The Committee, consisting of M' [Elbridge] Gerry, M' [Richard] Peters and M' [Abiel] Foster, to whom was referred a letter of the 7th of Sept. last submit the following report

Resolved, That an unsigned a copy of a letter purporting to be from Colonel John Allen to Congress of the 7th September be transmitted to the legislature Supreme executive of Massachusetts, who are authorized requested to take effectual measures for ascertaining whether any encroachments are made on their eastern boundaries, constituting those of the United States, and if made by the subjects of any foreign power to prohibit them in the name of the said states by proclamation or otherwise giving the earliest information thereof to Congress,

And the legislature are also requested to discharge any ballance that may be due to Col Allen for necessary services and supplies in superintending the eastern Indian

Postponed Department

Resolved, That the monies advanced by the State of Massachusetts in pursuance of the preceeding resolution, be allowed by the Superintendant of finance in part payment of the requisitions Postponed of 1782 for supplying the continental treasury1 The Superintendent of Finance to whom was referred the letter of Charles Stewart of the twenty-ninth of October begs leave to report. That the same letter was upon the reference thereof transmitted to the Commissioner for adjusting the accounts of the Commissary's Department, and his answer was made on the fourth Instant a copy whereof is now enclosed.

All which is humbly submitted.

ROBT. MORRIS."

1 This report, in the writing of Elbridge Gerry, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 55. It was postponed on this day, the indorsement states, and "rendered useless by the resolution of January 29, 1784." See post, January 29.

• This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 137, III, folio 267. It was presented and read December 22, 1783, and, on January 6, as the indorsement states, it was referred to Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [William] Ellery, and Mr. [Samuel] Osgood. According to Committee Book, No. 186, the Committee was renewed April 7, and, apparently Osgood was then dropped and Mr. [Roger] Sherman put in his place. See post, April 15

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1784.

Congress assembled: Present as before.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 1784.

Congress assembled: Present as before.

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

Resolved, That Monday next be assigned for the election of a chaplain to Congress.

On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, Mr. James Duane, Mr. [Arthur] Lee and Mr. [Jeremiah Townley] Chase, to whom was referred a memorial of Jan Hendrick Christian Heinekin, one of the agents of the Prussian ship Minerva, touching a decree of the court of appeals in cases of capture:

Resolved, That the memorial of Jan Hendrick Christian Heinekin, with the papers accompanying it, be referred to the judges of the court of appeals in Admiralty causes cases of capture, to report to Congress (as speedily as may be, the facts and reasons on which they founded the deeree com plained of in the said memorial. [Copies of the proofs and-proceedings together with a state of the ease to enable Congress to understand the reasons and grounds on which the decree, &e., was founded] proceedings, proofs and judgment in the above-mentioned cause).1

On the report of the committee, consisting of Mr. [Samuel] Osgood, Mr. [Arthur] Lee and Mr. [James] Tilton, to whom was referred a petition of Thomas Sudler, setting forth, that his dwelling-house was, on the 6 of February, 1781, plundered

1 The report, in the writing of Arthur Lee, except the part in brackets which is in David Howell's writing, and that in parenthesis which is in Jacob Read's writing, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, III, folios 120 and 1212. The line typed words are in the report and not in the Journal.

Heinekin's memorial is in No. 41, IV, folio 199, and a copy is in No. 41, VI, folio 416.

and robbed by the British; and that he lost several continental certificates to the amount of two thousand three hundred dollars, exclusive of interest, which were dated about the 2d of March, 1779, and praying that certificates of the same tenor and date may be issued to him.

Report that justice does not require, nor does the interest of the United States admit that Congress should become responsible for casualties of the like nature.1

Resolved, That the certificates being made payable to the bearer, and probably at this time in circulation, the prayer of the petition cannot be granted.

On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [James] Tilton and Mr. [James] Monroe, to whom were referred the memorial of Captain Houdin, of the 2d Massachusetts regiment, and that of Lieutenant Thacher of the same, praying for promotion,

Resolved, That the definitive treaty of peace being signed, nearly the whole of the army discharged, and the Commander in Chief having resigned his commission, it is inexpedient to make the promotion requested.2

The Committee, consisting of [Mr. David Howell, Mr. Arthur Lee and Mr. Samuel Osgood] to whom was referred the address of the people called Quakers, presented to Congress on the 8th day of October, 1783, by a deputation on behalf of the yearly meeting held in Philadelphia, for Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and the western parts of Maryland and Virginia, submit the following Report.

Resolved, That Congress consider this address from so respectable a part of the people called Quakers as a testimony of their sincere concern for the essential good of their Country the rights of mankind, and of their respect for those with whom the powers of Government are entrusted.

1 The report, in the writing of Hugh Williamson and Elbridge Gerry, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, III, folio 191.

'The report, in the writing of Samuel Osgood, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, V, folio 439. Sudler's petition is in No. 43, VII, folio 170.

Resolved, That it be recommended to the legislature of the several States to enact such laws as to their wisdom may appear best calculated to compass the object of the second article in the association entered into, and subscribed by the Delegates of the United Colonies in Congress assembled on the 20th Day of October 1774.1

FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 1784.

Congress assembled: Present as before.

On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [William] Ellery, Mr. [Edward] Hand and Mr. [Richard Dobbs] Spaight, to whom was referred a memorial of the late MajorGeneral Sullivan:

The Committee consisting of Mr [William] Ellery, M' [Edward] Hand and M' [Richard Dobbs] Spaight to whom was referred the memorial of the late Major General John Sullivan with its enclosures, submit the following Resolves:

of April, 1780,

Whereas, in the Act of Congress passed the allowing depreciation to the line of the Army on their original pay it is provided, "That no person shall have benefit of this resolution except such as were engaged during the War or for three years and are now in service or shall hereafter engage during the War," and the Memorialist had resigned and was not in service on the 11th day of April, 1780, and whereas on the 2a day of August, 1781, Congress passed a negative on the following question: "That it be recommended to the State of New Hampshire to make good to Genl. Sullivan the depreciation of his pay for the time he continued in service in the like manner as has been done for the Officers in the line of the said State now in service." Therefore

Resolved, That Congress cannot consistently with those Acts allow the Memorialist depreciation on his pay for the time he continued in service-Postponed.

Ordered, That a petition of Nathaniel Greenwood for pay while a Prisoner, be referred to the Agent of Marine to report.'

1 This report, in the writing of a clerk, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, II, folio 169. The indorsement states that it was read January 7 and on “January 8, 1784, Question taken on this lost."

? This order was entered only in the journal kept by the Secretary of Congress for the Superintendent of Finance: Morris Papers, Congressional Proceedings. According to the record in Committee Book No. 186, a report was delivered February 2.

Resolved, That so much of the said memorial, as respects the payment of fifteen hundred dollars, granted to him by Congress, by their act of 31 July, 1781, be referred to the Superintendant of finance, to take order.1

SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 1784.

Only six states attending, viz. Massachusetts, Pensylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina; and from the State of New Hampshire, Mr. [Abiel] Foster, and from the State of Rhode Island, Mr. [William] Ellery, the President adjourned Congress till ten o'clock on Monday.

MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 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 the State of South Carolina, Mr. [Jacob] Read.

Ordered, That the order of the day for electing election of a chaplain be postponed till Monday next.

The committee of the week [Mr. Richard Dobbs Spaight, Mr. Edward Hand and Mr. James Monroe] are of opinion the within memorial [of Captain F. Paschke] should be read in Congress."

TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1784.

Congress assembled: Present as yesterday; and from the State of Connecticut, Mr. [Roger] Sherman and Mr. [James] Wadsworth, who produced credentials under the seal of the

1 This report, in the writing of Richard Dobbs Spaight, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, V, folio 453. Sullivan's memorial is in No. 41, IX, folio 253.

2 This report, in the writing of Richard Dobbs Spaight, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, VI, folio 285. The memorial of Captain Paschke, dated January 11, 1784, is on folio 282. According to the indorsement it was read January 12 and referred to Mr. [James] Tilton, Mr. [Arthur] Lee and Mr. [David] Howell.