TUESDAY, January 7, 1777.

A letter, of the 6th, from J. F. C. Lignet, was read, and referred to the medical committee.

A petition from Elizabeth Garvin was read, and referred to the delegates of Maryland.

Resolved, That the delegates of Maryland and Mr. Witherspoon be a committee to consider the case of the prisoners in Baltimore.

Resolved, That two months' pay be advanced to the men on board the Lexington, as a gratuity for their services, in rescuing from the enemy, and bringing in, the Lexington.

The committee of treasury reported, that there should be advanced to Mr. John Doughty, for his expenses in conveying loan-office certificates from Hartford to the several commissioners of the loan-offices in New-England, the sum of 106.60 dollars; he to be accountable:

That there should be advanced to Richard Dorsey and Larkin Dorsey, to purchase horses, and for their expenses as an escort to John Doughty, with loan-office certificates to New-England, the sum of 400 dollars; they to be accountable.

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

WEDNESDAY, January 8, 1777.

A letter, of the 5th, from the committee of Congress in Philadelphia, was

read:

Resolved, That gen. Washington be directed to propose to general Howe, an exchange of lieutenant-colonel Gezeau, a French gentleman taken with general Lee, and said to be then on his journey to solicit a commission from Congress, for an officer of equal rank, or take such other measures as shall be effectual to obtain his release.

The committee of treasury laid before Congress a farther list of persons recommended by the treasurer to sign the bills of credit, who were approved of, and are as follows: William Gibson, John Philpot, Richard Johns, Robert Dorsey, and Mark Alexander.

The committee appointed to take into consideration a letter from William Kennon to general Lee, relative to magazines of provisions laid up by the said William Kennon, in the states of South-Carolina and Georgia, as it is said, by order of general Lee, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

Resolved, That it be recommended to the president of the state of SouthCarolina, and to the president of the state of Georgia, to appoint proper persons to enquire what quantity of provisions have been stored by William Kennon for the public use, agreeable to engagements made with general Lee; and that they take such provisions off Mr. Kennon's hands, allowing him the price thereof, if they judge it reasonable, with an adequate recompense for his trouble and expenses; that they fulfil any engagements he may be under, by having pledged his credit, they receiving the provisions for which such engagements have been made. That the presidents of the said states also appoint commissaries to remove such provisions as are fit for use, to places of safety, and to make returns, as soon as may be, of the quantity and cost thereof: that the presidents of those states also certify to the continental treasury-office, the amount of the said William Kennon's demand against the continent, and that it be paid to the said William Kennon accordingly, or to any other applying in his behalf, properly empowered for that purpose. The committee, to whom the letter of George Morgan was referred, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

Resolved, That, pursuing the idea of Congress for quickly reinforcing the army, the governor of Virginia be desired, by a letter from Mr. President, to order col: Wood's and the West-Augusta battalions to march immediately by the nearest routs to join gen. Washington in New-Jersey; leaving recruiting officers behind to complete the battalions, if they are not already full, and to follow on with their recruits:

That for the defence of the western-frontiers of Virginia against Indian incursions, the forts Pitt and Randolph be each garrisoned at continental expense, with a company of 100 men, commanded by one captain, two lieutenants, one ensign, and the usual inferior non-commissioned officers:

That the governor and council of Virginia appoint and commissionate, with continental commissions, the proper officers to recruit and command said companies, and that the men be inlisted during the war:

That provision for 2000 men, six months, be laid in at Fort-Pitt, to be in readiness, if it should become necessary, to chastise Indian irruptions, by going to their towns:

That 100 bushels of salt be ordered by the secret committee from the continental stock, for the purpose of curing said provisions:

That as many boats and proper vessels be procured, as may be sufficient for conveying 1500 men, with their provisions, from Pittsburg, to Hockhocking; and that they be kept in readiness at Pittsburg:

That the goods mentioned in Mr. Morgan's letter, be purchased, and brought down to this place immediately, except the powder and lead, which may remain at Pittsburg, for public use in that quarter:

That the sum of 4500 dollars be advanced to Mr. Morgan on account, for

the following uses, viz.

For expenses incurred by order of the commissioners,
For contingent expenses of his department until June next,
Various charges and expenses in transporting goods,
For purchasing provisions and casks for packing, &c.

$ 600

600

600

2700

4500

That Mr. Morgan be authorized to draw a bill on the president of Congress, for the amount of the goods already mentioned, which he estimates at 4 or 5000 dollars:

That Mr. Morgan have the rank and pay of a colonel on the continental establishment:

That John Fernee be paid the sum of 50 dollars, for a wagon-horse, stolen from him by the Seneca Indians, as he returned from the late treaty at Pittsburg:

That colonel Morgan appoint a proper person deputy-commissary, for providing and taking care of the provisions for the garrisons upon the western-frontiers of Virginia, and to take care of the provisions and other continental stores, laid up at those places, for Indian expeditions, and other public purposes; and the said commissary is directed to receive the provisions, and fulfil the contracts made by the government of Virginia, for victualling and supporting said western garrisons:

The committee of treasury report, that there is due,

To Peter Galloway, for riding express to Frederick and Annapolis, in Maryland, the sum of 13.30 dollars:

To John Biddle, for furnishing provisions to men, women and children, prisoners, at Reading, $33.80 dollars:

They farther report, that they have examined the accounts of Robert Jewell, for the maintenance of prisoners in the new gaol of Philadelphia, and for the salary of himself and two assistants, &c. amounting, in the whole, to 1783.57 dollars; of which he has received the president's warrant for 500 dollars; and that there remains a balance due to him of 1283.57 dollars:

That there is due to the hon. Roger Sherman, esq. for money advanced by him to Andrew Gillman, to pay the expenses of the Penobscot Indians, who joined general Washington, 48.30 dollars, the said Gillman to be accountable:

That there is due to the hon. Samuel Chace, esq. the sum of 400 dollars, 200 of which sum was advanced by him to capt. Levin Winder, for the expense of conveying the North-Carolina prisoners to Baltimore, and 200 dollars advanced to Mountjoy Baily, for the expense of Jersey prisoners from Philadelphia to Fredericktown; the said Winder and Baily to be accountable. Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

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

THURSDAY, January 9, 1777.

Resolved, That Udny Hay, esq. be appointed a lieutenant-colonel by brevet, and assistant deputy quarter-master general, and stationed at Ticonderoga:

That William Claijon, secretary to general Gates, be appointed interpreter for the northern department, and that there be allowed him, as secretary and interpreter, the pay of 66 dollars per month:

The committee, to whom the petition of the North-Carolina prisoners was referred, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon, Resolved, That a good and convenient house, if possible, be provided for their reception; that they be put upon their parole, and that an oath be administered to them, after the manner used in Scotland; and, at the same time, that a serjeant's guard be kept at the house, to prevent all suspicion of improper intercourse with them:

That capt. John Mackenzie, who was enlarged upon his parole several months ago, and has since resided in Donnegall, in Pennsylvania, be permitted to go home to his family, he giving his oath to do nothing to the prejudice of the American states, or any of them, and finding security in the sum of £.500, to observe this engagement, as also, that he, himself, shall present this resolution to the executive powers of North-Carolina, for their con currence, and be entirely subject to their directions.

Resolved, That 266.60 dollars be advanced to captain Lee for the use of the light-horse under his command, on their march from Virginia to join general Washington; the said captain Lee to account with the pay-master general for the expenditure.

Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the medical committee; Whereupon,

Resolved, That Dr. John Morgan, director-general, and Dr. Samuel Stringer, director of the hospital in the northern department of the army of the United States, be, and they are hereby, dismissed from any farther service in said offices:

That the directors of the military hospitals throughout the army, with the assistance of the hospital and regimental surgeons in each department, make returns to Congress, as soon as possible, of the kind and quantity of medicines, instruments, and hospital-furniture that remain on hand.

A letter, of the 6th, from the committee of Congress at Philadelphia, enclosing one, of the 5th, from general Putnam, at Bristol, and a copy of one, of the 4th, from major A. Hubley at Bordentown, were read, and referred to the committee of intelligence;

One, of the 18th of December, 1776, from the council of MassachusettsBay, was read, and referred to the board of war.

Resolved, That the president be desired to write to the executive powers of the different United States, requesting that they will, as soon as possible,

inform Congress, what success the officers in their respective states have met with, in raising the troops, required by the resolve of the 16th of September last.

The delegates from the state of Massachusetts-Bay, laid before Congress credentials of their appointment, which were read as follows:

"IN COUNCIL, December 10, 1776.

"Whereas John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry, Francis Dana, and James Lovell, esqrs. have been chosen, by joint ballot of the two houses of assembly, to represent the state of Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England, in the American Congress, until the first day of January, 1778:

"Resolved, That they, or any three or more of them, are hereby fully empowered, with the delegates from the other American States, to concert, direct and order such farther measures, as shall to them appear best calculated for the establishment of right and liberty to the American states, upon a basis permanent and secure against the power and art of the British administration; for prosecuting the present war, concluding peace, contracting alliances, establishing commerce, and guarding against any future encroachments and machinations of their enemies, with power to adjourn to such times and places, as shall appear most conducive to the public safety and advantage. And the secretary is hereby directed, as soon as may be, to signify to each of those gentlemen their appointment, with an attested copy of this resolve.

"Sent down for concurrence.

"IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, December 10, 1776.

"Read and concurred,

"JOHN AVERY, Dep. Secretary.”

"SAM. FREEMAN, Speaker pro. tem.

JOHN AVERY, Dep. Secretary."

"Consented to by the major part of the council.

"A true copy,

Resolved, That Mr. Brownson be appointed a member of the marine committee:

That two members be added to the committee for regulating the several boards of business :

The members chosen, Mr. Sherman and Mr. Heyward.

The committee appointed to take into consideration the letter from the committee of Congress at Philadelphia, relative to the means of procuring provisions in the middle and southern states, for the supply of the continental army, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration : Whereupon,

Resolved, That it be most earnestly recommended to the executive powers of Georgia, South-Carolina, North-Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland, immediately to appoint suitable persons, to purchase and collect such quantities of beef and pork as they have or can obtain salt to cure; that each state, shall make use, not only of the salt within its own limits, but shall have recourse to its neighbors, either by bringing salt from them, or sending their live hogs and cattle to be killed and salted there. That the persons employed to execute this business, be directed to make use of the utmost economy, and cautiously avoid bidding upon each other, whereby great injury hath already been done to the public.

That in the opinion of Congress, the executive powers of the several states, above-mentioned, would do well to limit the prices of the said articles, and not suffer persons employed in purchasing, to exceed them; and that the purchasers should be paid a reasonable commission upon the purchases, in order to stimulate them to be active and industrious:

That the provisions be stored in secure magazines, convenient for transportation; and that the several states, whom this resolve is intended particularly to effect, may more effectually co-operate to accomplish this important purpose, it is recommended to the said executive powers, that they confer together by epistolary correspondence, or such other manner as they may think best, in order to pursue some general and beneficial plan, in which they may be mutually useful to each other:

That the president communicate to Joseph Trumbull, esq. commissarygeneral, such part of the committee's letter as relates to Carpenter Wharton: That it be recommended to the secret committee to fall upon some expedient immediately, to supply the state of North-Carolina with salt, for the purpose of carrying the foregoing resolution into effect.

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

FRIDAY, January 10, 1777.

A petition from William Goddard, and one from Elisha Painter, were read and referred to the board of war.

Resolved, That 60,000 dollars be advanced to the state of Maryland for public services, the said state to be accountable.

Resolved, That 300,000 dollars be sent to Ebenezer Hancock, esq. deputy pay-master general in the eastern department, for the purpose of paying the bounties and defraying the expenses of raising the new levies in that department.

Resolved, That 16,666.60 dollars be advanced to the delegates of Georgia, for the use of that state, which is to be accountable.

Resolved, That John Dorsey and Edward Gater be appointed signers of the bills of credit, in addition to those already appointed."

Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the state of the treasury, and the means of supporting the credit of the continental currency; and, after some time spent thereon, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. Nelson reported, that the committee have had under consideration the matters referred to them, but not having come to a conclusion, desired leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this Congress will, to-morrow, resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into further consideration, the state of the treasury, and the means of supporting the credit of the continental currency: That 600 dollars be advanced to major Ottendorf, for the purpose of cruiting his independent company of 150; he to be accountable. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

SATURDAY, January 11, 1777.

re

Resolved, That the determination on the sentence of the court-martial, passed on colonel Donald Campbell, be referred to general Gates for his approbation or disapprobation; any thing in a former resolve, referring it to general Schuyler, to the contrary, notwithstanding.

Resolved, That 266 60 dollars be advanced to captain John Jamison, and 266 60 dollars to major Theodorick Bland, both of the light-horse from Virginia, for defraying the expense of the troops under their command; they to be accountable.

That 1066 60 dollars be advanced to Henry Hollingsworth, for the purpose of supplying the troops from Virginia on their march to Philadelphia; he to be accountable.

It being represented to Congress, that several persons, disaffected to the American cause, have, through inadvertence, been employed as deputy postVOL. II.

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