ground to suspect that the owners of the cargo intended it should be landed or disposed of in any other manner than set forth in the said memorial, but your committee think there is just ground to suspect, that William Barron, the master of the ship Peggy, would not be very solicitous to prevent the cargo, which might be useful to the ministerial army, from falling into the possession of the men of war, he having been before taken in the same ship, in RhodeIsland, with a cargo from Chesapeake-Bay, for Europe, nor can your committee approve the conduct of the owner of the ship who continued the captain afterwards.

Your committee are therefore of opinion, that another master ought to be appointed to the said ship, who shall be approved by the committee of Norwich, and that the time of her sailing, as well as her track be appointed by that committee, and the master sworn to use his best endeavours to prevent the said ship falling into the possession of any man of war or cutter, and to pursue as far as he can, the orders of the said committee in navigating the said ship, on which terms your committee are of opinion, the said ship ought to be permitted to proceed with her cargo.

A proposal, from Nathaniel Sackett, for making a quantity of salt-petre, being received and read,

Ordered, That the same be referred to the salt-petre committee.

The order of the day being renewed,

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

THURSDAY, November 16, 1775.

Resolved, That two small swift sailing vessels be provided for packets, to be under the direction of Congress.

Ordered, That Mr. Morris be appointed to provide said vessels, and that he be directed to get one ready to sail as soon as possible, and the other in a month hence.

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to devise ways and means of employing these vessels to the best advantage.

The members chosen, Mr. Lynch, Mr. R. Morris, and Dr. Franklin.

The assembly of Pennsylvania having, by a resolution of their house, recommended three gentlemen for field officers to the battalion raising in said colony, the same, together with applications from sundries, to be appointed adjutant and quarter-master to said battalion, were read.

Sundry papers from the general assembly of the colony of MassachusettsBay, being laid before Congress and read,

Resolved, That these be referred to a committee of seven.

The members chosen, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Sherman, Mr. W. Livingston, Mr. Ward, Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Hooper, and Mr. Harrison.

Resolved, That the committee appointed on the 11th instant, to contract for supplying the troops in the barracks in Philadelphia, be empowered to contract for supplying the same wherever sent, for twelve calendar months, provided they are so long continued in the continental service, to commence next Monday.

The committee of claims reported, that there is due to Henry Rankin, for provisions to captain Ross's company, 161.9 dollars.

To John Hider, for carrying powder to Trenton, 10.6 dollars.

This to be paid per order to Joseph Jewell.

To Francis Lee, for horse-hire for expresses, 20 dollars.

To John Little, for entertainment of sundry expresses, 16.8 dollars.

Ordered, That the same be paid.

The said committee also reported an account of Major Coates and captain Copperthwaite, which being read,

Ordered, That the same lie on the table for the perusal of the members.

Resolved, That the delegates write to their colleagues, who are absent, and inform them that the Congress expect their immediate attendance.

Resolved, That for the future, no member absent himself from Congress without leave of Congress.

Resolved, That it be a rule of this Congress, that every member remain in his seat whilst any paper is reading or question putting.

The order of the day being renewed,
Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

FRIDAY, November 17, 1775.

A letter from general Washington, enclosing a letter and journal of colonel Arnold, and sundry papers, being received, the same were read: Whereupon, Resolved, That a committee of seven be appointed, to take into consideration so much of the general's letter as relates to the disposal of such vessels and cargoes belonging to the enemy, as shall fall into the hands of, or be taken by, the inhabitants of the United Colonies.

The members chosen, Mr. Wythe, Mr. E. Rutledge, Mr. J. Adams, Mr. W. Livingston, Dr. Franklin, Mr. Wilson, and Mr. Johnson.

Resolved, That the prisoners taken at Chambly and St. John's, be sent to, and kept in, the towns of Reading, Lancaster, and York, in the colony of Pennsylvania.

That the committee appointed the 11th instant, to contract for supplying the battalion, raised in Pennsylvania, be empowered to distribute the said prisoners in the towns aforesaid, and contract for their support or subsistence. That the rations of the privates be the same as are allowed the privates in the continental army.

That orders issue to the officer who has the charge of conducting the prisoners, to march them by the nearest road to Reading, in the colony of Pennsylvania, and that the deputy commissary-general be directed to supply them with provisions for their march, agreeable to the rations supplied the continental

army.

That the said commissary be directed, if the prisoners agree to it, to send the women, children and baggage by water to Amboy, from thence to be sent across to Bordentown, and from thence by water to Philadelphia, from which last place they will be sent to join the garrison in the towns allotted to them, this being judged the safest, cheapest, and most commodious way of conveying them.

Whereas it is become necessary to appoint a colonel of the regiment of artillery, in the room of colonel Gridley, on account of his advanced age,

Resolved, That this Congress will indemnify colonel Gridley for any loss of half-pay, which he may sustain in consequence of his having been in the service of the United Colonies.

The Congress then proceeded to the choice of a colonel of the regiment of artillery, and

Henry Knox, esq. was unanimously elected.

Resolved, That the commissioned officers, taken in the forts of Chambly and St. John's, be put upon their parole of honour, that they will not go into or near any seaport town, nor farther than six miles distant from the respective places of their residence, without leave of the Continental Congress, and that they will carry on no political correspondence,whatever, on the subject of the dispute between Great-Britain and the colonies, so long as they remain prisoners.

Whereas the officers taken at fort Chambly, have been permitted by general Schuyler, to make choice of, and to reside in Trenton, in New-Jersey, and the disposition of the prisoners by him made, has been approved by Congress,

VOL. I.

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Ordered, That a copy of the foregoing resolution be sent to the committee of Trenton, and that the said committee he desired to get the same signed by the officers there.

Resolved, That the officers taken at St. John's, be sent to Windham and Lebanon, in the colony of Connecticut, provided general Schuyler has not given his word for another disposition of them.

The several matters to this day referred being postponed, and the order of the day renewed,

Adjourned to ten o'clock on Monday.

MONDAY, November 20, 1773.

Sundry letters from general Washington and governor Trumbull, with papers enclosed, among which were intercepted letters from Cork, were read. Two petitions, one from Godfred Fehr, the other from Melchior Neff, were presented to Congress and read.

Capt. John Hulbert, who was sent by general Schuyler to conduct the officers, who were taken prisoners at Fort Chambly, to Trenton, attended and made report of his proceedings.

Resolved, That the sum of 16,669 1-5 dollars be put into the hands of Mr. Thomas Lowry, of New Jersey, for the purpose of furnishing the two battalions raised in said colony with the articles allowed them, in lieu of bounty, and for one month's pay of said battalions, he to give security for the disposal of said money, and to render account to Congress.

Ordered, That Mr. R. Morris confer with Mr. Lowry, and receive proposals with regard to the recompence he will expect for this service.

Resolved, That the committee appointed to contract for supplying the battalions raised in Pennsylvania, be empowered to advertise and receive proposals, and contract for supplying the above two battalions with the rations allowed them.

The Congress then proceeded to the choice of an adjutant for the battalion under the command of colonel lord Sterling, raised in the eastern division of New-Jersey, and Alexander Clough was elected.

Resolved, That general Schuyler be directed to make further search in the places where the lead was found at Crown-Point and Ticonderoga, and that he send as much lead as can be spared to the camp at Cambridge.

Resolved, That the secret committee be empowered to contract for the importation of an hundred tons of lead.

Resolved, That the intercepted letters be referred to the committee of seven, appointed the 17th instant, in order to select such parts of them as it may be proper to publish, and that they lay the extracts before Congress.

The orders of the day being renewed,

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

TUESDAY, November 21, 1775.

Mr. Morris, who was appointed to confer with Mr. Lowry, having made his report, and the same being considered,

Resolved, That Mr. Lowry be allowed one and a quarter per cent. in full of all charges, for the money passing through his hands.

The Congress then resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the petitions from Bermuda, to them referred, and after some time spent therein, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. Ward reported, that the committee had taken into consideration the petitions to them referred, and had come to certain resolutions thereon, which he read in his place, and then delivered in.

The report of the committee being again read,

Ordered, That the same be considered to-morrow.

The orders of the day being renewed,
Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

WEDNESDAY, November 22, 1775.

The Congress resumed the consideration of the report from the committee of the whole, which was agreed to as follows:

The committee of the whole, to whom were referred the several petitions from the island of Bermuda, representing the distress to which they were exposed by the non-exportation agreement, and praying to be relieved in such manner as the Congress may deem consistent with the safety of America, report that they have considered the same, and thereupon came to the following resolu

tions:

That the inhabitants of the island of Bermuda appear friendly to the cause of America, and ought to be supplied with such and so great a quantity of the produce of these colonies, as may be necessary for their subsistence and home consumption; that, in the opinion of this committee, they will annually require for the purposes aforesaid, 72,000 bushels of Indian corn, 2,000 barrels of bread or flour, 1,000 barrels of beef or pork, 2,100 bushels of peas or beans, and 300 tierces of rice, and that they be permitted to export the same yearly.

That the said inhabitants ought to pay for the above annual allowance in salt, but it is not the design of this resolution to exclude them from the privilege of receiving American produce to any amount in exchange for arms, ammunition, salt-petre, sulphur, and field pieces, agreeable to a resolution of Congress, passed the 15th of July last.

That, to enable such of these colonies as can conveniently furnish the island of Bermuda with the abovementioned allowance, to divide whatever advantages may result therefrom, in proportion to their respective shares of the general expense. It is further the opinion of this committee,

That the colony of South Carolina supply them with 300 tierces of rice.

That the colony of North Carolina supply them with 16,000 bushels of Indian corn, and 468 bushels of peas or beans.

That the colony of Virginia supply them with 36,000 bushels of Indian corn, and 1,050 bushels of peas or beans.

That the colony of Maryland supply them with 20,000 bushels of Indian corn, and 582 bushels of peas or beans.

That the colony of Pennsylvania supply them with 1,200 barrels of flour or bread, and 600 barrels of beef or pork.

That the colony of New York supply them with 800 barrels of flour or bread, and 400 barrels of beef or pork.

That the conventions or committees of safety of the above mentioned colonies ought to superintend the said exportation, provide against frauds, and take care that, in exchanging the said commodities of salt and provisions, no undue advantage be taken by either party of their mutual wants, and further, that no vessel employed in this business ought to load without their permission, and that when they shall, in pursuance of these resolutions, permit any of the said vessels to load, they do give notice thereof to the committee of inspection of the county, city, or town where such vessel shall load, and inform them that the same is done under the authority and by order of this Congress.

Ordered, That a copy of the foregoing resolutions be transmitted to the several conventions, assemblies, or committees of safety of the United Colonies, and to the island of Bermuda; and that the inhabitants of the latter be informed, that the Congress will afford them other necessaries (such as lumber, soap, and candles) whenever the quality and quantity of each of those articles used in the island shall be ascertained.

That Edward Stiles be permitted, under the direction of the committee of safety of the colony of Pennsylvania, to send the brig Sea-Nymph, Samuel

Stobel, master, with 4000 bushels of Indian corn, 300 barrels of flour, 100 barrels of bread, 20 barrels of pork, 8 barrels of beef, 30 boxes of soap, and 15 barrels of apples to Bermuda, for the immediate supply of the inhabitants, and that the said cargo be considered as part of the annual allowance aforesaid, for the year ensuing.

The committee on Volkert P. Douw's letter, and the minutes of the treaty at Albany, brought in their report, which being read and debated,

Resolved, That the further consideration thereof be deferred till to-morrow. The order of the day being renewed,

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

THURSDAY, November 23, 1775.

Resolved, That 120 dollars be paid to captain John Hulbert, and charged to general Schuyler, and that said J. Hulbert, after stationing his men at the fortresses on Hudson's river, have leave to be absent ten days.

The committee for fitting out armed vessels laid before Congress a draught of rules for the government of the American navy, and articles to be signed by the officers and men employed in that service, which were read, and ordered to lie on the table for the perusal of the members.

The committee on general Washington's letter brought in their report, which being read,

Ordered, That the same lie on the table for the perusal of the members.

The Congress then resumed the consideration of the report of the committee on Mr. Douw's letter, and the Albany treaty, and after debate, the first paragraph was postponed, and the remainder agreed to as follows:

The committee to whom it was referred to take into consideration the letter from Volkert P. Douw, esq. and the minutes of the treaty held with the Indians at Albany, by the commissioners for Indian affairs in the northern department, have examined the same, and come to the following resolutions thereupon:

That it is the opinion of this committee, that the Indians be assured that this Congress are pleased with their desire, that the trade should be opened as formerly at Albany and Schenectady, that the Congress will exert their strenuous endeavours to procure the goods the Indians many want, and put the trade under such wise regulations, as that mutual justice may be effected, and that they hope those endeavours will be successful.

That general Schuyler be desired to furnish the commissioners at Albany with some powder, if he can spare it, to be distributed among the Indians, who in the present circumstances, are much distressed by the want of that article. That the commissioners for transacting Indian affairs in the northern department, be desired to obtain from the Mohawk Indians, and the corporation of Albany, a state of the controversy between them, concerning the land desired by the former in the late treaty at Albany, to be restored to them, and report the matter as it shall appear to them, to the Congress.

That the said commissioners be desired, at the expense of the United Colonies, to provide for and entertain the sachems and warriors of the Six Nations, and other Indians friendly to these colonies, their attendants and messengers, with the accustomed hospitality when they come to Albany or Schenectady, to treat, or give intelligence of public affairs, or upon a visit, and for this purpose that 750 dollars be lodged in the hands of the said commissioners, subject to account.

That the said commissioners be directed to employ two blacksmiths for reasonable salaries, to reside among and work for the Indians of the Six Nations.

That the said commissioners be empowered to employ an interpreter, with a salary of 222 1-5 dollars by the year, commencing the 12th day of this month, who shall also be allowed his travelling expenses to be settled by the