, was read, representing his early and continued services in the army, and his loss of health, for the recovery of which he had obtained from the general, a furlough for six weeks, and praying, as his furlough is near expiring, and state of health is such as renders him utterly unable to bear the fatigues of the service, that he may, for that reason, have leave to resign his commission:

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

Congress resumed the consideration of the petition of Isaac Zane, &c. Whereupon,

Resolved, That the prisoners now at Winchester in the state of Virginia, who have been apprehended by the government of Pennsylvania, in consequence of the resolutions of Congress of the 28th of August, 1777, be discharged from their confinement on their taking and subscribing either the oath or affirmation of allegiance as prescribed by the laws of Pennsylvania, or the following oath or affirmation, at the option of the persons confined, viz. "I, A. B. do swear, or affirm, that I acknowledge myself a subject of the state of Pennsylvania, as a free and independent state, and that I will, in all things, demean myself as a good and faithful subject ought to do."

Ordered, That the president write to the governor of Virginia, and inform him of this resolution.

Congress took into consideration the report of the committee appointed to devise effectual means to prevent persons disaffected to the interest of the United States, from being employed in any of the important offices thereof, and after debate,

Ordered, That it be re-committed.

A motion being made for preventing abuses by officers in the civil departments of the army,

Ordered, That it be referred to the foregoing committee,

THREE O'CLOCK, P. M.

A letter, of the 16th, from Messrs. Hewes & Smith, from Edenton, was read:

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

A letter, of the 19th, from F. Hopkinson, one of the commissioners of the navy board, concerning the conduct of capt. Barry, was read: Whereupon, It was moved, that captain Barry be not employed on the expedition assigned to his conduct by the marine committee, with the approbation of Congress, until further orders of Congress : question put, the states were equally divided.

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

FRIDAY, January 30, 1778.

Mr. Thomas M'Kean, a delegate from the state of Delaware, attended, and produced the credentials of his appointment, which were read as follows:

"IN COUNCIL, WEDNESDAY, P. M. December, 17, 1777.

"Whereas, Cæsar Rodney, Nicholas Vandyke, and Thomas M'Kean, esqrs. have been chosen by joint ballot of the two houses of assembly to represent Delaware state in the Continental Congress: Resolved, That they, or any one or more of them, are hereby fully authorized and empowered, for and in behalf of this state, to concert, agree to and execute any measure which they or he, together with a majority of the Continental Congress, shall judge necessary for the defence, security, interest, and welfare of this state in particular, and America in general; with power to adjourn to such times and places as shall appear most conducive to the public safety and advantage. "Extract from the minutes,

"BENJAMIN VINING, Clerk of the Council.

"Sent up for concurrence.

"IN THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, EODEM DIE.

"Read and concurred in,

SAMUEL WEST, Speaker. "I do certify, that the foregoing is a true extract from the minutes of the council. BENJAMIN VINING, Clerk of the Council."

The committee of the treasury brought in a report: Whereupon, Ordered, That 20,000 dollars be advanced to Dr. Jonathan Potts, deputy director-general of the hospital in the northern department, for the use of his district; he to be accountable.

A letter, of the 30th, from Edward Stevens, was read, desiring leave to resign his commission:

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

The board of war sent to Congress a letter of the 26th, from gen. Washington to gen. Gates, president of the board, which was read:

Ordered, That it be returned to the board of war, and that the board be directed to enquire immediately into the number and rank of the commissioned and non-commissioned officers who have come out of Philadelphia with clothing for the prisoners taken from the enemy, and into the conduct

of all the persons who compose the escort, whilst they have been on the route, and that they report specially to Congress the result of their enquiry. THREE O'CLOCK, P. M.

A letter, of the 17th, from brigadier Hand, was read:

Ordered, That the consideration thereof be postponed.

A letter from Dr. Rush was read, requesting leave to resign:
Resolved, That his resignation be accepted.

A letter, of this day, from brigadier de Roche Fermoy, and one from Mr. Kermovan, were read:

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

An account of Archibald Steel was presented to Congress :
Ordered, That it be referred to the board of treasury.

The board of treasury brought in a report:

Ordered, That it be re-committed.

The board of war brought in a report:

Ordered, That the consideration thereof be postponed.

On motion, Ordered, That the quarter-master general immediately prepare and render an account to Congress of all his public expenditures.

The committee to whom was referred the report of the committee appointed to consider the proposals contained in a letter to gen. Washington, from the committee lately sent to camp, brought in a report, which was read; after debate,

Ordered, That it be re-committed, and that Mr. M'Kean be added to the committee.

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

SATURDAY, January 31, 1778.

A letter of the 29th from James Mease, with one enclosed from Samuel Caldwell, was read:

Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three: the members chosen, Mr. Lee, Mr. Lovell, and Mr. Duer.

A letter, of the 28th, from the committee at camp, was read, representing the necessity of appointing, without delay, a quarter-master general.

Congress resumed the consideration of the report from the board of war, respecting the quarter-master's department; Whereupon, it was moved,

That an officer of rank, activity, and well acquainted by experience with the business of quarter-master general, be immediately appointed to that office, and that he be empowered to arrange the department with the approbation and concurrence of the board of war:"

An amendment was moved "immediately to enter upon the execution thereof, under the present regulations, and that the quarter-master be directed, in concurrence with the board of war, to prepare a new arrangement for that department, to be laid before Congress for consideration:" after debate, A motion was made, that the consideration of the subject be postponed till Monday: N-Hampshire, Mr. Frost, Massa'tts-Bay, Mr. Gerry, Lovell,

ay Jay

*

no

Delaware,
Maryland,
Virginia,

Mr. McKean,

no y no

Mr. Henry,

Mr. Lee,

*

no

N.-Carolina,

Connecticut,

Mr. Dyer,

ay ay

New-York,

Mr. Duer,

div.

Clark,

ay

The board of war brought in a report; Whereupon,

Resolved, That the resignation of col. Stevens be accepted.

Resolved, That baron Holzendorf have leave to resign his commission of lieutenant-colonel, and have liberty to depart to France:

That brigadier de Roche Fermoy have leave to resign his commission in the service of these states, and to return to France:

That it be referred to the board of treasury to consider and report whether any and what compensation shall be made to the two last gentlemen for their losses, and what sums shall be paid them to defray their expenses home. The board of war made a report on Indian affairs, which was read: Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three: the members chosen, Mr. M'Kean, Mr. Ellery, and Mr. Clark.

The committee of commerce laid before Congress an account received from capt. Willing:

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

Adjourned to ten o'clock on Monday.

MONDAY, February 2, 1778.

A letter, of the 31st of January, from the board of war, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the board of treasury.

A letter, of this day, from gen. Gates, was read:

Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three: the members chosen, Mr. McKean, Mr. Forbes, and Mr. James Smith.

Resolved, That Mons. des Epiniers, now a captain in the service of these states, be advanced to the rank of major, in consideration of the services rendered by his uncle, Mons. de Beaumarchais, and of his having served with reputation in the American army.

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

Ordered, That 125 dollars be paid to Jacob Rush, for his salary as deputysecretary, from the 7th of November to the 28th of January, deducting one month that he was absent, at 75 dollars per month.

In consequence of an adjustment by the commissioners of claims, the auditor-general reports,

That there is due, on a pay-roll of a company of guards stationed at Carlisle for the purpose of guarding stores, commanded by major James Armstrong Wilson, commencing the 6th of Oct. 1777, and ending the 31st of Jan. 1778, inclusive, the sum of 1149 30.90 dollars:

To a detachment of continental troops belonging to brigadier Wayne's division, stationed at Carlisle, under the command of major Wilson, for guarding stores, &c. from the 8th of Dec. 1777, to the 31st of Jan. 1778, inclusive, 135 dollars, both which sums, amounting to 1284 30.90 dollars, should be paid to major Wilson:

Ordered, That the said sums be paid.

THREE O'CLOCK, P. M.

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

Ordered, That a warrant issue on Joseph Clark, esq. commissioner of the continental loan-office in the state of Rhode-Island, for 60,000 dollars, in favor of James Mease, clothier-general, to be by him transmitted to Samuel A. Otis, for the payment for clothing purchased for the use of the army:

That a warrant issue on Nathaniel Appleton, esq. commissioner of the continental loan-office in the state of Massachusetts-Bay, in favor of James Mease, clothier-general, for 100,000 dollars, to be transmitted by him to his deputy, S. A. Otis, for the payment for clothing purchased for the use of the army; for which two sums the clothier-general is to be accountable. Ordered, That the warrant on the treasurer in favor of the board of war, VOL. II.

54

for 200,000 dollars, in pursuance of the order of the 22d of Jan. be returned and cancelled, and, in lieu thereof, that a warrant issue on Joseph Clark, esq. commissioner of the loan-office in the state of Rhode-Island, for 100,000 dollars, in favor of Ebenezer Hancock, deputy pay-master general in the eastern department; and that 100,000 dollars be paid to the board of war, to be by them transmitted to the said deputy pay-master general, who is to be accountable.

That 200,000 dollars be paid to the board of war, to be by them transmitted to Jonathan Trumbull, jun. pay-master in the northern departinent, which sum the treasurer is directed to have in readiness on Monday next; the said pay-master to be accountable.

A letter from the president of the board of war, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the board of treasury.

A letter from Mr. la Neuville, and one from Charles Frederick Bedaulx, were read:

Ordered, That the same, together with the letters from Mr. la Neuville, read on Thursday last, be referred to the board of war.

A letter, of January 20th, from gov. Henry, of Virginia, was read.

The committee to whom was referred the letter from the commissioners for Indian affairs in the northern department, together with the papers enclosed, and the opinion of the board of war thereon, brought in a report ; Whereupon,

Resolved, That the commissioners be instructed to speak to the Indians at the intended treaty at Johnston, in language becoming the representatives of free, sovereign, and independent states, and in such a tone as will convince them that we feel ourselves to be so; but whether it will be prudent to insist upon the Indians taking an active part in behalf of these states, must depend upon the temper they shall appear to be in; that this particular, therefore, be submitted to the discretion of the commissioners.

Resolved, That an addition of one commissioner be made, and it is expected by Congress that general Schuyler will attend the treaty.

Resolved, That gov. Clinton, of New-York, be empowered and requested to appoint a suitable person to be the commissioner of Indian affairs in the northern department, and to direct him to attend the treaty above mentioned.

Resolved, That the commissioners speak and act in such manner as they shall think most likely to obtain the friendship or at least the neutrality of the Indians, and that Congress will support the commissioners in any measures they shall conceive best calculated to answer these ends:

That the commissioners be authorized to purchase 5 or 600 blankets, or to order that number to be sent to Johnston, from any of the publie stores to the eastward, if to be had there, to be given as presents to the Indians:

That the commissioners be informed, that the hard money in the military chest at Albany, is already appropriated.

A letter, of the 31st of January, from general Washington, was read, and also a memorial from colonel Forman, requesting a company to guard his salt works, on condition of furnishing for the use of the army, at a reasonable price, the salt made at the said works:

Ordered, That the consideration thereof be postponed till to-morrow.
Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

TUESDAY, February 3, 1778.

A letter of Joseph Simons, at Lancaster, to Mr. Elling, at York-town, was laid before Congress, and read;

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

A letter, of the 24th of January, from colonel Mason, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the board of treasury.

The committee of commerce brought in a report; Whereupon,