Ordered, That the letter from J. Hudson be referred to the board of treasury. Resolved, That the president write to gen. Putnam, and inform him, that, in consequence of his recommendation, Congress agree to his pardoning Amos Rose and Lemuel Ackerly, who are sentenced to death by the judgment of a court-martial. Resolved, That the allowance of a major-general in a separate department be extended and allowed to major-general Putnam from the time he took the command of the forces at Peeks-Kill, to be continued to him so long as he remains in that command. Ordered, That the letters from general Washington, with the papers enclosed, be referred to the committee of intelligence. A memorial from James Viellon and John Tennet, was read: A petition from capt. John Brisben, was read, praying for leave, on account of his domestic affairs, to resign his commission : Ordered, That he have leave to resign. A petition from Pierre Burns, William Douglass, and others, was read: Ordered, That it be referred to the board of treasury: A petition from Belcher P. Smith, was read, praying for an augmentation of his salary as clerk in the secretary's office: Ordered, That it be referred to the board of treasury. The committee on the treasury reported, that there should be advanced to Mons. du Coudray, for himself, and the following gentlemen, who came with him to America, Mons. du Coudray to be accountable, viz. for Mons. du Coudray, 1000 dollars; for captain le Brun, Augustin le Brun, Vareigne, Tousard, de Goy, Picard, Loyaute, and Parrison, each 250 dollars; Mons. Noel, surgeon-major, 300 dollars; lieutenants Parrissy, Coyeti, Matigny, Bouchard, le Blanc, Nivan, Fonfrede, Pomereul, Mattris, Begard, each 200 dollars; ten serjeants, each 50 dollars; making in the whole, 5800 dollars : Ordered, That the said sums be paid. A motion being made for employing the gentlemen who came with Mons. du Coudray: Ordered, That it be referred to the board of war. The committee on the treasury brought in a report: Whereupon, Ordered, That there be paid to James Millegan, or his order, 1236 dollars, in discharge of a bill drawn by Jon. Trumbull, jun. deputy pay-master general in the northern department, 5th August last, in favor of John Carter, or order, for that sum, it being for so much received of him by the said deputy pay-master general, for the public service of the United States, for which the said deputy pay-master general is to be accountable. In consequence of an adjustment by the commissioners of claims, the auditor-general reports, that there is due, To Thomas M'Intire, an ensign in capt. Lennox's company of the 3d Pennsylvania battalion, a balance of pay and rations due to him from the 1st of September, 1776, to the 7th of August, 1777, when he arrived from Long-Island, 198 dollars, of which he received from James Hunter, paymaster to the 4th Pennsylvania battalion, 72 dollars, the balance is 126 dollars, and for rations due to him from the 1st of October, to the 16th of November, 1776, being 46 days, at 8d per ration, is 8 16-90 dollars, both sums making 134 16-90 dollars: To Allan M'Donald, Alexander, Allan, jun. Renald and Archibald M'Donald prisoners at Reading, and their three servants, 12 weeks' allowance from the 4th of June to the 27th of August, at 28s each for themselves, and 7s 6 for their servants, 260 dollars: To Willing, Morris & Co. for 10,000 quills for the use of the treasury, war and secretary's office, 266 60-90 dollars : To Robert Anderson, a private, for his half pay from the 22d of May, the time he was discharged by general Maxwell's certificate, to the 22d of July, the time he inlisted in colonel Nicola's corps of invalids, 6 60-90 dollars: Ordered, That the said accounts be paid. Ordered, That report be made from the committee of the whole of the resolution they have come to on the report referred to them: The resolution being read, Ordered, That it be re-committed. Resolved, That general Washington be empowered to dispose of colonel Richardson's battalion in such way as he shall think proper, and that he send orders to colonel Richardson accordingly. Congress was then resolved into a committee of the whole, and, after some time, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. Harrison reported, that the committee have considered farther the matters referred to them, and have made some progress therein, but, not having come to a conclusion, desire leave to sit again. Resolved, That to-morrow Congress be resolved into a committee of the whole, to consider farther the report of the board of treasury on the ways and means of raising supplies. In consequence of a report from the committee of intelligence, Ordered, That general Sullivan's letter be published. A motion was made to apply to the supreme executive council of Pennsylvania for a quantity of copper: Ordered, Tolie on the table. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, WEDNESDAY, September 3, 1777. A letter, of the 2d, from G. Bryan, esq. vice-president of the supreme executive council of Pennsylvania, was read, informing that, "in consequence of the recommendation of Congress, and their own persuasion of the propriety and necessity of the measure, the council have taken up several persons inimically disposed towards the American states; that few of the Quakers, among these, are willing to make any promise of any kind; and desiring the advice of Congress, particularly whether Augusta and Winchester, in Virginia, would not be suitable places in which to secure these persons;" Whereupon, Resolved, That Congress approve of the Quaker prisoners being sent to Virginia, and, in the opinion of Congress, that Staunton, in the county of Augusta, is the most proper place in the state of Virginia for their residence and security; and with regard to the other prisoners mentioned in their letter, Congress leave it to the supreme executive council to do with them as they in their wisdom shall think best. The supreme executive council having sent to Congress, by one of the delegates of their state, sundry original letters and papers found in the possession of some of the Quakers taken into custody, the same were read: Ordered, That they be referred to the committee to whom general Sullivan's letter of the 25th of August was referred. Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to the several states, to take effectual measures for importing or otherwise procuring, during the ensuing winter, such supply of arms, tents and other military stores, blankets, clothing, medicines, and other necessary articles for their respective militia, as may be wanted for the next campaign, and that they report to Congress the species and quality of military stores manufactured in their respective states: That the board of war be directed forthwith to lay before Congress a list of the military stores now in the magazines, and an estimate of such articles of foreign manufactures or produce as may be wanted for the next campaign. Ordered, That the board of war take into consideration the merits of brigadiers Stark and Harkemer, and of colonel Gansevoort and lieutenantcolonel Willet, and report to Congress what testimonies of public gratitude should be shewn to those officers for their late signal exertions in the defence of their country. Congress was resolved into a committee of the whole, and, after some time, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. Harrison reported, that the committee have considered farther the matters referred to them, and have come to a resolution, which he was ordered to deliver when Congress would receive it: Ordered, That it be now received. The resolution being received, was read and ordered to lie for farther consideration. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, THURSDAY, September 4, 1777. A letter, of the 3d, from gen. Washington, at Wilmington, giving an account of a skirmish at Ironhill, and one, of the 31st of August, from J. Hudson, were read : Ordered, That the general's letter be referred to the committee of intelligence. A memorial from capt. Jacob Bower, and one from Charles Seitzan, adjutant in major Ottendorf's corps, were read, desiring leave to resign their commissions: Ordered, That the said officers apply to gen. Washington. A memorial from E. Blaine was presented to Congress : The committee on the treasury brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon, Resolved, That the pay of Belcher P. Smith, clerk in the secretary's office, be augmented to 55 dollars a month. Ordered, That there be advanced to colonel Lewis Nicola, of the invalid regiment, 658 4-90 dollars, for the pay of that corps for two months, from the 20th of June to the 19th of August, for which he is to be accountable. Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to consider under what regulations and restrictions regimental officers shall, for the future, receive their rations: The members chosen, Mr. R. H. Lee, Mr. Gerry, and Mr. Folsom. The board of war report, that they have taken into consideration the dispute with regard to the relative rank of the colonels Cortlandt, Gansevoort, Dubois, and Livingston, commanding four of the New-York regiments, and find that a committee of the convention of that state, being properly authorized for that purpose, did appoint the officers above mentioned to their respective regiments, in the following order, viz. colonel Cortlandt 2d, col. Gansevoort Sd, col. Dubois 4th, and col. Livingston 5th. As this arrangement must be presumed to have been founded on principles of justice and public utility, the board are of opinion that it would be highly inexpedient to make any alteration in the relative rank of these officers: Resolved, That Congress agree with the board in their report. A memorial from George Emerson was read: Ordered, That it be referred to the board of treasury. A letter from count Pulaski was read. Congress took into consideration the report from the board of war, of the S0th of August. The question put, to appoint a commander of the horse, passed in the negative. In consequence of an adjustment by the commissioners, the auditor-general reports, that there is due, To Isaac Snowden, for Alexander Brown's account of 124 meals supplied the militia, and for Robert Patterson's account of boarding two sick soldiers of col. Weeden's battalion, 52 76-90 dollars: Ordered, That the said accounts be paid. Ordered, That the board of war make such dispositions as they shall judge prudent and necessary for removing, at the shortest notice, to a place of security, all the military stores belonging to the continent, in case the exigency of affairs should render it necessary. Resolved, That it be recommended to the executive council of Pennsylvania, to give orders that all the militia of their state hold themselves in readiness to march at a moment's warning, and that their arms be put in as good condition as possible; that it be farther recommended to the said executive council, to call out 5,000 militia from the city and county of Philadelphia, and the counties most adjacent : That it be earnestly recommended to the militia to appear with what arms they have or can procure, and otherwise equipped in the best manner they may be able, and that they rendezvous on the heights of Derby, or at such other place as the commander in chief shall direct. Resolved, That it be recommended to the governor of New-Jersey forthwith to order out 3000 militia of that state for the purpose of reinforcing the army under gen. Washington, the said militia to rendezvous at Bristol, with as much despatch as possible. On motion, by the delegates of North-Carolina, that the president order payment of the bills drawn by the treasurer of North-Carolina, agreeably to the resolve of the 14th of March last, without applying to Congress. Ordered, That the said bills be referred to the board of treasury. Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow. FRIDAY, September 5, 1777. A letter, of the 4th, from gov. Livingston, at Haddonfield, and a letter from col. Mason to col. Harrison, were read: Ordered, That the letter from col. Mason be referred to the board of war. Ordered, That the petition and account of colonel Dugan, on which the board of treasury reported on the 11th of February, be re-committed to the said board. The committee on foreign applications brought in a report, which was read, and, after sundry amendments made, and part agreed to, Resolved, That it be re-committed. A letter, of this day, from Thomas Wharton, president of Pennsylvania, was read, informing that the persons detained in the Mason's Lodge, have had notice of their going to-morrow to Augusta, and desiring an answer, whether the removal of those persons may not be relaxed as to such as would yet swear or affirm allegiance to this state? also enclosing a remonstrance to the council of Pennsylvania, from twenty persons in the Lodge; Whereupon, Resolved, That the supreme executive council be informed, that Congress have no objection to the enlargement of such persons now confined in the Lodge as will swear or affirm allegiance to this state. A remonstrance from Israel Pemberton, James Pemberton, John Pemberton, Thomas Wharton, Henry Drinker, Thomas Fisher, Samuel Pleasants, and Samuel R. Fisher, was read: Ordered, To lie on the table. The committee to whom the papers sent to Congress by the supreme executive council of Pennsylvania were referred, brought in a report, which was read: Ordered, That the consideration thereof be postponed. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, SATURDAY, September 6, 1777. A letter, of the 5th, from general Washington, at Wilmington, and one of the same date from Thomas Wharton, jun. president of Pennsylvania, were read. The committee on the treasury brought in a report; Whereupon, Ordered, That there be paid to David Nesbit, or order, 250 dollars, in discharge of a bill drawn in his favor by John Ashe, esq. public treasurer of the state of North-Carolina, on the continental treasurer, expressed to be for the use of the United States; the farther sum of 500 dollars in discharge of another bill drawn in his favor by the said public treasurer of North-Carolina on the continental treasurer, both the said bills bearing date the 10th of May last; and the further sum of 125 dollars in discharge of another bill, without date, drawn in favor of the said David Nesbit by the said public treasurer of North-Carolina on the continental treasurer; the two last bills being expressed to be for the use of the state of North-Carolina; the whole of the said sums amounting to 875 dollars, for which the said state is to be accountable; these sums being in part of the 500,000 dollars ordered to be advanced to that state. Ordered, That there be paid to James Millegan, esq. or his order, 28 18-90ths dollars being so much disbursed by him at the request of the committee of Congress on Indian affairs, towards making up a present for the Caghnawaga Indians, and an Oneida who paid a visit to Congress last month. Ordered, That a warrant issue on the commissioner of the loan-office in the state of Pennsylvania, in favor of the marine committee, for 7000 dollars, in consequence of their having drawn on the said commissioner two warrants, dated the 12th December last, for the said sum, one in favor of John Hancock, Samuel Adams and Elbridge Gerry for 1000 dollars, and the other in favor of the said Elbridge Gerry for 6000 dollars, which sums were borrowed by the marine committee, and delivered to captain John Brown, of Massachusetts Bay, for the use of the navy; the said marine com-. mittee to be accountable. Ordered, That there be advanced to the marine committee 4000 dollars for the use of that department, and for which they are to be accountable. The committee on the treasury farther report, that they have taken into consideration the letter of 28th August from general Gates, respecting clothing for the army under his command; that it appears from the clothiergeneral's report, that he has ordered considerable supplies of clothing to be forwarded to the army in the northern department from Boston, and that he has little doubt of being able to furnish, in the course of the year, the specific articles of clothing directed to be given, as a bounty to the troops; and as it will be equally disadvantageous to the soldiers and to the service, should they receive money instead of such clothing, the board disapprove of the stoppages made by the deputy pay-master general in the northern department, out of the pay of the troops in that department on account of clothing, and direct the money to be returned, except in cases where a regiment shall have been furnished with more clothing than the bounty; that the greatest care ought to be taken to do justice to the soldiers, as well as the public, in this essential article: it is not sufficient, in the opinion of the board, that |