taxes, and be by the collectors paid into the hands of the provincial treasurers, with all such other moneys as they may receive in lieu of the continental bills; which other moneys the provincial treasurers shall endeavor to get exchanged for continental bills; and where that cannot be done, shall send to the continental treasurers the deficiency in silver and gold, with the bills, making up the quota to be sunk in that year; taking care to cut, by a circular punch of an inch diameter, an hole in such bills, and to cross the same, thereby to render them unpassable, though the sum or value is to remain fairly legible; and the continental treasurers, as fast as they receive the said quotas, shall, with the assistance of a committee of five persons, to be appointed by the Congress, if sitting, or by the assembly or convention of the province of Pennsylvania, examine and count the continental bills, and, in the presence of the said committee, burn and destroy them; and the silver and gold sent them to make up the deficiencies of quotas, they shall retain in their hands, until demanded in redemption of continental bills, that may be brought to them for that purpose, which bills, so redeemed, they shall also burn and destroy in the presence of the said committee; and the treasurers, whenever they have silver and gold in their hands for the redemption of continental bills, shall advertise the same, signifying that they are ready to give gold or silver for such bills, to all persons requiring it in exchange.

The reports of the committees on general Schuyler's letters, and the report of the committee sent to Ticonderoga, being read,

Resolved, That the same be recommitted to Mr. Dickinson, Mr. M'Kean, Mr. Wythe, Mr. Hooper, Mr. Jefferson, and Mr. Langdon.

The report of the committee, to whom was referred a paragraph of lord Sterling's letter to the Congress, complaining that several of his recruits had been arrested and imprisoned for trifling debts, being taken into consideration, was agreed to asf ollows:

Whereas there is reason to believe, that divers persons, either from inattention to the public good, or with design to retard the recruiting service, have arrested and imprisoned, for very trifling debts, many soldiers, who had engaged to risque their lives in defence of the liberties of America; and, as it has always been found necessary, in time of war, to regulate and restrain a practice of such pernicious tendency, and in such cases, to abate the rigour of the law:

Resolved, therefore, That it be recommended to the several legislatures in these colonies, whether assemblies or conventions, to pass acts or ordinances, prohibiting the arrests of continental soldiers for small debts; and in order that the same rule may pervade all the colonies, that no soldier be arrested at the suit of any of his creditors, unless the said creditor make oath, that the said soldier is justly indebted to him in the sum of thirty-five dollars over and above all discounts; and that the estate of no such soldier be liable to attachment at the suit of, or for the benefit of all his creditors, unless their debts in the whole, on being ascertained by their oaths, shall amount to more than one hundred and fifty dollars.

Resolved, That the several letters received from lord Sterling, be referred to a committee of three, who are directed to report an answer.

The members chosen, Mr. Adams, Mr. W. Livingston and Mr. Jay.

Resolved, That the battalion raised in Pennsylvania, be supplied with gunbrushes, prickers, double-worms, screw-drivers, and oil; and that it be recommended to the committee of safety of the said colony to provide the

same.

Whereas this Congress, by a resolution passed the 15th day of July last, did direct that every vessel importing into these colonies, gun-powder, saltpetre, sulphur, and other military stores therein specified, within nine months from the date thereof, should be permitted to load and export the produce of

these colonies, to the value of such powder and stores aforesaid, the non-exportation agreement notwithstanding, by permits from the committees of the 1 several colonies; to the end, therefore, that this Congress may be the better informed of the quantity of military stores, which are or shall be so imported, and of the produce exported in consequence of the, resolution aforesaid.

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Resolved, That it be recommended to all committees by whom any permits, under the said resolution, have been or may be granted, to transmit to this Congress, from time to time, a true account of the military stores, &c. imported, and of the produce exported, with the price and value of both. Ordered, That the foregoing resolution be published.

The committee appointed to prepare instructions to lieut. col. Irvine brought in a draught, which being read, was agreed to.

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

WEDNESDAY, December 27, 1775.

A letter of the 21st from the committee of inspection of the town of Lancaster, enclosing the paroles of the officers there, being received, was read. Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to confer with captain Motte, and consult with him on the best method of providing the guard under his command with provisions on their return home.

The members chosen, Mr. Cushing, Mr. Deane, and Mr. Lynch.

The Congress then took into consideration the report of the committee on the state of Virginia, and after debate, the farther consideration thereof, at the request of a colony, was postponed till to-morrow.

The committee appointed to confer with captain Motte, brought in their report, which being read, was agreed to as follows:

That they find some of said guard have upwards of 240 miles to march: that they will be content with eight dollars each, and bear their own expenses to their respective homes, or to be supplied by a commissary, or any other way as the Congress shall judge best.

It is the opinion of the committee, that the said guard receive a sum not exceeding eight dollars each, in lieu of all other povision for their return: therefore,

Resolved, That captain Motte be empowered to pay to his guard for the purpose aforesaid, a sum not exceeding eight dollars to any one, according to their respective distances, and that he return to the committee of claims, a list of his men, and an account of the payments to them made.

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

THURSDAY, December 28, 1775.

The committee of claims reported, that there is due to Sacheveral Wood, the sum of 91.9 dollars, for support of 17 men to the 21st December, who are confined in the gaol of Philadelphia, by order of Congress.

Ordered, That the same be paid.

Resolved, That an order be drawn on the treasurers in favor of G. Wythe, esq. one of the committee appointed to confer with the Indians, for the sum of 13 1-3 dollars, as a present to said Indians.

Resolved, That an order be drawn on the treasurers, in favor of the committee of safety of Pennsylvania, for the sum of 8000 dollars, for the use of the battalion raised in said colony, the said committee to be accountable for the same.

The Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee on the state of Virginia; and thereupon came to the following resolution:

Resolved, That six battalions are necessary to be immediately raised in Virginia, and that they be raised accordingly, upon the same terms, and paid

as the continental forces in the camp at Cambridge, unless the convention of that colony can raise them on better terms.

The Congress took into consideration the report of the secret committee, which being in part agreed to,

Resolved, That the farther consideration thereof be postponed till to-morrow. Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to take into consideration the state of New York, and report thereon to Congress.

The members chosen, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Deane, Mr. Wythe, Mr. W. Livingston, and Mr. Jay.

The committee to whom the petition of captains Paddock and Coffin was referred, brought in their report, which was read.

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

FRIDAY, December 29, 1775.

A petition of captain Sellick was presented to Congress and read: Resolved, That the said petition, with the papers accompanying it, be referred to a committee of three.

The members chosen, Mr. Smith, Mr. Floyd, and Mr. F. Lee.

A petition from a number of the inhabitants of Pennsylvania, being read, Ordered, To lie on the table.

Information being given to Congress of a quantity of arms and ammunition which may be procured,

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to enquire farther into this matter.

The members chosen, Mr. M'Kean, Mr. Jay, and Mr. Lynch.

Agreeable to the order of the day, the Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the trade of the United Colonies, and after some time spent thereon, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. Ward reported, that the committee had taken into consideration, the matter to them referred, and had come to certain resolutions, which he was ready to report.

The report of the committee being read, the Congress took the same into consideration, and, thereupon, came to the following resolution:

Resolved, That the colonies of Virginia, Maryland, and North-Carolina, be permitted to export produce from their respective colonies, to any part of the world, except Great-Britain, Ireland, the islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Sark, Aldernay and Man, and the British West-India islands, and in return to import so much salt from any part of the world, not prohibited by the association, as the conventions or councils of safety of the two former colonies, and the provincial council of the other shall judge necessary, for the use of the inhabitants thereof, now suffering great distress by the scarcity of that necessary article, proper caution being taken to prevent any abuse of this indulgence, by exceeding in the quantities exported or imported, and that no provisions, staves, or naval stores be exported, if other commodities may answer the purpose.

Resolved, That as the importation of any universally necessary commodity, and the exportation of our produce, to purchase the same, must give a proportionably greater opportunity to our enemies of making depredations on the property of the inhabitants of these colonies, and of occasionally distressing them by intercepting such commodities, it is earnestly recommended to the several assemblies or conventions immediately to promote, by sufficient public encouragéments, the making salt in their respective colonies.

Ordered, That the foregoing resolution be immediately published.

The committee on Indian trade, brought in their report.

The committee on lord Sterling's letters, also brought in their report.

A letter of the 16th, from the committee of correspondence, in Virginia, was laid before Congress, and read:

Ordered, To lie on the table..

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

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

SATURDAY, December 30, 1775.

Two letters from general Washington, of the 19th and 21st, enclosing a copy of a letter to general Howe, and accompanied with a number of intercepted letters, being received and read,

Resolved, That the letters from the general, and the intercepted letters, be referred to a committee of five.

The members chosen, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Hooper, Mr. Wythe, Mr. Deane, and Mr. S. Adams.

A letter from general Schuyler of the 21st, being received, was read. Another letter from general Washington, dated 14th December, brought by two strangers, was laid before Congress and read.

Resolved, That this be referred to the secret committee, who are directed to confer with the bearers, and to pursue such measures as they may think proper for the interest of the United Colonies.

Resolved, That major Preston have leave to go to Amboy to visit his uncle who lives there, and to remain in that place one week, and then return to Philadelphia, and wait the orders of Congress.

The committee appointed to equire into the grounds of the information, respecting a quantity of arms and ammunition being to be procured, report, that they have examined into the same, and have received intelligence that a quantity of arms and ammunition, and other articles are concealed in Tryon county, in which also there are several tories armed and inlisted in the enemy's service: Whereupon,

Resolved, That the said committee be directed to communicate this intelligence to general Schuyler, and in the name of the Congress, desire him to take the most speedy and effectual measures for securing the said arms and military stores, and for disarming the said tories, and apprehending their

chiefs.

Resolved, That an order be drawn on the treasurers in favour of the said committee, for the sum of forty dollars, for expediting the business to them committed.

Ordered, That the delegates of Pennsylvania do immediately count the silver and gold in the treasury, and forward the same, with all convenient speed, under a guard of five men, to general Schuyler; and that the persons to be sent by the foregoing committee, accompany said guard.

Resolved, That the treasurers be empowered to employ a broker to collect silver and gold, in exchange for continental bills of credit.

The committee on captain Sellick's petition, brought in their report, which was read.

Resolved, That the contents of the intercepted letters this day read, and the steps which Congress may take in consequence of the intelligence thereby given, be kept secret until further orders, excepting only that the delegates of Virginia and South-Carolina have leave to send to their conventions, extracts of such parts of the said letters, as they may think necessary for the welfare of their colonies.

The committee on the petition of sundry merchants in Philadelphia, also brought in their report, which was read.

Adjourned to ten o'clock on Monday next.

MONDAY, January 1, 1776.

A letter from governor Trumbull, dated the 23d of December, being received, was read.

The Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on captain Sellick's petition, which was agreed to, as follows:

That they have maturely considered the petition, and have examined captain Simeon Sellick particularly thereon, and are of opinion, that the petitioner be allowed, as a compensation for his expenses, trouble, and risk in taking the goods at Turtlebay, for the use of the United Colonies, the sum of 333 dollars and one-third, and that the committee of Fairfield be directed to take into their possession, for the use of the said colonies, all the goods taken by captain Sellick, which are not already delivered by him, and to forward the two boxes of salt-petre now in capt. Sellick's custody, to the powder mill in Ulster county, to be manufactured into gun-powder for the continental service.

The Congress, taking into consideration the report of the committee on lord Sterling's letters, after debate thereon,

Resolved, That it be recommitted.

The Congress proceeded to the election of an adjutant for the battalion raised in Pennsylvania, and the ballots being taken and examined,

John Patterson was elected.

Resolved, That the president sign commissions to the field officers appointed by the provincial Congress of North-Carolina, to command the two battalions directed to be raised in that colony by this Congress, and that such commissions bear like date with those issued to the said officers by the said provincial Congress of North-Carolina.

Resolved, That, in case of vacancy occasioned by the death or removal of a colonel or inferior officer, the provincial convention of North-Carolina, or, in their recess, the provincial council, appoint another person to fill up such vacancy, until a commission shall issue from this Congress; and that they return to this Congress a list of the names of the person or persons so appointed. The delegates of New-York having received new powers from their convention, laid the same before Congress, as follows:

"IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, New-York, December 21, 1775.

"Resolved, That the present delegates of this colony, in Continental Congress, be requested to make such an arrangement among themselves, as that five of them only continue at Congress, and represent this colony at any one time; and that, in case of the necessary absence of any one or two of the delegates so attending, according to such arrangement, that three or four of them be a quorum, and enabled to represent the colony during such absence.

"A true copy from the minutes.

"JOHN M.KESSON, Secretary."

The committee to whom the letters from general Washington, and the intercepted letters, were referred, brought in their report, which, being taken into consideration, the Congress came to the following resolutions:

Resolved, That the president of the provincial council of North-Carolina and of Georgia, be requested to procure committees of their several bodies to repair immediately to Charleston, and there to confer with a committee of the council of safety of South-Carolina, upon weighty and important matters relative to the defence and security of these colonies.

Resolved, That it appears the British ministry and their agents have meditated and are preparing to make attacks upon Charleston, in South-Carolina, and several places in Virginia, and probably in North Carolina; and that it be recommended to the conventions or committees of safety of the two former colonies, and to the provincial council of the other, by all possible means, to make a vigorous defence and opposition; and that it be farther recommended to the committee of safety of Virginia, and the provincial council of North-Carolina, to meet together and confer and conclude upon such operations as they may think most for their mutual interest.

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.