the most particular, and recent account I have received, respecting

the insurgents of Massachusetts.

I have the honor to be, etc.,

His Excellency

H KNOX.

THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Letter of Secretary at War on Shay's rebellion ']

WAR OFFICE, 12th February 1787.

SIR: I have the honor and great satisfaction to inform your Excellency and Congress that the rebellion in Massachusetts is in a fair train of being speedily and effectually suppressed.

General Lincoln to whom was committed the force employed by the government of Massachusetts on this occasion has been so obliging as to inform me of his operations, the substance of which is contained in the enclosed papers.

I have the honor to be, etc.,

His Excellency

THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Letter of Secretary at War on raising troops 2]

H KNOX

WAR OFFICE, Feb. 12th 1787

SIR: I have the honor to inform your Excellency, that the legislatures of the States respectively, on which were apportioned the troops by the requisition of Congress of the 20th of October 1786, have passed laws complying therewith, and have appointed the commissioned officers accordingly; excepting the State of Maryland, from which no information has been received.

In Massachusetts, Connecticut and Virginia, the recruiting service has commenced, on means furnished by those States, respectively: But, New Hampshire and Rhode Island, have not been able to furnish any monies for this purpose, therefore, in those States, the recruiting service has been suspended, until the board of treasury 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 150, II, p. 235, read February 12, 1787. The enclosures are on pp. 223-227 and 231.

Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 150, II, pp. 243–245; read February 12, 1787. The enclosures are on pp. 239–241.

Journals, vol. XXXI, pp. 892-893.

could devise other means, for carrying into execution the orders of Congress. No contracts have yet been formed for either clothing, rations, or other objects of the establishment.

The number of recruits in Massachusetts amount to about 180, and in Connecticut to about one hundred. No advice has been received on this head from Virginia.

Although these troops were designed for the frontiers of the United States, I have conceived that the critical state of the public stores, at Springfield, in Massachusetts, required every exertion to give them protection. Accordingly I have directed Col Jackson, senior officer of Massachusetts, and Col? Humphreys of Connecticut, to march their recruits to Springfield. A copy of their orders on this subject are enclosed.

But the late success of General Lincoln, in dispersing the insurgents, may render it unnecessary to march the recruits, from Boston, to Springfield, especially as it will retard the recruiting service, and be attended with expence. I shall therefore countermand the orders given to Col Jackson on this point; but, as Col? Humphrey's recruiting service cannot be injured materially, by changing his rendezvous to Springfield, and as there are no continental guards there, I shall continue his orders of the 9th instant, in their full force, unless Congress should please to direct otherwise. I conceive that there will be the highest propriety in protecting the Stores of the United States, with their own troops, particularly in a country where such deep commotions have lately existed.

I have the honor to be, etc.,

His Excellency

THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

H KNOX

[Report of Secretary at War on sundry memorials 1]

The Secretary of the United States for the department of War to whom were referred the Petitions and Memorials hereafter stated, Reports The following resolution on the petition2 of John Paul Schott.

1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 151, pp. 235–237, read February 12, 1787. See March 22, 1787.

Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, VII, p. 255, read August 18, 1786. The portion of the petition relating to the commission was referred to the Secretary at War on September 12, 1786.

Resolved That Captain John Paul Schott having been deranged on the 31st of December 1780 is not entitled to a brevet Commission of Major by virtue of the Resolve1 of Congress of the 30th September 1783.

2

On the Petition of William Tapp for depreciation of pay, your Secretary observes, that it appears to have been the invariable determination of Congress to adhere to the spirit of their resolve3 of the 10th of April 1780, respecting those officers who resigned previous to that period. That in conformity thereto the accounts of individuals have been adjusted and also the accounts between the respective States and the United States. Any alteration at this period might involve endless confusion in the public accounts. Therefore the following resolve is submitted.

Resolved That the Petition of William Tapp for depreciation cannot be granted, it being contrary to the principles established respecting depreciation by the Act of Congress of the 10th of April 1780.

On the Petition of James Giles for depreciation of pay while acting as a Conductor of Military Stores, Your Secretary observes, that as Mr Giles did not resign his appointment in the service of the United States, but was transferred from the civil to the military branch of the Ordnance department therefore he is entitled to have the depreciation of his pay as Conductor of Military Stores made good to him agreably to the Act of Congress of the 17th of October 1783.

Your Secretary apprehends that the distinction between being transferred or promoted from one department of the Army to another, or resigning and withdrawing from the public service is clear and proper, and while the Resolve of Congress of the 10th of April 1780 was operating to prevent resignations, it could not be intended to prevent promotions.

On these principles the following resolve is submitted.

Resolved, That it be and it is hereby recommended to the State of New York to make good to Mr James Giles the depreciation of his

1 Journals, vol. XXV, p. 633.

Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, VII, pp. 479–481, read and referred September 22, 1786.

1 Journals, vol. XVI, pp. 344–345.

Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, III, pp. 293–294, read and referred September 22, 1786. See March 22, 1787.

Journals, vol. XXV, p. 697.

pay while acting as Conductor of Military Stores agreably to the Act of Congress of the 17th of October 1783.

WAR OFFICE, November 29, 1786.

H KNOX 1

1 FEBRUARY 12, 1787. According to the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, pp. 134–136, committees, which were renewals of committees of the preceding Congress, were appointed as follows:

Mr. Rufus King, Mr. Stephen Mix Mitchell and Mr. Daniel Huger on a petition of Caleb Stark. See April 28, 1786.

Mr. Nathan Dane, Mr. William Samuel Johnson, Mr. John Kean, Mr. Rufus King and Mr. Egbert Benson on a report of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, respecting a court for trial of piracies and felonies on the high seas. See May 1, 1786. For the report see Journals vol. XXIX, pp. 797–805.

Mr. William Grayson, Mr. John Kean and Mr. William Samuel Johnson on a petition of Nahum Akarman. See May 5, 1786. "Filed".

Mr. Rufus King, Mr. John Bull and Mr. Abraham Clark on a petition of Sarah, Countess of Stirling. See July 28, 1786.

Mr. William Samuel Johnson, Mr. William Grayson and Mr. Nathan Dane on the renewal of certificates payable to bearer. See August 17, 1786.

Mr. William Samuel Johnson, Mr. Egbert Benson and Mr. Lambert Cadwallader on the report of Board of Treasury on a petition of Samuel Davis and the report of the Commission of Army Accounts on a petition of Absalom Baird. See September 1 and 5, 1786. See also June 7 and July 28, 1786. The original committee on Baird's case was discharged.

Mr. Charles Pinckney, Mr. Melancton Smith, Mr. John Kean, Mr. Rufus King and Mr. William Few on the report of a committee respecting the Algerines. See September 11, 1786.

Mr. William Samuel Johnson, Mr. Stephen Mix Mitchell and Mr. Samuel Meredith on the accounts of Captain Allan Mc Lane and observations thereon. See September 12, 1786. The report of the previous committee was read October 18, 1786 and the matter was acted on September 1, 1788.

Mr. Pierce

Mr. Melancton Smith, Mr. Lambert Cadwallader and Mr. William Pierce on the report on petition of D. Pendleton. See September 14, 1786. was replaced by Mr. William Samuel Johnson on October 9, 1787.

Mr. Rufus King, Mr. Charles Pinckney, Mr. William Samuel Johnson, Mr. Nathan Dane and Mr. James Madison on a motion for the reduction of the civil list. See September 18, 1786, and July 20, 1785. Mr. Pinckney was replaced by Mr. Abraham Clark on March 19, 1787 and the committee reported on March 22, 1787. The committee was renewed August 2, 1787.

Mr. Nathan Dane, Mr. Melancton Smith and Mr. William Grayson on the report for paying certificates for money issued between September 1, 1777 and March 1, 1778. See September 19, 1786.

Mr. Nathan Dane, Mr. Stephen Mix Mitchell, Mr. Melancton Smith, Mr. Lambert Cadwallader, Mr. William Irvine, Mr. Nathaniel Mitchell, Mr. William Grayson, Mr. William Blount, Mr. John Bull and Mr. William Few on a letter of J. Dickinson, chairman of the Convention at Annapolis. See October 11, 1786.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1787.

Congress assembled present Massachusetts, Connecticut New York New Jersey Pensylvania North Carolina and South Carolina and from Rhode island M1 [James Mitchel] Varnum from Delaware Mr [Nathaniel] Mitchell from Virginia Mr [James] Madison and from Georgia M [William] Few.

Mr James] M[itchel] Varnum delegate for Rhode island produced Credentials by which it appears that on the first Wednesday in May 1786 he was duly appointed a delegate to represent the said State in Congress for one year commencing the first Monday in Nov 1786.

[Credentials of James Mitchel Varnum, Rhode Island1]

By His Excellency John Collins, Esquire, Governor, Captain-General and Commander in Chief, of and over the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.

Mr. James Mitchel Varnum and Mr. Uriah Forrest were added to the committee on February 13, 1787. According to Reports of Committees, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 189, p. 22, the report of the committee was delivered February 19 and acted on February 20. But see February 21, 1787. For Dickinson's letter see Journals, vol. XXXI, pp. 678-680. According to indorsement on Dickinson's letter, there was a sub-committee consisting of Grayson, Few and S. M. Mitchell.

Mr. Nathan Dane, Mr. Lambert Cadwallader, Mr. James Madison, Mr. William Samuel Johnson and Mr. Rufus King on the Report of the Secretary for Foreign Affairs on Mr. Adams' letter respecting infractions of the treaty. See October 16, 1786. This committee was discharged March 8, 1787.

According to the Committee Book, p. 135, a letter of Edward Fox to Charles Thomson, dated January 26, 1787, read February 3, and a memorial of Fox, dated August 15, 1786, read August 16, respecting the settlement of the accounts of Virginia against the United States, were referred to the Board of Treasury. The letter is in Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, IX, pp. 563-567. The committee of August 18, 1786, on the memorial was discharged.

According to the Committee Book, p. 128, the committee of October 16, 1786, to draft an ordinance for carrying into effect the impost system of April 18, 1783, was discharged.

1 Original indorsed as read February 13, 1787. Papers of the Continental Congress, Rhode Island Credentials. Copied in Record of Credentials, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 179, I, p. 205.