Resolved, therefore, That the application aforesaid was, and is constitutional and reasonable, and that the legislature of this State had, and have a right to a decision thereupon. That it appears by despatches from the delegates of this State, that no such decision was made on the 9th day of this present month. That the proceedings of this legislature have already been greatly embarrassed for want of such decision; and as it is uncertain when the said United States will decide on the said request, and any further delay in prosecuting measures for the preservation of the fortresses on the frontiers of this State, and the protection of its citizens, will be highly detrimental to this State:

Resolved, therefore, further, That the delegates from this State be instructed to inform Congress, that the legislature cannot, consistent with the public safety, any longer delay measures for raising a body of troops for the purposes aforesaid; that such number will not exceed that stated in the said recited resolution, as in the opinion of the legislature adequate to the purpose. That the said delegates do, without delay, press upon the said United States in Congress assembled, the just right of this State to the determination aforesaid, and intreat that it may be given without further delay."

The delegates for the State of New York, in obedience to the aforesaid instructions, move that it be resolved,

That for the purpose of garrisoning the forts within the State of New York, necessary for the defence thereof, the said State be allowed to keep up a body of troops or forces not exceeding five hundred rank and file, properly officered. And on this the said delegates require the yeas and nays.1

1 The New York motion is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, I, folio 405. It was referred to Mr. [Thomas] Stone, Mr. [Edward] Hand, Mr. [Jacob] Read, Mr. [John Francis] Mercer and Mr. [John] Beatty.

A letter of April 26, 1784, from Mesheck Weare, the President of New Hampshire, was read, according to the indorsement. It is in No. 64, folio 246.

98814°-27-VOL 27——2

A motion was made by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, seconded by Mr. [George] Partridge, that the motion of the delegates of New York be committed.

And on the question for commitment, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Charles] De Witt,

Congress assembled: Present, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pensylvania, Maryland, Virginia and South Carolina.

A letter, of 26 April, from President Weare, of New Hampshire, was read, enclosing a return of the number of dwelling houses, the number of barns and other buildings, and the number of acres of land in the several towns and places in the said State.

The Committee [Mr. Edward Hand, Mr. Thomas Stone and Mr. Ephraim Paine] to whom was referred a letter from H. Hamtramck setting forth the embarrassments he labours under, from his attachment to the American cause and praying that Captain Vandeburgh, and himself who have been particularly recommended by the late Commander in Chief and Inspector General may be employed on the Peace Establishment, report that the same be read in Congress and filed in the Secretary's office.1

The Committee [Mr. Edward Hand, Mr. Thomas Stone and Mr. Ephraim Paine] to whom the memorial of Benjamin Harwood praying that compensation may be made him as a commissioner on the part of the United States for indorsing the bills of credit emitted by the State of Maryland in pursuance of an act of Congress of the 18th March, 1780, and that the continental loan officer of the State of Maryland be directed to pay such allowance out of the four tenths of the bills aforesaid remaining in his hands subject to the order of Congress.

Your Committee find that by a resolution of the 25th July, 1785, an allowance of one dollar and one third of a dollar was made to each person appointed to sign and number continental bills for each and every thousand bills signed and numbered by him. That on the 30th June, 1780, Thos. Harwood and Benjamin Harwood, Esqs., were appointed Commissioners on the part of the U. S. either of them to endorse the bills to be emitted by the State of Maryland pursuant to the resolution of Congress of the 18th day of March preceding.

They therefore submit the following resolve:

Resolved, That the Continental Loan officer of the State of Maryland be and he is hereby authorized to pay B. Harwood, Esq., on account of the United States out of the bills of credit to be emitted by the State of Maryland pursuant to the resolution of Congress of the 18th March 1780 at the rate of one dollar and one third of a dollar for every thousand bills, signed by him in consequence of the resolution of Congress of June 30th 1780.2

1 This report, in the writing of Edward Hand, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, III, folio 152. The indorsement states that it was read on this day. Hamtramck's letter is in No. 78, XII, folio 335.

This report, in the writing of Edward Hand, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, III, folio 73. The indorsement states that it was read on this day.

The Committee consisting of M: [Thomas] Jefferson, M [Jacob] Read and M [Hugh] Williamson, to whom was referred the letter of the 13th April, 1784, from the Superintendant of Finance inclosing the Copy of a letter of the 16th March from Oliver Pollock agent for the United States at the port of Havanna and the representation of M: Robert Totten of the 27th February, 1784, relative to the ill Treatment of the American Merchants and others trading at the Havanna Report,

That from an attentive View of the Transaction as related in the said letter of the 27th Feb from M: Robert Totten, the Committee are of opinion that a very indelicate and violent execution of a measure which might in itself have been necessary in order to remove foreigners from the Island of Cuba has taken place at the Havanna. Your Committee cannot but consider the sudden arrest without any previous notice to withdraw themselves, and indiscriminate imprisonment in a common dungion (with felons and persons of the vilest condition) of Merchants and men of Character, Citizens of the United States and who were resident at the Havanna by permission of government, to solicit and receive monies due from the Spanish Government and the subjects of Spain, as an insult too serious to be overlooked or submitted to by a free people.

Your Committee cannot allow themselves to believe that such measures have been authorized by the Court of Spain of whose friendly disposition a striking proof has lately been given in receiving the Minister charged with the affairs of the United States at that Court.

The Committee therefore recommend that copies of the letters referred to be transmitted to the Minister of the United States at the Court of Madrid, who is hereby required to make a proper representation to his most Catholic Majesty of the outrage complained of, and the conduct of his Governour of the Havanna towards the Citizens of the United States lately residing in the Havanna. And to express to his said Majesty that Congress do not doubt but that the most ample satisfaction will be given on the present occasion and orders to prevent in future all such violences towards any Citizens of these United States who may be thrown by stress of weather or otherwise into any port, Colony, Island or plantation of his Majesty it being the earnest and sincere wish of Congress to

preserve that harmony which at present so happily subsists between the two nations uninterrupted and inviolate.

Your Committee are of opinion that a Commercial agent for the United States at the Havanna is unnecessary in the present State of the Trade between these States and the Island of Cuba, and recommend that the Superintendant of Finance do inform M: Oliver Pollock that Congress dispense with his services as commercial agent from the United States at the port of Havanna from and after the first day of July next.1

SATURDAY, MAY 15, 1784.

Congress assembled: Present as yesterday.

Congress proceeded in the consideration of the report of the committee of Qualifications as entered on the 13th of this month; and a division being called for by Mr. [Arthur] Lee,

On the question to agree to the first clause, to wit: That no State has right to empower its delegates to sit in Congress more than one year, under one appointment:

The yeas and nays being required by Mr. [David] Howell, Resolved in the affirmative, every member answering ay. On the question to agree to the second clause, to wit: "And that the year for which the said delegates of the State of Rhode Island, were appointed, is expired."

1 This report, in the writing of Jacob Read, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 23. The indorsement shows that it was read on this day. It was among the reports referred to the Committee of the States, and was read in that committee July 9, and referred to Mr. [Francis] Dana, Mr. [Edward] Hand and Mr. [William] Houstoun. The letter of the Superintendent of Finance is in No. 50, folio 425. A duplicate is in No. 137, III, folio 877.

On this day, as the indorsement indicates, the Memorial of Fleury Mesplet was referred to the Committee of the States; read in committee July 26 and ordered to lie. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, VI, folio 337.