Hudson's river, and then that general Washington act as circumstances may require.

A letter, of the 18th, from general Schuyler, was read:

Ordered, That it be referred to the committee of intelligence.
The several matters to this day referred being postponed,

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

FRIDAY, August 22, 1777.

Two letters, of the 21st, from General Washington, one of them enclosing a letter, of the 20th, from general Newcomb, were read:

Ordered, That they be referred to the board of war.

Ordered, That the board of war send to Virginia, with all possible despatch, four brass field-pieces, if the public service will admit.

The committee on the treasury brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

Resolved, That there be advanced to Thomas Butler, continental armorer, 1600 dollars, for the use of his department, he to be accountable:

That there be advanced to Everhart Michael, esq. pay-master of the German battalion, 2000 dollars, for the use of the said battalion, for which he is to be accountable.

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

That there is due to Jacob Hincle, for 136 meals supplied the militia of Cumberland county, on their march to camp, 13 54-90 dollars:

To lieutenant Nicholas Garret, late of col. Magaw's regiment, a balance of his account for his pay and for bounty money advanced to ten men he recruited, as also their subsistence and inlisting money, &c. amounting to

178 7 9, of which he received from major Benezet, £135, the balance being 115 63-90 dollars, to be paid to him, and charged to the said regiment: Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

Advice being received that the enemy's fleet are in Chesapeake-Bay between Rock-Hall and the mouth of Patapsco river,

Ordered, That the board of war give immediate orders for removing the prisoners and public stores from Lancaster and Yorktown, to places of greater security:

That the board of treasury take immediate and effectual measures for the security of the treasury at Baltimore:

That the president write to captain Nicholson, and inform him, it is the desire of Congress, in case his vessel cannot be saved from falling into the hands of the enemy, otherwise than by destroying her, that in that case he destroy her, saving as much of her tackle, furniture and stores as he can.

Resolved, That general Washington be informed, by express, of the intelligence Congress hath this day received, of the British fleet being advanced high up the bay of Chesapeake, and, therefore, that it is probable that the enemy have the city of Philadelphia in contemplation; that as the distance from the head of the said bay to this city is so small, Congress wish the general, in consequence of this information, to proceed in such manner, ast shall appear to him most conducive to the general interest, notwithstanding the resolution of yesterday, concerning his progress to the North-River.

Resolved, That Mr. Jones, Mr. Chase, and Mr. Roberdeau, be a committee to prepare a resolution for calling forth the militia of Pennsylvania, and the neighboring states.

Congress adjourned to five o'clock.

FIVE O'CLOCK, P. M.

Resolved, That Lodowig Sprogle be empowered and directed to muster the militia of Pennsylvania instead of the deputy-muster master general, whose indisposition prevents his performing that service.

The committee appointed to prepare a resolution for calling forth the militia, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon, Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to the state of Maryland, immediately to call out not less than 2000 select militia, to repel the expected invasion of the states of Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland; that 1250 of the militia on the Western-shore of Maryland, repair, as soon as possible, to Baltimore and Hartford towns; that 750 of the militia on the Eastern-shore, repair as soon as possible to Georgetown, on Sassafras, there to wait the directions of general Washington:

That the state of Pennsylvania be requested to keep up 4000 of their militia to assist in repelling the threatened invasion of the enemy by the way of Chesapeake and Delaware bays; that these rendezvous at Lancaster, Downing-town and Chester, as the council of the said state shall direct, and that they be subject to the orders of general Washington:

That the state of Delaware be requested to call out 1000 of their militia to rendezvous at New-Port and Christiana-Bridge, there to wait the orders of general Washington:

That the state of Virginia be requested to draw out one-third of the militia of each of the counties of Prince-William, Fairfax, Loudon, Berkely, Frederick, Dunmore, Fauquier and Culpepper, and march them to Fredericktown, in the state of Maryland, there to wait the orders of gen. Washington:

That the militia requested from the states aforesaid, be in the pay of the continent to the 30th November next, unless sooner discharged by Congress, or the commander in chief:

That it be recommended to each of the above states, to remove all boats and other craft, provisions, grain, naval and military stores, provender, cattle and live stock, wagons, carts and horses, in the way of the enemy's march, to places of safety, and to destroy what cannot be removed.

That general Washington be directed to order brigadier-general Smallwood and colonel Gist, to repair immediately to the state of Maryland, to arrange, march and command the militia required of that state.

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

SATURDAY, August 23, 1777.

A letter, of the 22d, from general Washington, was read:

Also, a letter of the 21st, from colonel J. E. Howard, at Baltimore; two, from governor Johnson; and sundry other letters from divers persons in Baltimore, respecting the enemy's fleet in Chesapeake-Bay; were read.

A letter, from lieutenant Edward Cowan, of captain Weaver's company, was read, praying for leave to resign his commission:

Ordered, That he have leave to resign.

Resolved, That the president inform general Washington, that Congress never intended by any commission hitherto granted by them, or by the establishment of any department whatever, to supersede or circumscribe the power of general Washington as the commander in chief of all the continental land forces within the United States.

A letter, of this day, from general Washington, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the board of war.

The committee, to whom was re-committed the report on the mode of conducting the enquiry into the causes of the evacuation of Ticonderoga and Fort-Independence, and into the conduct of the general officers in the northern department, at the time of the evacuation, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

It was moved instead of "three members of Congress," to insert the "judge advocate with the assistance of "should conduct

the enquiry: Passed in the negative.

and

It was then moved, that three commissioners, not members of Congress, should conduct the enquiry:

On this the states were equally divided.

The yeas and nays are as follows:

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

MONDAY, August 25, 1777.

A letter, of the 23d, from gen. Washington, enclosing a copy of a letter of the 11th, from gen. Schuyler, respecting some, Caghnawaga Indians; also, a letter of the 20th, from gen. Gates, at Van Schaack's island; one, of the 24th, from colonel H. Hollingsworth, at the Head of Elk; one, of the 13th, from col. G. Morgan, at Fort-Pitt, with a copy of sundry conferences held with the Indians; and one, of the 16th, from Dr. Shippen, were read:

Ordered, That general Washington's letter be referred to the committee on Indian affairs; that so much of colonel Morgan's letter as relates to money, be referred to the board of treasury, and that the remainder, with the papers enclosed, be referred to the board of war; that the letter from Dr. Shippen, be referred to the medical committee.

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

That there is due to Peter and Daniel Mallet, a balance of their accounts for supplying and paying the nine regiments from North-Carolina, their rations from the time of leaving that state to the 1st of August instant, amounting to 14,613 39-90ths dollars, of which they received from Benjamin Harrison, esq. deputy pay-master general in Virginia, 10,000 dollars, and credit for rations drawn out of the public stores, 1020 50-90ths dollars, and for over charge in rations supplied, 171 2-90ths dollars; the balance is, 3421 77-90ths dollars:

To colonel Hazen, 800 dollars, being for one hundred half Johannes he paid to lieutenant-colonel Edward Antil of his regiment in February, 1776, to be employed in raising recruits for a regiment of Canadians, and for which sum colonel Antil is to be accountable; this sum was charged in colonel Hazen's account, reported the 30th of last month, but the commissioners deducted it from the balance, until colonel Antil's receipt should be produced, which is now done :

Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

The committee on the treasury brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

Ordered, That there be advanced to the delegates of the commonwealth of Virginia 19,168 dollars, agreeable to an application from governor Henry of the said commonwealth, by letters dated the 24th of July, and an account of expenditures made by the said commonwealth, for the use of the United States, and for which the said commonwealth is to be accountable:

That there be paid to the chevalier de Failly 380 dollars, in addition to 100 dollars advanced him by a warrant the 6th instant, it being in full of his

pay as lieutenant-colonel, for eight months, from the 1st of December last, and for which he is to be charged:

That a warrant be issued in favor of the board of war for 500,000 dollars, to be sent to the pay-master general for the use of the army, and for which the said pay-master general is to be accountable.

Resolved, That the same pay be allowed to the officers who served on board the fleet on Lake-Champlain, as is allowed to officers of equal rank belonging to the navy of the United States.

Ordered, That there be advanced to William Buchanan, esq. commissarygeneral of purchases 100,000 dollars, for the use of his department, he to be accountable.

Ordered, That the board of war take speedy and effectual measures for having six thousand stand of arms brought from the magazine at Springfield to head-quarters.

A letter, of this day, from general St. Clair, was read.

A petition, from Henry Sherer; one, from Jonathan Pearson; one, from Juliana Zedwitz; one, from Conrad Miller; one, from captain Tenet; and one, from William Bunting, were read:

Ordered, That they be dismissed.

A petition, from John Rodgers; and one, from Bersheba Parsons, were read: Ordered, To lie on the table, and that the petitioners have leave to withdraw them.

A petition, from John Cox, was read:

Ordered, To lie on the table.

A memorial from count Pulaski, was read:

Ordered, That it be referred to the committee on foreign applications. A memorial from Lewis John Baptist Chamberon de Dantignac; a petition, from Margaret Crohon; one, from Thomas Hill; one from Shewbert Armitage; and one, from Mary Quick, were read:

Ordered, That they be referred to the board of war.

A memorial from lieutenant Jean Baptist Moargues; and one, from baron Holtzendorf; also a petition from Elizabeth Parsons; and one, from captain Buisben, were read:

Ordered, That they be referred to the board of treasury.

A memorial from Leonard Prime and others, officers of the fleet on LakeChamplain, was read:

Ordered, That it be referred to the marine committee.

A petition from Levi Hollingsworth and Nicholas Rusk, was read: Ordered, That it be referred to the delegates of Pennsylvania and Maryland.

A letter, of this day, from general Washington, at Chester, enclosing a copy of a letter of the 20th, from general Schuyler, at Albany, with a return of the northern army; also a copy of one of the 19th, from general Lincoln to general Schuyler, with a copy of general Burgoyne's instructions to lieutenant-colonel Baum, were read:

Ordered, That the instructions of general Burgoyne to lieutenant-colonel Baum, be referred to the committee of intelligence.

Congress resumed the report on the mode of conducting the enquiry into the causes of the evacuation of Ticonderoga and Fort-Independence, and into the conduct of the general officers in the northern department at the time of the evacuation, and the question being put to agree to the first paragraph,

Resolved in the affirmative.

The yeas and nays being required by the state of New-Hampshire, are as follows:

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

TUESDAY, August 26, 1777.

A letter, of the 25th, from general Washington, at Wilmington, enclosing a copy of a letter from H. Hollingsworth; a letter, of the 24th, from colonel Hollingsworth; one, of the 13th, from lieutenant-colonel Carrington, at Yorktown, Virginia; and an application from Mons. du Coudray, were read. Ordered, That so much of Monsieur du Coudray's application as relates to money, be referred to the board of treasury, and the remainder to the board

of war:

That the copy of the letter from colonel Hollingsworth be referred to the committee of intelligence.

The delegates of Georgia laid before Congress a letter from Ebenezer S. Platt, dated Newgate, in London, 16th of May, 1777, and directed to Seth Cuthbert, merchant in Georgia, representing that he had been apprehended and imprisoned on account of having acted under the authority of Congress, and requesting to be supplied with a sum of money, and that he may be demanded in exchange; Whereupon,

Resolved, That the American commissioners at the court of France be directed to supply the said Ebenezer S. Platt with a sum not exceeding one hundred pounds sterling; and that they demand his person in exchange for some person in our power:

Resolved, That the sum so to be advanced be charged to the state of Georgia.

A memorial from col. A. Spotswood, of the 2d Virginia regiment, with sundry papers therein referred to, was laid before Congress and read: Ordered, That the same be referred to the board of war.

A motion was made to order the 1st and 3d battalions of New-Jersey troops, to be stationed in New-Jersey, until the further order of Congress, and to take such posts as will be most effectual for securing the parts of NewJersey, lying to the northward of Amboy, from the frequent excursions of the enemy from Staten-Island; and that gen. Washington be informed of the said battalions being detained for the above purpose:

Question put, passed in the negative.

Resolved, That if any member chooses to have the ayes and noes taken upon any question, he shall move for the same previous to the president's taking the sense of the house on such question, and if the motion be seconded, the individual members of each state shall be called upon to answer ay or no to the question, which answer shall be entered on the journal, and the question be determined by the majority of states, as the majority of votes in each shall make appear.

Resolved, That it be recommended to his excellency the president and the honorable the executive council of the state of Pennsylvania, to lend the commander in chief two brass twelve pounders belonging to the said state. Resolved, That the supreme executive council of Pennsylvania be request