military stores, and in the hands of the continental troops, and what number has been lost or condemned, and that the committee have power to send for persons and papers:

The members chosen, Mr. Chase, Mr. Gerry and Mr. Vandyke.

The committee to whom the petition of Daniel Bucklin, and the memorial of Isaac Jones, were referred, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

Resolved, That Joseph White, commander of the privateer Revenge, appear before the committee of appeals within 40 days after a copy of the petition of Daniel Bucklin, and of this resolution, is served on the said Joseph White, the agent or one of the owners of the said privateer, to shew cause why the prayer of the petition should not be granted.

Resolved, That William Dennis, commander of the privateer sloop called the America, appear before the committee of appeals within 40 days after a copy of the memorial of Isaac Jones, and of this resolution, is served upon him, the said William Dennis, the agent, or one of the owners of the said privateer, to shew cause why the prayer of the said memorial should not be granted.

A motion was made," that a committee be appointed to revise the regulations of the commissary's department, so far as respects the appointment of officers; that they confer with general Washington on the subject, and report such alterations as they may judge necessary."

A motion was made for postponing the consideration thereof:

Passed in the negative.

It was then moved to amend the motion by striking out" the appointment of officers" and inserting "the salaries to be given and the oaths to be taken by persons employed in the issuing-department:" Passed in the negative. It was then moved to strike out the words "so far as respects the appointment of officers:" Passed in the negative.

The question being put on the original motion, Passed in the negative. Congress took into consideration the letter from gen. Washington, wherein he wishes to be excused from making the appointment of an officer to command the northern army; Whereupon,.

Resolved, That Congress proceed to the election; the ballots being taken, major-gen. Gates was elected by the vote of eleven states.

Resolved, That general Washington be informed of this appointment, and that he be directed to order gen. Gates to repair, with all possible expedition, to the northern department, to relieve major-gen. Schuyler.

Ordered, That the remainder of the letter from gen. Washington be referred to the committee on the northern department.

The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

TUESDAY, August 5, 1777.

In consequence of an adjustment by the commissioners of claims, the auditor-general reports,

That there is due to major William West, for his pay and rations as a captain in the 3d Pennsylvania regiment, from 1st September to 25th October, 1776, and for his pay and rations as major, from 25th October, 1776, to 13th July, 1777, 540 56-90 dollars:

To Cornelius Robinson, for his services as an express from brigadier Dagworthy to this place, and for the hire of horses pressed on the road, and his expenses, $4 30-90 dollars:

To William Hurrie, for his attendance as door-keeper to Congress, for candies, &c. which he bought between 1st May and 31st July, and for nine days' attendance omitted in his last account, 90 72-90 dollars:

Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

The board of treasury brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

Ordered, That 2000 dollars be advanced to John Cheesborough, pay-master of the 6th regiment of North Carolina continental troops, for the pay of the said regiment, the said pay-master to be accountable.

Ordered, That the same allowance be made to Bryan Lefferty, one of the hostages from Tryon county, for the good behaviour of the inhabitants of the said county, as is ordered by Congress to be made to the M Donalds, and that 257 30-90 dollars be paid to Mr. Lefferty accordingly, in full for his subsistence to the 1st inst. inclusive.

Ordered, That there be advanced to Mons. du Coudray, for the use of the following gentlemen, who came over with him to America:

Captain Rogers and capt. Fleury, each 200 dollars;

Capt. Le Brun, capt. Vareigne, and capt. Tousard, each 250 dollars;
Capt. Loyaute and capt. Pierre, each 200 dollars;

Lieut. Le Blanc, 250 dollars, and lieut. Mathio, 150 dollars;

Lieut. Rivau and lieut. Fonfrede, each 250 dollars;

Lieut. Ganot, 150 dollars, and lieut. Matigni, 250 dollars;

Lieut. Coyete, lieut. Parisy, lieut. Begard, each 150 dollars;

Lieut. Pommereul and lieut. Boshard, each 150 dollars;

Amounting, in the whole, to 3600 dollars, to be charged to account of Mons. du Coudray, being advanced on his application.

Resolved, That a commissary of hides be appointed in the room of Peter Philips, esq. who declines acting; the ballots being taken,

George Ewing was elected.

Resolved, That Thursday next be assigned to take into consideration the propriety of establishing a court of appeals.

Congress proceeded to the election of officers in the commissary's department; and the ballots being taken,

William Buchanan, esq. was elected commissary-general of purchases. Resolved, That the election of other officers be postponed till to-morrow. Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to take into consideration the letter from B. Franklin and S. Deane, esqrs. to lord Stormont, and the depositions therein referred to, and report thereon:

The members chosen, Mr. Witherspoon, Mr. Chase, and Mr. Duer.

A deposition of John Barret, 1st lieutenant of the armed brig Raleigh, late commanded by Edward Travis, esq. fitted out by and belonging to the state of Virginia, was read:

Ordered, That it be referred to the foregoing committee.

The committee on foreign applications brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

Resolved, That the chevalier de Failly have the rank and pay of major in the army of the United States.

The committee returned from camp, brought in a report, which was read. Congress took into consideration the report of the board of war of the 25th July; Whereupon,

Resolved, That captain Dorsey's resignation be accepted.

The committee on the northern department, to whom general Washington's letter was referred, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

Resolved, That the commanding officer in the northern department be directed to apply to the executive powers of the respective states of NewHampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, and Pennsylvania, for such a number of their respective militia as he shall judge sufficient to reinforce the army under his command:

That such militia be entitled to continental pay and rations, and be continued in service until the last day of November next, unless sooner relieved by continental troops, or discharged; and that it be earnestly recommended to the executive powers of the said states, to exert their most vigorous efforts in complying with the requisition of the said commanding officer, without delay, that a speedy and effectual stop may be put to the progress of the enemy in that quarter.

The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

WEDNESDAY, August 6, 1777.

A letter, of this day, from gen. Washington, was read.

A letter from the continental navy-board was read; Whereupon, Resolved, That John Rodeg be appointed a second-lieutenant in the navy of the United States.

Whereas, major-general Gates, by virtue of the power and authority to him given and granted by Congress, did, on the 1st of May last, grant to Louis Jean Baptist Cham baron d'Antignac the commission of captain in the army of the United States:

Resolved, That a continental commission be granted to him, the said Louis Jean Baptist Cham baron d'Antignac, in lieu of the warrant given to him by major-general Gates.

A memorial from Mons. du Coudray, was read:

Ordered, That it be dismissed.

A letter of the 5th, from Henrich Klean, was read:
Ordered, To lie on the table.

be

Resolved, That John M'Coomb, of Princeton, be authorized to act as quarter-master at that place, for such detachments of the army as may passing that way, until the quarter-master general shall give further directions on this subject; and that he take care that no damage be done to the college at that place.

Resolved, That major-general Gates inform those states to whom he shall apply for militia, that Congress think it imprudent to adhere to settled quotas which ought to be called forth from each particular state.

Congress proceeded to the appointment of a deputy commissary-general of purchases, a deputy commissary-general of issues, and a deputy pay-master general of Georgia: Whereupon,

Resolved, That James Roe, esq. be commissary-general of purchases; John Bohun Garardeau, deputy commissary-general of issues; and Joseph Clay, deputy pay-master general in Georgia.

Resolved, That gen. R. Howe be directed to order brigadier M'Intosh to repair, with all expedition, to head-quarters, where his service is necessary. Resolved, That the sum of 4000 dollars be paid to the officers and men on board every fire-ship in the river Delaware, and to the officer and crew of any chain of fire-rafts, which shall actually set on fire and destroy any one of the enemy's ships of war of 20 guns and upwards; and 3000 dollars for every ship or vessel of war under 20 guns; and 1500 dollars for every transport; the proof of the execution done to be certified by the commodore, or commanding officer, or by the oath of such person or persons, as may have been a witness to the fact.

Resolved, That the rewards aforesaid shall be divided in the following proportions: one-fourth to the captain or commander, one-seventh to the lieutenant, and the remainder to the crew, to be equally divided among them. A petition from John Green and Peter Knight, was read, praying that they may have leave to enter an appeal against a sentence of a court of adVOL. II.

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miralty for the state of Georgia, on the 20th day of December last, on the libel John White, &c. vs. the sloop Polly:

Ordered, That it be referred to the committee on appeals.

Congress proceeded to the election of officers in the commissary's department; and, the ballots being taken,

Ephraim Blaine, esq. was elected deputy commissary-general of purchases, in the room of Mr. Buchanan :

Archibald Stewart, esq. deputy commissary-general of issues, in the room of Mr. Hoops, who has resigned:

James Blicker, esq. deputy commissary-general of issues in the room of Mr. Avery, resigned:

Resolved, That in case Mr. Blicker decline the office, the commanding officer in the northern department be authorized to appoint another person in his stead, and inform Congress thereof.

Resolved, That another deputy commissary-general of issues be appointed for the eastern department: the ballots being taken, Samuel Gray, esq. was elected.

Resolved, That the appointment of a deputy commissary-general of purchases, in the room of Mr. Wadsworth, be postponed, till to-morrow.

The committee on the treasury brought in a report: Whereupon, Ordered, That there be advanced to William Palfrey, esq. pay-master general, 500,000 dollars, for the use of the army, he to be accountable: That there be advanced to Richard Bache, esq. post-master general, 2000 dollars, for which he is to be accountable :

That a warrant issue in favor of the board of war, for 300,000 dollars, to be transmitted to Jonathan Trumbull, esq. deputy pay-master general in the northern department, for the use of the said department, he to be ac

countable:

That a warrant issue from the president on the commissioner of the loanoffice in the state of Massachusetts-Bay, in favor of William Sever, esq. president of the council of the said state, for 30,000 dollars, for building a magazine, laboratory, and barracks in that state, agreeable to the order of Congress, for which the said council is to be accountable :

That there be paid to Richard Bradley, esq. pay-master of the 3d battalion of continental troops raised in North-Carolina, 3500 dollars, he to be accountable:

That there be paid to John Taylor, pay-master of the 8th battalion of continental troops raised in North-Carolina, 1000 dollars, for which he is to be accountable:

That there be advanced to Dr. W. Shippen, director-general of the hospital, 50,000 dollars, for the use of the hospital, he to be accountable:

That there be advanced to the chevalier de Failly, 100 dollars, for two months' pay, he to be accountable:

That the president issue a warrant on the commissioner of the continental loan-office in the state of Rhode-Island, in favor of Daniel Tillinghast, esq. for 10,059 4-90 dollars, in discharge of a bill drawn by Abraham Livingston and William Turnbull, agent for James Mease, esq. clothier-general, on Robert Morris, esq. chairman of the secret committee, and tendered for payment to Congress, dated Boston, June 16th, 1777; the clothier-general to be accountable':

That the president issue a warrant on the commissioner of the loan-office in the state of Pennsylvania, in favor of James Mease, esq. clothier-general, for 50,000 dollars, for the use of his department, he to be accountable.

The committee farther report, "That they have conferred with the managers of the state lottery, and find that a considerable number of tickets remain unsold, in the hands of the managers, as well as their agents in the several states; that from the present state of the lottery, and the uncertain

ty of the enemy's intentions, the committee recommend the drawing to be postponed till the 6th day of November next, and that a farther quantity of tickets be transmitted to the several states; and that it be recommended to their several executive powers to give all the assistance they can to expedite the sales thereof:

Resolved, That Congress agree with the committee, and that the board of treasury take measures accordingly..

Resolved, That the commissary-general of musters be hereafter allowed the pay and rations of a colonel; that the pay of his deputy commissaries be increased to 60 dollars a month, and that of the muster-masters to 45 dollars per month.

Resolved, That the several muster-masters be directed to omit making returns to the pay-master and deputy pay-masters' general.

On motion, it was resolved as follows:

Whereas, Joseph Trumbull, esq. having resigned his commission of commissary-general of purchases under the new regulations, has signified his intentions of discontinuing his service under the former establishment on the 20th day of the present month; and whereas the commissaries-general of purchases and issues, who are to succeed him in office, may not be prepared with their respective assistants to proceed in the business at the time aforesaid, and a failure of supplies may be attended with the most dangerous consequences:

Resolved, That Mr. Trumbull, with the officers under him, be desired to continue in the business of supplying the army under the former establishment, until the commissaries-general of purchases and issues shall signify their readiness to proceed therein under the new regulations, which they are required to do as speedily as possible:

It was then moved, "that general Washington be authorized, during the present campaign, to remove such officers and make such appointments in the commissary's department, as he shall judge necessary, reporting their names to Congress; and if, in carrying into execution the resolutions aforesaid, any alterations shall appear to him essential to the service, he is further authorized to propose the same to Congress ;" and on the question put, passed in the negative.

The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

THURSDAY, August 7, 1777.

A letter, of the 7th, from gen. Washington, was read, enclosing a copy of a a letter of the 1st, from gen. Schuyler, at Saratoga, and sundry other papers: Ordered, That copies thereof be sent to major-general Gates.

Resolved, That major-general Prescot be retained as a pledge for the good treatment and release of major-general Lee, and that he be treated as nearly as circumstances will admit, in the same manner as the enemy shall treat the officer last mentioned.

Resolved, That general Washington be authorized to negotiate the exchange of prisoners with the enemy, in such manner, and on such terms, as he shall judge expedient, notwithstanding the resolution of Congress respecting lieutenant-colonel Campbell, and the five Hessian field officers.

Resolved, That the pay of the deputy commissaries-general of issues, be increased to 100 dollars a month, and the pay of the clerks to the commissaries-general, to 50 dollars a month.

The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

FRIDAY, August 8, 1777.

A letter, of the 4th, from governor Johnson, at Annapolis, enclosing