John Stadler and Monsieur Massenback were elected.

The Congress took into consideration the letter from the committee of safety of New-Jersey: Whereupon,

Resolved, That the minute-men employed by yongress under the command of colonel Heard, in the expedition to Long-Island, be allowed, while on that service, the same pay and rations as the continental troops in the middle department.

Resolved, That the delegates of New-York prepare an answer to the committee of safety of New-Jersey, and assign the reasons of the foregoing resolution.

The committee of claims reported, that there is due,

To William Tricket, for stationary, the sum of 41.7 dollars:

To Philip Apricht for provisions to general Lee's guard, the sum of 4.7 dollars, and that the same ought to be paid to Adam Kimmel :

To sundries, on certificates for necessaries furnished to the rifle companies, the sum of 42.2 dollars, and that 2.5 dollars, part of said sum, be charged to captain Cressop's company.

To sundries on certificates for rifles, shirts, &c. furnished to captain Cluggage's company, the sum of 81.1 dollars, which ought to be paid to John Montgomery, esq. and charged to said company,

To Robert Erwin, wagon-master, on an account now settled, the sum of 409.3 dollars.

To Sacheverel Wood, for provisions furnished by him to several prisoners in the gaol of Philadelphia, the sum of 137.6 dollars:

To Thomas Dewees, for provisions for Connolly, Cameron, Smith, ana land, the sum of 57.8 dollars.

Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

1

Kirk

The committee appointed to confer with major Wrixon, brought in their re

port, which was read:

Resolved, That each regimental surgeon be allowed a mate':

That the pay of a surgeon's mate be 18 dollars a month.

Resolved, That suitable chirurgical instruments be purchased with each medicine chest.

Resolved, That each brigadier-general, when on command, be empowered to appoint a brigade-major.

Adjourned to ten o'clock on Monday.

MONDAY, April 1, 1776.

Resolved, That captain D. Arundel be allowed 48.5 dollars, in full for pay and subsistence from the 8th of February, the time he was recommended to general Schuyler, to the 19th of March, when he received his commission.

Resolved, That Mr. J. Mease be directed to advance captain Romans one month's pay for himself and the officers and men of his company, and also subsistence money to Albany.

The committee to whom the petition of captain White-Eyes was referred, brought in their report, which was read:

Resolved, That the same be taken into consideration to-morrow.

The Congress having, on the 17th of February last, appointed a standing committee for superintending the treasury, with power, among other things," to employ and instruct proper persons for liquidating the public accounts; and the said resolutions not being sufficiently explicit, with respect to the manner and place of settling those accounts, and it being a matter of great consequence, that the public accounts should be regularly stated and kept, and ́ justly liquidated and settled;

Resolved, therefore, That a treasury-office of accounts be instituted and established, and that such office be kept in the city or place, where Congress shall, from time to time, be assembled and hold their sessions,

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That the said office of accounts be under the direction and superintendence of the standing committee for the treasury:

That an auditor-general, and a competent number of assistants and clerks, be appointed by Congress, and employed, for stating, arranging, and keeping the public accounts:

That all accounts and claims against the United Colonies, for services or supplies, where the rates or prices have not been ascertained by Congress, shall be presented to the committee of claims, liquidated by them, and reported to and allowed by Congress, previous to their being passed at the treasuryoffice; that all other accounts and claims, consisting of articles, the price or value of which shall have previously been fixed by contract, or otherwise ascertained by Congress, shall be liquidated and settled at the treasury-office, and reported for the allowance of Congress, by the committee for superintending the treasury, and then passed and entered at the treasury-office.

That all contracts, securities, and obligations, for the use and benefit of the United Colonies, shall be lodged and kept in the treasury-office of accounts; and that all persons to whom public monies have been or shall be advanced or paid, shall be charged with the same in the books of the said office, for which every warrant on the treasury, which shall issue after the said office shall be opened, shall, previous to its being paid, be entered at the treasury-office, and the entry certified on the warrant, by one of the committee on the treasury, the auditor-general, or one of his assistants or clerks; provided, however, that all orders or warrants issued by committees appointed and authorized by Congress to draw on the treasurers for particular purposes, shall be paid and charged to the account of the said committee respectively, until they shall settle and have their accounts passed by Congress, when the debits against them shall be discharged in the treasury-office, by such credits as Congress shall agree to and allow:

That all assemblies, conventions, councils, or committees of safety, commissaries, pay-masters, and others, entrusted with public monies, shall, within a reasonable time, after being called upon for that purpose by the committee of the treasury, produce their accounts and vouchers at the treasury office, in order to their being settled and adjusted in the manner before directed:

That the committee for superintending the treasury shall be authorized to apply to the commanding officers and others, in the continental service, for such materials and information, as the committee may judge to be useful, for stating, explaining, or checking the public accounts, in order to their being fairly and justly settled:

That the auditor-general and his assistants or clerks, before entering upon their offices, shall, respectively, take an oath, to be administered by one or more of the committee of the treasury-office (a certificate whereof shall be filed in the treasury-office) well and faithfully to execute the trust reposed in them, as auditor, assistant, or clerk, (as the case may be,) of the office of accounts, established by Congress, according to the best of their skill and judg ment, and to disclose no matter, the knowledge of which shall be acquired in consequence of such their office, which they shall be directed to keep secret: That the committee for superintending the treasury shall be authorized to hire suitable places, and procure books of accounts and other necessaries at the public expense, for the establishing and doing the business of the said office. Resolved, That major James Hewes, a prisoner at Elizabethtown, be allowed and ordered to come to Philadelphia for the benefit of his health, and there to wait on the committee for prisoners, and take their directions with respect to the place of his future residence.

Resolved, That Mr. M'Kean and Mr. Paine be directed to examine the gaol of Philadelphia, and particularly the apartments where Kirkland, Connolly, Smith and Cameron are confined, and report what is necessary to be done to have them safely and securely kept.

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to confer with James M'Knight, and examine his account, and the nature of his claim, and report thereon to Congress.

The members chosen, Mr. R. Morris, Mr. M'Kean, and Mr. De Hart.

The committee on qualifications having recommended Jacob Kemper, jun. to be appointed an ensign in captain Howell's company in the first New-Jersey battalion, in the room of Cyprus De Hart, who has resigned,

Resolved, That he be appointed, and that a commission be granted to him accordingly.

Resolved, That the president, in his next letter to general Schuyler, desire him to send an account of the lead at Ticonderoga.

A letter from Alexander M'Donnald, George Gillespie, and J. W. Saunders, of the 12th of March, was presented to Congress and read:

Resolved, That it be referred to Mr. R. Morris, Mr. M'Kean, and Mr. De Hart.

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

TUESDAY, April 2, 1776.

A letter from general Washington, of the 24th of March, with five papers enclosed, was laid before Congress and read.

The committee appointed to prepare the form of a commission, and instructions to commanders of private ships of war, brought in the same, which were read.

The commission, being agreed to, is as follows:

of the

to

called

The delegates of the United Colonies of New-Hampshire, &c. to all to whom these presents shall come, greeting: Know ye, that we have granted, and, by these presents, do grant, license and authority to mariner, commander of the burden of tons, or thereabouts, belonging of in the colony of mounting carriage guns, and navigated by men, to fit out and set forth the said in a warlike manner, and by and with the said and the crew thereof, by force of arms, to attack, seize and take the ships and other vessels belonging to the inhabitants of Great-Britain, or any of them, with their tackle, apparel, furniture, and lading, on the high seas, or between high and low water marks, and to bring the same to some convenient ports in the said colonies, in order that the courts which are or shall be there appointed to hear and determine causes, civil and maritime, may proceed, in due form, to condemn the said captures, if they be adjudged lawful prize; the'said having given bond, with sufficient sureties, that nothing be done by the said or any of the officers, mariners, or company thereof, contrary to, or inconsistent with the usages and customs of nations, and the instructions, a copy of which is herewith delivered to him. And we will and require all our officers whatsoever to give succor and assistance to the said in the premises. This commission shall continue in force until the Congress shall issue orders to the contrary.

Attest,

By order of Congress.

President.

The Congress then took into consideration the draught of instructions; and, after some time spent thereon,

Resolved, That it be recommitted, and that it be an instruction to the committee, to fill up the blanks in said draught as they shall think best.

The committee appointed to prepare a letter of thanks to general Washington, and the officers and soldiers under his command, brought in a draught, which was read and agreed to:

Ordered, That it be transcribed, signed by the president, and forwarded. The committee on prisoners, to whom the letter from M. Belletre, of the 16th

of March last, was referred, brought in their report, which was read: Whereupon,

Resolved, That the sum of 3,400 dollars be advanced by the treasurers to M. Belletre, on his delivering to them his bills of exchange for the like sum, payable in gold or silver in the province of Canada.

A petition from William Lindsay being presented to Congress and read, Resolved, That colonel Wayne be directed to discharge Robert, the son of said William Lindsay, inlisted in his battalion.

The matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

WEDNESDAY, April 3, 1776.

Resolved, That the letter from general Washington, of the 24th of March, with the papers enclosed, be referred to a committee of three.

The members chosen, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Jay, and Mr. Wilson.

A memorial and petition from captain John Nelson was presented to Congress and read; also,

A petition from P. Moore, in behalf of the owners of the sloops Congress and Chance privateers, was presented and read:

Resolved, That the secret committee be directed to sell said owners 400 lbs. of powder for the use of their privateers.

The committee of claims, to whom the account of Messrs. Price and Haywood was referred, brought in their report: Whereupon,

Resolved, That there be advanced to Messrs. Price and Haywood, the sum of 64,358.6 dollars on account of supplies to the army in Canada, to be accounted for on the settlement of their accounts; and that general Wooster be directed to forward the accounts and vouchers lodged in his hands.

The said committee farther reported, that there is due,

To the township of Montague, in the county of Sussex, in New-Jersey, for slay-hire, in forwarding the prisoners from Canada, under the command of captain Brasher, the sum of 45 dollars, and that the same ought to be paid to Nicholas Christopher.

Ordered, That the same be paid.

A letter from H. Fisher, of Lewistown, to the committee of safety of Pennsylvania, together with a resolve of said committee, being laid before Congress and read,

Resolved, That the commanding officer of the battalion raised in Delaware government, be directed to send two companies of said battalion to Lewistown, there to remain in the service of the continent till farther orders.

Resolved, That the marine committee be directed and empowered to fit out, with all expedition, two armed cutters, for the service of the continent.

Resolved, That blank commissions for private ships of war and letters of marque and reprisal, signed by the president, be sent to the general assemblies, conventions, and councils or committees of safety of the United Colonies, to be by them filled up and delivered to the persons intending to fit out such pri vate ships of war, for making captures of British vessels and cargoes, who shall apply for the same, and execute the bonds which shall be sent with the said commissions, which bonds shall be returned to the Congress.

Resolved, That every person intending to set forth and fit out a private ship or vessel of war, and applying for a commission or letters of marque and reprisal for that purpose, shall produce a writing subscribed by him, containing the name and tonnage or burden of the ship or vessel, the number of her guns, with their weight of metal, the name and place of residence of the owner or owners, the names of the commander and other officers, the number of the crew, and the quantity of provisions and war-like stores; which writing shall be delivered to the secretary of Congress, or to the clerk of the house of re

called , belonging to

,

presentatives, convention, or council, or committee of safety of the colony in which the ship or vessel shall be, to be transmitted to the said secretary, and shall be registered by him; and that the commander of the ship or vessel, before the commission or letters of marque and reprisal may be granted, shall, together with sureties, seal and deliver a bond, in the penalty of five thousand dollars, if the vessel be of one hundred tons or under, or ten thousand dollars, if of a greater burden, payable to the president of the Congress, in trust for the use of the United Colonies, with condition in the form following, to wit: "The condition of this obligation is such, that if the above bounden who is commander of the of in the colony of, mounting carriage guns, and navigated by men, and who hath applied for a commission, and letters of marque and reprisal, to arm, equip, and set forth to sea, the said as a private ship of war, and to make captures of British vessels and cargoes, shall not exceed or transgress the powers and authorities which shall be contained in the said commission, but shall, in all things, observe and conduct himself, and govern his crew, by and according to the same, and certain instructions therewith to be delivered, and such other instructions as may hereafter be given to him, and shall make reparation for all damages sustained by any misconduct or unwarrantable proceedings of himself, or the officers or crew of the said ; then this obligation shall be void, or else remain in force ;" which bond shall be lodged with the said secretary of Congress.

The committee to whom the instructions to the commanders of private ships or vessels of war, were recommitted, brought in a report, which being taken into consideration, and debated by paragraphs, was agreed to as follows:

Instructions to the commanders of private ships or vessels of war, which shall have commissions or letters of marque and reprisal, authorizing them to make captures of British vessels and cargoes. 1. You may, by force of arms, attack, subdue, and take all ships and other vessels belonging to the inhabitants of Great-Britain, on the high seas, or between high water and low water marks, except ships and vessels bringing persons who intend to settle and reside in the United Colonies; or bringing arms, ammunition, or war-like stores, to the said colonies, for the use of such inhabitants thereof as are friends to the American cause, which you shall suffer to pass unmolested, the commanders thereof permitting a peaceable search, and giving satisfactory information of the contents of the ladings, and destinations of the voyages.

2. You may, by force of arms, attack, subdue, and take all ships and other vessels whatsoever, carrying soldiers, arms, gunpowder, ammunition, provisions, or any other contraband goods, to any of the British armies or ships of war employed against these colonies.

3. You shall bring such ships and vessels, as you shall take, with their guns, rigging, tackle, apparel, furniture, and ladings, to some convenient port or ports of the United Colonies, that proceedings may thereupon be had, in due form, before the courts, which are or shall be there appointed to hear and determine causes civil and maritime.

4. You, or one of your chief officers, shall bring or send the master and pilot, and one or more principal person or persons of the company of every ship or vessel by you taken, as soon after the capture as may be, to the judge or judges of such court as aforesaid, to be examined upon oath, and make answer to the interrogatories which may be propounded, touching the interest or property of the ship or vessel, and her lading; and, at the same time, you shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the judge or judges, all passes, sea-briefs, charter-parties, bills of lading, cockets, letters, and other documents and writings found on board, proving the said papers, by the affidavit of yourself, or of some other person present at the capture, to be produced as they were received, without fraud, addition, subduction or embezzlement.