Ordered, That a letter be written to the council of safety of Maryland, earnestly recommending to them, to appoint subaltern-officers for the several companies raising by their order in their state, that the recruiting service may be expedited, and the men, when raised, properly trained. Resolved, That Richard Stringer be appointed a signer of the continental bills of credit, in addition to those already appointed. Resolved, That Angus M'Donald, one of the North-Carolina prisoners, be admitted to his parole, upon taking an oath, after the mode observed in that part of Great-Britain, called Scotland, in administering oaths, that he will observe the same: That Mr. Middleton be empowered to take his parole, and administer the oath. On application of colonel Macgruder for the directions of Congress, Resolved, That the two companies of his battalion, which have already marched, be directed to join the army under general Washington, and that any other companies of his battalion, consisting of not less than 36 privates, under the cominand of two commissioned officers, be also marched, as soon as possible, and that a field-officer take the command of every four companies. Resolved, That it be recommended to the council of safety of Maryland, to request the militia of Hartford, Baltimore, Coecil, and such other counties of their state as they shall think proper, to march, as soon as possible, to reinforce general Washington, giving directions that each company consist of not less than 36 privates, under the command of two commissioned officers, and that a field-officer take the command of every four companies. The committee of treasury reported, that they have had under consideration, the requisition of captain William Blackwell, for a sum of money to be advanced him, for the bounty and subsistence of his company in a Virginia regiment, under the command of colonel Rawlins, and that there should be advanced to the said colonel Rawlins, he to be accountable, the sum of 1477.85 dollars, and that the sum be delivered to the said captain Blackwell for the purposes aforesaid: Ordered, That the said sum be advanced. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, WEDNESDAY, January 22, 1777. A letter, of the 17th, from the committee of Congress at Philadelphia, was read: Resolved, That 200,000 dollars be sent to the committee of Congress, in Philadelphia, for public service. A letter, of the 13th, from general Washington, enclosing copies of letters to lord and general Howe; One, of the 17th, from the council of safety of Pennsylvania, with sundry papers enclosed, were laid before Congress, and read : Ordered, That the same, and also the letter from the committee of Congress, at Philadelphia, be referred to a committee of three The members chosen, Mr. Wolcott, Mr. S. Adams, and Mr. Gerry. The board of war brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon, Resolved, That a company be immediately raised on the new establishment in the state of Pennsylvania, to be stationed at and near Kittanning, to guard the public buildings and stores, and to protect the frontier inhabitants from the incursions of the Indians: That Samuel Morehead be appointed captain of the said company; Andrew Macfarlane, first-lieutenant; William Jack, second-lieutenant; and, John Carnaghan, ensign : That 1400 dollars be advanced to captain Morehead, to enable him to recruit the said company; he to be accountable: That Thomas Butler be appointed public armourer, and that he immediately repair to the city of Philadelphia, to superintend the said business, agreeably to the resolve of the 19th of November: That he be allowed 3 dollars a day for his pay and expenses. Resolved, That the allowance for subsistence of recruits while in quarters, till they join their respective regiments, and be supplied with rations, be raised to 1 d dollar per week. A petition from Bartholomew Burke and Hamilton Ballantine was presented to Congress, and read: Ordered, That it be referred to the board of war. The committee on impressing carriages, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; and, after debate, Ordered, That it be re-committed. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, THURSDAY, January 23, 1777. The marine committee having recommended captain Fulford to take the command of the armed brig Lexington, Resolved, That he be appointed to take the command of the said armed brig Lexington. Resolved, That two frigates, one of 36, and the other of 28 guns, be immediately built in the state of Connecticut. Resolved, That 2000 dollars be advanced to Mr. Jonathan Hudson, for the public service; he to be accountable. Resolved, That 41,640 dollars, be advanced to col. George Baylor, for the purpose of purchasing horses and paying the bounty of men for the regiment of cavalry he is ordered to raise, and that the same be paid to major A. Clough, and charged to col. Baylor, who is to be accountable. The committee appointed to examine the files, &c. brought in a report, which was read: Ordered, To lie on the table. A letter, of the 30th of December, from the general assembly of Massachusetts-Bay, with sundry papers enclosed, was read. Mr. Leonard Jarvis, whom John Bradford, esq. agent for the United States in Massachusetts-Bay, has appointed an agent at Dartmouth, and who had the possession and charge of the continental stores imported in the Hancock & Adams, having, by a letter of the 13th of December last, informed the secret committee, that at the recommendation of the general court of Massachusetts-Bay, he has delivered out part of the arms to the militia who were called to stop the progress of the British troops, the arms to be returned when called for: and, by a letter of the 14th of December last, having farther informed the said committee, that in consequence of a vote of the general committee of the state of Rhode-Island, and of a letter from gov. Cooke and Daniel Tillinghast, esq. he has delivered to Mr. Fry, for the said Daniel Tillinghast, esq. agent at Providence, six tons of lead, six casks of flints, 48 chests of arms, and 260 barrels of gun-powder; thereupon, Ordered, That the secret committee write to the agent at Dartmouth, and inform him, they can, by no means, authorize their agents to deliver stores in their custody, except by orders of Congress, or persons by them authorized; but, that extreme necessity for arms and stores existing in the opinion of the general committee of the state of Rhode-Island, then invaded by a formidable army, may hold him excused for the arms and stores he delivered to that state, at their urgent request; and that he may also be excused for the delivery of arms to the militia of the state of Massachusetts-Bay, in consequence of the recommendation of the general-court of that state; that, at the same time, they direct their agent to procure a return of them as soon as circumstances will admit. The board of war, to whom a petition from Monsieur Pillesier was referred, brought in a report; Whereupon, Resolved, That the said petition be referred to general Washington. FRIDAY, January 24, 1777. A letter, of the 17th inst. from John M'Kinley, esq. speaker of the assembly of the state of Delaware, with sundry resolves of that assembly, was read : Ordered, That the same be referred to the committee of Congress, at Philadelphia. John Taylor, esq. being appointed a major in col. Hazen's regiment, Resolved, That a commission be granted to him, and that the same be dated the 13th of November, 1776. Resolved, That 1000 dollars be paid to major John Taylor, for the purpose of raising recruits for the regiment in which he is a major, and that the same be charged to the account of col. Moses Hazen, this being in full of an order drawn by lieut. col. Edward Antil, of col. Hazen's regiment, in favour of the said John Taylor, dated January 20, 1777. The Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the state of the treasury, &c. and after some time, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. Nelson reported, that the committee have had under consideration the matters to them referred, but have as yet come to no resolution thereon: There being no delegates in attendance from the state of Delaware, and one only from the state of New-York, who, according to the instructions given by that state to their delegates, is not empowered to give a vote: Ordered, That Mr. President write to the states of New-York and Delaware, requesting them immediately to send to Congress a representation of their respective states, and to provide, that for the future, applications of this sort may be rendered unnecessary. Whereas by a resolve of Congress of the 5th of November last, all accounts for services done, or articles supplied to the armies of the United States in New-York and New-Jersey, and in the northern department, are to be presented to the commissioners of accounts for the respective armies; and so much thereof, as is approved by them, and confirmed by the respective generals, is ordered to be paid by their warrants on the pay-master, after the said commissioners have certified thereon, that the accounts and vouchers are returned to them by the persons receiving such warrants; and, whereas, it may frequently happen, that the absence or engagements of the generals aforesaid, may occasion a delay in ordering the payment of suck accounts, whereby individuals, having demands against the United States, may suffer inconveniences; it is, therefore, Resolved, That the commander in chief in each department be empowered, when absence or hurry of business shall prevent his revising the accounts passed by the commissioners, to direct the pay-master to discharge such accounts, upon certificates from the commissioners; observing to order the pay-master, when circumstances will permit, to lay the accounts and certificates before him, for his approbation, and to return them to the commissioners to be filed in their office. Resolved, That if general Schuyler and general Gates be both absent from the northern department at the same time, that the pay-master there shall receive this resolution, the said pay-master be empowered and directed to discharge accounts upon the certificates of the commissioners, during such absence; and upon the return of either of the said officers, to lay the accounts and certificates before him for his approbation. The committee to whom was referred the letter from the council of safety of Pennsylvania, with the papers therein enclosed, brought in a report, which was taken into considertion; whereupon, Congress came to the following resolution : Whereas Congress are informed that certain tribes of Indians, living in the back parts of the country, near the waters of the Susquehanna, who are within the confederacy, and under the protection of the Six Nations, the friends and allies of these United States, are, upon motives friendly and peaceable, now on their way to Easton, in the state of Pennsylvania; and whereas, such may be the poor and necessitous circumstances of these Indians, as to demand the attention of Congress; it is therefore, Resolved, That the committee of Congress at Philadelphia, deliver to George Walton and George Taylor, esqrs. or to either of thein, 1000 dollars; who are directed to purchase therewith, such presents as may be suitable for the said Indians: and that one or both of them forthwith repair to Easton, and, in the name of this Congress, inform the said Indians, that although, in the opinion of Congress, it is altogether improper for them to kindle a councilfire at that place, as they have already done the same at Albany, where, by their commissioners, they hold their councils, and communicate every matter of importance to their good friends the Six Nations, and their allies, of which these tribes are a part, yet, in regard to the good and peaceable conduct of these nations, and in consideration of their wants, which this Congress are much inclined to relieve, and also in token of their friendship for them, as well as for all other Indians, who are at peace with these states, they, the said George Walton and George Taylor, esqrs. are directed to deliver these presents to them; and they are, at the same time, to signify to the said Indians, that this Congress have an entire confidence, that the same peaceable and friendly conduct will be observed by them, which they have hitherto regarded. Ordered, That the said Messrs. Walton and Taylor be furnished with a copy of the foregoing resolution for their direction." Resolved, That the pay of the commissary of military stores, to be appointed to take charge and care of the continental stores in Maryland, be 40 dollars per month: That the delegates of Maryland direct the quarter-master to look out for a proper house, wherein to deposit the powder, now in this town, belonging to the continent; and that they desire the captain of the guard to see that a trusty guard be kept over the powder. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, Adjourned to ten o'clock on Monday. MONDAY, January 27, 1777. Congress met, and adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow. TUESDAY, January 28, 1777. The delegates of Maryland having reported, that they have provided a suitable house in the country for the reception of the public powder, Resolved, That the said delegates be requested and empowered to agree with a captain, and a proper number of men, to guard the said powder when removed. Ordered, That the board of war send forward from this town to general Schuyler, with all possible expedition, twenty tons of cannon-powder and ten tons of pistol-powder. A number of letters and papers were laid before Congress and read, viz. a letter of the 21st inst. from the committee of Congress, at Philadelphia; one, of the 17th, from general Washington, at Morristown; one, of the 19th, from general Putnam, at Princeton, to lord Stirling; one of the 22d, one of the 23d, and one of the 25th, from the committee of Congress, at Philadelphia; one, of the 18th, and one, of the 20th, from general Washington, at Morristown; one, of the 13th and 15th, from general Schuyler, at Fish-kill, enclosing a letter, of the 3d, to him from governor Trumbull; one, of the 22d, and one, of the 26th, from the council of safety of Maryland; one, of the 6th, from Joseph Trumbull, esq. at Hartford; one, of the 18th, from Ebenezer Hancock, esq. one, of the 12th, from governor Trumbull, with a copy of the minutes of a committee appointed by the four New-England states, who met at Providence, on Wednesday, 25th of December, 1776, and sat by adjournments to the 2d of January, 1777; one, of the 13th, from the council of Massachusetts-Bay; one, of the 24th, from lieutenant-colonel Kirmovan; one, of the 15th, from brigadier De Roche Fermoy; and sundry letters from French officers: Ordered, That the letters from brigadier De Roche Fermoy, and from the other French officers, be referred to general Washington, to do therein what he shall think the good of the service requires, without considering this reference as a recommendation in favor of any of the gentlemen applying: That the letter from lieutenant-colonel Kirmovan be also referred to general Washington. A letter, of the 12th, from the committee of Frederick county, Maryland, and sundry papers enclosed, were read. A letter from Mr. Bingham, at Martinique, and sundry papers enclosed, were read: Crdered, That a copy of the enclosed papers be delivered to the delegates of Maryland, to be laid before the assembly of their state; and that the letter and papers be referred to a committee of three ; The members chosen, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Chase, and Mr. R. H. Lee. Another letter, from Mr. Bingham, recommending Mons. Celeron to the notice of Congress, was read, and ordered to be referred to general Washington. Resolved, That Friday next be assigned for taking into consideration the letters from the state of Massachusetts-Bay, and governor Trumbull, and the minutes of the proceedings of the committee of the four New-England states. Resolved, That the committee of Congress at Philadelphia, be informed, that Congress, from the committee's state of things, do not discern the necessity of moving the public stores from that city; but if any circumstances should hereafter arise, to render such removal proper, Congress desire the committee may do therein what they shall think most conducive to the public service. Ordered, That the letter from general Schuyler be referred to the committee on the affairs of the northern department. The secret committee informed Congress, that the brig Olive-Branch, William Bayley, master, was, by the procurement of Francis Lewis, laden at New York with 718 barrels of flour, on account of the United States, as will appear by the bill of lading, signed 26th February, 1776, directed to be delivered to Mr. Samuel Carson, at St. Eustatia; that captain Bayley, contrary to his orders, proceeded to Occoys, on the island of Hispaniola, and there put the cargo into the hands of Mons. Croix, who, by several letters, informed Mr. Carson that he should remit said Carson the proceeds of the flour to St. Eustatia; and, in a letter from said Carson, dated St. Eustatia, -50th November, 1776, is the following paragraph :-"I have not received |