ton, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon, Congress came to the following resolutions: Whereas Congress, for reasons set forth in their resolutions of the 8th day of January last, have determined to detain lieut. gen. Burgoyne and the troops included in the convention of Saratoga, until the said convention shall be ratified by the court of Great-Britain; and it will not only be inconvenient for the said troops, but also very distressing to the inhabitants of the town of Cambridge, and parts adjacent, to have so large a body of men confined within such narrow limits, for so long a time as must necessarily elapse before the ratification of the said convention can be known; therefore, Resolved, That the council of the state of Massachusetts-Bay be authorized and requested to remove, separate and place the said troops in such manner and in such parts of the said state as may be most convenient for their subsistence and security: That general Heath be directed to carry into effect the orders of the council of the state of Massachusetts-Bay, for removing, securing and providing for the said troops. Resolved, That it be recommended to the council of Massachusetts-Bay to order the continental barracks for the reception of prisoners in that state to be forthwith finished. A letter, of the 14th, from the committee of Congress at camp, was read. Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow. FRIDAY, February 20, 1778. The committee of commerce laid before Congress sundry letters and papers respecting Mr. de Francy, which were read: Ordered, That they be referred back to the said committee to report thereon, and that, for this special purpose, Mr. Gerry and Mr. Laurens be added to the said committee. THREE O'CLOCK, P. M. Resolved, That the president immediately send a letter by express to the committee at head-quarters, desiring them to send back by the same express a nomination of officers proper to fill the quarter-master's department, agreeably to a request of Congress already transmitted to them. Congress took into consideration the letters from the committee at camp, and their plan for filling up the army, and, after debate thereon, Ordered, That the same be referred to a committee of five: the members chosen, Mr. Roberdeau, Mr. Wolcott, Mr. Penn, Mr. Forbes and Mr. Scudder. Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow. SATURDAY, February 21, 1778. It appearing, by intelligence this day received from camp, that alarming consequences are likely to ensue from a longer delay of appointing proper persons to fill the several offices in the quarter-master general's department: Resolved, That the committee of Congress at the camp, in conjunction with general Washington, be authorized forthwith to make the proper appointments for the quarter-master general's department: A letter of the 21st, from Dr. W. Shippen, was read; Whereupon, Resolved, That a surgeon-general be appointed for the hospital in the middle department, in the room of Dr. Brown, promoted; the ballots being taken, Dr. Charles M'Knight was elected. Whereas, the duty of the person who executes the office of secretary and pay-master of the hospital in the middle department, is important and difficult: Resolved, That the pay of the person who executes those offices in the hospital in the middle department, be augmented to three dollars a day. The committee on the treasury brought in a report; Whereupon, Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favor of brigadier Weedon, in discharge of a bill drawn by William Palfrey, esq. pay-master general, in his favor, on the president of Congress, for the sum of 2509 dollars, which is to be charged to the pay-master general: That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favor of Joseph Nourse, paymaster to the board of war and ordnance, for the sum of 500,000 dollars, to be by him transmitted to William Palfrey, esq. pay-master general, who is to be accountable: That a warrant issue on the treasurer for the sum of 40,000 dollars, in favor of Dr. W. Shippen, director-general of the military hospitals, for the use of the middle district; the said director-general to be accountable: That a warrant issue on Thomas Smith, esq. commissioner of the continental loan-office in the state of Pennsylvania, for the sum of 35,000 dollars, in favor of the said director-general, for the use of the said district; the director-general to be accountable; That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favor of the delegates of Georgia, for 500,000 dollars, advanced to that state for the sole purpose of calling in the currency of that state, which has been emitted for the support of the continental troops; this sum to include the 400,000 dollars granted for that purpose by the resolution of the 15th of August last. Resolved, That the pay-master general be directed to consult with gen. Washington on the propriety of keeping a deputy-pay master at Baltimore, and if he shall judge such an officer unnecessary, to inform Mr. Jonathan Hudson, that the public service not requiring his farther assistance in that capacity, he is excused therefrom by Congress, and is ordered to adjust his accounts with the pay-master general as soon as may be. The committee on the treasury report, that they have taken into consideration the application of baron de Holtzendorf; that by the agreement made at Paris between Mr. Deane and the baron, it does not appear that the baron is entitled to any sum for the defraying his expenses from and to Europe, or to any compensation on account of the loss of his equipage; that the baron, as being one of the officers accompanying major-general de Kalb to America, does not appear well founded, it being evident, from the resolves of Congress of September the 8th, 1777, that those gentlemen were not employed in the service of the United States, but, in consideration of their zeal for that purpose, it was judged expedient to pay their expenses; neither does it appear, on any other principles of justice, that he is entitled to the claims aforesaid ;" Whereupon, Resolved, That the sum of 1000 dollars, or such part thereof as he may require, be advanced to the baron de Holtzendorf, to discharge the debts he may have contracted, and to enable him to return to Paris, he giving bills of exchange for the amount of any balance that may be due to the United States, in the same manner as brigadier de Roche Fermoy. Resolved, That general Washington be directed to order a major-general to take the command of the troops in the state of Rhode-Island, in the place of major-general Spencer, resigned. A letter from general Washington to Robert L. Hooper, Nathaniel Falconer, and Jonathan Mifflin, was laid before Congress; also, an extract of a letter from Mr. Duer to Mr. F. L. Lee. Ordered, That copies of the same be sent by express to the executive council of Pennsylvania, and that it be most earnestly recommended to them to exert the whole powers of the state in providing and forwarding to the army, by every possible means, supplies of provisions, especially of the meat kind, and also forage, with the utmost despatch. Resolved, That the board of war immediately employ a suitable number of proper persons on the east side of Susquehanna, to purchase meat and forage for the army, and to forward the same to the camp with all possible expedition, having respect to the prices fixed by the laws of the state of Pennsylvania. The marine committee, to whom was referred the complaint of the navyboard in the middle department, against captain Barry, report, as their opinion," that captain Barry hath treated the said board, in the person of Mr. Hopkinson, one of that board, with indecency and disrespect, and that he ought, within 20 days after this resolve shall have been notified to him by the said board, to make such acknowledgment as shall be satisfactory to them :" Resolved, That Congress agree to the said report. Adjourned to ten o'clock on Monday. MONDAY, February 23, 1778. A letter, of the 16th, from lieutenant-colonel Matthew Smith, of the 9th Pennsylvania regiment, was read, representing the declining state of his health, and, on that account, praying for leave to resign his commission: Resolved, That leave be granted. A letter, of the 22d, from brigadier Wilkinson, was read. A letter, of the 18th, from Joseph Simons of Lancaster, was read: Ordered, That it be referred to the executive council of Pennsylvania, to do thereon what they shall judge proper. A letter, of the 9th, from Southy Simpson, of Accomac county, in Virginia, was read: Ordered, That it be referred to the board of war. A letter from B. Harrison, jun. deputy pay-master-general in Virginia, with his mouthly account enclosed, was read: Ordered, That the same be referred to the board of treasury. A letter, of the 7th, from governor Caswell, was read, with papers enclosed, respecting captain Folger: Ordered, That they be referred to the committee appointed to take the examination of captain Folger. THREE O'CLOCK, P. M. The committee on the treasury brought in a report ; Whereupon, Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favor of captain William Brown, in discharge of a bill drawn by William Palfrey, esq. pay-master general, on the president of Congress, dated the 20th instant, for 2132 74-90 dollars, the said pay-master general to be accountable: That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favor of the commissary-general, for 100,000 dollars, to be by him transmitted to Henry Champion, esq. for the purpose of purchasing cattle in Connecticut: That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favor of Dr. Jonathan Potts, deputy director-general of the middle department, for 100,000 dollars, for the use of his department, and for which he is to be accountable. A letter, of the 13th, from Sampson Matthews, was read, informing, that governor Henry, of Virginia, has appointed him and col Samuel McDowell commissioners to proceed to Fort-Pitt, in the stead of Samuel Washington and Gabriel Jones, esqrs. who have declined that business, and that they intend to set forward on their journey the 23d instant. A letter, of the 19th, from general Washington, was read. The committee of commerce laid before Congress a letter and a number of papers from R. Morris, which were read: Ordered, That they be referred to the committee to whom the affairs of Mons. Francy were committed. Resolved, That the board of treasury be empowered to increase the pay of the signers of bills of credit in such way as they judge proper, provided that the sum allowed for signing and numbering 1000 bills does not exceed 2 dollars. The committee appointed to revise the system of the commissary of purchases, brought in a report, which was read: Ordered, That the consideration thereof be postponed till to-morrow. was read: Ordered, That it be referred to the board of war. Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow. TUESDAY, February 24, 1778. A petition from James Wilson, administrator of Samuel Allen, was read, praying that the commissioners of claims may be directed to settle his accounts for a team of Samuel Allen employed and lost in the public service: Ordered, That the prayer be granted. Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the system of the commissary of purchases, and some progress being made therein,* Resolved, That the farther consideration thereof be postponed to Thursday next. A letter, of the 20th, from brigadier Parsons, relative to the treatment of Messrs. Vantassels, by the enemy, was read: Ordered, That it be referred to the committee appointed to enquire into the conduct of the enemy, with regard to the prisoners who have fallen into their hands. Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow. WEDNESDAY, February 25, 1778. The delegates of Pennsylvania laid before Congress a letter of the 23d, from the council of that state, requesting to be furnished with the following papers, viz. The instructions of the board of war to their superintendents of provisions; the plan laid down by the superintendents for the purchase, &c. of provisions; the instructions for the millers, dated the 11th of January last ; a letter from the superintendents to the board of war, dated the 11th inst. a letter dated the 12th inst. signed Robert Lettis Hooper, deputy quarter-master general, to the purchasers under the superintendents: Ordered, That the board of war furnish the delegates of Pennsylvania with copies of the above papers, or such of them as are in the office of the board of war and ordnance. A letter, of the 24th of January, from Samuel A. Otis, at Boston, was read. The committee to whom were referred the letter of the 8th, from general Washington, and sundry other letters which passed between him and gen. Howe, relative to the exchange of prisoners and other matters, brought in a report, which was read. The committee to whom were referred the letters and papers from the committee of Congress at camp, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration, and, after some time spent thereon, Ordered, That the farther consideration thereof be postponed to the after noon. The committee on the treasury brought in a report; Whereupon, Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favor of captain Pasky, for 26,000 dollars, in discharge of a draught of William Palfrey, esq. paymaster general, for that sum, on the president of Congress, dated at camp, the 23d of February inst. in favor of col. E. Latterloe, deputy quarter-mas ter general, endorsed by him to the said capt. Pasky; the pay-master general to be accountable: The commissioners of claims at the treasury report, That there is due to the administrators of Samuel Allen, deceased, for hire of his wagon and team from the 4th of September to the 4th of Decemnber, 1776, 92 days, at 2 2-3 dollars, 245 30-90 dollars; and for the four horses, wagon, geers and cloth, which by certificate, appear to have been detained in the service after his decease, and never returned to his heirs, &c. appraised at 408 dollars, which last sum is to be charged to the account of the quarter-master general; also for expenses incurred on York-Island, as by account and certificate, 7 62-90 dollars, amounting in the whole to 661 2-90 dollars: To John Campbell, the sum of 1243 50-90 dollars, for col. George Morgan's draught on the president of Congress, in favor of col. William Crawford, being for provisions stored at Fort-Pitt, which order or draught, is assigned over to the said Campbell; the said col. G. Morgan to be accountable: To Simon and Campbell, the sum of 302 dollars, for arms sold to colonel William Crawford, for the use of the 13th Virginia regiment, as per colonel Crawford's order on the board of treasury: the said colonel Crawford to be accountable : Ordered, That the said accounts be paid. THREE O'CLOCK, P. M. A letter of the 7th, and one of the 14th, from major-gen. Heath, at Boston, were read, the former enclosing copies of sundry letters that passed between him and lieutenant-general Burgoyne, and a letter from lord Napier and lieutenant-colonel Anstruther: Ordered, That they be referred to a committee of three: the members chosen, Mr. Wolcott, Mr. Lovell, and Mr. Gerry. Congress resumed the consideration of the report on the letters from the committee at camp; and, after debate, Ordered, That the farther consideration of the report be postponed till to morrow. Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow. THURSDAY, February 26, 1778. Resolved, That it be an instruction to the captains and commanders of privateers, to annoy the enemy by all the means in their power, by land or water, taking care not to infringe or violate the laws of nations, or the laws of neutrality. A letter of the 11th, from lieutenant-general Burgoyne, directed "to the hon. Henry Laurens, president of the Congress," with three papers enclosed, was read: Ordered, That they be referred to a committee of five: the members chosen, Mr. Lovell, Mr. M'Kean, Mr. Smith, Mr. Lee, and Mr. Gerry. Major-gen. Gates sent to Congress sundry letters, and among them one of the 9th, from major-gen. Philips, which were read: Ordered, That the last be referred to the foregoing committee. Sundry letters to the board of war from the northern department being laid before Congress and read, Ordered, That they be referred to a committee of three: the members chosen, Mr. Wolcott, Mr. Clark, and Mr. Lewis. A letter, of the 25th, from the board of war, was read: Ordered, That it be referred to the board of treasury. Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the letter of the 8th, from gen. Washington, and the letters which passed between him |
