propose to the other contracting party, a convention extending the time for the exchange of ratifications 3 months further, that the said Ministers be informed that so soon as 9 states shall be present in Congress the said treaty shall be submitted to them and their ratification when obtained shall be transmitted also; that if they should receive the ratification by 9 states before the ultimate point of time allowed for exchange this alone be used and the former cancelled; that if it should not be received in time, they then produce the act of the 7 states and give the same in exchange informing the other contracting party that the said treaty came to hand when Congress was not in session. That 7 states only had yet assembled; that this ratification has been expedited with their unanimous consent and offering it in exchange for theirs with an assurance that it will be followed by another, expedited in all its forms by nine states, se seen as they shall be assembled, which shall be delivered to them alse,1

[M: Jacob Read's motion, January 3, 1784; Referred to the Postmaster General to report.]

That the Postmaster be instructed to order the post riders who meet at Annapolis with the Northern and Southern Mails severally to remain a night at Annapolis in order to give the Members of Congress an opportunity to examine and answer their despatches by the returns of the post.2

MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 1784.

Congress assembled: Present, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pensylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina; and from the state of New Hampshire, Mr. [Abiel] Foster, and from South Carolina, Mr. [Jacob] Read.

On motion of Mr. [William] Ellery, seconded by Mr. [David] Howell,

1 This report, in the writing of Thomas Jefferson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 29, folios 327-329. The indorsement states that on January 14, 1784, it was "rendered useless by the ratification this day by 9 states" and was ordered "to be filed." It was read, the indorsement states, on this day. A duplicate rough draft is on folio 330.

2 This motion, in the writing of Jacob Read, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 281. The indorsement states that it was made on this day and a copy sent to the Postmaster at Philadelphia.

Resolved, That the appointment election of the five committees, directed to be appointed on this day, by the resolution of the 17 June, 1782, be postponed till the first Monday in February next.

On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Arthur] Lee, Mr. [Hugh] Williamson and Mr. [William] Ellery, to whom was referred a memorial from Gustavus Conyngham, praying for the renewal of a commission of captain in the navy of the United States, received from the commissioners in Paris, in 1777, and lost by him, or to be reinstated in his former situation.

Resolved, That the prayer of the said memorialist cannot be granted, such commissions being intended for temporary expeditions only, and not to give rank in the navy.1

On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [William] Ellery, Mr. [Arthur] Lee, Mr. [Ralph] Izard, Mr. [Richard] Peters and Mr. [James] McHenry, to whom was referred a letter from the Commander in chief, of 28 August, containing a proposal from the Secretary of the Polish Order of Knights of Divine Providence, that Congress should nominate a number of suitable persons to be created Knights of the said Order.

Resolved, That the late Commander in Chief, be requested to inform the Chevalier Jean de Heintz, Secretary of the order of Divine Providence, that Congress entertain a high sense of the honour done them by are sensible of the attention of that Order, in proposing to them to nominate a number of suitable persons to be created Knights of the Order of Divine Providence; but that Congress cannot, consistently with the principles of the Confederation, accept of their obliging proposal.2

1 This report, in the writing of Arthur Lee, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 621.

This report, in the writing of Ralph Izard, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 45; the words crossed out are in the report and do not appear in the Journal. On this or an approximate date was read a letter of January 4 from Wallace and Muir. It is in No. 78, XXIV, folio 413.

ANNAPOLIS, JANUARY 5, 1784.

The committee, consisting of Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [George] Partridge and Mr. [Arthur] Lee, appointed to prepare a letter to the Ministers of the United States in Paris, reported a draught, which was agreed to as follows:

I am directed to inform you that the definitive Treaty after a very long passage arrived during an adjournment of Congress from Princeton to this place. No more than seven States are yet assembled; these are unanimously desirous to ratify the Treaty, and the measure will be taken up as soon as nine States are assembled. In the mean while as the weather is severe and travelling extremely difficult from a heavy fall of snow, it is to be feared the ratification may not arrive in the time limited for the exchange To obviate any inconven ience that may arise from such accident I am to re quest you will attempt to negotiate an extension of the time fixed for the exchange of ratifications by the addition of two months [and that inconveniences may arise unless the time for exchanging the ratification should be extended.]1

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1784.

Congress assembled: Present the same as yesterday. The committee, consisting of Mr. [David] Howell, Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry and Mr. [Eleazer] McComb, to whom was referred a letter of 22 November, from the postmaster general, with sundry papers enclosed therein, respecting the

1 This report, in the writing of Hugh Williamson, except the part in brackets, which is in the writing of Elbridge Gerry, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, II, folio 325. It was entered only in Secret Journal No. 4 (p. 230) and in Secret Journal No. 6, Vol. III (p. 209). The words lined out so appear in the report but were not entered on the Journal.

robbery of the mail at Princeton, report the following state of facts:

"That about nine o'clock in the evening of the 30th of October last, the mail for the eastward was closed and laid on the counter, in the post office, that the post-rider came into the office, and passed into a room adjoining, with the postmaster, leaving the mail on the counter, and a lighted candle near it, without any one in the office, the door leading into the street and the room adjoining being open; that under these circumstances some person entered the office at the front door, extinguished the candle and carried off the mail; that some days after the robbery of the mail, it was found in a meadow near Princetown, and returned to the general post-office; that the mail contained a large packet of notes, signed by Michael Hillegas, treasurer, and franked by the superintendant of finance and other valuable effects, none of which were missing; but that five or six letters were lost, and several franked by members of Congress were broke open. Upon which state of facts the committee conceive that the interests of individuals, the revenue of the post office, and the national honor, are intimately concerned in the safety and preservation of the public mails, and of the letters, packets and despatches committed to the post-office." Whereupon,

Resolved, That a copy [of the letters and papers referred to the committee, be transmitted to the supreme executive of the State of New Jersey, who are requested to order a strict enquiry into the conduct of John Harrison, postmaster at Princetown, and James Martin, post-rider, relative to the premises; to ascertain whether and how far they were culpable in the loss of the mail; to discover, if possible, the perpetrators of the robbery, and to transmit the result of such enquiry to Congress.]

10

Committed. 8

Agreed to Jany. 15.

Journals of Congress

2nd. Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to the Legislatures of the several States to enact adequate laws for the security of the public mails and of the letters, packets and despatches committed to the Post offices within their respective jurisdictions.

3rd. Resolved, That the President issue a Proclamation offering a reward of 300 dollars to be paid out of the public Treasury and charged on the Revenue of the Post office to any person or persons who shall apprehend and secure in any of the goals in the United States the perpetrator or perpetrators of the aforesaid robbery, so that he or they may be thereof legally convicted, and brought to condign punishment, and promising the same reward, with an indemnity to any person, who being an accomplice shall give information and evidence whereby any principal offender or offenders shall be convicted as aforesaid.

[Resolved, That the postmaster general be directed to inform Congress, to whom the mail was delivered when found, and whose hands it passed through till lodged in the general post office; that he also be directed to give positive orders to the several postmasters, and post-riders, to take the most effectual care of the letters, packets, despatches and mails committed to them respectively, as any neglect or misconduct in that department will meet with no indulgence from Congress.]1

1 The report, in the writing of a clerk, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, III, folio 83. The parts in brackets was entered in the Journal by Henry Remsen, Jun. but the 2d and 3d resolves are in the report only and were not entered in the Journal. The Postmaster General's letter is in No. 61, folio 155.

On this day, according to the indorsement, was read a memorial from the public creditors in and near Philadelphia and referred to Mr. [Samuel] Osgood, Mr. [Hugh] Williamson and Mr. [James] Tilton. It is in No. 41, II, folios 156, 160. See post, January 15.