five thousand bushels of salt for the use of the state of

Maryland.

That the said passports continue in force for the space of six months from the date thereof, and no longer.

Resolved, That the President inform the said governours that nothing less than the pressing necessities of Virginia and Maryland could have induced Congress to relax the resolution made against farther intercourse with the enemy. That an abuse of this indulgence will highly injure the American cause; and that Congress rely on them to guard the same against misapplication by every possible precaution; and to cause the passports to be returned to the President after the accomplishment of the purposes for which they are now granted.

DECEMBER 5, 1781.

The committee, consisting of Mr. Lovell, Mr. Carroll, and Mr. Bee, to whom was referred a letter of 30th November last, from Thomas Edison, report—

"That Thomas Edison has by an essential service to "the United States, and a singular proof of his fidelity "to their interests, recommended himself to the atten"tion and reward of Congress :" Whereupon,

Ordered, That the sum of two hundred and sixtysix dollars and two thirds of a dollar be paid to Thomas Edison out of the treasury of the United States.

DECEMBER 17, 1781.

The committee, consisting of Mr. Randolph, Mr. -, reported the draft of a circular letter to the states, which was agreed, and is as follows :

GENTLEMEN,

We are happy to observe that the present year hath been distinguished by the reduction of a powerful British garrison in Virginia, and that our arms have also been prosperous in other parts of the United States. But to infer that our inexorable foe is subdued beyond recovery, may be attended with ruinous consequences. These events will yield but momentary advantages, unless supported by vigorous measures

in future.

From an assurance that peace is best attained by preparations for war, and that in the cabinet of negotiations those arguments carry with them the greatest weight which are enforced not only with a retrospect of important victories, but by a well grounded prospect of future successes, we have called upon you for eight millions of dollars, and for your respective deficiencies of the military establishment.

Seven years have nearly passed since the sword was first unsheathed. The sums expended in so long a period in a just and necessary war must appear moderate; nor can any demand for pecuniary aid be deemed exorbitant by those who compute the extent of the publick exigencies and the proportion of the requisition to the abilities of the states. Suppose not that

funds exist for our relief beyond the limits of these states. As the possessions of the citizens constitute our natural resources, and from a sense of their sufficiency the standard of war was erected against Great Britain, so on them alone we now rely. But even if loans were attainable, their amount would be merely commensurate with our ability and inclination to repay; and by nothing can both be more satisfactorily evidenced than by a generous exertion amidst the languor of publick credit. Arguing from the former dilatoriness of supplies, the enemy, after having abandoned serious expectations of conquest by arms, anticipate it in imagination from the dissolution of our publick credit.

They cannot however deny the firmness of the basis on which it may be placed, when they survey the wide limits of this confederate country, the fruitfulness of its soil, and the industry of its people.

But the want of money is not the only source of our difficulties; nor do the enemy gather consolation from the state of our finances alone. We are distressed by the thinness of our battalions. So vulnerable does the boldness of navigation render the very bosom of these states, so dispersed in some parts is the population, and so rapid our enemy in transportation, that they seize and exhaust large districts before their ravages can be checked. The requisition for the completion of your battalions is therefore not only reasonable, but indispensable.

Tardiness in the collection of our troops has constantly encouraged in our enemy a suspicion that American opposition is on the decline. Hence money

from time to time is poured into the coffers of our enemy; and the lender is perhaps allured by the prospect of receiving it with a usurious interest from the spoils of confiscation.

To whom then rather than yourselves, who are called to the guardianship and sovereignty of your country, can these considerations be addressed? Joint labourers as we are, in the work of independence, duty impels us to admonish you of the crisis. We possess no funds which do not originate with you. We can command no levies, which are not raised under your acts. Well shall we acquit ourselves to the world, should peace, towards the acquisition of which so illustrious a point hath been gained, now escape our embraces, by the inadequacy of our army, or our treasure for an appeal to this exposition of your affairs will demonstrate our watchfulness of your happiness.

We conjure you to remember what confidence we shall establish in the breast of that great monarch, who has become a party in our political welfare, by a bold, energetick display of our ability.

We therefore trust in your attention and zeal to avail yourselves, at this important crisis, of the glorious advantages lately obtained, by a full compliance with these requisitions of men and money which we have made to you, and the necessity of which hath been pointed out to us by the maturest consideration on the present circumstances of these United States. By order of Congress.

JOHN HANSON, President.

DECEMBER 20, 1781.

On the report of a committee appointed to confer with the commander in chief

Resolved, That the commander in chief be informed that it is the earnest desire of Congress, that he should take the most effectual measures for procuring the exchange of his excellency Thomas Burke, governour of North Carolina, for some of the subjects of his Britannick majesty not military, who were made prisoners of war under the capitulation of York, in Virginia; and that he report to Congress his proceed. ings therein.

APRIL 5, 1782.

On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. Clymer, Mr. Osgood, and Mr. Cornell, to whom was referred a letter of the 3d from the superintendent of finance

Resolved, That Congress do approve of the motives which have induced the superintendent of finance to give the preference above all others to the contract offered by Comfort Sands and Co., Tench Francis, Oliver Phelps, Timothy Edwards, and Thomas Lowry, for the supply of the moving army.

APRIL 26, 1782.

On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. Atlee, Mr. Bland, Mr. Partridge, Mr. Cornell, and