That if the officer commanding the army of the enemy will acknowledge major-general Lee to be a prisoner of war, and entitled to be treated and exchanged as such, general Washington be authorized to proceed in the exchange of prisoners, either according to the principles and regulations of the cartel already agreed to, or according to such other and farther principles and regulations as shall appear to him most proper and advantageous: That the pay of aids-de-camp be equal to that of other officers of their rank, Congress being informed that a vessel is just arrived with a quantity of arms belonging to the continent, and also with some arms belonging to private persons: Ordered, That the secret committee purchase such of the arms and military stores as belong to private persons. The medical committee, to whom the plan of the general hospital was recommitted, brought in a report, which was read: Ordered, That the consideration thereof be postponed till to-morrow. A letter, of the 14th, from col. F. Johnson, was read; Whereupon, Ordered, That the independent company, commanded by captain J. Nelson, be annexed to the battalion commanded by colonel F. Johnson. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow. TUESDAY, March 25, 1777. A letter, of the 15th, from colonel G. Morgan, at Pittsburg, with sundry papers enclosed, was read; Whereupon, Ordered, That the committee on Indian affairs transmit to the commissioners of Indian affairs in the northern department, the letter addressed to them by colonel Morgan, and signify to them, that Congress approve of the measures mentioned therein. Resolved, That the governor and council of Virginia, be desired to suspend any operations against the gang of Indians, commonly called Pluggy's people, till they shall receive farther advice from Congress. Ordered, That a copy of colonel Morgan's letter of the 15th and of the advices therein contained, be transmitted to the governor and council of Virginia. The committee on the treasury brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon, Congress came to the following resolution: Whereas by a resolve of Congress of the 3d of October, 1776, the commissioners of the loan-office were directed" to transmit to the continental treasurer, once a month, an account of the cash in their respective offices, and to answer all draughts of the treasurer to the amount of the cash which they shall have in their hands as aforesaid;" Resolved, That the several commissioners of the loan-offices, hereafter, make monthly returns to the board of treasury of the cash in their respective offices, and that the same be draughted by warrants from the president only, which, previous to their being paid, shall be entered at the treasury-office, and the entry certified on the warrant by one of the commissioners of the treasury, the auditor-general, or one of his assistants or clerks. A memorial from Lewis Prahl was read: Ordered, That it be referred to the board of war. Ordered, That the opinion of the council of officers on colonel Morgan's commission, enclosed in the colonel's letter of the 15th, be referred to the board of war. Congress proceeded to the election of a deputy-secretary, and, the ballots being taken, Mr. William Churchill Houston was elected. The marine committee laid before Congress a paper, signed by sundry VOL II. 9 officers in the fleet, containing charges and complaints against commodore Esek Hopkins; which was read, and laid upon the table. Resolved, That the board of war be directed to order the new battalions, raised and raising on the west side of the Alleghany mountains, to join the army, under gen. Washington, with all possible expedition. Resolved, That general Gates be directed to repair immediately to Ticonderoga, and take command of the army there. A letter, of the 18th, from the convention of New-York, was read, recommending the appointment of a commandant of the forts in the Highlands; Whereupon. Resolved, That a commandant of the forts in the Highlands be appointed, with the rank of brigadier-general: The ballots being taken, George Clinton, esq. was elected. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, WEDNESDAY, March 26, 1777. A letter, of the 14th, from William Aylett, esq. deputy commissary-general, at Williamsburg, with sundry papers enclosed, and one, of the 8th, from general Schuyler, with sundry papers, were read: Ordered, That they be referred to the board of war. A letter, of the 20th, from the committee of Lancaster to the delegates of the state of Pennsylvania, enclosing sundry papers, was laid before Congress, and read: Ordered, That the same be referred to a committee of three: The members chosen, Mr. Wilson, Mr. J. Adams, and Mr. Sherman. The board of war brought in a report, which was read and considered; Whereupon, Resolved, That the government of the Delaware state, be desired to place such a guard at Lewistown, at continental expense, as they shall think sufficient to protect the persons employed as pilots, and such property of the good subjects of these states as shall be thrown upon their or the adjacent coasts. Ordered, That general Schuyler's general orders of February, 1777, be transmitted to gen. Washington, for his perusal and consideration. Ordered, That 8000 dollars be advanced to colonel Thomas Hartley, for clothing and arming his battalion; he to be accountable. Resolved, That a member be added to the board of war: The member chosen, Mr. G. Clymer. Ordered, That 3000 dollars be advanced to captain Jacob Weaver, for the use of his independent company at Lancaster; he to be accountable. The marine committee, to whom the petition of William Bernard was referred, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon, Resolved, That it is improper for Congress to interpose in the matter therein submitted to them in the present stage thereof. Ordered, That the president acquaint general Washington, that Congress expect the office of adjutant-general to be filled by a speedy appointment of a person of abilities and unsuspected attachment to these United States; and recommend colonel William Lee to his consideration for this purpose. Congress took into consideration the paper containing charges and complaints against commodore Hopkins; Whereupon, Resolved, That Esek Hopkins be immediately, and he is hereby, suspended from his command in the American navy. The committee on the treasury reported, That there should be presented to Sterling Wade Cannon, 4 dollars, to enable him to proceed to Maryland: That there is due to major Harduen Merlet, for his pay and rations as captain from the 1st of September, 1775, to the 20th of January, 1776, 161.48 dollars; for his pay and rations as major, from the 20th of January, 1776, to the 15th of February, 1777, 563.20 dollars; the whole amounting to 724. 68 dollars: To Robert Patton, for cutting nine cords of wood for the use of Congress, 9 dollars. Ordered, That the said accounts be paid. Ordered, That the treasurer send 100,000 dollars to Benjamin Harrison, jun. esq. deputy pay-master general in Williamsburg, in Virginia, for the public service in his department; he to be accountable. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, THURSDAY, March 27, 1777. A letter, of the 23d, from general Washington, was read, wherein he informs Congress, that he has given permission to colonel Palfrey, the paymaster general, to come to Philadelphia to settle his accounts: Ordered, That colonel Palfrey, the pay-master general, be referred for the settlement of his accounts to the commissioners appointed to audit and settle the accounts of the army under the immediate command of general Washington. A letter, of the 23d, from governor Johnson, of Maryland, to the secret committee, was laid before Congress, and read: Ordered, That it be referred to the board of war. Ordered, That Neil M'Arthur, and Alexander M'Kay, two of the NorthCarolina prisoners, who have executed bonds and given approved security for their good behaviour and inoffensive conduct towards the United States, and every of them, be permitted to go to North-Carolina, to solicit the assembly thereof, for permission to remain there in such place, and under such restrictions, as the said assembly shall direct; provided, that the said Neil M'Arthur, and Alexander M'Kay, if refused such permission, shall be under obligation to return to their place of destination in Fredericktown, in Maryland, as soon as may be, or otherwise shall be deemed to have broken their parole. Congress took into consideration the report of the medical committee; and, after debate, Ordered, That it be re-committed. Ordered, That two members be added to the medical committee: The members chosen, Mr. Clark and Mr. Ellery. A petition from Timothy Shalor, of the sloop Lion, was read, praying to be supplied with some rigging and 200 lb. of powder: Ordered, That it be referred to the secret committee, who are directed to supply him with the powder on his paying for the same, and alsowith the other articles if they cannot be purchased at private sale. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, Adjourned to ten o'clock on Saturday. SATURDAY, March 29, 1777. A letter, of the 19th, from general Lee, at New-York; one, of the 26th, from governor Livingston, of New-Jersey, with sundry papers enclosed; and one, of the 16th, from lieutenant-colonel Antil, were read: Ordered, That the letter from governor Livingston, with the papers enclosed, be referred to the committee for enquiring into the conduct of the British army: that the letter from lieutenant-colonel Antil be referred to the board of treasury. Congress took into consideration the letter from gen. Lee; Whereupon, Resolved, That Congress still judge it improper to send any of their members to confer with general Lee upon the subjects mentioned in his letter. Ordered, That 500 dollars be advanced to the board of war for contingent services; the said board to be accountable. The board of war brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon, Ordered, That 20,000 dollars be paid to Mr. Robert Wood, pay-master of col. James Wood's regiment, raised in the state of Virginia, for the use of the said regiment, the colonel to be accountable, he having requested the supply by his letter of the 23d instant. Resolved, That the marine committee be authorized to advance to every able seaman that enters into the continental service, any sum, not exceeding 40 dollars, and to every ordinary seaman or landsman, any sum, not exceeding 20 dollars; to be deducted from their future prize-money. The committee, to whom the letter from the committee of Lancaster, in Pennsylvania, to the delegates of that state, together with the papers therein enclosed, were referred, brought in a report, which was read and considered: Whereupon, Congress came to the following resolution : Whereas Edmund Minyer, adjutant of the regiment commanded by col. Moses Hazen, stands charged by an inquisition, taken before the coroner of the county of Lancaster, in Pennsylvania, with the murder of Jacob Gross, late of the said county, deceased; Resolved, That the said Edmund Minyer be delivered to the civil authority of Pennsylvania, that he may receive his trial according to law. The board of war brought in a report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon, Resolved, That Mr. Aylett, deputy commissary-general in Virginia, be informed, in answer to his letter of the 14th instant, that the quantity of flour required by the commissary-general, must, by all means, be purchased; that Mr. R. Morris consents, on his part, to transfer to Mr. Aylett, for continental use, a quantity of flour, purchased in Virginia by Mr. Morris and Carter Braxton, esq. to whom Mr. Aylett is desired to apply for a release of his part of the concern: if this cannot be obtained, the like quantity, and as much more as will complete the commissary general's requisition, to be forthwith procured by Mr. Aylett wheresoever the same can be bought in the state of Virginia. That Mr. Aylett be also informed, that Congress approve of the prices offered by him for corn, and that he proceed in the purchase of the quantity wanted by Congress or the commissary-general, at as low prices as the same can be obtained. Ordered, That 200,000 dollars be sent to the deputy pay-master general in the southern department. Ordered, That a copy of Mr. Aylett's letter be sent to the commissarygeneral, and that Mr. Aylett be directed to store the grain and provisions, purchased by him on continental account, until called for by order of Congress, or the commissary-general; and when such requisitions shall be made, the mode of transportation must be left to Mr. Aylett's discretion. Resolved, That the pay of the regimental pay-masters in the army of the United States be raised to 40 dollars per month. Ordered, That the case of John Jolly, and John North, of New-Jersey, prisoners, be referred to the delegates of that state. Resolved, That whenever any prisoners shall be taken by the army, or by any detachment of the army of the United States, or by any body of the militia, the commanding officer shall furnish the board of war with lists of such prisoners, together with the cause and manner of their capture and detention. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, MONDAY, March 31, 1777. The proceedings of a general court-martial, held at Philadelphia, the 29th of March, 1777, on James Molesworth, accused of being a spy from the enemy, and for endeavoring to inveigle three pilots into their service, to pilot the ships of war to the attack of this city, were laid before Congress, and read; and, it appearing thereby, that the said James Molesworth is found guilty of the crimes laid to his charge, and sentenced to suffer death, Resolved, That Congress approve the sentence aforesaid, and confirm the orders of major-general Gates for the execution of it. A letter, of the 26th, with two papers enclosed, and one, of the 29th, from general Washington; one, of the 11th, from the convention of New-York, with sundry papers enclosed; and one, of the 30th, from colonel Hartley, were read: Ordered, That the letters from general Washington and colonel Hartley be referred to the board of war; that the letter from the convention of New-York, be referred to the delegates of that state. Ordered, That 1258 dollars be paid to Messrs. Willing and Morris, and charged to the account of Esek Hopkins, the same being in full of a bill dated New-Providence, March 14, 1776, drawn by the said Esek Hopkins, in favor of Alexander Frazer, or order, and by him endorsed to Willing and Morris. A letter from George Chardin Nicholson, and one of the 29th, from the chevalier de Celeron, were read : Ordered, That the said George Chardin Nicholson, and the chevalier de Celeron, be referred to major-general Gates, who is empowered to employ them in such manner as he shall judge most for the interest of the United States. Ordered, That 150 dollars be advanced to the chevalier de Celeron, to be deducted out of his future pay. Resolved, That major-general Gates be empowered and directed to take with him, and employ under him in the northern department, brigadier de Roche Fermoy, and such other of the French officers in the service of the United States as he shall think proper. A letter, of the 20th, from William Sever and Thomas Cushing, at Boston, was read. Congress having received advice that the ship Mercury, of Nantz, is arrived at Portsmouth, in New-Hampshire, with a cargo for the United States, consisting of 11,987 fusees, 1000 barrels of powder, 11,000 gun-flints, 48 bales of woollens, 9 bales of handkerchiefs, thread, cottons, and printed linens, 2 cases of shoes, 1 box of buttons and buckles, 1 box of lawns, and 1 case of needles and silk neckcloths; Ordered, That 5000 of the arms be delivered to the order of the council of Massachusetts-Bay, for the purpose of arming the troops raised in that state for the army of the United States; and that the said council order two receipts to be taken from the several colonels, to whom the arms shall be delivered, and transmit one of the said receipts to the commissary of military stores, and the other to the board of war. Ordered, That 15 tons of the powder be delivered to the order of the council of Massachusetts-Bay, to repay the powder advanced by that state, for the use of the continental army and navy, and that the said council transmit to the board of war, a particular account of the powder advanced by their state for the use of the United States, and the persons by whom delivered. Ordered, That the secret committee deliver the remainder of the powder, |