Cornelius D. Wyncoop, esq. colonel, Philip Courtlandt, esq. lieutenant colonel, John Nicholson, esq. major of the fourth battalion. The Congress being informed that Mr. Melchior was attending agreeable to the orders of yesterday: Ordered, That he be called in. Mr. Melchior appearing, the particulars of the charge were repeated to him, and on his assuring the house of his not remembering his having behaved with the disrespect mentioned, owing to the particular circumstances he happened to be under, and asking pardon of the Congress and president for his indecent behaviour, Ordered, That in consideration of Mr. Melchior's former services, and his present concessions, he be dismissed from farther attendance. The committee, to whom the letters from major-general Schuyler, brigadiergeneral Wooster, and brigadier-general Arnold were referred, brought in their report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon, Resolved, That the commissioners appointed to go to Canada, be desired to enquire into the cause of the imprisonment of the officers of militia, in that country and others, and take such measures in concert with the commanding officer of the continental forces there, for their enlargement or confinement, as are consistent with the principles of justice, and the safety of the United Colonies. That the provisions made by general Lee and general Schuyler to supply the army in Canada with pork, the direction given by general Lee to have wheat ground into flour for their use, and his contract with the company of carpenters, be approved; and that Mr Peter Zabriskie, of Hackinsack, be employed to transport the pork, to be procured in New-Jersey, to Hudson's river, according to general Schuyler's desire. That when the articles specified, in the rations allowed to the prisoners of war, cannot be procured, the persons who supply them with other provisions, be entitled to eight pence, New-York currency, or one-twelfth of a dollar per day for every prisoner: That Indians be not employed as soldiers in the armies of the United Colonies, before the tribes to which they belong shall, in a national council, held in the customary manner, have consented thereunto, nor then, without express approbation of Congress. That general Schuyler be directed to provide such a number of batteaus for the service in Canada, as shall be sufficient for it. That general Schuyler be desired to purchase the cloth, which Mr. Henry, of Albany, hath for tents. That the committee of inspection and observation for the city and liberties of Philadelphia, be desired to collect all the gold and silver coin they can, to be exchanged for continental bills of credit, for the service of Canada. Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to enquire and report the best ways and means of supplying the army in Canada with provisions and necessaries: The members chosen, Mr. Gerry, Mr. Wolcott, and Mr. L. Morris. Resolved, That an order for 10,000 dollars, be drawn on the treasurers, in favor of the committee appointed to contract for the making of muskets, the said committee to be accountable. A letter from colonel Hazen, of the 18th of February last, enclosing an account and estimate of the losses he has sustained, was received and read: Resolved, That the same be referred to Mr. Wythe, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Ward, and Mr. S. Adams, who are directed to examine the said account, and report upon the several articles. A letter from governor Trumbull, of the 2d, and a letter from general Lee, of the 5th, being received, were read. Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow. 36 VOL. I. SATURDAY, March 9, 1776. Resolved, That a letter be written to general Washington, desiring him to send captain Conner, of the rifle battalion, to Philadelphia, the Congress having occasion to employ him in the southern department. The committee appointed to prepare instructions for the commissioners going to Canada, brought in a draught which was read: Ordered, To lie on the table for the perusal of the members. Two petitions, one from Stephen Decatur, master of the schooner L'Esperence, and one from John Baptisto Hugonence, master of the Tartar the Marc Anthony, were presented to Congress and read, praying leave to export certain species of produce, on conditions specified in their petitions. Resolved, That the prayer of said petitions be granted. Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to take into consideration the state of the colonies in the southern department: The members chosen, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Jay, Mr. S. Adams, Mr. Sergeant, and Mr. Sherman. Resolved, That the following gentlemen be appointed and authorized to sign and number the bills of credit of four millions of dollars, now emitting, viz: Samuel Morris, John Kaighn, Nicholas Garrison, Joseph Watkins, Anthony Morris, Frederick Kuhl, Matthew Clarkson, John Ord, William Webb, Isaac Hazlehurst, Thomas Morris, Mordecai Lewis, Cornelius Barnes, Jonathan B. Smith, Robert Tuckniss, Thomas Coombe, Daniel Clymer, George Campbell, Joseph Parker, Robert Evans, Adam Hubley, Joel Evans, John Mease, John Purviance, Robert Hazlehurst, Walter Shee, Joseph Redman, Phineas Bond, William Masters, John Salter, John Howard, Thomas Leech, Thomas Smith, Philip Kinsey, Robert Roberts, Isaac Howell, James Milligan, Tench Tilghman, Joseph Bullock, David Duncan, John Shaw, jun. James Thompson, Benjamin Brannan, Samuel Sellers, Isaac Pearson, John Sellers, Benjamin Jacobs, Israel Wheelen, Josiah Hewes, Andrew Tybout, George Douglas, Peter Stretch, Samuel C. Morris, Samuel Hillegas, Nathan Sellers, George Gray, jun. James Ash, Samuel Massey, John Williams, and William Coates. Resolved, That before the signers enter upon their office, they shall respectively take an oath or affirmation before any magistrate, which shall be filed with the committee of the treasury, to the following effect; that they shall well and truly sign and number all the bills to be delivered to them by the inspectors of the press appointed by the Congress, and the same so signed and numbered, shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the continental treasurers, or one of them. And, for avoiding the dangers from fire, robbery, or negligence, Resolved, That the inspectors of the press shali not deliver to any class of signers more than two parcels of two hundred sheets each, to be in their hands. at any one time. Resolved, That no oath by way of test be imposed upon, exacted, or required of any of the inhabitants of these colonies, by any military officers. Resolved, That the secret committee be directed to deliver one ton of powder to the delegates of Maryland, for the public service in that colony. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, Adjourned to ten o'clock on Monday next. MONDAY, March 11, 1776. A letter from lord Sterling, of the 8th, enclosing three papers; and A letter of the convention of New-York, of the 7th, enclosing an application from Patrick Sinclair, a prisoner, for leave to return to Europe, were laid before Congress and read. The Congress, taking into consideration the letter from the convention of New-York, and the application of P. Sinclair, Resolved, That Patrick Sinclair be allowed to return to Europe. Resolved, That an order for 2,500 dollars be drawn on the treasurers in favor of Mr. Alsop, Mr. Lewis, and Mr. Sherman, to enable them to pay for the shoes purchased by them for the northern army. Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to confer with gen. Lee, respecting the ways and means of defending New-York. The members chosen, Mr. R. H. Lee, Mr. Whipple, and Mr. Rutledge. To Benjamin Town, for 789 canteens, the sum of 341.9 dollars. Ordered, That the same be paid. Resolved, That the committee on qualifications be directed to provide six medicine-chests for the six Virginia battalions. The Congress took into consideration the instructions to the commissioners' going to Canada, and having spent some time thereon, Resolved, That the further consideration thereof be postponed till to-morrow. TUESDAY, March 12, 1776. Resolved, That an order for 20,000 dollars be drawn on the treasurers in favor of James Mease, commissary, he to be accountable. A petition from Edmund Custis, and a letter from the committees of Accomac and Northampton, were presented to Congress and read: Resolved, That the same be referred to the committee of the whole Congress. A letter from sundry inhabitants of Westmoreland, of the 6th instant, was read: Ordered, To lie on the table. A petition from Dr. Hall Jackson, was presented to Congress and read. The Congress then resumed the consideration of the instructions to the commissioners going to Canada, and after some time spent thereon, Resolved, That the farther consideration thereof be postponed till to-morrow. The committee to whom the letter from colonel Moses Hazen, and the report of persons appointed to state the account of losses and damages sustained by him in Canada, were referred, brought in their report, which was read as fol lows: It appears to your committee that the loss and damage sustained by colonel Hazen in Canada, have not been estimated with sufficient accuracy; that some of the articles enumerated in the inventory are presumed to be over-rated, the quantities of several other sreducible to exactness in number, weight, or measure, are not ascertained, and the reasons for the knowledge or belief of any of them by the witnesses are not explicit enough in their examinations; that, although the grain, grass and hay mentioned in the account are admitted by colonel Hazen, in his letter, to have been partly destroyed by the ministerial troops, the whole value is extended; that the estimate of crops are so general, it cannot be discovered by what rule they were formed, or to what standard adjusted; that the damage done to the dwelling-house, stone-house, out-houses, barn, and farms, are not particularized or specified; that a considerable part of what a reimbursement is claimed for, is household furniture, wearing apparel, tools, utensils, cables, and anchors, suggested to have been plundered by the troops of the United Colonies, and Canadians who joined them; and your committee believe that no reparation of the like kind hath yet been made by Congress; and that the profit which might have been made of the mills and houses, if the owner had not been deprived of the use of them, being merely contingent and conjectural, are such as have not usually been made good in similar cases Whereupon, papers Resolved, That the commissioners who are going to Canada be desired to appoint proper persons to examine, state and settle an account of the loss and damage colonel Hazen hath sustained in his property and possessions in Canada, by the forces of the United Colonies, and report the same, with any special matters they may think fit, to Congress; annexing to their report the estimates, examinations of the witnesses, and other relative thereto : Resolved, That if any of the gentlemen appointed field officers in the four battalions raising in New-York, for the defence of that colony, are provided for in Canada, they be directed to continue there, exercising the offices to which they are appointed, and that others be elected in their room, in the four battalions aforesaid; and that such of them as are not provided for in Canada, be directed immediately to repair to their respective battalions. The matters to this day referred, being postponed, Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow. WEDNESDAY, March 13, 1776. A letter from the committee of Essex, in New-Jersey, of the 7th, and a letter from captain J. Macpherson, of the 12th, were laid before Congress, and read : Resolved, That an order for 1000 dollars be drawn on the treasurers in favor of Samuel Fairlamb, contractor for suppplying colonel Wayne's battalion with rations, be to be accountable. Resolved, That the bills drawn by the treasurers of North-Carolina, for the use of the continental troops in that colony, be paid. Resolved, That the secret committee be directed to supply the colony of Maryland with 500 lb. of powder, for the use of the inhabitants of Cœcil county. Resolved, That a committee of seven be appointed to enquire and report the best ways and means of raising the necessary supplies to defray the expenses of the war for the present year, over and above the emission of bills of credit. The members chosen, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Duane, Mr. Hewes, Mr. Gerry, Mr. R. Morris, Mr. Ward, and Mr. Wythe. The committee of claims reported, that there is due, To sundries, for expenses incurred at the oration in memory of general Montgomery, the sum of 94.3 dollars, and that the same ought to be paid to Dr. Franklin. Ordered, That the same be paid. The committee to whom the memorial from the Indian traders at Montreal was referred, brought in their report. The Congress then resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the memorial from the merchants, traders, and others, inhabitants of Philadelphia, the memorial of Edmund Custis, the letters from the committees of Accomac and Northampton, the letters from general Washington, and 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 have had under consideration the matters referred to them, but not having come to any resolution, 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 their farther consideration the matters heretofore referred to them. Mr. W. Livingston moved for leave to bring in a resolution for appointing a fast, which was granted. Resolved, That the marine committee be empowered to purchase the armed vessel now in the river Delaware, on the most reasonable terms, for the services of the continent, and that her destination be left to the said committee. Resolved, That the expenses of the horses of aids-de-camp, when travelling in the public service, be charged to the account of the United Colonies. Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow. THURSDAY, March 14, 1776. The committee appointed to confer with general Lee respecting the defence of New-York, brought in their report, which was read: Whereupon, Resolved, That eight thousand men be ordered for the defence of the colony of New-York. Resolved, That orders issue to colonel Irvine, colonel Shee, and colonel Magaw, of the Pennsylvania troops, and to colonel Dayton of the New-Jersey troops, to march immediately, with their respective battalions, to NewYork, and to put themselves under the direction of the commanding officer there. A letter from general Prescot of the 14th, was laid before Congress, and read : Resolved, That the committee on prisoners be directed to confer with gen. Prescot on the subject of his letter, and report to Congress. Resolved, That it be recommended to the several assemblies, conventions, and committees or councils of safety of the United Colonies, immediately to cause all persons to be disarmed within their respective colonies, who are notoriously disaffected to the cause of America, or who have not associated, and shall refuse to associate, to defend, by arms, these United Colonies, against the hostile attempts of the British fleets and armies; and to apply the arms taken from such persons in each respective colony, in the first place to the arming the continental troops raised in said colony; in the next, to the arming such troops as are raised by the colony for its own defence, and the residue to be applied to the arming the associators; that the arms when taken be appraised by indifferent persons, and such as are applied to the arming the continental troops, be paid for by the Congress, and the residue by the respective assemblies, conventions, or councils, or committees of safety: Ordered, That a copy of the foregoing resolution be transmitted by the delegates of each colony, to their respective assemblies, conventions, or councils, or committees of safety. The committee of claims reported, that there is due, To William Hencher, for wagon-hire, in conveying captain Stevenson's baggage, &c. to Cambridge, the sum of 58.3 dollars, and that the same ought to be paid to Moses Hunter. To Rachel Stille, for boarding several officers, prisoners, to the 8th of March instant, the sum of 224.7 dollars. To Joseph Fineur, for five hundred and eleven tin cartridge boxes, the sum of 221.4 dollars. Ordered, That the above accounts be paid. The matters to this day referred, being postponed, FRIDAY, March 15, 1776. Sundry letters being received, were laid before Congress and read, viz. One from general Washington of the 7th, with two papers enclosed, with a number of intercepted letters; two from lord Sterling, dated the 12th and 13th; one from lieutenant-colonel Allen of the 13th; one from the convention of New-York; and one from general Schuyler of the 6th. Resolved, That the expenses of the horses of general officers, when travelling in the service of the continent, be defrayed by the United Colonies. Ordered, That Mr. R. H. Lee, and Mr. Franklin, call on general Lee, and direct him immediately to repair to the southern department, and take the command of the forces there. |