be held responsible for the consequences of a measure but too likely to prove unconciliatory abroad, ruinous to the public finances at home, and an impediment to the speedy and honorable pacification, securing the Independence of the United States of North America.

WILLIAM PACA

WILLIAM HENRY DRAYTON.1

Congress then resumed the consideration of the question under debate, and some time being spent thereon, Adjourned to 10 oClock to Morrow.

SATURDAY, MAY 1, 1779

A memorial from Captain Allen M'Lane was read: Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury. A letter, of April 24, from General Washington, was read, enclosing a letter from the captain lieutenants of artillery: Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of War. A letter, of March 22, from Major General Heath, was read; 2 Whereupon,

On motion of Mr. [William Henry] Drayton, seconded by Mr. [John] Witherspoon,

Resolved, That the reasonable expences of Major General Heath's table, during his separate command at Boston, be discharged by the public; and that the Board of Treasury take measures for liquidating and settling those accounts.3

3

A letter, of April 28, from General Washington, enclosing a copy of proceedings of the council of Massachusetts bay, dated March 4, was read, informing that there are several

4

1 The original of this paper, in the writing of William Henry Drayton, is in the Library of Congress, United States Revolution.

2 McLane's memorial, dated April 28, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, VI, folio 133; the letter of Washington, in No. 152, VII, folio 271; the letter of the captains lieutenants is on folio 271; that of Heath, in No. 157, folio 246.

3 This motion,in the writing of William Henry Drayton, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, IV, folio 587.

♦ Washington's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, VII, folio 275; the Massachusetts paper is on folio 279.

pieces of cannon, 18 pounders, the property of the Continent, now in Massachusetts bay; that application has been made for them, and that only two has been received, for the defence of the posts on the North river; representing the importance of those posts, and requesting the directions of Congress that the said cannon be applied to this purpose; Whereupon,

A motion was made by Mr. S[amuel] Adams, seconded by Mr. [Samuel] Holten, That the letter be referred to the Board of War.

On the question, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [John] Jay,

On motion of Mr. [Thomas] Burke, seconded by Mr. [Wil

liam Henry] Drayton,

Resolved, That the Commander in Chief be authorised to call upon the State of Massachusetts bay for such and so many of the continental cannon lent to the said State, as he may judge necessary for the defence of the posts on Hudson's river.1

Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee on foreign affairs, and some time being spent thereon,

Adjourned to 10 oClock on Monday.

MONDAY, MAY 3, 1779

A letter, of 1st, from Brigadier Du Portail, was read;2 Whereupon,

Ordered, That a warrant issue on the Treasury, in favour of Brigadier du Portail, for one thousand dollars, to be advanced to him, for which he is to be accountable.

That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Colonel La Radière, for eight hundred dollars, to be advanced to him, for which he is to be accountable.

That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Monsr. Villefranche, for six hundred dollars, to be advanced to him, for which he is to be accountable.

A letter, of April 29, from General Washington, was read.3 A letter, of this day, from William] Ellery and J[ohn] Collins, was read: Whereupon,

PHILADELPHIA, May 3d, 1779. SIR, The Undersigned Delegates of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, with great reluctance, adopt this mode of soliciting the attention of Congress to a motion made by them so long ago as the 14th of the last month, at the special instance and direction 1 This motion, in the writing of Charles Thomson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, IV, folio 595.

2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 164, folio 338. *This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, VII, folio 283.

of said State; but the duty they owe to it, and the justice they owe to their own reputations constrain them to persue every decent measure to accomplish the wishes of their constituents.

Finding every avenue to the motion referred to barricadoed by reports of the boards of treasury and war, and orders of the day, which their utmost efforts have not been able to remove, that if they must wait for its decision untill the reports of those boards and orders of the day already made and received, and others which are constantly increasing the Pile, shall be decided, they may wait until the intire destruction of their State shall have rendered all application to congress, in its behalf, altogether unnecessary: Finding too, that it is out of their power to demonstrate to their constituents the assiduity they have used to procure a speedy determination of said motion, the house having voted it to be disorderly to connect with motions for postponing the reasons therefor, the Undersigned are compelled to this mode of Application, which they have observed hath generally proved successful.

The Undersigned forbear to take notice of the uncommon obstructions which have been thrown in the way of the request of the State which they have the honour to represent, whenever it hath had the good fortune to come under the Consideration of Congress.

The Undersigned trust that Congress will never give to any one of the United States just occasion to tax them with partiality, sincerely wish that their Union may be perpetual, and are with the greatest Respect, Your Excellency's most obedt hble Servts.,

WILLIAM ELLERY
JOHN COLLINS.1

Ordered, That to morrow be assigned for the consideration of the motion respecting raising troops for the defence of Rhode island.

A letter, of 1, from the Board of War,2 enclosing one of the same date, from Charles Stewart, commissary general of issues;

Also one, of April 29, from the said Board, enclosing one, of April 18th, from Daniel Joy, respecting the contract for 'This letter, in the writing of William Ellery, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78 VIII, folio 319.

2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, III, folio 297.

cannon entered into by the Board with Messrs. Hughes, were read:

Ordered, To lie on the table.

On motion of Mr. [Daniel of St. Thomas] Jenifer, seconded by Mr. [John] Henry,

Resolved, That the Board of War be directed to apply to the Governor and Council of Maryland, and request them, if there are any heavy cannon belonging to the State, which can be spared from the immediate defence thereof, to lend them to the Continent for the defence of the posts on Hudson's river, on condition that Congress will return them or a like number of equal bore, or pay the State the full value thereof, at the election of the general assembly.

On motion of Mr. [John] Witherspoon, seconded by Mr. [Henry] Laurens,

Resolved, That the reading the other public dispatches be postponed.

Resolved, That the consideration of the reports of the Board of Treasury and Board of War be postponed.

The delegates of the State of Pensylvania, to whom was referred an extract of a letter from the Board of War, respecting the defences of the river Delaware, brought in a report; Whereupon,

That by order of the Commander in Chief Colonel Proctor's Regiment is, as soon as equipped, to march from this city, whereby the Posts occupied by them upon the River Delaware will be evacuated and the numerous Stores in and near this place will be unprotected,

Resolved, That the president and council of the State of Pensylvania be requested to order such of the militia of that State to take post at Fort Mifflin and Billingsport in the room of Colonel Procter's men, as shall be judged by the said president and council sufficient; the said militia to be allowed continental pay and subsistance.1

1 This report, in the writing of Samuel Atlee, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, II, folio 41.