The marine committee having recommended the following gentlemen for officers of the Rawleigh, namely,

Peter Shores, John Wheelwright, Josiah Shackford, lieutenants; George Jerry Osborne, captain of marines; Stephen Meads, first-lieutenant; Nathaniel Thwing, second-lieutenant?

Resolved, That they be accepted, and that commissions be granted them accordingly.

Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow.

TUESDAY, July 23, 1776.

Sundry letters were received, and read, viz.

Two from general Washington of the 21st and 22d, with three papers enclosed in the latter:

One of the 16th from governor Cooke:

Two from brigadier-general Mercer, of the 20th and 22d, with two papers enclosed in the latter.

Resolved, That the letters from general Washington and brigadier-general Mercer, be referred to the board of war.

Resolved, That the report of the committee on the cartel entered into between brigadier general Arnold and captain Foster, and the resolutions passed thereon, be published.

Resolved, That twenty dollars be advanced to Isaac Manes, a wounded soldier of captain Cheeseman's company, and that he be sent to the general hospital.

The board of war reported, that they have heard and considered the matters alleged against the arrangement made in the regiment ordered to be raised under colonel Dubois, and are of opinion, that no good purpose would be answered by making any alteration therein; and although many worthy officers who served in Canada are yet unemployed, the board can only lament that they are not in the service, but hope something will, in future, turn up to enable Congress to place them in stations equal to their merit :

The same being again read, was agreed to.

On the remainder of the report from the board of war, the Congress came to the following resolutions:

That general Washington be informed that Congress have such an entire confidence in his judgment, that they will give him no particular directions. about the disposition of the troops, but desire that he will dispose of those at New-York, the flying-camp and Ticonderoga, as to him shall seem most conducive to the public good:

That the Congress approve of general Washington's having lent to the convention of New-York, the sum of money mentioned in his letter of the 19th

instant :

That Monsieur St. Martin be appointed an engineer, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and that he be directed to repair to New-York, and put himself under the command of general Washington.

Resolved, That Dr. David Griffith be appointed to the stations of chaplain and surgeon in the third Virginia battalion, he being a person of uncommon merit, and there being very few surgeons of abilities who will enter the army in that state; this appointment not to be drawn into precedent:

That Mr. Griffith draw pay in both these capacities, for the time he has served in the regiment..

The committee of claims reported, that there is due,

To Dennis Lefferty, for 26 weeks board, the sum of 52 dollars, and that the same ought to be paid to Timothy Matlack:

To William White, for boarding general Lee's guard, the sum of 40 60-90 dollars:

To George Haas, for carrying money to New-York, the sum of 26 60-90 dollars:

To William Bradford, for the expense of a guard escorting money to New York, the sum of 88 57-90 dollars:

To Rachel Evans, for boarding a sick soldier, the sum of 3 dollars:

To Robert Owen, junior, for provisions furnished several rifle companies, 64 86-90 dollars:

To Peter Grosels, for provisions to several rifle companies, the sum of 61 46-90 dollars, and that this ought to be paid to Robert Owen, jun.

Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

Resolved, That, in order to hasten the march of the troops, the several committees of Lancaster, York, Cumberland, Berks, and Northampton counties, in Pennsylvania, be empowered to muster the troops that shall march from their respective counties, and to draw for one month's pay on Mr. James Mease, and that they certify the muster-rolls, and send to the pay-master the receipts for the moneys that shall be so advanced.

Resolved, That a member be added to the board of treasury, in the room of

one absent :

The member chosen, Mr. G. Clymer.

Agreeable to the order of the day, the Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into their farther consideration the articles of confederation; and, after some time, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. Har rison reported, that the committee have made farther progress in the matter to them referred, but not having come to a conclusion, desired leave to sit again. Resolved, That this Congress will, to morrow, again resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into their farther consideration the articles of confederation.

A petition from a number of inhabitants of Chester county, in Pennsylvania, was presented to Congress and read, praying that John Griffith, a soldier in the continental army, an experienced artificer in making and dressing fullers' shears, may be released from the army, and ordered to return home to follow his trade:

Resolved, That the prayer of the petition be granted.

A petition from sundry Canadians was presented to Congress, and read: Resolved, That it be referred to the Canada committee.

The marine committee having recommended Richard Palmes to be captain of marines,

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

Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow.

WEDNESDAY, July 24, 1776.

A letter from lieutenant-colonel William Allen was laid before Congress, and read, requesting leave to resign his commission :

Resolved, That leave be granted.

The marine committee having recommended Benjamin Thompson to be a lieutenant of marines in captain Palmes's company,

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

Resolved, That the committee appointed to revise the journals, be empowered to employ a proper person to make an index thereto.

The board of treasury reported, that the pay of brigadier-general Wooster, commencing the 22d day of June, 1775, and calculated to the 22d day of July, 1776, being thirteen months, at 125 dollars per month, amounts 1625 dollars; out of which is to be deducted 175 dollars and 24-72 parts of a dollar, paid him by John Winstow, esq. the pay-master; the residue due to the general is 1451 dollars and 48-72 parts of a dollar :

Ordered, That the same be paid.

Resolved, That the sum of 100 dollars be advanced to captain Robert Johnson, to be deducted out of his pay on the settlement of his account.

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

The Congress took into consideration the report of the committee appointed to prepare a resolution for confiscating the property of the subjects of GreatBritain; Whereupon,

Resolved, That all the resolutions of this Congress, passed on the 23d day of March last, and on the 3d day of April last, relating to ships and other vessels, their tackle, apparel and furniture, and all goods, wares and merchandises, belonging to any inhabitant or inhabitants of Great-Britain, taken on the high seas, or between high and low water mark, be extended to all ships and other vessels, their tackle, apparel and furniture, and to all goods, wares and merchandises, belonging to any subject or subjects of the king of Great-Britain, except the inhabitants of the Bermudas, and Providence or Bahama islands. The board of war brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

Resolved, That the regiment of rangers, now in the pay of the state of South-Carolina, be placed upon continental establishment, and that it consist of a lieutenant-colonel commandant, a major, 10 captains, 20 lieutenants, a surgeon, a pay-master, 20 serjeants and 500 privates:

That the pay of the lieutenant-colonel commandant of rangers, be the same as that of a colonel of foot; the major's pay, that of a lieutenant-colonel; the captain's, that of a major; the lieutenant's that of a captain; and the serjeant's that of an ensign of foot of the continental forces: That the surgeon be allowed 33 dollars and 1-3d a month; the pay-master 26 dollars and 2-3ds; and the privates 124 dollars per month, to provide themselves with horses, guns, and provisions, for themselves and horses:

That the said rangers be liable to act on horseback, or foot, as occasion may require:

That the like number of rangers be raised in the state of Georgia, and put upon continental establishment:

That these be entitled to the same pay, and subject to the same duties, as the Carolina rangers:

That the rangers, raised in the state of South-Carolina, be subject to the articles formed by the convention of that state, for the government of the forces raised therein.

Resolved, That colonel Knox's plan for raising another battalion of artillery, be approved, and carried into execution, as soon as possible:

That general Washington be desired to recommend proper officers to compose this corps.

Resolved, That general Washington be empowered to agree to the exchange of governor Skene for Mr. James Lovell:

That general Washington be authorized to take into continental pay, the horse proposed by Mr. Lary, upon the terms by him mentioned.

On motion, Resolved, That the report of the committee on gold and silver coins be recommitted:

That Mr. Jefferson be added to that committee.

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to take into consideration, and report their opinion, on the proposal made by the president of SouthCarolina, and communicated to the house by a delegate of that state, respecting general Lee:

The members chosen, Mr. S. Adams, Mr. Rutledge and Mr. Hall. The Congress then resolved itself into a committee of th whole, to take into their farther consideration, the articles of confederation; and, after some

time, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. Harrison reported, that the committee have made farther progress in the matter to them referred; but, not having finished, desire leave to sit again:

Resolved, That this Congress will, to-morrow, again resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into their farther consideration, the articles of confederation.

A letter from general Washington, of the 23d, with sundry papers enclosed, among which was a letter from Mr. Fraesh to lord Sterling; also,

A letter from the council of safety of North-Carolina, being received and read,

Resolved, That the letter from Mr. Fraesh, to lord Sterling, be referred to the committee appointed to contract for casting cannon ;

That the general's letter, with the other papers enclosed, be referred to the board of war.

Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow.

THURSDAY, July 25, 1776.

Resolved, That two months' pay be advanced to Mons. Jaque Antoine de Franchessin; he to be accountable.

A memorial of Samuel Holden Parsons, of Lyme, in Connecticut, was presented to Congress, and read:

Resolved, That it be referred to a committee of three:

The members chosen, Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Wilson, and Mr. Sherman.

A memorial from sundry officers who served in Canada, and are now uuemployed, was laid before Congress, and read:

Resolved, That it be referred to the board of war.

Agreeable to order, the Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into their farther consideration, the articles of confederation; after some time, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. Harrison reported, that the committee have made farther progress in the consideration of the arti cles of confederation; but, not having gone through, desired leave to sit again. A letter of the 23d, from general Washington, enclosing a letter from governor Trumbull, to the general; also,

A letter from governor Trumbull, of the 19th, with sundry depositions; and, One of the 16th, from the committee of safety of New-Hampshire, were laid before Congress, and read.

Resolved, That the letter from general Washington be referred to the board of war.

The committee of claims reported, that there is due,

to

To Francis Gurney, for expenses of himself and others, escorting money Cambridge, in February last, the sum of 162 dollars and 84-90ths, over and beside the monies advanced to him:

To Henry Wisner, esq. for the expenses of an express paid by him, the sum of 20 dollars:

To Thomas Dewees, for boarding prisoners of state, 437 dollars and 68-90ths: To David Lennox, for expenses in going after deserters, the sum of 31 dollars and 86-90ths, to be paid to David Sproat:

To William Trickett, for stationary, the sum of 43 dollars and 76-90ths.
To Philip Nolan, for ferriages of general Lee's guards, 4 dollars and 12-90ths:
To Elizabeth Slaving, for boarding and nursing a sick soldier, 4 dollars:
To J. Piling, for chairs for the war-office, the sum of 12 dollars:
To John Kerling, for provisions for general Lee's guards, 4 dollars and

54-90ths.

To Isaac Cooper, for his attendance as a guard over powder, the sum of 11

dollars.

To Furman and Hunt, for necessaries furnished the prisoners at Trenton, the sum of 47 dollars and 87-90ths:

To John Bates, for camp-kettles, the sum of 98 dollars and 60-90ths: To Elijah Bennet, post-rider, in the service of the United States, from Hartford, in Connecticut, to various places, the sum of 1551 dollars and 66-90ths, deducting 819 dollars and 86-90ths, which he has received from the colony of Connecticut, the balance being 511 dollars and 70-90ths:

To Michael Philips, employed by brigadier-general Wooster in making sundry repairs in the citadel and hospital in Montreal, carting, &c. 397 dollars and 75-90ths, deducting the sum of 96 dollars and 7-90ths, which he received from major Nicholson, the balance being 301 dollars and 68-90ths:

To James Budden, for the expense of a detachment of the troop of lighthorse escorting 300,000 dollars to New-York, the sum of 28 dollars:

Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

Resolved, That this Congress will, to-morrow, resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into farther consideration, the articles of confederation.

Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow.

FRIDAY, July 26, 1776.

Congress proceeded to the election of three commissioners to liquidate and settle the accounts in the northern department; and, the ballots being taken, Mr. James Milligan, Mr. John Carter, and Mr. Wells, were elected.

The committee on the treasury laid before Congress the account of Messrs. Price and Haywood, with the balance due to them:

Ordered, To lie on the table.

Resolved, That the substance of the conference between general Washing ton and adjutant-general Patterson, which was transmitted to Congress by general Washington, be published.

Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into farther consideration the articles of confederation; and, after some time, the president résumed the chair, and Mr. Morton reported, that the committee have made farther progress; but, not having concluded, desire leave to sit again. Resolved, That this Congress will, on Monday next, resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into farther consideration the articles of confederation.

Resolved, That an order for 2000 dollars be drawn on the treasurers in favor of Dr. W. Shippen; he to be accountable.

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

MONDAY, July 29, 1776.

Sundry letters were laid before Congress, and read, viz.

Three from general Washington of the 22d, 25th and 27th;

One from general Schuyler, of the 17th, and one from general Gates, of the 16th;

One of the 25th, from J. Reed, adjutant-general; and one from brigadiergeneral Mercer, of the 26th:

One of the 20th, from governor Trumbull:

One of the 25th, from the convention of New-Jersey, and one from the council of Massachusetts-Bay:

One from Mons. Kirmovan, engineer, with a plan and draughts; and one, in Latin, without signature:

Also two petitions, one from George Nicholson, and one from James Livingston.

Resolved, That general Washington be empowered to appoint another aidde-camp: