State, except Virginia, has, to the knowledge of this Board, past any Act in compliance with the Requisition last mentioned. The Legislature of that State at their last Sessions past an Act, laying a Duty of Six Shillings Virginia Currency per Hogshead, on all Tobacco exported from that State in the present Year; and have wholly appropriated the Monies arising from this Fund to the discharge of the Special Requisition. This will probably produce the Sum of Forty thousand Dollars; which is not quite a Moiety of the Quota of Virginia on the Special Requisition. Such are the prospects from this source! With respect to the Requisition of the 2o of August last1 we have received no information that any State has past an Act in compliance with it, except Virginia. The Commissioner of the Loan Office for that State, has a few days since transmitted to this Office, an Act past at the last Sessions of the Legislature of that State, in pursuance of the Requisition of the 2o August last; but observes that it is not possible to determine what Sum in Specie can be expected from it. From this statement of the public prospects in point of Revenue, and from the heavy Arrearages still due on the existing Requisitions, agreeably to the statement which we had the honor of submitting to the inspection of Congress on the 5th Instant, that Honorable Body will easily discover that there is no prospect of sufficient Funds coming into the Treasury in season to enable this Board to make provision for Payments on the Foreign debt, which become due in the present year. We are, with the greatest respect, etc., SAMUEL OSGOOD His Excell THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. [Report of Board of Treasury on claim of General Charles Scott 2] The Board of Treasury to whom was referred a Certificate of Doctor David Oliphant,3 late Director General of the Hospitals in the State of South Carolina, relative to a Claim of the late Brigadier 1 Journals, vol. XXXI, pp. 459–465. Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 138, II, pp. 325-326, read February 12, 1787. The covering letter of the Board, which was also read, is in Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 140, I, p. 307. Journals, vol. XXXI, p. 758, General Scott, together with a Report of the Board on the said Claim of the 224 September last.1 Beg leave to Report, That in pursuance of the Resolve of Congress of the 39 of October last, there has been paid to the said Brigadier General Scott, the Sum of 1066 60/90ths Dollars on account of the Claim abovementioned. That the Certificate of Doctor David Oliphant does not in the opinion of this Board, give any additional weight to the Claim of General Scott, than what was derived from the Papers heretofore submitted to their consideration; since it merely purports that the said Doctor Oliphant heard from good authority, that a large quantity of Bark and other Necessaries were by some private means procured for the use of the Sick Officers at Haddrells Point, who were in great distress for want of such Articles, without stating either the amount of such Supplies, or the Names of the Persons by whose means the same were said to have been procured; so that the said Certificate, if admitted as Evidence in this case, would equally support the Claims of other Persons, who might hereafter make demands against the United States of a similar nature with that of General Scott. Under the above circumstances the Commissioners of this Board do not conceive themselves justified in varying from the Opinion given in their Report of the 224 of September last. All of which is humbly Submitted. February 5 1787. SAMUEL OSGOOD WALTER LIVINGSTON [Report of Board of Treasury on petition of James Canniff2] The Board of Treasury to whom was referred the Petition of James Canniff of the 3a February instant. Beg leave to Report, That the Claim of the Petitioner falls under that description which were previous to the 18 day of March last, referred for Adjustment to the State Commissioners; but which are now cognisable by the Comptroller of the Treasury. 1 Journals, vol. XXXI, pp. 689-690. 'Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 138, I, p. 195, read February 12, 1787. See February 3. According to indorsement, the papers were delivered, May 1, 1787, to Mr. Frauncis upon request of the memorialist. The Board are therefore of Opinion, that it would be improper to establish a precedent for the Settlement of such Claims, out of the general line for this purpose established. All which is humbly submitted February 7th 1787. SAMUEL OSGOOD WALTER LIVINGSTON ARTHUR LEE. [Report of Board of Treasury on motion respecting claims of individuals 1] The Board of Treasury to whom was referred a Motion2 of the Honble M Pettit of the 16th of October last, for authorising the Commissioners of Accounts in the several States to receive for Settlement the Claims of Individuals against the United States, untill the first day of March next, the Resolve3 of Congress of the 17th March 1785 notwithstanding. Beg leave to Report, That in consequence of the Powers vested in this Board by the Ordinance of Congress of the 13 of October 1786, the Commissioners of Accounts in most of the States have received notice to close the Accounts of their respective Departments, at different periods betwixt the first of January last, and the 14th of February instant. That the only reasons which have governed this Board in not terminating the Commission of all these Officers at the same period (except in the States of North Carolina and Georgia) are that in those States where the Office of Commissioner is still continued, the same is rendered requisite, either from the state of the Accounts of the late Commissioners of the Loan Office, or from the progress which has been made in adjusting the Accounts of such States with the United States. That to the reasons which have been submitted by this Board in their Report to Congress of the 8th March 1785, the Board beg leave to add, That the present state of the Finances and the heavy additional demands which will be made on the Treasury, in consequence 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 139, pp. 449-450; read February 12, 1787. Journals, vol. XXXI, p. 880. Journals, vol. XXVIII, pp. 168-169. Journals, vol. XXXI, pp. 779–781. The date of this report was March 8, 1786. See Journals, vol. XXX, p. 109. of the Resolves1 of Congress of the 20th of October last, render it the indispensable duty of this Board to make every possible retrenchment in the Expenditures of the Civil Establishment, which is consistent with the proper Administration of the same. Under the above circumstances, the Board are of opinion, that it would be improper to adopt the Motion referred to their consideration. All which is humbly submitted February 7th 1787. SAMUEL OSGOOD WALTER LIVINGSTON [Report of Board of Treasury on loan offices 21 The Board of Treasury to whom was referred their Letter of the 16th of October instant, relative to the transactions of the late Loan Offices in the States of South Carolina, and Georgia, Beg leave to Submit to the consideration of Congress the following Resolve. That the Commissioners of Accounts for the States of South Carolina and Georgia, be directed to Adjust without delay, the Accounts of the Loan Officers in the said States, previous to the first Day of January last; And that the Certifying of Interest on Loan Office Certificates issued from the Offices of those States be suspended, 'till a Report on the said Accounts is made by the respective Commissioners. All which is humbly Submitted October 27th 1786. 1 Journals, vol. XXXI, pp. 892-893. SAMUEL OSGOOD Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 139, p. 399, read February, 1787. The covering letter of the Board, also read, is in Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 140, I, p. 287. According to Reports of Committees, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 189, p. 22, the report was delivered February 12, 1787, and it and the Board's letter of October 16, 1786, were filed. 'Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 139, pp. 379–385, with accompanying documents on pp. 387–388 and 391-395. See Journals, vol. XXXI, p. 891 n. [Report of Commissioner for settling accounts on memorial of John Snowden 1] OFFICE OF ACCOUNTS FOI Q M DEP New York Nov 6th 1786. The Commissioner for settling the accounts of the Quarter Masters Department, to whom was referred the Memorial of John Snowden, late a Conductor of Stores, praying that the settlement of his account may be revised and an allowance made for the depreciation on his pay, begs leave to Report, That Mr. Snowden appears to have served in several capacities and his pay was augmented from time to time in the following manner, Viz From the 20th of March to the 20th July 1778 he was called Forrage Master at the Stables near Schuylkill and paid at the rate of 40 Dollars per Month: His pay was then raised to 60 Dollars per Month and continued to the 20th April 1779. He was then called Superintindant of the Stables and Barrack Master and paid at the rate of 120 Dollars per Month untill the 17th October 1779 when it was raised to 180 Dollars, and on the first of April 1780 it was again augmented to 360 Dollars per month. This increase of pay has not kept way with the depreciation of the money, and were his accounts revised and settled by the scale there would be a considerable balance in his favor; but there is no resolution of Congress existing which authorises such revision or any allowance for depreciation to those who have served in the Quarter Master Generals Department. Mr Snowdens case is not singular, and your Commissioner is of opinion that no allowance ought to be made him unless it is made general, and depreciation allowed on the pay of all who have served in the Quarter Masters Department. All which is humbly submitted. JONth BURRALL. [Letter of Secretary at War on insurgents in Massachusetts 2] WAR OFFICE, Feb 8 1787. SIR: I have the honor to transmit to your Excellency, a letter from Major Whitney, aid-de-camp to Major General Shepard; which is 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 31, p. 343, read February 12, 1787. See February 5 and March 8, 1787. According to Reports of Committees, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 189, p. 22, this report was filed. 2 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 150, II, p. 219; read February 12, 1787. A copy of Major Abel Whitney's letter is on pp. 211-217 and its enclosure on p. 207. |