N The committee of claims reported, that there is due, To the committee of Berks county, for provisions, ammunition, &c. furnished the rifle companies, £11 14 10, and for necessaries furnished the prisoners from St. John's, the sum of £8 13 11, amounting, in the whole, to £20 8 9, equal to 54.5 dollars, to be paid to Dr. Jonathan Potts. Ordered, That the same be paid. Resolved, That an order be drawn on the treasurers in favor of the delegates of South-Carolina, for the sum of 10,000 dollars, which was appropriated for Indian affairs in the southern department. The council of safety for the three lower counties on Delaware, having recommended sundry gentlemen for field officers, of the battalion ordered to be raised in that colony, the Congress proceeded to an election, and the ballots being taken, John Haslet, esq. was elected colonel, and Gunning Bedford, esq. lieutenant-colonel. The Congress resuming the consideration of the report of the committee on the state of the colonies: Resolved, That four battalions be raised in the colony of New-York, for the defence of that colony, upon the same pay with those directed to be raised in the colony of Pennsylvania; and that they be stationed as the commanding officer of the New-York department shall think best, to garrison the several forts in that colony, from Crown-Point to the southward, and to prevent depredations upon Long-Island, and to promote the safety of the whole. Ordered, That a copy of the foregoing resolution be transmitted to the council of safety of New-York; and that they be requested, with all possible expedition, to transmit to Congress, the names of a number of gentlemen, at least two for each command, out of whom the Congress may elect field officers for said battalions. The committee on qualifications brought in a report, which was agreed to as follows: That Roger Stayner, and George Jenkins, be appointed first lieutenants in the first Pennsylvania battalion. That the two eldest ensigns he promoted to be second lieutenants in the room of the above. That Robert Allison be appointed an ensign in said battalion. The committee appointed to hear the complaints of the officers, and colonel Bull's defence, brought in their report, which, after debate, was referred till to-morrow. The committee to whom general Schuyler's letter of the 13th of January, with the papers and letters enclosed, was referred, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon, Resolved, That the American army in Canada be reinforced with all possible despatch, as well for the security and relief of our friends there, as for better securing the rights and liberties not only of that colony, but the other United Colonies. That an express be sent to the committee of safety of New Jersey, and an application made to that of Pennsylvania, immediately to quicken the officers employed in levying the forces directed to be raised in those colonies, and marched to Canada, and do all in their power to forward the service. And that the committee of inspection of the city and liberties of Philadelphia, be requested forthwith to use their utmost endeavors to aid Mr. J. Mease in procuring of the householders therein, such blankets as may be spared from their respective families, for the use of the battalion destined for this important expedition, at so severe a season; for which the owners shall be allowed the value of such blankets, according to the estimation of the said committee of inspection. VOL. I. 31 And that colonel Bull and colonel Maxwell, do, without delay, march such of the companies of their battalions as are now ready, to general Schuyler. That general Washington be requested to detach from the camp at Cambridge, one battalion, if the service there will permit him to spare one, with orders to march with the greatest expedition possible to Canada. That for the more speedy raising the battalions, ordered on the 8th of January, to be raised in the colonies of New-Hampshire, Connecticut, New-York, and Pennsylvania, for the defence of Canada, it be recommended to the general assemblies, conventions, or councils, or committees of safety, of those colonies respectively, to exert their utmost endeavors in raising the said battalions, upon the same pay and subsistence as the army at Cambridge, and to furnish them with provisions, ammunition, and other necessaries, for expediting their march to Canada. And, for farther encouraging the men more cheerfully to enter into the service of their country, to give a bounty of six dollars and two-thirds, to every able-bodied effective man, properly clothed for the service, and having a good firelock, with a bayonet, and other accoutrements; and four dollars to every soldier not having the like arms and accoutrements; the arms to be supplied by the colony, and the cost to be deducted out of the soldiers' pay; and also to provide a blanket and haversack for every inlisted soldier, and, morever, to advance one month's pay to every officer and soldier before their march, that they may be able to purchase necessary clothing. That the first two companies which shall be complete of every battalion, do march to that country so soon as they shall be ready, and be followed in the same numbers, with like expedition, by the rest of the corps. And that it be recommended to the general assemblies, conventions, and councils or committees of safety, of the colonies in which battalions are directed to be raised, that they respectively attend to this business. The committee desired leave to sit again, which was granted. SATURDAY, January 20, 1776. Resolved, That an order be drawn on the treasurers, in favor of the committee of safety for Pennsylvania, for the sum of 15,000 dollars, for the use of the five battalions to be raised in said colony; the said committee to be accountable.. The committee of claims reported, that there is due, To captain Henry Shylock, for his expenses in bringing Dr. John Smith from Hagarstown, and for his expenses in returning home, the sum of 89.3 dollars. To John Nelson, for his expenses in bringing the said Dr. John Smith from the Little Meadows to Hagarstown, and for his trouble in attending him to this city, with allowance of expenses in returning home, the sum of 75 dollars. To Francis Johnson, esq. for sundry expenses incurred by guards for powder, wagons, &c. the sum of 38 dollars. To Thomas Dewees, for supporting several prisoners, the sum of 43.2 dollars. Ordered, That the above accounts be paid. A memorial from colonel Bull was presented to Congress and read, praying for leave, on account of ill treatment he had received from many officers of his corps, to resign his commission. The committee on general Schuyler's letter, brought in a farther report, which being taken into consideration, the Congress came to the following resolutions: Resolved, That general Washington be desired to despatch a general officer, if he can be spared from the service at Cambridge, to command the army in Canada. That, it being necessary to procure a large quantity of specie for the operations in Canada, which cannot be successfully carried on without that article, it be recommended to the general assemblies, conventions, and councils or committees of safety, upon the continent, to employ proper persons, within their respective colonies, to collect all the gold and silver coin they can, and inform Congress of the sum collected. That it will not be expedient at present to send a committee of Congress to Canada: That the committee of secrecy be desired to despatch one ton of gun-powder with the first companies that shall march from Pennsylvania to Canada, and that governor Trumbull be desired to send the like quantity of gun-powder with the first detachment of forces directed to march thither from Connecticut: That the losses sustained by captain Hazen be ascertained by commissioners to be appointed by the commanding officer in Canada, and that the commissioners report their proceedings, with the examination of the witnesses, and their own opinion thereupon, to Congress : That the general assemblies, conventions or councils, or committees of safety, of the colonies, in which forces are directed to be raised for the service of Canada, be desired to raise, for the same service, one company of matrosses, consisting of forty privates, in each colony, under proper officers; and where a company cannot be completed, to raise as many as they can, under subaltern officers, in proportion to their numbers: That general Wooster be desired to take possession of the medicine chest mentioned by colonel Campbell, to be claimed by Dr. Beaumont, and if it appear to him to be private property, to pay the value thereof to the owner: That the general assemblies, conventions, or councils or committees of safety, be desired to take the most effectual measures for recovering the arins, accoutrements, batteaus, tools, and other stores of the continent, said to have been carried off by some of the soldiers who have returned from Canada: That 12,500 dollars be advanced to each of the general assemblies or councils, or committees of safety, of the colonies in which forces are directed to be raised for the service of Canada, for the purpose of recruiting their respective regiments : That, from the necessity of the case, and to prevent delays, blank commissions be issued by the president for the field officers, captains, and subalterns, who are to command the battalions ordered to be raised for Canada, in NewHampshire, and Connecticut, to be filled up with the names of such gentlemen as shall be judged most proper by the convention or committee of safety of New Hampshire, and by the governor and council of Connecticut : That the foregoing resolution be not drawn into a precedent: That, exclusive of colonel Livingston and his regiment, already determined on, there be one thousand Canadians more raised, for one year, or during the present disputes, at six dollars and two-thirds bounty, and the usual pay, which number shall compose four battalions, and form one regiment, five companies of fifty men to each battalion, one captain, one lieutenant, and one ensign, to each company, and four majors, one lieutenant-colonel, and one colonel, to the whole regiment: That the committee of safety of Pennsylvania be desired to provide and despatch fifes and drums to Canada, for the two regiments directed to be raised in that colony. Resolved, That orders be drawn on the treasurers, in favor of the delegates of New-Hampshire, for the above sum of 12,500 dollars; and in favor of the delegates of Connecticut, for the like sum of 12,500 dollars; and in favor of the delegates of New-York, for the like sum of 12,500 dollars, for the use of the battalions to be raised for Canada; and that the said delegates be desired to forward the said sums to their respective colonies with all expedition; the several colonies to be accountable for the same. Resolved, That the president be directed to send an express to general Schuyler, with a letter, informing him of the measures the Congress have taken for the defence of Canada, and desiring him to forward the same to general Wooster: That he likewise despatch an express, with the like information, to general Washington, to the governor of Connecticut, and the convention or council of safety of New-Jersey, New-York and New-Hampshire. The committee on qualifications having recommended the following persons for ensigns in the first Pennsylvania battalion, viz: Nicholas Scull, Joseph Greenway, John Irvine, John Brice, Richard Rice, and Major Walbroon, the same were agreed to, and commissions ordered to be given them accordingly. Resolved, That the secret committee be directed to supply the delegates of New-Jersey with 300 pounds of powder for the use of colonel Maxwell's bat talion. Ordered, That Timothy Matlack deliver to the delegates of New-Jersey, or their order, a quantity of flints, for the use of said battalion, and ball or lead proportioned to 300 pounds of powder. That the treasurers, with all expedition, send a trusty person with £1,000, in continental bills, to Samuel Patterson, esq. and receive in exchange for the same so much in silver and gold. Adjourned to ten o'clock on Monday. MONDAY, January 22, 1776. Sundry letters, viz. one from general Washington, of the 11th of January, two from lord Sterling, one of the 18th and another of the 19th of January, one from general Schuyler, of the 10th of January, and one from the committee of Trenton, of the 19th of January; also a petition from John Sparling, being received, were read. Resolved, That the above letters be referred to a committee of three. The members chosen, Mr. W. Livingston, Mr. Hooper, and Mr. Adams. Resolved, That the president be empowered to employ a private secretary, to be paid by the United Colonies. The committee of claims reported, that there is due, To Benedict Arnold, on account of his expenses in his expedition against Crown-Point and Ticonderoga, a balance amounting to 819 dollars, to be paid to Silas Deane, esq. Ordered, That the same be paid. Resolved, That the committee of Trenton be desired to send general Prescot and captain Chace under a guard to Philadelphia. Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed, to consider a proper method of paying a just tribute of gratitude to the memory of general Montgomery: The members chosen, Mr. Livingston, Dr. Franklin, and Mr. Hooper. The Congress proceeded to the election of field-officers for the second Canadian regiment, and, Moses Hazen, esq. was elected colonel. Edward Antil, esq. lieutenant-colonel. Resolved, That the United Colonies will indemnify colonel Hazen for any loss of half-pay he may sustain in consequence of his entering into their service. Resolved, That the appointment of majors, captains, and sabaltern and staffofficers in the second Canadian regiment, be left to the commander in chief in Canada, with the advice of the general officers in that country, and of colonel Hazen, lieutenant-colonel Antil, and Mr. Price. The Congress resumed the consideration of colonel Bull's application, for leave to resign his commission. Resolved, That leave be granted him. The Congress then proceeded to the election of a colonel for the first Pennsylvania battalion, in the room of colonel Bull, and John Philip de Haas was elected. A memorial from captain Duncan Campbell, a prisoner, being presented to Congress, and read, Resolved, That the committee of safety of Pennsylvania be empowered to take his parole, and that he have leave to reside at Lancaster. Application being made in behalf of lieutenant M'Donnald, for leave to come to Philadelphia, and remain there five days, in order to transact some necessary business; Resolved, That leave be granted. Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow. TUESDAY, January 23, 1776. A letter from general Schuyler, of the 14th of January, enclosing a letter from general Arnold, was read: Ordered, That the secretary draw up a narrative of the repulse our troops met with, and of the loss sustained in their unsuccessful attempt on Quebec, and lay the same before Congress. Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to prepare a letter to the inhabitants of Canada. The members chosen, Mr. Livington, Mr. Lynch and Mr. Wilson. Resolved, That the articles of war be translated into French, and 500 copies sent to Canada. The committee of claims reported, that there is due, To Adam Ekel, for wagonage from Lancaster to Cambridge, with captain Smith's company of riflemen, a balance of 43.3 dollars. To Deborah Siddens, for provisions for captain Ross's company, the sum of 15.3 dollars. To John Jervis, for ferriage, horse-hire, &c. the sum of 12 dollars. To the committee of Romboiet precinct, in Duchess county, in the colony of New-York, the sum of 129.4 dollars. To Robert Erwin, for wagonage, the sum of 67 dollars. To Timothy Matlack, for cash by him paid to Archibald Dick, the expenses of a guard over a powder-wagon, 16.4 dollars. Ordered, That the said accounts be paid. The Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on Indian affairs, which, after debate, was recommitted. Resolved, That an order be drawn on the treasurers, in favor of the committee of safety of the three lower counties on Delaware, for the sum of 3000 dollars, for the use of the battalion ordered to be raised in that colony; the said committee to be ordered to be accountable for the expenditure. Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow. WEDNESDAY, January 24, 1776. A letter from the committee of Trenton, of January the 23d, was read. The secretary laid before Congress an account of the repulse our troops met with in their attempt on Quebec, the 31st of December; which was read: Ordered, That the same be published. Resolved, That such of the soldiers, ordered to Canada, as are married, and are desirous of having part of their pay given to their wives, be indulged ; and that the captains or pay-master be directed, in future payment of such soldiers, to deduct such part of their monthly pay. Resolved, That the president be directed to inform general Schuyler, that the return of cannon mentioned in his letter of December 21st, is mislaid, and |