THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1783

Congress assembled: Present seven states, viz. Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pensylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina; and from the State of New Hampshire, Mr. [Abiel] Foster.

COMMONWEAlth of MasSACHUSETTS

Council Chamber Boston Dec. 4th 1783 This may certify That The Honble Elbridge Gerry Esq was elected on th 27th June 1783 by joint ballot of both Houses of Assembly of this Commonwealth a Delegate to represent this Commonwealth in Congress for one Year commencing the first Monday in November

1783

JOHN AVERY Secy 1

Sundry letters and memorials were read, among which a letter of 23 November, from the minister plenipotentiary of the United Netherlands, and a note respecting the capture and condemnation of the sloop Chester, and a letter of 28 October, from Governor Hancock, in behalf of the government of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which were committed.2

The Committee of the week [Mr. Jeremiah Townley Chase, Mr. George Partridge, Mr. Samuel Hardy] report, That the memorial signed by a number of the citizens of New York praying for an authenticated copy of the Definitive Treaty to be used in their courts of law be read in Congress.

1 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Massachusetts, Credentials of Delegates. It was entered in No. 179, Record of Credentials, and not in the Journal. According to the indorsement and the entry in No. 179, it was read December 18.

2 This paragraph was also entered in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs. The Massachusetts letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 65, II, folio 225. According to Committee Books No. 186 and No. 191, it was referred to Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [James] McHenry, Mr. [Thomas] Jefferson, Mr. Gerry, Mr. [Cadwalader] Morris and Mr. [Arthur] Lee, and the Committee was renewed January 26, 1784, when Mr. [Edward] Lloyd and Mr. [John] Montgomery were appointed, in place of McHenry and Morris. This committee was discharged April 8, and the business referred to the Grand Committee of March 27, who delivered a report May 17. 76112°-22-VOL 25-19

That the memorial of Philip Moore praying for the passport of Congress to protect his vessel in a voyage to China and suggesting the propriety of appointing a Consul be referred to a Committee.

That the memorial of Joseph Ward praying that the same provision may be made for him which the officers who served in the line are entitled to be referred to a Committee.

That the letter signed Thomas Pownall be read in Congress. That the memorial of Debernardi suggesting the propriety of introducing the artificers of Italy into America, lie on the table.

That the letter from P. Penet proposing that Gaspar Voght be appointed American Consul in Hamburgh, lie on the table until Congress determine to appoint a Consul to reside in Hamburgh.

That the letters of the Marquis la Fayette be read in Congress. That the memorial of Michael Gabriel Houdin respecting Pay and Rank be referred to the same Committee that the memorial of Joseph Ward may be referred to.

That the mem'. of Nathaniel Thacher praying a Brevet Commission of Cap be referred to the same Committee which may be appointed to consider the memorial of Joseph Ward.

That the petition of Seraphine Lamberton who served as Chaplain in Count Rochambeau's Army, praying the permission of Congress to exercise his functions at Detroit be read in Congress lie on the table.

That the memorial of Thomas Leiper respecting the duty imposed on snuff lie on the table until the subject of commerce is taken up and considered.

That the letters from the Post Master General, informing that the mail, the money and letters of consequence were recovered, lie on the table.

That the mem1. of sundry inhabitants of Charles Town in Maryland respecting the permanent seat of Congress lie on the table.

That the mem1. of St. Jean de Croveeceny [Crévecoeur] be read in Congress.1

1 This report, in the writing of George Partridge, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 527. By the indorsement it was of this date.

The memorial from the citizens of New York, dated December 10 and signed by John Laurance, Alexander Hamilton, Morgan Lewis and Richard Varick, is in No. 78, XIV, folio 551.

Moore's memorial is in No. 41, VI, folio 315. It was referred to Mr. [Samuel] Osgood, Mr. [Arthur] Lee and Mr. [Cadwalader] Morris. According to the record in Committee

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1783

Congress assembled: Present as before; and from the State of South Carolina, Mr. [Jacob] Read.

The Committee of the week [Jeremiah Townley Chase, George Partridge and Samuel Hardy] report, That the memorial of Robert Patton praying a continuance of his additional allowance be referred to a Committee.

That the memorial of John Chever, praying that he be allowed full pay from the first of November 1782, until November, 1783, as officer Books No. 186 and No. 191, a report was delivered December 27, and acted upon January 2, 1784.

Joseph Ward's memorial, dated December 2, is in No. 41, X, folio 601. It was referred, the indorsement states, to Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [James] Tilton, and Mr. [James] Monroe.

Thomas Pownall's letter, dated May 9, is in United States Revolution papers, Library of Congress.

The memorial of John Debernardi, dated Milan, July 5, 1783, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, I, folio 387, a translation being on folio 389. The indorsement indicates that it was ordered to lie on the table.

The letter from P. Penet, dated November 7, is in No. 46, folio 367, and a translation, in Charles Thomson's hand, on folio 371. The indorsement states that it was ordered "to lie on the table until Congress shall think proper to appoint a Consul at Hamburg.'

Michael Gabriel Houdin's memorial, dated November 19, was referred to Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [James] Tilton and Mr. [James] Monroe. It is in No. 41, VI, folio 319. See post January 8, 1784.

Nathaniel Thacher's memorial, dated West Point, November 23, is in No. 41, X, folio 191. It was referred, the indorsement states, to Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [James] Tilton and Mr. [James] Monroe. See post January 8, 1784.

The memorial of Thomas Leiper, dated November 18, is in No. 41, V, folio 311. The memorial of L'Abbé Seraphin Lamberton, formerly chaplain of the frigate Amazone, dated Philadelphia, October 28, is in No. 42, IV, folio 300. A translation is on folio 308, and the letter of transmittal on folio 304.

The letter of Ebenezer Hazard, Postmaster General, dated November 22, an affidavit of Joseph Parker, of November 15, and a letter from John Harrison, postmaster at Princeton, dated November 7, all relating to the robbery of the mail at Princeton, are in No. 61, folios 155–161. According to the indorsement, they were referred on this day to Mr. [David] Howell, Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry and Mr. [Eleazer] McComb; and the record in Committee Books No. 186 and No. 191 shows that a report was delivered January 2, 1784, and acted upon January 6.

The memorial from the citizens of Charles Town, dated November 10, is in No. 78, VI, folio 219.

Also, on this day, was read a letter of December 3 from General Washington, enclosing a copy of a letter of December 1, from Sir Guy Carleton. It is in No. 152, XI, folio 523.

of a company ordered to Frederick Town to guard the British prisoners be committed.1

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1783

Congress assembled: Present as before.

A letter, of this day, from the Commander in Chief, was read, informing Congress of his arrival in this city, with the intention of asking leave to resign the commission he has the honor of holding in their service, and desiring to know their pleasure in what manner it will be most proper to offer his resignation; whether in writing or at an audience; Whereupon,

Resolved, That his Excellency the Commander in Chief be admitted to a public audience, on Tuesday next, at twelve o'clock.2

Resolved, That a public entertainment be given to the Commander in Chief on Monday next and that a committee of three be appointed to direct and superintend the enter tainment, and to invite the guests.

Postpone, in order to take into consideration the following:

Is it the sense of Congress that seven states in Congress Assembled are competent to receive the resignation of a Commander in Chief? Ellery:

M: Forster, ay

Gerry, ay

Osgood, ay

1 This report, in the writing of Jeremiah Townley Chase, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 533. By the indorsement it is of this date.

According to Committee Books Nos. 186 and 191, Patton's memorial was referred to Mr. [Samuel] Hardy, Mr. [George] Partridge and Mr. [Jeremiah Townley] Chase. They delivered a report the same day, which was acted on April 16, 1784. The memorial, dated December 16, 1783, is in No. 41, VIII, folio 120.

Chever's memorial, dated Annapolis, December 17, was referred to Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [James] Tilton and Mr. [James] Monroe. It is in No. 41, II, folio 132. The record in Committee Books No. 186 and No. 191 shows that a report was delivered January 21, 1784, considered January 26, and filed.

* This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, XI, folio 529 It is printed in the Writings of Washington (Ford) X, 337.

Mr Partridge, no

Ellery, no changed into ay at the request of the Member

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

Ordered, That an authenticated copy of the act passed by the United States in Congress assembled, the 13 of September last, relative to the act of the legislature of Virginia, of 2 January, 1781, be transmitted by express, to the executive of Virginia.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1783

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.2

On the report of a committee consisting of Mr. [Thomas] Jefferson, Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry and Mr. [James] McHenry,

1 This motion, in the writing of James McHenry, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 279. It is indorsed "Sense of the House taken on the competency of seven states to receive the resignation of Commander in Chief, with yeas and nays, December 20, 1783.”

2 From this point the proceedings for December 22 were also entered in the manuscript Secret (Domestic) Journal.