sioners for settling the accounts of the army, to John Gibson, esq. auditorgeneral, was laid before Congress, and read: Ordered, That it be referred to the board of treasury. Ordered, That 40,000 dollars be advanced to Joseph Trumbull, missary-general, by an order on the loan-office in Massachusetts-Bay. esq.comThe committee to whom was re-committed the report on the commissary's department, having brought in another report, Congress took the same into consideration; and, after some time spent thereon, Resolved, That the further consideration thereof be postponed till to morrow. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, TUESDAY, May 27, 1777. A letter, of the 24th, from general Washington, at Morristown, with a copy of a letter enclosed from generals Green, M'Dougal, Knox, Wayne, and Clinton, dated Peek's-Kill, May 17th; also, a lettter of the 16th, from W. Aylett, at Williamsburg, were read. Resolved, That general Washington be empowered and directed to give the command of the light-horse to one of the generals already appointed. Ordered, That the letter from general Washington, with that enclosed, be referred to the board of war; and that they send a copy of so much thereof, as relates to cables, to the marine committee: That the letter from W. Aylett be referred to the commissary-general. The secret committee having reported to Congress the circumstances of the ship Mary, captain Kennedy, and her cargo: Congress took the same into consideration; and, thereupon, Resolved, That the said committee make an advance of so much money to the owners of the said ship as may be unquestionably due to them; and that the said committee, in conjunction with the delegates of Connecticut, do finally settle all matters relative to the said ship, cargo and freight, in such way, as justice and equity shall demand. The committee on the treasury reported, That there is due to Benjamin Randolph, for 18 boxes, for packing paper for continental bills of credit sent to Baltimore, the sum of 38.12 dollars : To col. Robert Taylor, of the first battalion of Gloucester county militia in the state of New-Jersey, for the mileage of the field-officers, and part of three companies of the said battalion, 202.86 dollars: To Samuel Fairlamb, upon a final settlement of his account for provisions, &c. supplied the troops at Chester and Marcus-Hook, 235.47 dollars. Ordered, That the said sums be paid. Ordered, That a warrant issue in favor of the board of war for 250,000 dollars, to be transmitted to the pay-master general: That a warrant issue in favor of Ebenezer Hancock, esq. deputy pay-master general of the eastern department, on the loan-office in MassachusettsBay, for 250,000 dollars; another on the loan-office in the state of Connecticut, for 150,000 dollars, for the service of the United States; he to be accountable: That a warrant issue in favor of the board of war for the state of Pennsylvania for 50,000 dollars, for the express purpose of recruiting the army of the United States; the said state to be accountable. The committee on the treasury reported, That there is due to John Young, saddler, for sundry saddles, carbines, pistols, &c. he furnished the troop of captain Henry Lee, jun. in colonel Bland's regiment of Virginia light-horse, 1116.45 dollars; the state of Virginia to be charged with the same sum: That they have revised the accounts of James Warren, esq. late pay-master general, and find, that,in July last, he rendered his account to Congress, by which there appeared to be due to the United States previous to the settlement, 28,216.70-72 dollars; that, of this sum, he had then in his hands but 26,320.67-72 dollars; that the residue, by sundry affidavits transmitted to Congress, appears to have been lost in consequence of his keeping an additional office at the request of the general for the convenience of the army, 1896.3-72 dollars: that, on adjustment of his account in July last, an allowance was made for his pay from the 31st March, 1776, to the 4th May following, and for assistance in his office, 494.41 dollars; that no allowance was made for the loss of money, and the balance being struck, there appeared to be due to the United States, 27,722.36-72 dollars: that he afterwards paid to the order of general Ward, all the money that remained in the chest, being 26,320.67.72 dollars, without making any deduction for the aforesaid grant of 494.41 dollars: that in March last, Congress resolved to allow him the loss aforesaid, but that 1401.32-72 dollars being then mistaken for 1896.53-72 dollars, he was deprived of the grant aforesaid made in July last, being 494.41 dollars, which is now due to him; and therefore that a warrant should issue on the loan-office in the state of Massachusetts-Bay, in favour of James Warren, esq. late pay-master general, for 494.41 dollars. Ordered, That the said account be paid, and warrant issue accordingly. Ordered, That 3765 dollars, be advanced to Jacob Moon, pay-master to the 14th battalion of Virginia forces, for the use of the said battalion; he to be accountable. The board of war brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon, Resolved, That Mr. Warren, speaker of the assembly of MassachusettsBay, be informed, that soldiers under the circumstances mentioned in his letter of the 2d instant, be allowed mileage as militia returning home: that Congress have allowed no compensation to any persons for losses they may have sustained by the enemy, and that it is recommended to the legislatures of the different states, by the resolution of Congress of the 26th day of August, 1776, to make provision for the maintenance of disabled wounded soldiers, belonging to their respective states, and to keep a regular account of the expense attending the same, that, at a future day, the continent may be charged therewith: That a letter be written to Mr. President M'Kinley, acquainting him that Congress are highly pleased with the spirit and alacrity of the militia of Delaware as set forth in his excellency's letter, and depend upon their cheerfully turning out when it shall be necessary for the defence of their country, of which Congress will give them the earliest notice. Resolved, That the general, or commander in chief, for the time being, shall have full power of pardoning or mitigating any of the punishments ordered to be inflicted for any of the offences mentioned in the rules and articles for the better government of the troops, raised or to be raised and kept in pay by, and at the expense of, the United States of America; the 4th article, resolved in Congress the 14th day of April last, notwithstanding. Resolved, That for the future, there be only one chaplain allowed in each brigade of the army, and that such chaplair. be appointed by Congress: That each brigade chaplain be allowed the same pay, rations, and forage allowed to a colonel in the said corps: That each brigadier-general be requested to nominate and recommend to Congress a proper person for chaplain to his brigade; and that they recommend none but such as are clergymen of experience, and established public character for piety, virtue and learning. Resolved, That henceforward, no servant, employed by any person or per sons in casting cannon or shot for the use of the United States, or any of them, shall be inlisted into the continental army. Resolved, That a copy of that part of general Schuyler's letter of the 26th inst. which relates to the raising one or more troops of light-horse in the vicinity of Albany, be referred to general Washingtor. Resolved, That captain Stevens, of the artillery, have a brevet of major; he having had that rank before his present appointment as a captain, and being a worthy, good officer, as gen. Schuyler represents. Resolved, That a copy of that paragraph of general Schuyler's letter which relates to the payment of the army by abstract, be referred to the board of treasury. Resolved, That if general Gates, before general Schuyler's arrival at Albany, shall have appointed a deputy adjutant-general, and deputy judgeadvocate for the northern army, the said appointments be confirmed; if not, that general Schuyler be empowered to make these appointments. Resolved, That the committee for Indian affairs, be directed to transmit to the commissioners of Indian affairs in the northern department, such Indian intelligence as shall be received, and copies of all treaties made with the Indians in the middle department. Resolved, That general Schuyler be empowered to fill up the commissions for colonel Livingston's regiment, agreeable to the ranks the officers respectively hold in the said regiment. Resolved, That the pay of the assistant deputy pay-master general in the northern army, be raised to 45 dollars month. per The committee appointed to confer with a committee of the assembly of Pennsylvania, concerning a complaint made by the Indians, report, “That they have conferred with the said committee, by whom they were informed, that a considerable number of the inhabitants of Pennsylvania have seated themselves upon lands belonging to the Indians, without their leave or any authority from the state; and that the Indians are very uneasy on account of such intrusion:" Whereupon, Resolved, That the executive power, or legislature of Pennsylvania, ought to take proper measures to quiet the minds of the said Indians, by assuring them, that they shall have full satisfaction, either by the removal of the intruders, or by allowing them an adequate consideration for the soil, at the option of the Indians. Ordered, That a copy of the foregoing report and resolve be transmitted to the commissioners for Indian affairs in the northern department. The committee on the treasury reported, That there is due to Thomas Dewit, for board of sundry prisoners in the gaol of Baltimore, and for fire-wood, candles, &c. from the 19th of December to 3d March, 333.39 dollars : camp, To the rev. Robert M Murdie, for his services as chaplain for one month and one day, in colonel Watt's battalion of the flying-camp, 34.40 dollars : To George Graeff, to be paid to William Govet, for pay due to part of his company of colonel Cunningham's battalion of Lancaster county flyingfrom the 10th of December to the 1st January, 114.82 dollars: To captain Hand's company of colonel Lawrence's battalion of flyingcamp, for the balance of subsistence due on his pay-rolls, 86.41 dollars: To the reverend James Caldwell, for the services of a company of lighthorse of Essex county, in the state of New-Jersey, commanded by captain Jacob Wynans, their horse-hire and expenses, 4873.54 dollars: Ordered, That the said sums be paid. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, 1 WEDNESDAY, May 28, 1777. Ordered, That a warrant be drawn on the commissioner of the loan-office for the state of Pennsylvania, in favor of James Neilson, or order, for the sum of 15,233.54 dollars; the same being in full of a bill of exchange drawn by Levinus Clarkson and John Dorsius, on Robert Morris, esq. dated at Charleston, South Carolina, March 29th, 1777; and that the same be charged to the account of the secret committee. Resolved, That 50 blank commissions be sent to the state of Georgia, for filling up vacancies in the several battalions of foot, the regiment of rangers, and artillery companies in that state kept up at the continental expense: That blank commissions be delivered to the delegates of North-Carolina, for the officers of the continental battalions from that state, on their march to head-quarters. Ordered, That 3000 dollars be advanced to the delegates of North-Carolina, for the use of that state; which is to be accountable. A letter, of the 27th, from Dr. B. Rush, was read: A memorial from David Forman and William Harrison, was read: Congress resumed the consideration of the report from the committee on the commissary's department; and after some time spent thereon, Resolved, That the farther consideration thereof be postponed till to morrow. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, THURSDAY, May 29, 1777. A letter, of the 28th, from general Washington, at Morristown, with one enclosed from general Howe; a letter, of this day, from Joseph Trumbull, commissary-general; and one, of the 26th, from John Lawrence, judge-advocate general, were read: Ordered, That the letter from general Washington, and that from John Lawrence, be referred to the board of war. A petition from Thomas Boulten, Anthony Gilchrist, and John Jordan, prisoners, was presented to Congress, and read: Ordered, That it be referred to the marine committee. Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to form an estimate of the number of teams which will be requisite to convey the necessary provisions for the use of the army, under the command of general Washington, in such quantities that the said army may be well supplied; and that the commissary-general lay before the said committee, a particular state of all the magazines of provisions already laid up, specifying the quantity and quality of the respective species of provisions in each magazine, and the places where such magazines are formed: The members chosen, Mr. Duer, Mr. Middleton, and Mr. Burke. Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to confer with Mr. Trumbull on the subject of his letter to Congress, and general Washington's letter to him: The members chosen, Mr. R. H. Lee, Mr. Clark, and Mr. J. B. Smith. Resolved, That no persons, horses, or carriages going to the army with provisions, and returning from thence, be pressed upon any pretence whatever. The board of war brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon, Resolved, That colonel Harrison's regiment of artillery be ordered from Virginia to head quarters, agreeably to general Washington's request. Ordered, That the treasurer return to the board of treasury, certificates of the names and qualifications of the persons who are or shall be appointed inspectors or signers of the bills of credit, directed to be emitted by a resolution of Congress, passed the 20th instant. A petition from Abiather Rhoades, was read: Ordered, That it be referred to the board of war. Mr. P. Livingston, Mr. Duane, and Mr. Duer, three of the delegates from the state of New-York, laid before Congress credentials of a new appointment made by their state, which are as follows: "IN CONVENTIon of the Representatives of the State of New-York, Kingston, May 13, 1777. Resolved, That five delegates be elected by ballot to represent this state in Congress, until the legislature of this state shall, at their first meeting, make further provision; that three at least of the said delegates shall statedly attend; and that any two or more of them so attending, be a quorum, and enabled to represent and give the vote of this state in Congress. The ballots of the several counties being taken and told, it appears, that the hon. Philip Schuyler, Philip Livingston, James Duane, William Duer, and Gouverneur Morris, esqrs. were duly elected to be the said delegates. Thereupon, Resolved, That the gentlemen abovenamed, be the present delegates of this state in Congress; and that the said delegates do, from time to time, give their attendance in Congress, according to the orders of the council of safety of this state. Resolved, That the thanks of the representatives of this state in convention, be given to Philip Livingston, James Duane, John Jay, William Floyd, Henry Wisner, Philip Schuyler, George Clinton, Lewis Morris, Francis Lewis, and Robert R. Livingston, jun. esqrs. delegates of this state, in the honorable the Continental Congress, for their long and faithful services rendered to the colony of New-York, and to the said state. Extract from the minutes, Attest, PIERRE VAN CORTLANDT, Vice-President. The committee appointed to prepare an address to the inhabitants of the United States, reported a draught, which was read. The committee appointed to confer with the commissary-general, reported, That they have had a conference with him, and received from him an account of the salted provisions laid up in magazines for the supply of the army; that the reason of the present appearance of an immediate want, has arisen from the stores, laid up at Lebanon, being removed to Carlisle, and those in this city to Lancaster, as it is said by order of Congress, without leaving a sufficient quantity for the present supply of the army; but that effectual measures are taking to remedy any inconveniencies arising from the measure: That Mr. Commissary proposes to repair to head-quarters without delay. Ordered, That the commissary general enquire particularly into the removal of the provisions from Lebanon, there having been only 40 barrels of beef and 40 barrels of pork ordered by Congress from that magazine to Carlisle. Ordered, That 300 dollars be advanced to captain Charles Fleming, of the 7th Virginia battalion, for the use of the said battalion. Ordered, That 3700 dollars be advanced to major Holt Richardson, for the use of the 15th battalion of Virginia forces, and charged to the account of the said battalion. Congress resumed the consideration of the report on the commissary's department; and, after debate thereon, Resolved, That the further consideration thereof be postponed till to morrow. ( |