Resolved, That measures be immediately taken to procure goods to supply the Indians at the treaties ordered to be held with them. Resolved, That the councils of Massachusetts-Bay and New-Hampshire, and the governors of Connecticut and Rhode-Island, be earnestly requested to take the most speedy and effectual measures to collect as much hard money in their respective colonies as possible, and to send the same, as collected, to general Schuyler, and draw upon the president of Congress for the amount. Resolved, That the further consideration of the report, and the several matters to this day referred, be postponed till to-morrow, to which time Congress adjourned. TUESDAY, April 30, 1776. Agreeable to order, Congress proceeded to the election of a standing committee for Indian affairs, when, Mr. Wythe, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Wolcott, Mr. L. Morris, and Mr. Rutledge, were elected. The committee of claims reported, that there is due, To Matthew Swan, for carrying two brass field-pieces from Philadelphia to Williamsburgh, the sum of 93.6 dollars, over and beside the sum of 80 dollars paid him by Robert Erwin, and 13.3 dollars paid by the committee of Williamsburg: For house-rent, carriage, and other contingent expenses of the fourth Pennsylvania battalion, the sum of 358.6 dollars, and that the same ought to be paid to John Harper, quarter-master of the said battalion : For provisions for captain Ross's company, supplied by Charles Jackson, the sum of 9.1 dollars, and that the same ought to be paid to Timothy Matlack. Ordered, That the said accounts be paid. The committee to whom was referred the memorial from the committee of inspection and observation of the city and liberties of Philadelphia, praying the advice of Congress whether they ought to continue the exercise of the power of regulating the price of goods in other instances than that of green tea, brought in their report, which, being taken into consideration, was agreed to: Whereupon, Resolved, That the ninth article of the association, which enjoined the inhabitants of the United Colonies to sell goods and merchandise at the rates they had respectively been accustomed to do for twelve months then last past, was, in its nature, a temporary regulation respecting the goods then on hand; but as those goods are nearly consumed, and a further supply must be obtained at an extraordinary risk and expense, and it is reasonable that adventurers should be encouraged by a prospect of gain adequate to the danger which may be incurred in the importation, and a free trade being now opened from the United Colonies to all parts of the world except the dominions belonging to the king of Great-Britain, Resolved, That the power of committees of inspection and observation to regulate the prices of goods, in other instances than the article of green tea, ought to cease. Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on gen. Washington's letter of the 24th of March: Whereupon, Resolved, That the vessels which were left in the docks and harbor at Boston, by the enemy, and which different persons claim as their property, ought to be restored to their former owners, being inhabitants of these colonies, on their making proof of their title, unless the said parties so claiming, shall have been voluntarily active against the rights of the United Colonies, by affording aid and assistance to the British fleet and army; and that it be recommended to the government of Massachusetts-Bay to appoint commissioners to hear suck claims, and determine on the sufficiency of the proof thereof: Provided, That any person apprehending himself or herself to be aggrieved by the adjudication of the commissioners, may appeal from their sentence to Congress, such appeal being demanded and lodged with the secretary of Congress, within the times limited, and the appellant giving security, in the manner prescribed in the case of an appeal from the sentence of a court appointed for hearing maritime causes. Resolved, That the further consideration of the report be postponed. Resolved, That an order for 2,000 dollars be drawn on the treasurers in favor of George Evans, who has contracted to supply the Delaware battalions with rations, he to be accountable. The delegates for New-Jersey having laid before Congress a number of bills counterfeited to imitate the continental bills of credit, Resolved, That a committee of six be appointed to consider of this matter, and report thereon to Congress. The members chosen, Mr. W. Livingston, Mr. McKean, Mr. Sherman, Mr. J. Adams, Mr. Braxton, and Mr. Duane. Adjourned to ten o'clock on Thursday. THURSDAY, May 2, 1776. Sundry letters being received, were laid before Congress and read, viz. one of the 22d of April, from the committee of secrecy, war, and intelligence, of North-Carolina, with a list of prisoners sent to Philadelphia; One of the 30th of April, from general Washington, enclosing a memorial from governor Cooke; and One of the 29th of the same month, from the committee of safety of NewYork. Ordered, That the letter from general Washington, with the memorial enclosed, be referred to the committee appointed to take into consideration the state of the eastern colonies. Resolved, That a letter be written to general Schuyler, desiring him, in case major Douglass declines to take the command of the vessels on the lakes, to appoint captain Wyncoop to that command, and inform Congress thereof by the first opportunity. Resolved, That an order for 20,000 dollars be drawn on the treasurers in favour of James Mease, commissary, for the use of the Pennsylvania battalions, he to be accountable. A letter of the 1st, from Henry Fisher, of Lewistown, directed to the committee of safety of Pennsylvania, was laid before Congress, and read; Whereupon, Resolved, That the commanding officer of the Delaware battalion, be directed to station thirty-five men, with an officer, at the False Cape, till farther orders. Resolved, That the secret committee be directed to send 200lb. of powder, and 200lb of lead, to Lewis town, for the use of the companies stationed there. The committee of claims reported, that there is due, To Dr. William Murry, for account of medicine and attendance for the fourth Pennsylvania battalion, the sum of 58.3 dollars. Ordered, That the said account be paid. The committee, to whom were refered the papers laid before Congress by the delegates from North-Carolina, brought in their report, which was read: Ordered, to lie on the table. Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee on general Washington's letter of the 24th of March last; and after debate, Resolved, That it be recommitted; and, as the members of the former committee are absent, that a new committee be appointed. The members chosen, Mr. Dickinson, Mr. W. Livingston, and Mr. W. Rutledge. Resolved, That it be recommended to that branch of the council of safety of Delaware government, residing in Kent county, to furnish the commanding officer of the Delaware battalion, with as many of the public arms of that county as may be sufficient for arming the companies of the said battalion, stationed at Lewistown, to be used by them till otherwise ordered by the said branch of the council of safety. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, FRIDAY, May 3, 1776. The committee of claims reported, that there is due, To David Williams for wagon-hire, the sum of 112 dollars: Ordered, That the said account be paid. Resolved, That the secret committee be directed to send two hundred pounds of Peruvian bark to the commanding officer in Virginia, for the use of the continental forces in the southern department. A petition from Peter Simon was presented to Congress and read: The members chosen, Mr. McKean, Mr. Wythe, and Mr. J. Adams. Resolved, That the secret committee be directed to sell to Hendrick Vanbrune and Thomas Littel, 300 lb. of powder, for the use of the inhabitants of the township of Shrewsbury, to enable them to defend their sea-coast. Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the letter from brigadier lord Sterling, dated the 18th of March last; which was agreed to; Whereupon, Resolved, That the appointment of lieutenant-colonel Ogden, of the first battalion of New-Jersey, was made upon good grounds, the Congress having reserved and frequently exercised the right of promoting men of distinguished merit: That the commissary, Mr. Lowry, be directed to supply such of the soldiers. of the said battalion, as desire it, with uniforms, the cost to be deducted from their pay: That as the army is now removed from Cambridge to New-York, the consideration of raising a regiment of artillery for the service in that city, as applied for in the said letter, be postponed till further advice may be received from general Washington, or the commanding officer there. A petition from captain Oswald Eve was presented to Congress and read: Resolved, That it be referred to a committee of three. The members chosen, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Floyd, and Mr. Sergeant. Resolved, That an order for 20,000 dollars be drawn on the treasurers, 'in favour of colonel John Haslet, for the use of the Delaware battalion under his command, he to be accountable. Resolved, That the secret committee be directed to send 300lb. of powder, and a proportionable quantity of lead, to Lewistown, for the use of the troops stationed there. The committee, to whom the report on general Washington's letter of the 24th of March last was recommitted, brought in their report, which was read: Ordered, To lie on the table. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow. SATURDAY, May 4, 1776. The committee of claims reported, that there is due, To Dr. David Cowell, the sum of 97.4 dollars. Ordered, That the said account be paid. A letter of the 3d, from colonel Hand, of the rifle battalion, was read; Whereupon, Resolved, That an order for 4000 dollars be drawn on the treasurers in favor of colonel Hand, for the use of his battalion, he to be accountable. That the letter from colonel Hand be referred to a committee of three. The members chosen, Mr. Read, Mr. Sergeant, and Mr. Huntington. The Congress taking into consideration the letter of the 29th of April, from the committee of safety of New-York: Whereupon, Resolved, That a major be appointed for the first New-York battalion, in the room of major Benedict, who has resigned: The ballots being taken and examined, Barnabas Tuthill, esq. was elected. Sundry letters, just received, were laid before Congress, and read, viz. one of the 10th of April, from brigadier general Wooster, at Holland-House, before Quebec : One of the 28th of said month, from general' Schuyler, dated Fort-George, enclosing the examination of Michael Ryan: One of the 27th of the same month, from governor Trumbull, enclosing a letter from N. Shaw, jun. with a list of the cannon left at New-London. Ordered, That the marine committee lay on the table, on Monday next, the instructions given by the naval committee to commodore Hopkins, upon his leaving this port. Congress resumed the consideration of the report on general Washington's letter of the 24th of March: Whereupon, Resolved, That all the cannon, and other stores, in Boston, which were originally purchased and provided by and at the expense of the colonies of Massachusetts-Bay and New-Hampshire, be considered as belonging to the colony that so purchased and provided them; and that all the other cannon left in the colony of Massachusetts-Bay, by the British forces, be presented to the said colony: The farther consideration of the report, at the request of a colony, was postponed till Monday next. Congress then took into consideration the report of the committee on general Washington's letter of the 4th of April: Whereupon, Resolved, That the pay of the officers and soldiers of the militia, lately called to Cambridge, commence on the day of their march, and cease on that of their return. Resolved, That the farther consideration of the report be postponed. MONDAY, May 6, 1776. Advice being received that captain Young, who was fitted out at the expense of the continent, by Mr. Lewis and Mr. Alsop, was arrived; Resolved, That the secret committee be directed to give proper orders for landing, securing and bringing to Philadelphia the cargo imported by captain Young. A memorial of captain Herman Allen was presented to Congress, and read: Ordered, That it be referred to the committee of claims. Congress resumed the consideration of the report on general Washington's letter of the 24th of March; and, thereupon, came to the following resolution: Whereas general Washington has requested directions concerning the conduct that should be observed towards commissioners, said to be coming from Great-Britain to America, Resolved, That general Washington be informed, that Congress suppose, if commissioners are intended to be sent from Great-Britain to treat of peace, that the practice usual in such cases will be observed, by making previous application for the necessary passports or safe conduct, and on such application being made, Congress will then direct the proper measures for the reception of such commissioners. The committee appointed to bring in a resolution, whereby persons resident, or having property in America, who assist any of the enemies of these United Colonies in the captures of vessels or goods, may be made liable to make good the damage to the sufferers, brought in a report which was read: Ordered, To lie on the table. A letter of the 24th of April, from general Lee, was read. The Congress then resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into their consideration, the state of the United Colonies; and after some time spent thereon, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. Harrison reported, that the committee had taken into consideration the matter to them referred, and had thereupon come to sundry resolutions, which he was ordered to report when the house should be ready to receive them. Ordered, That the report be now delivered in. The report of the committee of the whole being read, was agreed to as follows: Resolved, That ten millions of dollars be raised for the purpose of carrying on the war for the current year: That the Indian goods said to be at Fort-Pitt, be purchased for the use of the United Colonies: That Indian goods to the value of ten thousand dollars, be purchased at Montreal, for the use of the United Colonies: That treaties be held with the Indians in the different departments, as soon as practicable; and that the sum of ten thousand dollars be paid out of the treasury, to the commissioners of each respective department, for presents to the Indians and the expenses of such treaties. Mr. Harrison further reported, that the committee desired him to move for leave to sit again: Whereupon, Resolved, That Congress will, to-morrow, resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the state of America. Resolved, That a committee of seven be appointed to devise ways and means for raising the ten millions of dollars: The members chosen, Mr. Duane, Mr. R. Morris, Mr. Rutledge, Mr. Gerry, Mr. Sherman, Mr. R. H. Lee, and Mr. Hewes. Resolved, That the convention, or council of safety of Virginia, be empowered to appoint surgeons to the battalions raised in the said colony, for the service of the continent. Resolved, That John Taylor be appointed judge-advocate to the continental troops in the colony of Virginia. Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow. TUESDAY, May 7, 1776. Sundry letters being received, were laid before Congress, and read, viz. One of the 5th of April from general Washington: One of the 14th from John G. Frazer, enclosing a list of the vessels, cannon, and ordnance-stores left by the enemy at Boston: One from sundry prisoners at Hartford, in Connecticut, dated 21st March: One from L. F. of St. Eustatia, dated 5th of April: Resolved, That the said letters be referred to a committee of three: The members chosen, Mr. S. Adams, Mr. Braxton, and Mr Duane. A petition from John Bayard, P. Moore, and John Patton, was presented to Congress and read: Whereupon, Resolved, That the secret committee be directed to sell to the petitioners 600lb. of powder, for the use of the privateers they are fitting out. |