THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1783

Major General Howe having transmitted to the President, “A full report of the proceedings of the court-martial respecting the late mutiny,"

Ordered, That they be laid before Congress on Tuesday next.'

The superintendant of finance, to whom was referred so much of President Weare's letter of 30th June as relates to the liquidation of loan office certificates begs leave to report,

That the reducing all loan office certificates to their true value, according to the tables of depreciation, is doubtless a desirable object, not only as it may introduce a greater simplicity into the public accounts, but also as it may further the subsequent arrangements which shall become necessary for managing the public debts.

That every operation which can have the slightest connection with public credit ought to be conducted on the principles of equal and reciprocal bargain; so that the object be performed with the perfect consent of the party as well as of the government.

That of consequence, it will be proper to hold out some advantage or at least convenience to the party which may induce him to cooperate with the government. The following resolution is therefore submitted:

That the Commissioners appointed in pursuance of the act of Congress of the twentieth of February 1782 to adjust and finally settle all accounts between the United States and each individual State, be and they hereby are empowered and required to liquidate in specie value (according to the several resolutions and acts of Congress in that behalf made) all such loan office certificates as may be exhibited to them, and to give new certificates similar to those which they issue in other cases, including in such new certificates the interest which may have become due and be still unpaid on the old certificates, up to the end of the year 1782, from which period the said new certificates are to bear interest; and that in cases where certificates have been lost and destroyed, the Commissioners accept as certificates the evidence on which (according to the resolution and acts of 1 Howe's letter, dated September 2, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 38, folio 119.

Congress in that behalf made) new certificates would have been issuable from the loan offices.

OFFICE OF FINANCE, 3 Sept., 1783.1

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1783

A motion was made by Mr. [Arthur] Lee, seconded by Mr. [Samuel] Holten,

That the Superintendant of finance be directed to lay before Congress an account of all the public monies which have been applied at home and abroad to the purchase of cloathing for the army since his coming into office; together with an account of what part of such cloathing has been received, and how it has been disposed of.2

2

On the question to agree to this, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Arthur] Lee,

1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 137, III, folio 57. According to the indorsement, it was delivered September 4, read and entered. See ante, August 5.

On this day, as the indorsement states, a letter of September 1, from the Agent of Marine respecting the Alliance Frigate and enclosing copy of a letter of August 26, from Captain John Barry, was read, and referred to Mr. [William] Ellery, Mr. A[rthur] Lee and Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry. It is in No. 137, III, folio 45.

Also, a letter of September 3, from the Assistant Secretary at War, enclosing a letter, of August 26, from Ephraim Douglass, which was referred back to the Secretary at War to report a proper compensation. It is in No. 149, III, folio 191, and Douglass's letter on folio 187. According to Committee Books No. 186 and No. 191, the Secretary at War delivered a report September 29, which, on October 17, was referred to the Superintendent of finance to take order.

2 This motion, in the writing of Arthur Lee, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 223. The vote is indorsed on it. See post, September 16.

So it was resolved in the affirmative.

On motion of Mr. [Arthur] Lee, seconded by Mr. [Samuel] Holten,

Resolved, That the Secretary at War be directed to lay before Congress, copies of the returns from the cloathier general to him, of the cloathing which has been received by the said cloathier general, since the 1st January, 1781, to the present time; and also of the returns of cloathing on hand, every two months in that period, as directed by the regulations passed June 10th, 1781.1

On motion of Mr. [James] McHenry, seconded by Mr. [Arthur] Lee,

That Thursday next be the order of the day to take into consideration the offer from the Legislature of Pensylvania of a place for the temporary residence of Congress till Congress may determine on a place for their fixed residence; and the offer of Annapolis for the same purpose, communicated by the delegates from the State of Maryland."

Resolved, That Friday next be assigned to decide on the place proper for a temporary residence of Congress.

On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [William] Ellery, Mr. A[rthur] Lee and Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, to whom was referred a letter of 1 from the agent of marine,

1 This motion, in the writing of Arthur Lee, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 223.

2 This motion, in the writing of James McHenry, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 221. The resolution as passed is interlined on the original motion, in the writing of Charles Thomson, and a copy of part of it, also in Thomson's writing, is on folio 225.

Resolved, That the agent of marine be, and he is hereby directed to cause the ship Alliance to be unladen, and her cargo freighted to Amsterdam Europe on the best terms.

That the nett proceeds thereof be applied by the Super Intendant-of Finance toward the payment-of-the-interest of the loans in Holland. That the agent of marine discharge the officers and crew of the ship Alliance, cause her to be surveyed, and report to Congress the state she is in, with an estimate of the expence necessary to give her a good repair.1

1

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1783

The President being absent, Congress proceeded to the election of a chairman, for the purpose of keeping order; and, the ballots being taken, the hon. John Rutledge was elected.

The Committee of the week [Mr. Joseph Jones, Mr. John Montgomery and Mr. Ezra L'Hommedieu] report that the petition of Richard Varick late Deputy Muster Master General be read in Congress.

That the Petition of Jonathan Trumbull Jun with his account against the United States be read in Congress.

That the Petition of Nathan Leavenworth with the certificate accompanying the same lay on the table."

1 This report, in the writing of William Ellery, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 28, folio 229.

On this day, as the indorsement indicates, a letter of the same date from W. Jackson, Assistant Secretary at War, was read and referred to Mr. [Richard] Peters, Mr. [James] McHenry and Mr. [Theodorick] Bland. According to Committee Books, No. 186 and No. 191, a report was delivered September 9 and acted on September 26. The letter is in No. 149, III, folio 195.

2 This report, in the writing of Ezra L'Hommedieu, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 519. By the indorsement it is dated this day.

The letter of Varick, dated Poughkeepsie, August 20, 1783, is in No. 78, XXIII, folio 199, and Trumbull's petition, dated Newburgh, August 18, 1783, is in No. 41, X, folio 175. The indorsements show that both were referred to Mr. [Ezra] L'Hommedieu, Mr. [James] McHenry and Mr. S[amuel] Huntington; and according to entries in Committee Books No. 186 and No. 191 reports on both were delivered September 15, and filed. See post September 15 and September 29 note.

Leavenworth's petition is on No. 41, V, folio 303, and is dated West Point, August 21. The indorsement states that it was read this day and adds: "The application ought to be made to the executive or legislature of the State to which he belongs.”

[Motion of Mr. Theodorick Bland]

Resolved, That on William Henry Armistead's compliance with such forms and lodging such indemnification in the Superintendant of Finance's office, as the said Superintendant shall require of him duplicates of the bills purchased by the said William [Henry] Armistead and said to have been lost viz, be renewed by the Superintendant of Finance in his favor.1

Ordered, That the Letter from the Superintendant of Finance of 27th August to Mr. [Theodorick] Bland, and Mr. Bland's Motion of this Day, together with Mr. H. Armistead's Bond and Certificate respecting bills of Exchange lost be referred to the Superintendant of Finance to report A General Regulation for the Relief of Persons in a Similar Situation with Mr. Armistead.2

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1783

The President and the chairman elected yesterday, being absent, Congress proceeded to the election of another chairman, for the purpose of keeping order; and, the ballots being taken, the hon. D[aniel] Carroll was elected.

A motion was made by Mr. [Jacob] Read, seconded by Mr. [John Francis] Mercer,

That the secretary of Congress enquire of Mr. David C. Claypoole, printer of the Pensylvania Packet, dated 9 September, 1783, by what means a copy of a letter printed in his said paper, dated New York, August 17, 1783, signed Guy Carleton, and directed to his Excellency Elias Boudinot, Esq. came to his hands.3

A motion was made by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, seconded by Mr. [Stephen] Higginson, that the motion be committed. And on the question for commitment, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [David] Howell,

1 This motion, in the writing of Theodorick Bland, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 137, III, folio 97. It was referred to the Superintendent of Finance to report a general regulation, according to the indorsement.

2 This order was entered only in the journal kept by the Secretary of Congress for the Superintendent of Finance: Morris Papers; Congressional Proceedings.

This motion, in the writing of Jacob Read, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 229. The vote is indorsed on it.