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are appointed to go and work for the Indians, and that the delegates of NewJersey be desired to provide and forward the same :

That an account of the money paid to the Pennsylvania troops who have marched to Canada, be sent to general Schuyler:

That the deputy muster-master general, Gunning Bedford, esq. be directed to repair to his post forthwith in the northern army in Canada, and that he muster the troops once in every month, and make returns to Congress and the commanding officer:

That the orders given by general Schuyler, in his letter of the 12th instant, to lieutenant-colonel Warner, be approved.

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

THURSDAY, February 29, 1776.

The colony of New-Hampshire having appointed delegates for the present year, William Whipple, esq. one of the said delegates, attended and produced the credentials of their appointment, which were read as follows:

"COLONY OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE-IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, January 23, 1776.

"Voted, That Josiah Bartlett, John Langdon, and William Whipple, esqs. be, and hereby are appointed delegates to represent this colony in the Continental Congress at Philadelphia for the term of one year from this time, any one of them, in the absence of the others, to have full power to represent this colony, and that not more than two of them attend at one time. Sent up for conP. WHITE, Speaker.

currence.

IN COUNCIL, eodem die.

Read and concurred.
A true copy from the journal of council.

Attest,

E. THOMPSON, Secretary.

E. THOMPSON, Secretary."

A letter of the 14th from general Washington, enclosing a letter from lord Drummond to general Robinson and sundry other papers, was read.

Agreeable to the order of the day, the Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the letter from general Washington, of the 9th instant, and the trade of the colonies after the 1st of March, and, after some time, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. Ward reported that the committee not having come to a conclusion, desired him to move for leave to sit again."

Resolved, That this Congress will, to-morrow, resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into further consideration the letter from general Washington, and the trade of the colonies.

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

FRIDAY, March 1, 1776.

A letter from the committee of safety of New-Hampshire, with a petition from the said colony, and sundry other papers, were read:

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

The members chosen, Mr. Wythe, Mr. Braxton, and Dr. Franklin.

A petition from the inhabitants of Falmouth being presented, was read. Resolved, That it be referred to a committee of three.

The members chosen, Mr. W. Livingston, Mr. Read and Mr. Paca.

A letter from J. Mease, commissary, with sundry queries, to which he requests the answers of Congress, that he may know how to conduct the business entrusted to him, was laid before Congress and read:

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

The members chosen, Mr. Rutledge, Mr. Paine, and Mr. Hewes.

A memorial of the merchants, traders and others, of the city of Philadelphia, was presented and read:

Resolved, That it be referred to a committee of the whole.

The general assembly of Massachusetts-Bay, having transmitted to Congress a state of the accounts of their colony against the continent,

Resolved, That the same be referred for liquidation to the committee of claims.

Resolved, That an addition of 34 dollars a month be added to the pay of Joseph Reed, esq. secretary to general Washington, on account of the extraordinary sevices at present attending that office, by reason of the general's direction of the naval department.

Resolved, That this Congress will, to-morrow, resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the letter of general Washington, of the 14th, with the papers enclosed.

Resolved, That the secret committee be directed to treat with the owners of some medicines lately imported, and to purchase the same on the most reasonable terms for the use of the continent.

Resolved, That major-general Lee be appointed to take the command of the continental forces in the southern department.

The Congress proceeded to the election of six brigadier-generals, and the ballots being delivered in and examined, the following gentlemen were chosen :

John Armstrong, esq.
William Thompson, esq.
Andrew Lewis, esq.

James Moore, esq.

The right hon. William, earl of Sterling.
Robert Howe, esq.

Resolved, That brigadier-general Armstrong be directed to repair to South1 Carolina, brigadiers Lewis and Howe to Virginia, and brigadier Moore to North-Carolina, and to take the command of the forces in those respective colonies, until they receive further orders from Congress or a superior officer. Resolved, That brigadier-general Thompson be directed to repair to New

York.

The orders of the day being postponed,
Adjourned to ten o'clock on Monday.

MONDAY, March 4, 1776.

Resolved, That Mr. Alsop be appointed a member of the committee of claims, in the room of Mr. Lewis, who is absent, and Mr. Whipple in the room of Mr. Bartlett, who desires to be excused from that service.

Resolved, That in case of the absence of any standing member of the committee of claims, the delegates of the colony to which he belongs, be empowered to nominate one of their members to act in the stead of the absent member, till his return.

Sundry letters and papers were received and read, viz.

A letter from the convention of New-York, of the 28th February, enclosing a recommendation of gentlemen for field-officers of the four battalions ordered to be raised in that colony :

Resolved, That the same be referred for consideration till to-morrow.

A memorial from sundry merchants of Montreal, respecting the Indian trade:

A resolution of the committee of inspection for the county of Accomac : Two letters from brigadier-general Wooster of the 11th and 13th February, with seven papers enclosed :

Two from brigadier-general Arnold, one of the 1st, and the other of the 12th of February:

Four from general Schuyler, dated the 15th, 20th, 21st, and 23d of the same month:

One from general Lee of the 29th:

One from the convention of New-Hampshire, of the 8th:
And one from the committee of safety of Pennsylvania.

Resolved, That the memorial from the merchants of Montreal be referred to a committee of five :

The members chosen, Mr. Wilson, Mr. J. Adams, Mr. W. Livingston, Mr. L. Morris, and Mr. Tilghman.

That the resolution from the committee of Accomac, be referred to the committee of the whole Congress.

That the letters from major-generals Lee and Schuyler, and from brigadiergenerals Wooster and Arnold, be referred to the committee appointed to prepare instructions for the commissioners going to Canada.

That the other letters be referred for consideration till to-morrow.

The committee appointed to examine and report the number and circumstances of the permits granted for exporting produce, &c. brought in their report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon,

Resolved, That the restraint be taken off, which, by a resolve of the 26th of last month, was laid upon vessels loading or loaded with produce for GreatBritain, Ireland, or the British West-Indies, in consequence of permissions granted for arms and ammunition, imported into these colonies.

Resolved, That the secret committee be directed, with all possible expedition, to send, under a guard, ten tons of powder to Cambridge, for the use of the army under the command of general Washington.

The committee, to whom the memorial from sundry inhabitants of Northum berland, and the petition from the inhabitants near Pittsburg, were referred, brought in their report, which was read:

Ordered, To lie on the table for the perusal of the members.

Resolved, That colonel Beletre, major Longeuil, and captain Lotbiniere, three of the Canadian prisoners who are at Bristol, in Pennsylvania, be per mitted to come to Philadelphia, to confer with the committee on prisoners. The order of the day being renewed,

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

TUESDAY, March 5, 1776.

Two letters from general Schuyler, dated the 26th and 27th of February, with four papers enclosed, among which was a letter from James Deane to general Schuyler, of the 24th of the same month, were received and read: Resolved, That the letter from James Deane be referred to a committee of three.

The members chosen, Mr. Rutledge, Mr. Wythe, and Mr. W. Livingston. The Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the memorial from the inhabitants of Northumberland, &c. Whereupon,

Resolved, As the said memorial relates merely to disputes between the memorialists and other inhabitants of said county, and to complaints against justices of the peace of the said county, and as the common courts of judicature, and especially the legislature of the colony of Pennsylvania, are altoge ther competent for remedying the grievances complained of, that the said memorial with the papers therewith delivered, be transmitted to the assembly of said colony.

The Congress then resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the letter from general Washington of the 14th of February, and the papers enclosed, and after some time the president resumed the chair, and Mr. Harrison reported, that the committee have had under consideration the letter and papers to them referred, but have come to no resolution thereon. Resolved, That the letter from general Washington, so far as it has not been considered by the committee of the whole, be referred to the committee to whom his other letters of the 24th and 30th of January were referred. The order of the day being renewed,

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

WEDNESDAY, March 6, 1776.

A letter from general Washington, of the 26th of February, was read: Resolved, That it be referred to the committee to whom his other letters are referred.

A letter from J. Palmer, enclosing a report of a committee of the general assembly of Massachusetts-Bay, respecting lead, was read:

Resolved, That the committee appointed on the 31st of July last, to enquire in all the colonies after virgin lead, leaden-ore, and the best method of collecting, smelting and refining it, and also the cheapest and easiest methods of making salt in these colonies, be discharged, and that the business of the said committee be referred to the committee appointed on the 23d of February last, to consider of farther ways and means of promoting and encouraging the manufacture of salt-petre, &c.

Resolved, That the letter from J. Palmer, with the enclosed report, be referred to the last mentioned committee.

A letter from general Washington, dated 18th and 21st of February last, enclosing the proceedings of a council of war, was read:

Resolved, That brigadier-general Thomas be appointed to command the forces in Canada, and that general Washington be directed to order him immediately to repair to that province.

Resolved, That brigadier-general Thomas be promoted to the rank of a majorgeneral, and that a commission be sent to him accordingly.

Ordered, That the president acquaint general Washington by express, of this arrangement.

Resolved, As sundry members of the marine committee are absent, that their places be supplied by Mr. Huntington, for Connecticut, Mr. Sergeant, for NewJersey, Mr. Harrison, for Virginia, and Mr. E. Rutledge, for South-Carolina.

Resolved, That the secret committee be directed to send five tons of powder to New-York for the use of the continental troops there, and five tons of powder to the southern department for the use of the troops in said department.

That the said committee be directed to return to the colony of Maryland the powder borrowed by Mr. Harrison, and to the colony of New-York, and to the committee of safety of Pennsylvania, the powder borrowed of them:

That the said committee be directed to deliver to the delegates of the Delaware government, one ton of powder, for which they are to be accountable, and to the delegates of New-Jersey, one ton of powder, for which that colony is to be accountable.

Resolved, That the president inform general Schuyler, that the Congress judge it necessary he should remain at Albany to make the proper arrangements respecting the army destined for Canada, and therefore that he establish his head quarters at Albany until farther orders.

Resolved, That Thomas Bullet, esq. be appointed deputy adjutant-general in the southern department, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel.

Resolved, That the secret committee be directed to deliver to colonel Wayne the arms in their possession, for the use of his battalion, retaining so many as will be necessary for the guard that is to attend the powder to Cambridge.

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

THURSDAY, March 7, 1776.

A letter from general Washington of the 29th of February, and a letter from general Schuyler, of the 23d of the same month, were received and read.

Resolved, That an order for one hundred thousand dollars be drawn on the treasurers, in favour of the delegates of Connecticut, in part of the money advanced by said colony, on account of the continent; and that the said colo

ny

be desired to send forward their accounts, with proper vouchers, in order for liquidation and payment.

The Congress being informed, that Isaac Melchior, on the evening of Saturday last, treated the president of this Congress with great rudeness, and made use of several disrespectful and contemptuous expressions towards him and this Congress,

Ordered, That the said Isaac Melchior attend the Congress to-morrow morning at eleven o'clock, to answer for his conduct.

Resolved, That Edward Hand, esq. be promoted to be colonel of the batta lion of riflemen in the army at Cambridge, and James Chambers, esq. to be lieutenant-colonel of the same.

That William Winds, esq. be promoted to be colonel of the first New-Jersey battalion, and that Matthias Ogden, esq. be appointed lieutenant-colonel of the

same.

Resolved, That the committee on qualifications be directed to supply the first and third New-Jersey battalions with proper medicine-chests and instruments. A letter from lord Sterling, with affidavits, relative to the capture of the Amboy packet-boat, was laid before Congress and read:

Resolved, That it be referred to the committee to whom the letters from general Washington were referred.

The committee to whom the letter from the committee of safety of NewHampshire was referred, brought in their report, which was read.

The committee of claims reported, that there is due,

To Hall and Sellers, for printing the continental bills of credit, the sum of 1735.4 dollars:

To Frederick Becking, for 102 reams of paper for the continental bills of credit, the sum of 707.2 dollars:

To the estate of David Hall, deceased, for stationary for the service of Congress, the sum of 50.6 dollars:

To Robert Erwin, for twenty cords of wood, the sum of eighty dollars: To Wallore Meng, for canteen straps, the sum of 84.3 dollars:

To Jared Tracey, for carrying money from Philadelphia to Cambridge, the sum of 36 dollars, and that the same ought to be paid to Josiah Bartlett, esq. To sundries, on certificates for provisions furnished several rifle companies, the sum of 35.3 dollars, and that the same ought to be paid to John Alsop, esq. To Thomas Apty, for boarding several prisoners taken from on board the Rebecca and Ann, the sum of 54.7 dollars.

To Robert Erwin, for wagonage, the sum of 637.7 dollars.

Ordered, That the above accounts be paid.

Resolved, That to-morrow be assigned for electing the field officers for the four battalions ordered to be raised in the colony of New-York, for the defence of the said colony.

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

FRIDAY, March 8, 1776.

Agreeable to the order of the day, the Congress proceeded to the election of field-officers of the four battalions, ordered to be raised in the colony of New-York, for the defence of the said colony, and the ballots being taken, the following gentlemen were chosen :

Alexander McDougal, esq. colonel, Herman Zedwitz, esq. lieutenant-colonel, Joseph Benedict, esq. major of the first battalion.

James Clinton, esq. colonel, Henry B. Livingston, esq. lieutenant-colonel, Peter P. Schuyler, esq. major of the second battalion.

Frederick Wiesenfels, lieutenant colonel, John Fisher, esq. major of the third battalion.

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