i

a memorandum be engraved on the said pieces of ordnance, expressive of the substance of this resolution.

Resolved, That the Commander in Chief be informed, that Major General Greene hath the permission of Congress to visit his family at Rhode Island.1

A motion was made by Mr. Mereer [James] McHenry, seconded by Mr. Carrell [John Francis] Mercer, to re-consider the resolution, "that the consideration of the motion made by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, be postponed till Wednesday"; and when the question was about to be put, the determination thereof was postponed by the State of New Jersey.

On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. S[amuel] Huntington, Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry and Mr. [James] Duane, to whom was referred a letter of the 19 of September, from the Commander in Chief, Congress passed the following proclamation.

The Committee consisting of Mr S[amuel] Huntington, Mr [Elbridge] Gerry, and Mr [James] Duane to whom a letter from the Commander in Chief of the 19th instant was referred submit the following report, That his Excellency the Commander in Chief's said letter of the 19th instant respects three particulars,

First. Cloathing for the troops on the North River.

Secondly. The troops on furlough in pursuance of the Acts of Congress of the 26th of May and the 11th of June and the 9th of August

last.

Thirdly. The Corps of Engineers.

Your Committee beg leave to observe that sufficient provision is already made on the first of those heads by the Act of Congress of the

Day of

instant.

That with regard to the last it is still under the deliberation of your Committee; and it appears difficult to make any report thereon until the settlement of the peace establishment.

With regard to the second object viz. the troops who are on furlough, your Committee are of opinion that it will be best provided for by the following proclamation which they subjoin for the con sideration of Congress to wit:

1 This report, in the writing of James Duane, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 505. Greene's letter is in No. 155, II, folio 635. According to the indorsement, it was read and referred to this committee on October 9.

By the United States in Congress assembled.

A PROCLAMATION.

Whereas in the progress of an arduous and difficult war, the armies of the United States of America have eminently displayed every military and patriotic virtue, and are not less to be applauded for their invincible fortitude and magnanimity in the most trying scenes of adversity-and distress, than for a series of heroic and illustrious achievements, which exalt them to a high rank among the most zealous and successful defenders of the rights and liberties of mankind. And whereas by the blessing of Divine Providence on our cause and our arms, the glorious period is arrived when our national independence and sovereignty are established, and we enjoy the prospect of a permanent and honorable peace: We therefore, the United States in Congress assembled, thus impressed with a lively sense of the distinguished merit and good conduct of the said armies, do give them the thanks of their country, for their long, eminent and faithful services.

And it is our will and pleasure, that such part of the federal armies as stands engaged to serve during the war, and as by our Acts of the 26 day of May, the 11 day of June, the 9 day August, and the 26 day of September last, were furloughed, shall, from and after the tenth third day of October November next, be absolutely discharged by virtue of this our proclamation, from the said service: and we do also declare, that the further services in the field, of the officers who are deranged and on furlough, in consequence of our aforesaid Acts, can now be dispensed with, and they have our full permission to retire from service, without being longer liable from their present engagements, to be called into command. And of such discharge and permission to retire from service respectively, all our officers, civil and military, and all others whom it may concern, are required to take notice, and to govern themselves accordingly.

Given under the seal of the United States in Congress assembled, witness his Excellency ELIAS BOUDINOT, Our President in Congress, this eighteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three, and of the sovereignty and independence of the United States of America the eighth.' 1 The original of this proclamation, signed by Boudinot and Thomson and with seal affixed, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, miscellaneous. The report, in the writing of James Duane, is in No. 24, folio 479. According to the indorsement, and the record in Committee Book No. 186, the report was read September 29, recommitted September 30, and reported again October 3. The proclamation was also entered in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs.

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The Committee [Mr. Hugh Williamson, Mr. Theodorick Bland, Mr. Alexander Hamilton] to whom was referred a letter from the Secretary at War enclosing a letter from Major General Knox of June 2nd 1783 requesting compensation on the supposition that his pay at different periods since he entered the service has been inadequate to his rank and necessary expences beg leave to observe that on the 17th Nov. 1775 Genl. Knox obtained the Rank of Colonel of the Regiment of Artillery with the pay that was given to other Colonels. Thirteen months after that time viz. on the 27th of December 1776 he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General with the usual pay of that office. On the 18th of February 1779 Congress were pleased to Grant 70 Dollars per month additional pay to the Surveyor of Ordnance and 75 Dollars per month to the Commanding Officer of the Artillery, in consideration of extra duty.

On the 12th of Jany. 1781 Congress were pleased to order 40 Dollars per month to be paid to the Commanding Officer of the Artillery in addition to his pay in the Line. This order extended back to the 1st of August 1780. At the same time they ordered 40 Dollars per month additional pay to be given to the Surveyor of the Ordnance. Your Committee apprehend that the change from 75 to 40 Dollars per month was considered by Congress as an increase of pay and not a diminution, for the 1st was paid in depretiated money, and the last in bills of the new emission, which was then rated as hard money; but 75 Dollars on the 18th of Feb. 1779 were not worth more than 10 Dollars and it is clear that Congress must have viewed them about that time in such a light, for on the 18th of August in the same year, they ordered 500 Dollars per month as subsistence money to be paid to a Colonel, and to other officers in proportion. If the 75 Dollars per month extra pay had been considered as hard money, the pay and appointments of Genl. Knox while Brigadier must have exceeded those of a Major General. Your Committee on the whole do not think that the change of 75 Dollars into 40 of which General Knox complains originated in any mistake, and they have the pleasure to learn that he continues to receive 40 Dollars per month in addition to his Pay as Major General.

The Committee are fully impressed with the great services that have been rendered to the U. S. by the exertions of an able and faithful officer at the Head of the ordnance. Nor can they doubt that there have been periods both before and since he commanded at West Point, at which the pay and appointments of General Knox were not equal to his expences; but they conceive that half pay, for

life, especially when it is extended to general officers must be regarded as a compensation which is by no means illiberal. They also conceive that by comparing the past expences of an officer with his pay at different periods in order to make up deficiencies they might open a very extensive and troublesome acct. and might endanger the large arrearages which are now due to the Army. Wherefore, they submit the following Report,

That Congress have a high sense of the distinguished services of Major General Knox; but they cannot consistently with the general arrangements of pay for the army make any retrospective allowance for any individual officer whose expences at certain periods may have exceeded his appointments without introducing a precedent which would involve them in great difficulties and embarrassments.1

The Committee of the week [Mr. Samuel Osgood, Mr. Abiel Foster, and Mr. James Wilson] report that the letter of George Bond Deputy Secretary, of the 18th instant, setting forth that his salary has been altogether inadequate to his necessary expences and requesting farther relief from Congress, be referred to a special Committee."

The Committee of the week [Mr. Samuel Osgood, Mr. Abiel Foster and Mr. James Wilson], report that the petition of Thomas Craig late Col: of the 3rd Pennsylvania Regiment and others setting forth that they were deranged last March and incurred a considerable expence in a journey of 800 miles and praying an allowance therefor be referred to the Secretary of War to report.3

1 This report, in the writing of Hugh Williamson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, III, folio 387. It was referred to Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [Samuel] Osgood, Mr. [James] Tilton, on this day, the indorsement states, having been delivered and read on June 17. See post, October 20.

2 This report, in the writing of Samuel Osgood, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 395. It is indorsed "Passed October 18, 1783." Bond's letter is in No. 78, IV, folio 413. The entry in Committee Book No. 186, shows that it was on this day referred to Mr. [Richard] Beresford, Mr. [Hugh] Williamson and Mr. [John Francis] Mercer.

This report, in the writing of Samuel Osgood, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 525. By the indorsement it is of this date. The petition of Thomas Craig and others is in No. 42, VI, folio 77. According to the indorsement, the report of the Secretary at War was delivered October 22, 1783, and passed April 16, 1784.

On this day, as the indorsement states, was read a letter of the same date from Thomas Lawrence, transmitting a memorial, dated September 30, from General Lewis Morris, offering the manor of Morrisania for the permanent residence of Congress. Lawrence's letter is in No. 78, XIV, folio 547, and the memorial in No. 46, folios 125-129.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1783

On the question to re-consider the resolution postponing the consideration of Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry's motion to Wednesday next, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Elias] Boudinot,

So it was resolved in the affirmative.

On the motion, that the consideration of Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry's motion be postponed to Wednesday next, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Elias] Boudinot,