the clothier-general charges the regiment with the articles delivered and takes the receipt of the colonel or commanding officer, and that the colonel, or commanding officer, on delivering the clothing to the captains or commanding officers of each respective company, takes his receipt; every commanding officer of a company ought, moreover, strictly to be required to keep a clothing account with his company, distinguishing the several articles delivered to each non-commissioned officer and private, and taking receipts for the same as his vouchers; and when each non-commissioned officer and private respectively shall have received his bounty of clothing, the commanding officer of the company to which he belongs shall deliver the account and receipts to the commanding officer of the regiment, to enable him to settle the clothing account with the clothier-general, as well as to discover whether equal justice has been done to the company:

That such troops as have not been supplied with clothing, ought to be furnished with their full bounty without delay, which the board have earnestly recommended to the attention of the clothier-general, and he, on his part, has engaged to exert every means in his power to accomplish:

That such of the troops as, at their own expense, shall have provided themselves with any of the articles of clothing allowed as a bounty, or shall not draw their clothing in the course of the year, shall be entitled to receive the full value thereof at the average price which the clothing of the army shall cost the public.

And, whereas, when the bounty of clothing was provided by Congress, it was conceived, that it might be impracticable to obtain a sufficient quantity of cloth for regimental coats for the troops, and, for that reason, two hunting shirts were substituted; but, in the event, so considerable a supply has been procured, that the clothier-general has been enabled to furnish most of the troops with regimental coats instead of hunting shirts, and experience has shewn that a further alteration of the articles of clothing, allowed as a bounty, may be made to the advantage of the soldiers, and without loss to the public; and, therefore, it is the opinion of the committee, that it be

Resolved, That the clothier-general be directed, as far as he shall have it in his power, to furnish all the non-commissioned officers and privates in the service of the United States, who have not yet received their bounty of clothing, at their election, either with the several articles allowed by Congress, in the resolution of 8th October, 1776, or in lieu thereof, the following articles, viz.

One regimental coat, at 8 60-90ths dollars; one jacket, without sleeves, 2 60-90ths dollars; one pair buckskin and two pair linen or woollen breeches, 8 dollars; one hat or leather cap, 2 60-90ths dollars; two shirts, 8 dollars; one hunting shirt, 4 dollars; two pair overalls, 6 dollars; two pair of stockings, 4 dollars; two pair of shoes, 6 dollars; one blanket, 6 dollars; making in all 56 dollars:

But, as the cost of the articles, last specified, exceeds that of the clothing allowed as a bounty to the troops by 8 30-90ths dollars, so much shall be stopped out of the pay of every non-commissioned officer and private, who shall be supplied in the manner last directed, as will make the amount of clothing he shall receive equal to the value of the bounty of clothing, which, upon an average of the price of the several articles, is estimated at 47 6090ths dollars:

The said report and resolves being read twice, on the question put,
Resolved, That Congress agree to the same.

Resolved, That there be allowed to Michael Hillegas, esq. treasurer of the United States, from the 6th day of August, 1776, when Mr. Clymer resigned the office of joint treasurer, a salary after the rate of 3200 dollars per annum, for discharging the duties of that office.

Congress took into consideration the report of the committee to whom were referred the papers transmitted by the supreme executive council of Pennsylvania; Whereupon,

Ordered, That the papers, as reported by the committee from No. 1 to No. 11, inclusive, be published.

Congress took into consideration the remonstrance from Israel Pemberton, James Pemberton, John Pemberton, Thomas Wharton, Henry Drinker, Thomas Fisher, Samuel Pleasants, and Samuel R. Fisher, who were taken into custody upon the recommendation of Congress, praying to be heard ; Whereupon,

Resolved, That it be recommended to the supreme executive council of the state of Pennsylvania, to hear what the said remonstrants can allege, to remove the suspicions of their being disaffected or dangerous to the United States, and act therein as the said council judge most conducive to the public safety.

The committee on foreign applications, to whom their report, with the amendments, was re-committed, brought in another report, which was read: Ordered, To lie on the table.

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

MONDAY, September 8, 1777.

A letter, of the 7th, from R. H. Harrison, secretary to gen. Washington, at Newport; one, of the 7th, from governor Livingston, of New-Jersey; one, of the 30th August, from gov. Henry, of Virginia; one, of the same date, from col. Morgan, at Fort-Pitt; one, of the 1st September, from gov. Trumbull, at Lebanon ; one, of the 18th August, from the council of Massachusetts-Bay, with sundry papers therein referred to; one, of the 7th, from Mons. du Coudray; one, of the 6th, from the council of Pennsylvania, with a list of the persons arrested in pursuance of a resolution of Congress of the 28th August, were read.

Resolved, That general Putnam be directed to order immediately a detachment of 1500 continental troops, under the command of a brigadier, to hold themselves in readiness to cross the North-river, when ordered by gen. Washington.

Ordered, That a copy of the foregoing resolution, and of gov. Livingston's letter, be forthwith transmitted to gen. Washington.

Ordered, That gov. Trumbull's letter be referred to a committee of five : The members chosen, Mr. J. Adams, Mr. R. H. Lee, Mr. Duer, Mr. Gerry, and Mr. Wilson.

Ordered, That Mons. du Coudray's letter be referred to gen. Washington, and that he be desired to give such directions thereon as he shall think most conducive to the public good.

Ordered, That the letters from the council of Massachusetts-Bay, with the papers accompanying the same, and also the letter from col. Morgan, be referred to the board of war.

A letter from gen. Mifflin was read and referred to the board of treasury. A letter, of this day, from T. Wharton, president of Pennsylvania, was read. Ordered, That it be referred to the board of war.

Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on foreign applications, wherein they set forth,

That, besides a number of officers who are come from Europe and the West-Indies of their own accord, to solicit for rank and employment in the American army, there are others who have proceeded upon the encouragement of conventions made and signed at Paris, by Silas Deane, esq. as agent for the United States of North-America; that Mr. Deane had no authority to

make such conventions, and that Congress, therefore, are not bound to ratify or fulfil them :

Your committee further report, that the baron de Kalb and the viscount de Mauroy, with a number of officers who came with them from France, have offered their service, provided their engagements with Mr. Deane, in respect to rank, are fulfilled; but that the American army having been arranged before the arrival of these gentlemen in America, their expectations cannot be complied with without deranging it, and thereby injuring, at so critical a juncture, the American cause; that the zeal, however, of these gentlemen, and their consequent expenses, merit the attention of Congress; wherefore, your committee report the following resolve:

Resolved, That the thanks of Congress be given to the baron de Kalb and the viscount de Mauroy, with the officers who accompany them, for their zeal in passing over to America to offer their service to these United States, and that their expenses to this continent, and on their return to France, be paid. Resolved, That Congress agree to the said report and resolve.

Ordered, That the baron de Kalb and the viscount de Mauroy be furnished with a copy of the foregoing report and resolution, attested by the secretary; also, that any of the officers accompanying them, who may desire it, be furnished with such a copy.

Whereas William Imlay, a prisoner of the United States upon suspicion of disaffection, has offered to take an oath of allegiance to the state of NewYork, of which he is a citizen; therefore,

Resolved, That it be recommended to the supreme executive council of the state of Pennsylvania, to discharge the said William Imlay on his parole of honor, that he will forthwith repair to Kingston, in the state of NewYork, and take the oath of allegiance to the said state.

Congress took into consideration the letter of the 6th from the council of Pennsylvania, wherein they inform, " that at the time the resolves of Congress of the 6th came to them, the council were disposing of every thing for the departure of the gentlemen confined in the Mason's Lodge; that the hearing of some may be censured as a partial proceeding, and therefore they wish the same indulgence may be granted to all: That as this may be tedious, and, in the midst of the present load of important business before council, of which that of embodying the militia is not the least part, they have not leisure to undertake it; that, as much injury will ensue to their commonwealth if council, at present, yield any further attention to this matter, they therefore earnestly request that Congress may hear and dispose of the gentlemen prisoners in the Mason's Lodge, and also of those who are on promise or parole, in such manner as to their wisdom shall seem best, and that, for this purpose, a list of the prisoners is herewith sent;" Whereupon, Resolved, That it would be improper for Congress to enter into any hearing of the remonstrants or the other prisoners in the Lodge, they being inhabitants of Pennsylvania; and, therefore, as the council decline giving them a hearing for the reasons assigned in their letter to Congress, that it be recommended to the said council to order the immediate departure of such of the said prisoners as yet refuse to swear or affirm allegiance to the state of Pennsylvania, to Staunton, in Virginia.

An appeal from the judgment of a court of admiralty for the state of Pennsylvania, on the libel" Andrew Caldwell against Wingate Newman," was lodged with the secretary, and referred to the committee for hearing and determining appeals.

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

TUESDAY, September 9, 1777.

A letter, of the 26th of August, from colonel G. Morgan, with two letters

to him from brigadier Hand, ordering him to lay in provisions for 2000 men for 6 months, with an estimate of the expense, was read:

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

The delegate from Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations laid before Congress a resolution passed by the general assembly of that state, which was read, and is as follows:

"IN THE LOWER HOUSE, August 22, 1777.

Resolved, That the delegates appointed, or who may be appointed to represent this state in Congress, be, and they, or either of them, are hereby empowered to represent said state in Congress, until they, or either of them, shall have due notice of their re-election, or until the delegates who may be appointed in their room, shall take their seats in Congress; the act directing the election of the said delegates for one year to the contrary notwithstanding. Voted and past; per order, J. LYNDON, Clerk.

In the Upper House, read the same day and concurred.

By order,

R. J. HOLME, deputy Secretary."

A letter, of the 7th, from general Putnam; and one, of the 2d, from Peter Colt, both directed to W. Buchanan, commissary-general of purchases, were read:

Ordered, That they be referred to a committee of three:

The members chosen, Mr. Duane, Mr. Clark and Mr. Gerry.

Congress took into consideration the resolution reported from the committee of the whole; Whereupon, it was moved, that it be divided, and the sense of Congress taken on it, reduced to distinct propositions: it was then moved,

That the interest which shall arise, after the date of this resolution on loan-office certificates which shall be issued in pursuance of former resolutions of Congress, be anually paid at the respective loan-offices in bills of exchange, on the commissioners of the United States in Paris;

Witherspoon, ay

So it was resolved in the affirmative.

It was then moved, that such interest be paid in bills of exchange, at the rate of six per centum per annum; Whereupon, an amendment was moved, to stike out" six" and insert" five;"

New-Hampshire, Mr. Folsom,

Frost,

Pennsylvania, Mr. Morris,

no

Gerry,

no

Delaware,

Mr. Reed,

ay ay

Lovell,

no

Maryland,
Virginia,

Mr. Chase,

Mr. Harrison,

R. H. Lee,
Jones,

no

N-Carolina,

Clark,

Mr. Harnett,

Mr. Heyward,
Laurens,

So it passed in the negative.

Congress being informed that colonel Forman was at the door, and had a message from general Washington:

Ordered, That he be introduced.

Colonel Forman being introduced, delivered the message and withdrew. Congress having received information from general Washington, that a great part of the enemy's fleet have sailed with intention, as it is apprehended, to come round into the Delaware river; and, whereas, gen. Washington hath requested that a proper look-out be kept up, and intelligence sent him, with as much despatch as possible, of the movements of the said fleet. Ordered, That the executive council of the state of Pennsylvania be informed thereof, and that it be recommended to them to attend to this matter. Ordered, That gen. Washington appoint a proper person at head-quarters to write to the president twice a day, or oftener if necessary, and give information of the position and movements of the armies; and that the board of war appoint proper expresses for conveying the said letters with the utmost expedition.

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

WEDNESDAY, September 10, 1777.

A letter, of the 8th, from gen. Washington, eight miles from Wilmington; one, of the 9th, from Dr. Shippen, director-general of the hospital; also, a return of sundries received from Christiana-Bridge, seized by col. E. Blaine, deputy commissary-general of purchases, for the use of the continental army, were read:

Ordered, That the letter from Dr. Shippen, and the return, be referred to the board of treasury.

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

Ordered, That there be advanced to Anthony Butler, agent to major-gen. Mifflin, quarter-master general, agreeable to his application by letter to Congress, dated 6th instant, 150,000 dollars for the use of his department, and for which he is to be accountable:

That there be advanced to William Buchanan, commissary-general of purchases, 100,000 dollars for the use of his department, and for which he is to be accountable :

To John Mackenzie, a prisoner, 20 dollars, to defray his travelling expenses to Fredericktown, in Maryland, to which place he is ordered to repair by the board of war.

To lieut. de la Colombe, for his pay as lieutenant from 1st December, 1776, to 1st September, 1777, nine months, 243 dollars, for which he is to be accountable:

To col. Dugan, by the hands of his wife, 500 dollars on account of his arrears of pay, and for which he is to be accountable:

To the secret committee 2500 dollars, for which they are to account, and that the same be paid by warrant on the loan-office in the state of RhodeIsland.

Ordered, That the quarter-master general lay his accounts, as soon as may be, before the board of treasury, in order for adjustment, and immediately lay before Congress, a list of all deputies and assistants employed in the quarter-master's department, and how and where employed.

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

That there is due to Dr. John Morgan, late director-general of the American hospitals, the balance of his account-current as adjusted by the commissioners of accounts at Hartford, 12th July last, the sum of 613 40-90 dollars, and the farther sum of 200 dollars which he advanced to Dr. Warren,