proportion of the clothing on hand, and full supplies as soon as may be, ordering the said assistants to give receipts for the same; that he be careful to direct the several assistants to give to each non-commissioned officer and soldier the clothing due to him by the articles of inlistment, and take receipts; and that they supply the army with such other clothing as shall be necessary at the average cost and charges thereof; that he furnish each assistant with the names of the non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the divisions or corps to which he may be assigned, who have received the bounty of clothing, or any part thereof, and also with the account of each officer and soldier in such division or corps, who is indebted to the United States for articles of clothing; that he direct each assistant, on the first day of every month, to render to the respective regimental pay-masters in the divisions or corps to which he is assigned, particular accounts of all the clothing for which the officers and men are respectively indebted ; and the several regimental pay-masters are hereby directed to make the proper stoppages from the pay-rolls, for discharging the said accounts, and to deliver the money to the assistant clothiers respectively, taking their receipts, and delivering them to the pay-master or deputy pay-master general, to be filed in his office until required by the commissioners of accounts or other proper authority; that the several assistants deliver the money so received to the clothier-general, and account with him for all the clothing which they may receive as aforesaid.

Resolved, That the farther consideration of the report be postponed.

Resolved, That gen. Washington be directed, if the service will permit, to order a skilful engineer, and an experienced artillerist, to repair immediately to the city of Annapolis, in the state of Maryland, there to obey the directions of the governor and council of that state.

Ordered, That Mons. P. F. de Bois repair immediately to the northern department.

Congress adjourned to five o'clock.

FIVE O'CLOCK, P. M.

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

That there is due to Abraham Terrill and Charles Tooker, for the damages they sustained, in a small schooner belonging to them, in her sails, rigging and hull, the said schooner being employed by general Mercer, in an intended attack on Staten-Island, July, 1776, in which she was sunk, and suffered the said damages, agreeable to appraisement and certificates, 134 60-90 dollars, to be paid to Abraham Clark, esq.

To Belcher P. Smith, for three months services to gen. Maxwell last winter in Jersey, in capacity of his clerk, and for other services, 150 dollars: To Robert Jewell, his account of diet for prisoners from 22d July to 29th instant, inclusive, 371 52-90 dollars:

To Allen Cameron, a balance of his allowance as a prisoner, from 24th December, 1776, to 25th July last, 54 77-90 dollars:

To ensign Enoch Welsh, his expenses conducting British prisoners to their lines and on his return to this city, being six days, for himself and horse, 17 12-90 dollars:

Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

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

Resolved, That the pay of the deputy pay-master general of the northern, eastern and southern departments, be augmented to 80 dollars per month: That the assistants to the pay-master general and deputy pay-masters general, whom they are respectively authorized to appoint, where such officers

shall be necessary, shall receive, for the time of their actual service, 50 dollars a month:

That the pay-master general and deputy pay-masters general shall be obliged respectively to take bond of their respective assistants appointed by them, for the faithful performance of their trust, in such penalties as the commander in chief, or commanding officer of the department, shall direct. Resolved, That there be advanced to col. Flowers, commissary-general of military stores, 50,000 dollars, for the use of his department, for which he is to be accountable.

The committee to whom the letter from general Sullivan, with the papers enclosed, was referred, report,

"That the several testimonies which have been published since the commencement of the present contest betwixt Great Britain and America, and the uniform tenor of the conduct, and conversation of a number of persons of considerable wealth, who profess themselves to belong to the society of people commonly called Quakers, render it certain and notorious, that those persons are, with much rancor and bitterness, disaffected to the American cause that, as these persons will have it in their power, so there is no doubt it will be their inclination, to communicate intelligence to the enemy, and, in various other ways, to injure the councils and arms of America:

That when the enemy, in the month of December, 1776, were bending their progress towards the city of Philadelphia, a certain seditious publication, addressed "To our friends and brethren in religious profession in these and the adjacent provinces," signed "John Pemberton, in and on behalf of the meeting of sufferings held at Philadelphia for Pennsylvania and New-Jersey, the 26th of the 12th month, 1776," was published, and, as your committee is credibly informed, circulated amongst many members of the society called Quakers, throughout the different states:

That, as the seditious paper aforesaid originated in the city of Philadelphia, and as the persons whose names are under mentioned, have uniformly manifested a disposition highly inimical to the cause of America, therefore, Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to the supreme executive council of the state of Pennsylvania, forthwith to apprehend and secure the persons of Joshua Fisher, Abel James, James Pemberton, Henry Drinker, İsrael Pemberton, John Pemberton, John James, Samuel Pleasants, Thomas Wharton, sen. Thomas Fisher, son of Joshua, and Samuel Fisher, son of Joshua, together with all such papers in their possession as may be of a political nature.

And, whereas, there is strong reason to apprehend that these persons maintain a correspondence and connexion highly prejudicial to the public safety, not only in this state but in the several states of America,

Resolved, That it be recommended to the executive powers of the respective states, forthwith to apprehend and secure all persons, as well among the people called Quakers as others, who have, in their general conduct and conversation, evidenced a disposition inimical to the cause of America; and that the persons so seized, be confined in such places, and treated in such manner, as shall be consistent with their respective characters and security of their persons:

That the records and papers of the meetings of sufferings in the respective states be forthwith secured and carefully examined, and that such parts of them as may be of a political nature, be forthwith transmitted to Congress:" The said report being read, and the several paragraphs considered and debated, and the question put severally thereon, the same was agreed to. Ordered, That the board of war remove, under guard, to a place of security out of the state of Pennsylvania, the hon. John Penn, esq. and Benjamin Chew, esq. and that they give orders for having them safely secured, and entertained agreeable to their rank and station in life.

A letter, of the 28th, from gen. Washington, at Wilmington, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the board of war.

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

FRIDAY, August 29, 1777.

A letter, of the 27th, from gen. Washington, at Wilmington, was read. A motion being made respecting the militia,

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

Resolved, That governor Livingston be requested to lend Congress such number of arms as can be procured in the state of New-Jersey, or if arms can be purchased in that state, that he will appoint proper persons to collect and for them at continental expense.

pay

Congress was-resolved into a committee of the whole, to consider the report of the committee on ways and means, &c. and, after some time, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. Harrison reported that the committee have considered farther the report to them referred, but, not having come to a conclusion, desire leave to sit again.

Resolved, That to-morrow Congress will resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to consider farther the report of the committee on ways and means, &c.

Resolved, That each assistant-clothier be allowed 50 dollars a month, and the rations of a captain.

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

Ordered, That there be advanced to lieutenant-colonel chevalier de Frauval 540 dollars, for nine months' pay commencing 1st December last, ending 1st September next.

That there be advanced to James Mease, esq. clothier-general, 20,000 dollars, to be remitted by him to Georgia, for clothing the continental troops in that state; which sum is part of the money directed to be sent to that state, for the use of the said troops.

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

SATURDAY, August 30, 1777.

A letter, of the 29th, from general Washington, at Wilmington, was read. A memorial from captain Wendal Owry was presented to Congress: Ordered, That it be referred to the board of treasury.

According to the order of the day, Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, and, after some time, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. Harrison reported, that the committee have had under their farther consideration the matter referred to them, and have made some progress therein, but, not having come to a conclusion, desire leave to sit again.

Resolved, That on Monday next Congress will resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to consider farther the report of the treasury, on the ways and means of raising supplies, &c.

The board of war report, "that there are in Philadelphia between 2 and S000 arms which might, in a short time, be repaired, if workmen could be procured to perform the service, but, as great numbers of the artificers are in the militia, few of those arms will be speedily repaired, unless the workmen are permitted to leave the field, and work on the arms;" Whereupon,

Resolved, That general Washington be directed to detach from the militia, as soon as possible, such a number of workmen as he shall think necessary to repair, with despatch, the arms now in the city of Philadelphia, as there is no other mode of supplying the demands of the militia of Pennsylvania,

Delaware and Maryland states, great numbers of whom are now in the field without arms.

Ordered, That the petition of John Young, "for leave to depart from the continent," be rejected.

A motion was made to advance a sum of money to the delegates of Georgia : Ordered, That it be referred to the board of treasury.

The medical committee brought in a report which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

Resolved, That the several issuing commissaries be directed to furnish the director-general, or any of the deputy directors, or their assistants, with such provisions as any of them shall, from time to time, demand by an order in writing, for the use of any temporary hospital which shall be established, which order, with the receipt of the steward endorsed thereon, shall be a sufficient voucher for such issuing commissary, who is also required to keep such vouchers separate, and make a separate entry of the same in his books, charging the director who ordered the same therewith.

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

MONDAY, September 1, 1777.

A letter, of the 30th of August, from general Washington, at Wilming ton; one of the 25th of the same month, from general Gates, enclosing a letter of the 23d from general Arnold, at Mohawk river, ten miles above FortDayton; and one, of the 22d, from colonel Gansevoort, at Fort-Schuyler; another letter, of the 28th of August, from general Gates, enclosing one of the 24th from general Arnold, giving an account that the enemy have retreated from Fort-Schuyler with the greatest precipitation, leaving their tents standing, their provisions, ammunition, &c. were read.

Another letter, of the 28th of August, from general Gates, with a paper enclosed, respecting the clothing granted to soldiers; one, of this date, from general Arthur St. Clair; one, of the 27th of August, from Jonathan Hudson, at Baltimore; one, of the 28th, from R. White, deputy-commissary general of issues, respecting the rations claimed by the soldiers; and one, of the 31st, from general Sullivan, giving an account of his expedition on StatenIsland, were read:

Ordered, That the letters from the northern department, and that from general Sullivan, be referred to the committee of intelligence:

That the letter of the 28th of August from gen. Gates, with the papers enclosed, respecting clothing, be referred to the board of treasury.

Ordered, That a copy of brigadier de Roche Fermoy's letter of the 25th of July, be delivered to general St. Clair.

That the letter from Jonathan Hudson be referred to the board of treasury, and that from R. White to the board of war.

Resolved, That general Washington be directed to appoint a court of enquiry on the late expedition by general Sullivan against the British forces on Staten-Island.

Ordered, That 10,000 dollars be advanced to the marine committee for public service at Baltimore, the said committee to be accountable.

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to devise a plan of supplying the army with necessaries on the most reasonable terms, and that they sit on this business, and report as soon as possible:

'The members chosen, Mr. Morris, Mr. Chase, and Mr. Duer.

Resolved, That three commissioners be appointed immediately to consider of the practicability of burning the enemy's fleet in Chesapeake-Bay; that they consult with general Washington on this subject, and, if it appears likely to be effected, that they proceed with all diligence to the execu

tion thereof; that they be authorized to purchase, on the most reasonable terms they can, or employ any vessels that may be convenient for the purpose of fire ships, and that they have power to make use of any of the continental merchant-ships or vessels that may be near the place for the same service; and that they have authority to pursue all such measures as may be effectual to the right execution of this important business; and, in case it shall be judged proper to undertake the project, that the same rewards be given to those employed in the execution, as are offered for the same purpose in Delaware river and at Rhode-Island.

Ordered, That the appointment of commissioners be postponed till to

morrow.

The committee on the treasury brought in a report: Whereupon,

Ordered, That the president issue a warrant to the treasurer to transmit to John Gibson, esq. auditor-general, 884,000 dollars, for which the said auditor-general is to be accountable:

That there be advanced to Matthew Irwin, agent to Joseph Trumbull, esq. late commissary-general, 50,000 dollars, which Mr. Trumbull represents to be necessary to discharge contracts he is engaged in for provisions, and for which he is to be accountable.

Whereas two bills have been presented to the delegates of Georgia, drawn on them by the governor of the state of Georgia, and both dated the 12th day of July last; by one of which the said delegates are requested to pay to Thomas Scott, esq. or order, the sum of 14,000 dollars, for the purpose of recruiting men for the third battalion of the continental troops in that state; and by the other to pay capt. Clement Nash, or order, 5000 dollars for the same purpose; and the said delegates having applied to Congress to advance the said money on account of the said state, to enable them to discharge the said bills:

Ordered, That the amount of the said two bills, being 19,000 dollars, be accordingly advanced to the delegates of Georgia, for which that state is to be accountable, and that the same be considered, and charged as part of the money agreed to be transmitted to Georgia, for the use of the continental troops in that state.

Ordered, That there be advanced to capt. D'Antignac 120 dollars, for three months' pay, for which he is to be accountable.

According to the order of the day, Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, and after some time, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. Harrison reported, that the committee have had under their further consideration the matters referred to them, but not having come to a conclusion, desire leave to sit again.

Resolved, That to-morrow Congress will resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to consider farther the report of the treasury, on the ways and means of raising supplies.

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

TUESDAY, September 2, 1777.

Two letters, of the 1st, from general Washington, at Wilmington, one of them enclosing a declaration of gen. Howe of the 27th of August, also intelligence from capt. Hopkins, and a deposition of Francis Alexander, relative to brutal behaviour of some of the enemy; also a letter of the 26th August, from Pierre Van Cortlandt, president of the council of safety of New-York, with sundry papers enclosed; one, of the 27th of the same month, from gen. Putnam, with the proceedings of courts-martial, on Amos Rose, and Lemuel Ackerly; and a letter from J. Hudson, at Baltimore, were read :

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