The committee appointed to consider the propriety of establishing a waroffice, brought in their report, which was read.

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

FRIDAY, April 19, 1776.

A letter of the 2d from governor Trumbull, with a petition from Noal Phelps being laid before Congress, and read,

Resolved, That they be referred to the committee on qualifications.

Resolved, That a committee of seven be appointed to examine and ascertain the value of the several species of gold and silver coins, current in these colonies, and the proportions they ought to bear to Spanish milled dollars:

The members chosen, Mr. Duane, Mr. Wythe, Mr. J. Adams, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Hewes, Mr. Johnson, and Mr. Whipple.

The committee of claims reported, that there is due,

To Peter Brunner, for necessaries furnished to captain Nelson's company by himself and Abraham Vanhorn, the sum of 25.2 dollars, which ought to be charged to captain Nelson :

To Mary Miller, for provisions, &c. furnished to general Lee's guard, the sum of 16.5 dollars:

To Jacob Frantz, for horse-hire, and carrying brigadier-general Woedtke's baggage to New York, the sum of 47.5 dollars:

Ordered, That the said accounts.be paid.

Resolved, That letters which are directed to any general in the continental service, commanding in a separate department, be carried free of postage, by the constitutional post.

The committee appointed to prepare instructions to George Morgan, esq. brought in a draught, which being read, was agreed to as follows:

To George Morgan, esq. agent under the commissioners for Indian affairs in the middle department. SIR,

You are required to provide that the great belt presented to the Indians last fall at Pittsburg, be forwarded, with all convenient expedition, to the sachems and warriors of the western nations, and endeavor, to the utmost of your power, to convince them of the good wishes and good intentions of Congress for and towards them, and to cultivate harmony and friendship between them and the white people; and to give Congress the most early intelligence of any interruption thereof, or of any disturbance which shall arise, and which you cannot quiet.

Acquaint the Indians that Congress have formed the best plan they could devise to import foreign goods for their use, and have neglected no probable means to procure them in time; and if they should not be supplied so soon as they may be wanted, the misfortune is to be ascribed to the common enemies of them and us, who, by obstructing our trade, as well as in numberless other instances, are daily injuring and distressing both; but that we have well grounded hopes of speedy relief, in expectation of which, and of greater advantages in prospect, the present inconveniencies are borne more patiently.

All differences and disputes that shall happen between the Indians and white people, you will have adjusted and determined in the mode prescribed by a resolve of Congress, of which you have a copy: and you are directed, in a particular manner, to prevent, as much as you are able, any impositions upon the former by those who deal with them. Treat all those people, with whom you may meet, kindly and hospitably. Inspire them with sentiments of justice and humanity, and dispose them to introduce the arts of civil and social life, and to encourage the residence of husbandmen and handicraft men among them. Advise Congress, from time to time, of all occurrences that may, in your opinion, deserve their atte..tion.

The committee to whom gen. Washington's letter of the 15th inst. as well as other letters, were referred, brought in their report, which being taken into consideration, was agreed to: Whereupon,

Resolved, That general Washington may order as many of the cannon and military stores as are not necessary for the continental fleet, and which were lately brought into New-London, by the commander thereof, to any other place he may think proper; having regard only to the permission of Congress relative to the defence of the harbor of New-London, a copy of which ought to be sent to general Washington, and also a list of the cannon and stores as transmitted to Congress.

the

Resolved, That the resignation of James Warren, as pay-master general of army, be accepted and entered accordingly; and that he be informed there are superintendents of the treasury appointed, to whom he is to render his accounts and vouchers.

Resolved, That another pay-master general be appointed, and that the general be informed thereof.

As it appears from the certificates of four colonels of regiments at Cambridge, that the reverend Dr. Samuel Langdon did not only perform the duty of a chaplain to their several regiments, for the space of six months, for which no other chaplain had been appointed, but also to the army at large: Therefore, Resolved, That the said Dr. Langdon, having received no compensation for those services, be paid the sum of 300 dollars.

Resolved, That three tons of powder be immediately forwarded to Virginia, for the use of the army in the southern department.

Resolved, That general Washington be made acquainted with general Lee's request of a company of artillery, and be desired to furnish him with such a company, if it may be done consistent with the general good of the service.

Resolved, That an immediate supply of arms, shoes, and blankets, be furnished for the troops in Virginia, and that proper persons be appointed to procure them, subject to the orders of Congress already entered into.

Resolved, That Mr. Ephraim Blaine be appointed to purchase a quantity of blankets not exceeding 5,000, and also that he be directed to purchase 5,000 pair of shoes, to be sent to Virginia, to the commanding officer at Williamsburgh.

Resolved, That Monday next be assigned for the election of a pay-master ge

neral.

Resolved, That Mr. Thomas Lowry, commissary, be directed to purchase and forward to general Schuyler, with all convenient despatch, 2,000 barrels of pork, for the use of the army in Canada, and that he be supplied with a sum not exceeding 20,000 dollars for that purpose, he to be accountable.

Resolved, That the committee appointed to confer with Mr. Price be direct ed to bring in a resolution to enable Messrs. Price and Haywood to draw for the balance of the money ordered to be paid them by the resolutions of the Sd and 16th of this month.

Resolved, That Messrs. Du Montesson, Hevieux, La Marque, Du Massaux, Shemit, Giasson, and Gamelin, Canadian prisoners, at Bristol, be permitted to come to Philadelphia in order to purchase clothes and other necessaries, and to remain there ten days, and then return to Bristol.

The committee to whom were referred the letter from general Washington, of the 4th, and the letter from general Schuyler, of the 2d of this month, brought in their report.

The committee on prisoners, having collected from the journals the several resolutions respecting prisoners, and having made some amendments therein, submitted the same to Congress.

Adjourned to ten o'clock on Monday.

MONDAY, April 22, 1776.

Sundry letters, received since the adjournment, were laid before Congress, and read, viz.

One from the committee of safety of Maryland, dated the 18th.

One from Dr. Boyd of the 19th.

One from the committee of inspection of Lancaster, of the 11th.
One from the Canada commissioners, dated Saratoga, the 13th.
One from general Washington, of the 19th.

One from general Schuyler, of the 12th, enclosing sundry letters and papers from Canada; and,

One from the committee of inspection of West-Augusta, with sundry papers enclosed.

Resolved, That the four last, with the papers enclosed, be referred to Mr. R. H. Lee, Mr. J. Adams, Mr. Jay, Mr. Braxton, and Mr. Johnson.

Resolved, That the consideration of the letter from the committee of safety of Maryland, be postponed till to-morrow.

The committee appointed to prepare a resolve respecting Messrs. Price and Haywood, brought in the same: Whereupon,

Resolved, That Messrs. Price and Haywood be empowered to draw bills of exchange on the president of Congress, for the sum of 48,358.6 dollars, payable the 5th of July next, in specie; it being the balance of a sum specified in a resolve of the 3d of April instant, after deducting 16,000 dollars, for which they received an order on the treasurers the 12th. And they are further empowered to draw bills as aforesaid, for 1000 dollars, ordered to be paid them by a resolve of the 6th instant.

Resolved, That the commissioners gone to Canada, be desired and empowered to settle the accounts of Messrs. Price and Haywood, to the 5th of February last, or to employ proper persons to examine the same, and compare the vouchers with the several articles of said accounts, and return a certificate to Congress of the balance justly due to Messrs. Price and Haywood, from the United Colonies, to that date, with the vouchers for expenditures and supplies by orders of general Montgomery and general Wooster.

Resolved, That the said commissioners be requested to return to Congress, a list of such persons as are accountable to the United Colonies for any part of the articles or expenditures comprised in Messrs. Price and Haywood's accounts, with the respective sums such persons are chargeable with, and deliver copies thereof to the commanding officers, that the proper deductions may be made from the pay of the officers and men.

Resolved, That an order for 1000 dollars be drawn on the treasurers, in favor of Mr. Samuel Fairlamb, for the use of colonel Wayne's battalion, he to be accountable.

The committee on qualifications, having recommended Mr. Jacob Weaver, to an ensigncy which is vacant in the third Pennsylvania battalion :

Resolved, That he be appointed, and that a commission be accordingly granted to him.

The several matters referred to this day, being postponed,
Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

TUESDAY, April 23, 1776.

A letter of the 12th, from major-general Ward, being received and read, re peating his desire for leave to resign,

Resolved, That the resignation of major-general Ward, and of brigadier general Fry, be accepted, and that the president inform them thereof by letter. The committee of claims reported, that there is due,

To Robert Erwin for wagonage, the sum of 873.8 dollars:

To John Dunn, the balance in full due to colonel Heard's battalion, for their pay, subsistence, &c. on the expedition to Long-Island, the sum of 2453.7 dollars.

Ordered, That the same be paid.

The marine committee having, agreeably to the orders of Congress, recommended gentlemen to be agents for prizes in the several colonies,

Resolved, That captain John Bradford be appointed for the colony of Massachusetts-Bay, Daniel Tillinghast for Rhode-Island, Nathaniel Shaw, jun. for Connecticut, Jacobus Vanzantz for New-York, John Nixon, and John Maxwell Nesbit for Pennsylvania, William Lux for Maryland, John Tazewell for Virginia, Cornelius Harnet for Wilmington, Richard Ellis for Newbern, and Robert Smith for Edenton in North Carolina, with power to each, to appoint one or more deputies, if necessary.

The committee, to whom the letters from general Washington, general Schuyler, and the letters from Canada and Pittsburg were referred, brought in their report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon,

Resolved, That the president signify to colonel Hazen, the approbation of Congress, for his letter, and attention to the public good.

Resolved, That 300,000 dollars be immediately sent to general Schuyler, for supplying and paying the army in Canada.

Resolved, That the commissioners of Congress in Canada, be desired to publish an address to the people of Canada, signifying, that Congress has been informed of injuries offered by our people to some of them: expressing our resentment at such misconduct, assuring them of our attachment to their security; inviting them to state their grievances to our commissioners, and promising ample redress to them, and exemplary punishment to the offenders. Resolved, That instructions be sent to the commissioners, to cause justice to be done to the Canadians, agreeable to the tenor of the above resolve.

Resolved, That the commanding officer in Canada, be directed to be very attentive to military discipline, and inflict exemplary punishment on all those who violate the military regulations established by Congress.

Resolved, That general Washington be directed to send six battalions into Canada from the army of New-York.

Resolved, That a letter be written by the president to general Washington, requesting his opinion whether any farther additional troops are necessary to be sent for the reduction of Quebec, and for the security of Canada; and, if he shall think more troops necessary, whether they can, with safety, be spared from the army now in New-York?

Resolved, That if any of the troops from New-Jersey or Pennsylvania, which were raised at five dollars a month, be sent to Canada, they shall be allowed at the rate of six dollars and two-thirds of a dollar a month, from the time they begin their march.

Resolved, That the farther consideration of the report be postponed till to

morrow.

The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

WEDNESDAY, April 24, 1776.

A memorial from the committee of inspection and observation of the city and liberties of Philadelphia, was presented to Congress, and read: Resolved, That it be referred to a committee of three:

The members chosen, Mr. Hewes, Mr. Duane, and Mr. Alexander.

Mr. R. Morris reported, that in pursuance of the order of Congress, he has purchased and delivered to Mr. James Price, bills of exchange to the amount of three thousand pounds sterling, for which he produced Mr. Price's receipt.

Resolved, That an order for 14,800 dollars be drawn on the treasurers, in favor of Mr. R. Morris, in full for the above bills of exchange.

Resolved, That the committees appointed to confer with Mr. Price, be directed to draw up instructions to him, for his government, in disposing and, laying out the money put into his hands.

Resolved, That Mr. Trumbull, the commissary-general, be directed to provide and forward to general Schuyler, 2000 barrels of pork, with all possible despatch, for the use of the continental army in Canada, and that the said commissary be supplied with a sum not exceeding 20,000 dollars for that purpose, he to be accountable for the same.

Resolved, That Mr. Alsop, Mr. Sherman, and Mr. Lewis be requested to purchase and forward, with all convenient despatch, to general Schuyler, for the use of the continental army in Canada, 10,000 pair of shoes, 10,000 pair of stockings; and that 15,000 dollars be advanced to them for those purposes, they to be accountable.

Resolved, That a letter be written to general Schuyler, to inform him of the ten additional battalions lately ordered for Canada, and of the 2000 barrels of pork, and the 10,000 pair of shoes, and 10,000 pair of stockings, ordered by Congress to be sent to him; and to desire him to pursue the best means for furnishing such other necessary articles of clothing and food as may be wanting for the continental army in Canada, having regard to such of these as Mr. Price, the commissary in that province, can supply there: Also, that general Schuyler be desired to inform the president, what quantity of gun-powder he has received for Canada since the first of January last, and that he continue, as hitherto, to give the earliest notice to Congress of the occasion for further supplies of this and other necessaries that may be wanting, and not in his power to procure.

Resolved, That the secret committee be directed to forward from Mr. Wisner's and Mr. Livingston's powder-mills, five tons of powder, to general Schuyler, to be by him forwarded to Canada.

The committee of claims reported, that there is due,

To John Gibson, agent appointed by the commissioners for Indian affairs, for sundry services in the middle department, by order of the commissioners, the sum of 377.9 dollars:

To John Davis, for wagonage for the 6th Pennsylvania battalion, the sum of 60 dollars:

To Furman and Hunt, for provisions, &c. for the prisoners at Trenton, the sum of 183.8 dollars:

To Duncan M'Donald, the sum of 15.8 dollars, of which sum, 13.6 dollars ought to be charged to captain Hendrick's company, and 2.2 dollars to captain Cluggage's company, for goods furnished to the said companies; and that the same ought to be paid to Ephraim Blaine, esq.

To Margaret Smith, for nursing two men in the small pox, belonging to captain Benezet's company, the sum of 24 dollars.

Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

The convention of South-Carolina having appointed delegates to represent that colony in Congress, the credentials of their appointment were presented to Congress, and read, as follows:

"IN CONGRESS, CHARLESTON, SOUTH-CAROLINA, February 16, 1776.

Eesolved, That Thomas Lynch, John Rutledge, Edward Rutledge, Arthur Middleton, and Thomas Heyward, jun. esqrs. be, and they are hereby appointed and fully authorized, to represent this colony in the Continental Congress, for one year next ensuing.

March 23, 1776.

Resolved, That the delegates of this colony in the Continental Congress, or a majority of such of them as shall at any time be present in the said Congress,