ceive, as officers in that regiment, to be included in the pay herein settled for the officers of the commissary-general's department:

That a return be made to the board of war and ordnance, once every month, of all officers employed in the civil branch of ordnance and military stores. All commissaries, deputy commissaries, conductors, and clerks, who shall have the separate charge of any stores, are, on the first day of every month, to make out an exact return of all cannon and military stores, of every spe cies and denomination, one copy whereof they shall transmit to the commissary-general, who is to put them into one general return, as heretofore directed, and one other copy thereof the said commissaries, deputy commissaries, conductors and clerks, are to send to the board of war and ordnance.

All the artillery-artificers that are or may be employed at any armouries, laboratories, founderies, or military magazines, (those employed with the army in the field excepted) shall be under the immediate direction and subject to the orders and command of the commissary-general, or the officer directed by him to take charge of the same.

The quarter-master general, his deputies and assistants, shall give the commissary-general every assistance of teams for the removal of public stores, and in case there be no quarter-master in the department or place from whence the stores are to be removed, the commissary-general shall have power to procure teams in the way and manner that will best promote the public service.

All officers, artificers, and others, in the ordnance and military depart ment shall be governed by the rules and articles of war, in the same manner as other officers in the artillery of the United States.

The commissary-general shall give such forms or returns and instructions to his deputies, assistant commissaries, conductors, &c. as the service and situation of their department shall require; and all officers in this department are to attend to such orders and instructions as they shall receive, from time to time, from the board of war and ordnance or the commissary-general. All regulations incidental to the department, and not enlarging the pow ers and authorities here given, shall be settled and made by the board of war and ordnance.

The board of war and ordnance shall transmit, from time to time, as the service shall render necessary, transcripts of all returns received from the commissary-general of military stores, and also accounts of all ordnance and stores under their care, or belonging to the United States, and the places where the same are deposited, to the commander in chief of the armies of the United States, in order that he may make such requisitions of supplies for the army under his immediate command, or for the separate departments, as he shall think proper, and give such advice and directions as to the disposi tion of them, as circumstances may, from time to time, require.

The commanding officer of artillery, for the time being, in the grand army, with the chief engineer, commissary of artillery, and eldest colonel of artillery in camp, or such of them as are present with the army, shall be a subordinate board of ordnance, under the direction of the commander in chief or the board of war and ordnance, for transacting all business of the ordnance department, necessary to be done in the field, and to have the care of all ordnance and stores at camp; and in case of sudden exigency, the commissary-general of military stores shall be obliged to obey their directions as to any supplies wanted by the army out of the stores not in camp; and the said board shall correspond with, and report their proceedings to, the board of war and ordnance, from whom they are to receive any necessary

assistance.

Resolved, That the pay of col. Benjamin Flower's corps of artillery-artificers shall be, for all those who engage to serve the United States as such,

for three years, or during the war, 20 dollars a month, besides the same bounty, clothing, and every other benefit allowed by Congress to the continental artillery; the officers the same pay as others of equal rank in the continental artillery; and that col. Flower augment the four companies ordered to be raised in January last, add other companies to the said regiment, and, if necessary, increase the pay of officers and men in the same, agreeable to such orders as have been given for that purpose by gen. Washington; and that he be required forthwith to transmit a copy of such orders to Congress.

That if the exigency of the service makes it necessary to employ, at any time or place, more artificers than the commissary may have inlisted or can inlist, then he, his deputies or assistants, may engage them, for the time of such necessity, on the most reasonable terms possible, with the approbation of the board of war and ordnance.

Resolved, That col. Flower receive the pay and rations of a colonel from the 16th of July, 1776, to this 11th day of February, 1778.

Resolved, That a commission of captain in col. Flower's regiment of artillery-artificers be granted to Wollory Meng, dated the 1st of April, 1777 :

That captain-lieutenant Thomas Wylie be promoted to the rank of captain of an additional company to be raised in the said regiment of artillery artificers, his commission to be dated the 1st of February, 1778.

Resolved, That the board of war and ordnance be empowered to make a contract with Mr. Byers, as superintendent of a foundery of brass cannon. Resolved, That capt. Ferdinand de Brahm, who has heretofore acted as an engineer in the state of South-Carolina, be appointed an engineer in the continental establishment, with the rank of major in the armies of the United States.

Resolved, That Nicholas Rogers, esq. aid-de-camp, have a commission of major, to rank from the 12th of May, 1777, in the service of the United States. On motion, Resolved, That a warrant issue on the treasurer for two months' pay, to be advanced to col. Thomas Hartley, for his regiment, now in York-town.

Resolved, That the board of war be directed to take the most proper measures for recruiting colonel Hartley's regiment.

A letter, from Mons. Kermovan, was read:

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

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

THURSDAY, February 12, 1778.

A letter, from Mons. de Roche Fermoy, was read:

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

A letter, of the 9th, from John Purviance, was read, desiring leave, on account of the situation of his family, to resign his office of manager of the United States' lottery.

Resolved, That he have leave to resign.

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

A letter, of the 11th of January, from gov. Caswell of North-Carolina, enclosing sundry resolutions of the general assembly of that state, was read: Ordered, That the letter be referred to the board of treasury.

A letter, of the 10th, from the board of war, was read.

The committee appointed to take into consideration the letter of the Sd, from the supreme executive council of the state of Pennsylvania, to the delegates of the said state, and the proceedings of the board of war upon the resolution of Congress of the 15th of January, for laying up magazines of flour for the use of the army, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon,

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Resolved, That 300,000 dollars be transmitted to the president of the state of Pennsylvania, to enable the commissioners appointed under the law of that state for purchasing provisions for the army, to execute their commission, and that they account to the board of treasury for the expenditure thereof. THREE O'CLOCK, P. M.

The committee on the treasury, to whom was referred a letter from the board of war, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration : Whereupon,

Resolved, That a proper person be appointed to act as secretary of ordnance, and pay-master to the board of war and ordnance:

That his salary shall be 90 dollars a month:

That the said pay-master shall answer all warrants drawn on him by the board of war and ordnance, out of the money which he shall receive by orders of Congress, and shall keep fair accounts of his payments, and make monthly returns thereof to the board of treasury: he shall also transmit returns once a month, or oftener, to the pay-master general, or other proper officer or officers, of all advances made to continental troops, or militia, in actual service, in order that proper stoppages may be made:

That the board of war and ordnance shall, from time to time, make out the proper estimates of money to be advanced for the use of their department, and lay the same before Congress; and all monies granted by Congress, on their application, shall be applied to the purposes set forth in the said estimate. Congress proceeded to the election of a secretary of ordnance, and paymaster to the board of war and ordnance, and, the ballots being taken, Joseph Nourse, esq. was elected.

Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer for 316 dollars, in favor of captain Reuben Lipscomb, for the extra month's pay granted to the army under general Washington, by the resolution of the 29th of December last, and which is due to 40 men of the 7th Virginia regiment now on their way to Virginia, who were regularly discharged on the 2d of February, and mentioned in a list signed by brigadier Woodford, and also to captain Lipscomb, who conducts them; he to give a receipt for the money, and to account for the same.

The letter, of the 9th of January from gen. Washington, being sent for from the board of war, the same was read; and, a motion being made thereon, Ordered, That the letter, with the motion, be referred to a committee of three the members chosen, Mr. Clark, Mr. Dyer, and Mr. Ellery.

Resolved, That the board of war and ordnance be directed to be very cautious in recommending or giving any encouragement to foreign officers who have come of their own accord to seek employment in the army of these United States; that if the board shall find, among such foreigners, any of eminent abilities and merit, who by their knowledge and experience, can, in the opinion of the board, render essential service to these states in such way as the board shall be able to point out, Congress expect the board will recommend them and if any foreigners of rank and eminence in their own country should offer their services, it is also expected that the board will report specially respecting them but, as to all others, the board are directed to thank them for their offers of service, without suffering them to wait, and thereby incur expense by unnecessary attendance.

:

Resolved, That 300,000 dollars ordered to be advanced to the president of Pennsylvania, be paid to the delegates of that state, to be by them transmitted to the said president.

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

FRIDAY, February 13, 1778.

A letter from Jonathan Hudson, at Baltimore, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the board of treasury.

The committee to whom was referred the letter of W. Aylett, esq. deputy commissary-general of purchases in Virginia, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon, Congress came to the following resolution:

Whereas, there is great danger of the armies of the United States being very much distressed, if the exportation of beef and pork from the state of North-Carolina be not immediately prohibited; therefore,

Resolved, That the legislative and executive powers of the state of NorthCarolina be earnestly requested immediately to lay an embargo on all beef and pork, except so much as may be necessary for the vessels use for the voyage, and to take the most effectual measures to prevent the embargo from being evaded.

A letter, of this day, from the board of war, was read:

Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three: the members chosen, Mr. Forbes, Mr. Clark, and Mr. F. L. Lee.

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

Ordered, That the 10,000 dollars ordered to be advanced to the board of war and ordnance, for contingent expenses, on the 26th day of January last, be paid to Joseph Nourse, esq. pay-master of the said board, for the purpose before mentioned; the said Joseph Nourse to be accountable.

The committee appointed to examine into the circumstances of the French officers who have been detained under a promise of having their expenses borne, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

Ordered, That 910 dollars be paid to Mons. de la Balme, in full of all claims and demands against the United States, and that the committee on foreign applications inform Mons. de la Balme that Congress have no farther occasion for his services :

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

Ordered, That 100 dollars be advanced to Charles Cist, to defray his expenses to Baltimore, and to a paper-mill on Gunpowder river, on the public account; he to be accountable.

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

That there is due to Dr. John Witherspoon, for hay for the army, and wood for the hospital at Princeton, as appears by the certificate of Enos Kelsey, acting in the quarter-master's department, 429 30.90 dollars:

To Belcher P. Smith, for his services as clerk in the secretary's office, from the 6th of November to the 5th of February, inclusive, being three months, and for some necessaries purchased for the office, 197 60.90 dollars:

To John Dunlap, for printing sundry resolves of Congress from the 31st of October, 1776, to the 10th of Sept. 1777, a balance of 1174 69.90 dollars: To the Rev. Mr. Lotbinier, as chaplain in col. Livingston's Canadian regiment, from the 11th of January to the 10th February, 1778, inclusive, for his pay, exclusive of rations, 40 dollars:

To the estate of John Hart, deceased, for 71 meals victuals, supplied the York county militia, which ought to be paid to his legal representatives,

7 9.90 dollars:

To Andrew Nabinger, of the town of York, for victualling general Lee's guard in 1776, 44 59.90 dollars:

Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

Ordered, That the letter of the 29th of January from Mr. Aylett be referred to the committee of commerce and to the marine committee.

THREE O'CLOCK, P. M.

The committee on the treasury brought in a report; Whereupon, Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favor of the pay-master of the board of war and ordnance, for 25,000 dollars, to be by him trans

mitted to Benjamin Harrison, esq. deputy pay-master-general in the southern department; for which the said B. Harrison is to be accountable.

Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favor of William Govet, for 1000 dollars, for the purpose of paying expresses and incidental expenses at the treasury office; for which he is to be accountable.

Resolved, That the treasurer be directed to pay to Mr. Joseph Nourse, pay-master to the board of war and ordnance, the warrant for 350,000 dollars, dated the 14th of January last, and drawn by the president of Congress, in favor of the board of war ; 100,000 of which to be transmitted to Ebenezer Hancock, esq. deputy pay-master-general in the eastern depart ment, and 250,000 to his assistant in the state of Rhode-Island; and also another warrant, dated the 2d instant, drawn in favor of the said board, for 100,000 dollars, to be by him transmitted to the said Ebenezer Hancock, who is to be accountable for both sums.

Resolved, That a warrant issue in favor of Charles Thomson, esq. for 3500 dollars in consideration of his faithful services, from the 10th of May, 1776, to the 10th of February 1778, as secretary to the United States. The committee on the state of Georgia brought in a report which was read: Ordered, That the consideration thereof be postponed till to-morrow. Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

SATURDAY, February 14, 1778.

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to revise the rules and orders for regulating the conduct of Congress in transacting business, and report such farther rules and regulations as they may judge proper: the members chosen, Mr. Lovell, Mr. Witherspoon and Mr. McKean.

The committee to whom the letter from the board of war was referred, report," that they have prepared sundry resolutions for forwarding the laying up magazines for the supply of the army, and preventing any interference between the commissioners appointed for that purpose by an act of the general assembly of Pennsylvania and the superintendents appointed by the board of war," and that it" is their desire that these resolutions, if agreed to by Congress, supersede the report of the committee on the letter of the Sd from the executive council of Pennsylvania, and the proceedings of the board of war on the resolution of the 15th of January, except what relates to the grant of 300,000 dollars, to the president of the state of Pennsylvania:" The resolutions being read, were agreed to as follows:

Whereas it is expedient and necessary to lay up magazines of provisions for the support of the army, and, for that purpose, Congress have directed 12,000 barrels of flour to be deposited at or near Lancaster, 8000 barrels at or near Reading, 6000 barrels at or near Bethlehem, 2000 barrels at Downings-town, and 2000 barrels at Pottsgrove; and, whereas, in consequence of the recommendation of Congress, the general assembly of Pennsylvania have, by a law, appointed commissioners in each county within their state, to purchase or seize wheat, flour and other provisions, &c. for the supply of the army, pursuant to such orders as they shall receive from Congress;

Resolved, That the president and executive council of the state of Pennsylvania be desired to issue the money, with which they have been or shall be furnished by Congress, to the said commissioners, in such proportions as they shall think fit; that they instruct the commissioners on the east side of Susquehanna, without delay, in the execution of the trust reposed in them; and that they instruct them to which of the above-mentioned places they shall convey the flour and other provisions which they shall purchase or seize, in order to form the magazines aforesaid:

That the said executive council be authorized and requested to appoint a suitable person at each of the above places, with such a salary as they shall