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Resolved, That a commissioner be appointed to settle in Canada the debts due on certificates, given by officers to the Canadians for carriages and other services; and to settle the accounts for such goods, as may have been seized, through necessity, for the use of the army; that it be given as instruction to him, to attend particularly to the case of Mr. Bernard; and that, in settling the certified debts, he state carefully the names of all those who have given certificates, the nature of the service, and the time when performed, and return the whole, when settled and stated, to the committee of the treasury, to be by them examined and discharged:

That Thursday next be assigned for electing the said commissioner.

Resolved, That no man in these colonies, charged with being a tory, or unfriendly to the cause of American liberty, be injured in his person or property, or in any manner whatever disturbed, unless the proceeding against him be founded on an order of this Congress, or the assembly, convention, council or committee of safety of the colony, or committee of inspection and observation, of the district where he resides; provided, that this resolution shall not prevent the apprehending any person found in the commission of some act destructive of American liberty, or justly suspected of a design to commit such act, and intending to escape, and bringing such person before proper authority for examination and trial.

Information being given, that some of the officers, who were prisoners at Lebanon, in the colony of Pennsylvania, have, in violation of the parole by them given and subscribed, made their escape,

Resolved, That it be referred to the board of war and ordnance to consider what steps are necessary to be taken on the occasion.

The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

WEDNESDAY June, 19, 1776.

A letter from the convention of New-Jersey of the 18th, enclosing an ordinance for raising 3300 militia for the defence of New-York, together with their proceedings in apprehending William Franklin, esq. late governor of that colony, was laid before Congress, and read; Whereupon,

Resolved, That it be recommended to the convention of New-Jersey, to proceed on the examination of Mr. Franklin, and if, upon such examination, they shall be of opinion that he should be confined, to report such opinion to this Congress, and then the Congress will direct the place of his confinement, they concurring in sentiment with the convention of New-Jersey, that it would be improper to confine him in that colony.

The board of war and ordnance, to whom sundry letters and papers were referred, particularly one from general Washington of the 16th, brought in their report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

Resolved, That the commissions granted by brigadier-general Sullivan, to sundry officers in Canada, mentioned in general Washington's letter, be approved and confirmed, provided, general Gates and the general officers in Canada, on consultation, shall think the measure will conduce to the public service. That 300,000 dollars be sent to the pay-master general at New-York, for the use of the army.

The committee of claims reported, that there is due,

To John Jervis, for horse-hire, ferriages, &c. the sum of 33 10-90 dollars: To John Bruce, the sum of 13 36-90 dollars, being the balance of his bill for cartouch boxes:

To Joseph Fernaur, the sum of 17 3-90 dollars, the balance of his bill for tin cartouch boxes:

To Sacheveral Wood, the sum of 187 26-90 dollars, for victualling prisoners confined in gaol by order of Congress :

To George Reinheart, for the carriage of powder, arms, and bullets, the sum of 20 48-90 dollars:

To Thomas Harvey, for cash paid by him for guards of powder-wagons, and also his bills for ferriages, the hire of wagons, &c. the sum of 27 20-90 dollars, and that the same ought to be paid to Samuel Hillegas, esq.

To Mary Thomas, for nursing and boarding two of captain Benezet's men, in the small-pox, the sum of 12 dollars :

Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

A muster-roll of the ninth Virginia battalion, commanded by colonel Flemming, taken the 31st of May last, was laid before Congress: Whereupon, Resolved, That the said battalion be taken into continental pay from the said 31st day of May.

Resolved, That one ton of gun-powder be sent to the colonel or commanding officer of the said battalion :

That the committee for preparing medicine-chests, be directed to send one to the surgeon of the said battalion.

Resolved, That the marine-committee be directed to carry into execution the resolution of the 17th, for sending carpenters to general Schuyler.

A memorial from the mates of the hospital was laid before Congress and read: Resolved, That it be referred to the committee for providing medicines. Whereas it is indispensably necessary for the good of the service, that the soldiers of the United Colonies be well provided with blankets and clothing; therefore,

Resolved, That it be recommended to the assembles and conventions of the United Colonies, forthwith to cause a suit of clothes, of which the waistcoat and breeches may be made of deer leather, if to be had on reasonable terms, a blanket, felt hat, two shirts, two pair of hose, and two pair of shoes, to be manufactured, or otherwise procured at reasonable rates, in their respective colonies, for each soldier of the American army, inlisted therein for the present campaign, and that the same be baled, invoiced, and stored in suitable places, to be delivered to the order of Congress, or the commander in chief of the American army:

That sufficient sums of money be granted to the assemblies and conventions aforesaid, on applying for the same, to enable them to discharge the demands arising from the purchase of the articles aforesaid:

That the commander in chief of the American army be empowered to draw on the assemblies and conventions, for such articles of clothing aforesaid, as he shall, from time to time judge necessary, and that the cost thereof be deducted from the pay of the soldiers who shall receive the same, by the proper officer for examining and discharging the accounts and pay-rolls of the respective regiments.

The marine committee, to whom the petition of William Adams, surgeon, was referred, brought in their report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon,

Resolved, That the resignation of William Adams be accepted.

The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

THURSDAY, June 20, 1776.

A letter of the 17th from general Washington, and a letter from the convention of New-Jersey, were laid before Congress, and read.

that

Resolved, That in order to give time to the several committees, to prepare for the house the matters referred to them, it be a standing rule of Congress, adjournments from the Friday evening, be always to Monday morning, unless on any particular occasion, the Congress shall order otherwise.

A petition from Carpenter Wharton was presented to Congress and read: Resolved, That it be referred to the board of war and ordnance.

The Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the cartel between brigadier-general Arnold and captain Foster, for exchange of prisoners; and, after debate, the farther consideration thereof was postponed till to-morrow.

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to draw up rules and regulations for the conduct of the house during debates:

The members chosen, Mr. Rutledge, Mr. Jefferson, and Mr. Paine.
The committee of claims reported, that there is due,

To captain William Richards, for the detention of his shallop twenty days on the public service, the sum of 40 dollars:

To Robert Erwin, wagon-master, for wagonage, the sum of 207 30-90 dollars : To David Williamson, for wagon-hire, carrying captain James Grier's baggage from Fredericksburg to New-York, and returning home, the sum of 147 dollars:

To Abraham Mills, for nursing and boarding six soldiers in the small-pox, the sum of 33 86-90 dollars:

To Samuel Cooper, for ferriage and storage, the sum of 26 12-90 dollars: To Leonard Stoneburner, for one team hauling the baggage of captain Williams's company 18 miles beyond Goshen, and two teams hauling the baggage of captain Jones's company to Albany, the sum of 414 54-90 dollars:

On two certificates produced by H. Wisner, esq. the sum of 11 45-90 dollars, expenses of the first Pennsylvania battalion, at Goshen, and that the same ought to be paid to Henry Wisner, esq. and charged to J. Shallus, quarter-master of the said battalion :

Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to consider what provision ought to be made for such as are wounded or disabled in the land or sea service, and report a plan for that purpose:

The members chosen, Mr. Paine, Mr. F. Lee, Mr. Hall, Mr. Ellery, and Mr. Lewis.

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

FRIDAY, June 21, 1776.

Resolved, That general Washington be directed to permit brigadier-general Wooster to return to his family in Connecticut.

Resolved, That the commanding officer of the Delaware battalion, be directed to send a proper guard, with the powder ordered to colonel Flemming's regiment, on the Eastern-Shore of Virginia.

Resolved, That an order for $00,000 dollars be drawn on the treasurers, in favor of the delegates of South-Carolina, for the use of the continental battalions in that colony; the said delegates to be accountable:

The committee of claims reported, that there is due,

To Rowland Swan, a captain of his Britannic majesty's 7th regiment of foot, the sum of 36 dollars, for eighteen weeks' allowance, and 12 dollars for bringing his baggage from New-York to Philadelphia, together with the baggage of capt. Dundee, and three privates of the said regiment:

To Joseph Haight, for supplying the prisoners at Burlington with provisions to the 4th of June instant, the sum of 238 dollars:

To Andrew M'Nair, the sum of 120 23-90 dollars for provisions, &c. for the twenty-four Indians, while at the state-house, which was twenty days:

To Michael Clark, for liquor for the above Indians, the sum of 27 66-90 dollars :

Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

A letter of the 21st, from the convention of New-Jersey, was laid before Congress and read, together with sundry letters from the prisoners in Burlington.

Resolved, That the pay of the commissioner to be sent into Canada be four dollars a day.

The board of war and ordnance, to whom was referred the case of the offi cers who served last winter in Canada, brought in a report, which was taken in to consideration: Whereupon,

Resolved, That the convention of New-York be requested to set on foot the raising another regiment on continental establishment, to serve for three years, or during the war, unless sooner discharged by Congress; and that in forming the said regiment, they commission such officers as served in the last campaign in Canada, and have not been yet provided for:

That the said officers be informed that the commissions to be granted them, are on condition that they raise their companies to their full complement, or nearly thereto, and that their commissions be withheld until the said condition be complied with:

That it be recommended to the said convention to make suitable provision for major Dubois, with whose good conduct Congress are well satisfied, and that they return his name, with the names of the other field officers, for the approbation of Congress.

That a commission of lieutenant-colonel be given to major John Fischer, in colonel John Nicholson's regiment, in the New-York forces.

The Congress then resumed the consideration of the report from the committee of the whole: Whereupon,

Resolved, That general Washington be directed to order an enquiry to be made into the conduct of the officers heretofore employed in the Canada depart ment; that the said enquiry be made at such times and places as, in his judg ment, shall be most likely to do justice, as well to the public as to the individuals; and that the result of the said enquiry, together with the testimonies upon the subject, be transmitted to Congress : that, moreover, all officers accused of cow ardice, plundering, embezzlement of public moneys, and other misdemeanors, be immediately brought to trial: And whereas, Congress is informed that an opinion has prevailed that officers resigning their commissions are not subject to trial by a court-martial for offences committed previous to such resignation, whereby some have evaded the punishments to which they were liable, it is hereby declared that such opinion is not just.

The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to nine o'clock on Monday.

MONDAY, June 24, 1776.

Two letters of the 20th and 21st, from general Washington, with sundry pa pers enclosed, were laid before Congress and read: Whereupon,

Resolved, That a letter be written to the general, desiring him to put a stop to the raising the companies of Mohickan and Stockbridge Indians, mentioned in one of the enclosed papers; and that a like letter be written to governor Trumbull.

A letter of the 21st, from the convention of New-Jersey, was laid before Congress and read, together with sundry papers enclosed therein, containing the questions proposed to William Franklin, esq. an account of his behavior on the occasion, and the resolution of the convention, "declaring him a virulent enemy to this country, and a person that may prove dangerous, and that the said William Franklin be confined in such place and manner as the Continental Congress shall direct;" Whereupon,

Resolved, That William Franklin be sent under guard to governor Trumbull, who is desired to admit him to his parole; but, if Mr. Franklin refuse to give his parole, that governor Trumbull be desired to treat him agreeable to the resolutions of Congress respecting prisoners.

Resolved, That Mr. Mease be directeed to advance to captain Matthew

Smith, of the rifle-battalion, one thousand and forty dollars, for the purpose of recruiting his company; the said captain Smith to be accountable.

Resolved, That Mr. Mease, and the committee of claims, be directed to forward to the pay-master general, an account of the monies advanced and ordered to be charged to the rifle-battalion, or the respective rifle companies, in order that the same may be deducted, and stopped from their pay.

The Congress being informed that a quantity of tents, which were sent from Philadelphia for the use of the colony of Massachusetts-Bay, have been stopped at New-York, by the order of the quarter-master general:

Resolved, That the president write to the general on this subject, and desire him to order the said tents to be delivered up, and forwarded to the colony of Massachusetts-Bay immediately.

Resolved, That a committee, to consist of a member from each colony, be appointed to enquire into the causes of the miscarriages in Canada:

That the said committee have power to send for persons and papers:

The members chosen, Mr. Whipple, Mr. Paine, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Clinton, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Paca, Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Hewes, Mr. Middleton, and Mr. Hall.

The committee of claims reported, that there is due,

To Gunning Bedford, the sum of 202 dollars, of which sum 103 dollars and 30-90ths, for pay and subsistence for two months, the remainder for a horse for the continental service:

Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

Resolved, That the report on the cartel for exchange of prisoners, entered into between brigadier-general Arnold and captain Foster, be recommitted. Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on spies; Whereupon,

Resolved, That all persons abiding within any of the United Colonies, and deriving protection from the laws of the same, owe allegiance to the said laws, and are members of such colony; and that all persons passing through, visiting, or make a temporary stay in any of the said colonies, being entitled to the protection of the laws during the time of such passage, visitation or temporary stay, owe, during the same, allegiance thereto:

That all persons, members of, or owing allegiance to any of the United Colonies, as before described, who shall levy war against any of the said colonies within the same, or be adherent to the king of Great-Britain, or other enemies of the said colonies, or any of them, within the same, giving to him or them aid and comfort, are guilty of treason against such colony:

That it be recommended to the legislatures of the several United Colonies, to pass laws for punishing, in such manner as to them shall seem fit, such persons before described, as shall be proveably attainted of open deed, by people of their condition, of any of the treasons before described.

Resolved, That it be recommended to the several legislatures of the United Colonies, to pass laws for punishing, in such manner as they shall think fit, persons who shall counterfeit, or aid or abet in counterfeiting, the continental bills of credit, or who shall pass any such bill in payment, knowing the same

to be counterfeit.

Resolved, That the remainder of the said report be recommitted.

A petition from Antoine Felix Wiebert was presented to Congress, and read:

Resolved, That the same, together with the papers accompanying it, be referred to the board of war and ordnance.

The board of war and ordnance, to whom was referred a petition from Carpenter Wharton, brought in their report, which was read:

Ordered, To lie on the table: and that the president write to general Wash

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