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MONDAY, January 15, 1776.

A paragraph of a letter from Peter Timothy, secretary to the provincial convention and committee of safety of South-Carolina, dated January 5th, to C. Gadson, esq. was read, informing that the said convention have resolved to continue the delegates, and have constituted any two of them to be a quorum to represent said colony.

A letter from general Washington, dated the 31st of December, 1775, with sundry papers enclosed, among which, a draught of captain Matthews on the treasury of Virginia, for £100, lawful money, advanced him by the general; also two letters from lord Sterling, dated January 8th and 11th, and a letter from governor Trumbull, with three papers enclosed, being received, were

read :

Resolved, That the letter from general Washington be referred to a committee of three.

The members chosen, Mr. Wythe, Mr. Adams, and Mr. Wilson.

That the letters from lord Sterling be referred to a committee of five.

The members chosen, Mr. W. Livingston, Mr. M'Kean, Mr. Floyd, Mr. Ward, and Mr. Alexander.

That the letter from governor Trumbull, with the enclosed papers, be referred to the committee appointed to confer with Mr. Romans.

A letter from the cominittee of safety of New-York, dated January 11th, 1776, was read:

Resolved, That it be referred to the committee on the state of the colonies. Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to make an estimate of the number of cannon, that may be wanted for the defence of the United Colonies, and to devise ways and means for procuring them, and that it be an instruction to said committee to enquire what size cannon can be cast in these colonies. The members chosen, Mr. Wisner, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Rogers, Mr. Allen, and Mr. Paine.

Resolved, That no bought indented servants be employed on board the fleet, or in the army of the United Colonies, without the consent of their masters. The committee of claims reported, that there is due,

To Jacob Hiltzheimer, for expresses, the sum of 356.1 dollars.

To Jonathan Trumbull, jun. for his expenses to Philadelphia, and returning to New-York with money, the sum of 99.7 dollars.

To Thomas Apty, for boarding several prisoners, 109.6 dollars.
Ordered, That the above accounts be paid.

Resolved, That it be recommended to the committee of safety of Pennsylvania, to enquire into the characters of the recruits or privates taken on board the Rebecca and Frances transport, and to dismiss such of them as they judge may, with safety to the colonies, be discharged.

The Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the state of the trade of the United Colonies; and, after some time, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. Ward reported, that the committee had taken into their farther consideration the matter to them referred, but that not having come to a conclusion, they desired him to move for leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this Congress will, on Friday next, resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into farther consideration the trade of the United Colonies

Resolved, That captain Matthew's draft on the treasury of Virginia, be delivered to the delegates of that colony; and that they be desired to receive the money, and pay the same to the continental treasurers.

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

TUESDAY, January 16, 1776.

The colony of Connecticut having appointed new delegates, the same attending, produced the credentials of their appointment, which were read as follows:

"At a general Assembly of the governor and company of the English colony of Connecticut, in New-England, in America, holden at New-Haven, in said colony, on the second Thursday of October, Anno Domini 1775.

"Resolved, By this assembly, that Roger Sherman, Oliver Wolcott, Samuel Huntington, Titus Hosmer, and William Williams, esqrs. be, and they are hereby appointed delegates to represent this colony at the general Congress of the United Colonies in America, for the year ensuing, and until new be chosen; that is to say, the said Roger Sherman, Oliver Wolcott, and Samuel Huntington, esqrs. do attend said Congress, and on the failure of either of the said gentlemen, by sickness, or otherwise, then the said Titus Hosmer, or William Williams, esqrs. are to supply the place or places of any or either of the said three gentlemen first named, in such manner, that three of said delegates, and three only, do attend said Congress at any one time; and the said three delegates, or any or either of them, who shall be present in said Congress, are hereby fully authorized and empowered to represent this colony in said Congress, to consult, advise, and resolve upon measures necessary to be taken and pursued for the defence, security and preservation of the rights and liberties of the said United Colonies, and for their common safety; and of such their proceedings and resolves they do transmit authentic copies, from time to time, to the general assembly of this colony. That the said delegates now appointed do repair to, and take their seats in said Congress, by the first day of January next, in case said Congress shall be then sitting, or as soon after as said Congress shall be convened; and that the said gentlemen, who are now attending said Congress in behalf of this colony, do continue in their said office until the gentlemen now chosen, and directed to attend in manner aforesaid, shall arrive at said Congress.

"A true copy of record, examined by

GEORGE WYLLYS, Secretary."

A letter from Mr. Lewis, dated January 8th, was read, recommending a stranger to the notice of Congress.

Ordered, That the same be referred to the committee on the qualifications of persons applying for offices.

Resolved, That a member, in the room of Mr. Dyer, be added to the committee appointed to draw up instructions to the officers employed in the recruiting service.

Resolved, That the several petitions of gentlemen, praying to be appointed officers in the Pennsylvania battalions, be referred to the committee on qualifications.

Application being made in behalf of Mr. Judge and the owner of a vessel lately arrived in Delaware, for leave to export provisions to the amount of the cargoes by them imported:

Resolved, That this be referred to the secret committee.

Resolved, That two members be added to the secret committee:

The members chosen, Mr. Hewes and Mr. Alexander.

The committee on the state of the colonies brought in a report, which being taken into consideration,

Resolved, That another battalion be raised in the colony of North-Carolina, in order to defeat any attempt which may be made in opposition to the measures recommended by the Continental Congress.

Resolved, That the farther consideration of the report be referred till to

morrow.

The committee having desired leave to sit again, the same was granted. Resolved, That to-morrow be assigned for taking into consideration, in a committee of the whole, the propriety of opening the ports after the first of March next.

The delegates of South-Carolina having informed the Congress, that their colony, being in want of seamen, had given orders to offer high wages to such as would engage in their service, desired the advice and opinion of Congress on this matter:

Resolved, That it be referred to a committee of five.

The members chosen, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Huntington, Mr. Paine, Mr. Morris, and Mr. Floyd.

Resolved, That the naval committee be empowered to purchase a small vessel for a tender.

The committee appointed to procure powder from Providence, brought in a report, with an account of a cargo provided for that purpose by Willing and Morris, amounting to 3233.2 dollars; Whereupon,

Resolved, That the said committee be authorized to give such orders to the captain of the vessel, as they may think proper.

That an order be drawn on the treasurers, in favour of Willing and Morris, for the said sum of 3233.2 dollars.

The committee on general Washington's letters, brought in a report, which being taken into consideration, the Congress, thereupon, came to the following resolutions:

Resolved, That the pay-master general of the army at Cambridge, be empowered to draw bills upon the president of the Congress, or, in their recess, upon the committee of Congress for that purpose appointed, for any sums of money which may be deposited in his hands, not exceeding, in any one month, the monthly expense of the army, and that such bills, countersigned by the general or commander in chief of the said army, be accepted and paid.

That the free negroes who have served faithfully in the army at Cambridge, may be re-inlisted therein, but no other.

That, if general Washington think proper, colonel R. Gridley be continued chief engineer in the army at Cambridge.

That the pay of the assistant engineers in the army at Cambridge be 26 dollars and two-thirds per month.

The committee having desired leave to sit again, the same was granted. Resolved, That four members be added to the committee on the qualifications, &c. in the room of those absent.

The members chosen, Mr. Wolcott, for Connecticut, in the room of Mr. Dyer; Mr. Duane, for New-York, in the room of Mr. Jay; Mr M'Kean, for the lower counties on Delaware, in the room of Mr. Rodney; and Mr. Rogers, for Maryland.

Resolved, That Thursday next be assigned for taking into consideration the report of the committee on Indian affairs.

Resolved, That a list of the committees who have not reported, be prepared and laid on the table.

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

WEDNESDAY, January 17, 1776.

A petition from Dr. Benjamin Church was presented to Congress, and

read:

Resolved, That the same be referred to a committee of three.

The members chosen, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Paca, and Mr. Hooper.

A petition from Ibbetson Hamar, a prisoner at Trenton, was presented to Congress and read, praying for leave to reside at Mr. Stainforth's, near PrinceTown.

Resolved, That the same be granted.

A memorial from the captains and subalterns of the first Pennsylvania battalion, was presented to Congress and read, complaining of the conduct of their colonel:

Resolved, That the same be referred to the committee of qualifications, and that they be directed to hear the parties, and report to Congress.

Agreeable to the order of the day, the Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the propriety of opening the ports after the first of March next; and after some time, 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 a resolution, which he read in his place, and delivered in.

The report being again read,

Ordered, To lie on the table.

Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed, to consider under what regulations and restrictions the trade of the United Colonies ought to be carried on, after the first of March next.

The members chosen, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Morris, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Adams, and Mr. Sherman.

Resolved, That a member be added to the committee appointed to confer with Mr. Romans.

The member chosen, Mr. Wolcott.

The committee appointed to prepare instructions for the officers in the recruiting service, brought in their report, which being taken into consideration, the Congress, thereupon, came to the following resolutions:

Resolved, That the colonels of the several battalions ordered to be raised, do immediately order their officers, on recruiting service, to such parts where they are best known, and have the greatest probability of success.

That the recruiting officers ought to be careful to inlist none but healthy, sound and able-bodied men, and not under sixteen years of age.

That the colonels of the several battalions aforesaid, appoint some place or places of rendezvous, to which the recruits may be sent, and where the battafions may be quartered.

That the greatest attention ought to be paid to the behaviour of the troops in quarters, that they may give no reasonable cause of complaint.

That the quarters of the troops be duly discharged once every week.

That an allowance of one dollar and a third of a dollar per man, be made to the recruiting officers in lieu of their expenses in recruiting, exclusive of the subsistence-money allowed them. And that, in case any man be inlisted contrary to the foregoing regulations, the pay they may have received, and the subsistence money that may be paid for them, shall be stopped from the pay of such recruiting officers.

That the colonels of the several battalions to be raised in Pennsylvania, be supplied with money for the recruiting service, by the committee of safety of said colony, and disburse the same to the several recruiting officers; the colonels and other officers to be accountable for what they shall receive, and all arrears they may fall into, to be stopped from their pay. Resolved, That the sum of one dollar and one-third of a dollar per man, be allowed to the officers of the first Pennsylvania battalion, for each man by them inlisted, who shall have passed muster.

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Resolved, That the treasurers be empowered to advance to Mr. Regonville a sum not exceeding 400 dollars, taking his draught or bill on his agent in Canada, for the same.

A letter from general Schuyler, dated January the 13th, enclosing copies of letters from gen. Wooster, colonel Arnold, and others, were laid before Congress, and read, containing an account of an unsuccessful attempt made to gain

possession of Quebec by storm, on the 31st of December, and of the death of general Montgomery.

The committee to whom the matter of South-Carolina, respecting the engag ing of seamen, was referred, brought in their report, which was read. Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

THURSDAY, January 18, 1776.

The committee to whom the petition of Dr. Church was referred, brought in their report, which being taken into consideration,

Resolved, That governor Trumbull be desired to give order for the removal of Dr. Church to some more comfortable place of confinement than that where he now is, if such can be found in that colony; and that, for the advancement of his health, the said Dr. Church be permitted to ride out, at proper seasons, under a trusty guard, who will be careful to prevent his carrying on any correspondence, or doing any act prejudicial to the safety and welfare of the United Colonies.

A letter from the committee of Frederick-town, Maryland, enclosing sundry intercepted letters found upon Dr. John Smith, one of Connolly's associates, being brought by the guard who had the charge of bringing down said Smith, was laid before Congress and read:

Resolved, That it be recommended to the committee of safety for the colony of Pennsylvania, to take the examination of the said Dr. Smith, and then commit him to safe and close confinement.

Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to take into consideration the letter from general Schuyler of the 13th of January, with the enclosures, and report thereon to Congress.

The members chosen, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Wythe, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Ward, and Mr. S. Adams.

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

FRIDAY, January 19, 1776.

Resolved, That five members be elected for the committee of claims, in the room of those who are absent.

The members chosen, Mr. Wolcott, for Connecticut, in the room of Mr. Deane; Mr. Floyd, for New-York, in the room of Mr. Lewis; Mr. McKean, for the lower counties on Delaware, in the room of Mr. Rodney; Mr. Rogers, for Maryland, in the room of Mr. Johnson; Mr. E. Rutledge, for South-Carolina, in the room of Mr. Gadsden.

The committee to whom the letters from Lancaster were referred, brought in an answer, which was read and approved:

Ordered, That the same be transcribed and forwarded.

The Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the matter of South-Carolina, respecting seamen; Whereupon,

Resolved, That it be recommended to captain Cochran, who is arrived here for the purpose of recruiting seamen, to pursue the following plan in the inlisting service in which he is employed by the colony of South-Carolina.

That he offer to each able-bodied seaman the wages of eight dollars per month, and that he pay to them nine dollars bounty, and, upon their arrival in South-Carolina, the further bounty of five dollars.

That captain Cochran repair immediately to the camp at Cambridge, and take the advice and direction of general Washington on this affair, and proceed to inlist his seamen in such parts of the country as will be the least prejudicial

to the continental service.

That the president write to general Washington, acquainting him with the situation of South-Carolina, the necessity that colony is in for seamen, and desiring that he will please to forward this service.

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