must apply to the government of the particular State in which he wishes to reside.1

[TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1783]

[Report of Mr. Richard Peters, Mr. James McHenry, Mr. Ralph Izard, Mr. James Duane, Mr. Samuel Huntington, on the concurrent resolutions of the assembly and Council of New York of 21st and 22d July, 1782, for augmenting powers of Congress.] The Committee to whom was referred a letter from the governor of the State of New York of the 4th Aug. 1782, with sundry resolutions of the Legislature of the said State therein referred to, report,

That it will be proper for Congress to postpone the further Consideration of the said Resolutions until the effect of their Resolution of the 18th day of April last, relating to Revenue shall be known.'

The Committee of the Week [Mr. Jacob Read, Mr. Abiel Foster and Mr. William Ellery] on consideration of the petition of Ebenezer Augustus Smith formerly a Surgeon in the General Hospital praying that depreciation may be allowed him, report as their opinion that the request of the said Ebenezer Augustus Smith being similar to that of Dr Dirk Van Ingen lately determined by Congress cannot be granted

1 This report, in the writing of Stephen Higginson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, III, folio 447. It was read this day, according to the indorsement, which also states that it was superseded by the instructions passed October 29, 1783. According to the record in Committee Book No. 186, Laurens's letter was dated June 17, 1783, and was referred to the committee on August 15. McCormick proposed to establish a cotton manufactory in the United States, and his memorial was referred to the committee on August 28.

A letter from the President of Congress dated this day was read, the indorsement states, saying he had been unable to procure a house in Princeton. It is in No. 59, III, folio 61.

On this day, as the indorsement states, was read a letter of August 30 from General Washington, enclosing copies of Major General Baron Steuben's report, and his correspondence with General Haldimand respecting the withdrawal of British forces from western posts. It is in No. 152, XI, folio 449. It was referred to Mr. [Ralph] Izard, Mr. Benjamin] Hawkins, Mr. [James] Duane, Mr. A[rthur] Lee and Mr. [Stephen] Higginson. According to Committee Book No. 186, the committee was discharged December 18.

Also, a letter of August 23, from John Morgan concerning trade in the West Indies. It is in No. 63, folio 177.

2 This report, in the writing of James McHenry, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, I, folio 391. The indorsement states that it was delivered on this day, entered and read.

without infringing the rule established by Congress of the 10th day of April 1780.1

[WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1783]

The Committee consisting of M: [Jacob] Read, M: [William] Ellery, and M [Hugh] Williamson to whom was referred a resolve of the General Assembly of the State of Virginia of the 17th June 1783, Report,

That your committee are informed, That works erected in several of the United States, have been leveled and destroyed, without any instance of an application to Congress heretofore for money to defray the expence of levelling and destroying the same.

Nevertheless, should it be thought consistent with justice, that the works erected by the troops of the United States, the troops of his Most Christian Majesty acting as auxiliaries to the United States, or works left by the troops of Great Britain on their evacuating any particular State, should be levelled and destroyed at the public expence, yet such is the state of the public finances, that Congress cannot comply with the request of the State of Virginia to obtain a sum of money not exceeding seven hundred and fifty pounds for the purposes of levelling the fortifications erected by the troops of his Most Christian Majesty at York Town in the County of York, and at Gloucester Town in the County of Gloucester in the State of Virginia.❜

[Report of Secretary at War on Mr. Eliphalet Dyer's motion respecting promotions after the cessation of hostilities.]

SIR,

PRINCETON, July 26, 1783.

On the motion of Mr. Dyer, and the report of a committee of Congress on that motion I beg leave to submit the following report. That, during the existence of the present army, all vacancies be filled up (excepting new appointments of ensigns) as has been here

1 This report, in the writing of Jacob Read, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 517. According to the indorsement it was agreed to on this day. Smith's petition, dated Wilmington, August 1, 1783, is in No. 42, VII, folio 161.

On this day, as the indorsement indicates, was read a letter of September 1 from General Sir Guy Carleton, transmitting the proceedings of the general court martial appointed for the trial of counterfeiters. It is in No. 52, folio 9.

Also, a letter of August 31 from Major General Robert Howe. It is in No. 38, folio 115. * This report in the writing of Jacob Read, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, II, folio 311. The indorsement states that it was delivered this day, entered and read.

tofore practiced. But where rank by brevet is conferred, the act of Congress directing the appointment should express that it is by brevet, and it may now be resolved that in future where commissions by brevet are issued they shall not be considered as granting, or entitling to any pecuniary gratuity or other emolument than rank in the army of the United States.1

SIR

WAR OFFICE August 30, 1783.

On a letter from Major General Knox, and a petition from a company of artillery artificers under the direction of Captain Anthony Post, I beg leave to report that I have examined the acts of Congress which respect the settlements of depreciation, and I do not find any one which will apply to the objects of the petition, nor has there been any settlement made similar to the one now requested. But in consideration of the services rendered by the Petitioners, which are authenticated by Major General Knox, I beg leave to submit the following draught of a resolve in their favor.

Resolved, That it be recommended to the States of Connecticut and New York to settle the pay and depreciation of pay of those officers and soldiers belonging to their States respectively, who served in Captain Post's company of artillery artificers, due attention being had, in the settlements, to the real value of their nominal pay when they were inlisted. And that the amount of said pay and depreciation of pay be charged to the United States."

1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 21, folio 363. The indorsement shows that it was delivered July 26, entered and read, and on September 3 referred to Mr. [James] McHenry, Mr. [Richard] Peters, Mr. [James] Duane.

2 This report from William Jackson, Assistant Secretary at War, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 149, III, folio 175. According to the indorsement, and the record in Committee Books No. 186 and No. 191, Knox's letter and the petition from the artificers were referred to the Secretary at War on August 27. The report of August 30, from the Assistant Secretary, was delivered September 3, read, and entered. On September 25, it was referred back to the Secretary at War, and he delivered a report September 27, which was acted upon, October 17.

On this day, according to the indorsement, was read a letter, of same date, from William Jackson, Assistant Secretary at War, enclosing a letter, of August 17, from Brigadier General William Irvine, respecting settlements beyond the Ohio and the consequent danger of an Indian War. They were referred to Mr. [James] Duane, Mr. [Richard] Peters, Mr. [Daniel] Carroll, Mr. [Benjamin] Hawkins and Mr. A[rthur] Lee. According to Committee Books No. 186 and No. 191, the committee delivered a report, on this and other papers relating to Indian affairs, on September 19, and it was acted upon, October 14. Jackson's letter is in No. 149, III, folio 183, and Irvine's on folio 179.

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."

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.