quality of all gun-powder manufactured within their jurisdiction, and that no person be allowed to vend any gun-powder, manufactured in any of the states of America, unless the same, in the judgment of such inspector, shall be of sufficient quality; and to make such laws for executing this, or any other regulations for promoting the manufacture of good gun-powder, as to them may seem most convenient.

Congress then proceeded to the election of an inspector of gun-powder; and, the ballots being taken,

Robert Towers was chosen.

Resolved, That 500,000 dollars be sent to the pay-master general at New

York:

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

THURSDAY, August 24, 1776.

A letter, of the 27th, from R. H. Harrison, the general's secretary, and one of the 28th, from general Mercer, both giving an account of an action on LongIsland, on the 27th, were read, and referred to the board of war.

A letter, of the 28th, from Richard Dallam, deputy pay-master general for the flying-camp, was also read; Whereupon,

Resolved, That an order for 10,000 dollars be drawn on the treasurer, in favor of Gustavus Risberg, and that the same be charged to the account of Mr. Dallam:

That the letter from Mr Dallam be referred to the board of treasury.

It being represented by Dr. Franklin, one of the late commissioners to Canada, that Mons. Bernard Mousac de la Marquisie had a commission given to him by the said commissioners, to be a captain and engineer in one of the regiments to be raised there, and that he lost his commission, with his baggage, at Chambly; it was, thereupon,

Resolved, That a new commission be granted to him.

A letter of the 3d, from lord Sterling, was read, and referred to the cannon committee.

The marine committee having recommended Alpheus Rice to be first-lieutenant of marines, on board the brig Hamden, commanded by Hoysted Hacker, esq.

Resolved, That he be accepted, and a commission granted to him accordingly. The committee appointed to consider the claims of Canadians, who have been in the service of the continent, reported,

That Samuel Morrison, who appears, by the certificates of lieutenant-colonels Williams and Brown, to have been at the siege of Quebec two months and six days, and to have rendered essential service in several capacities, and had been promised a commission of captain, which he never received, be allowed the sum of 40 dollars, in full for his said services:

That the petition of Hardouen Merlet, for a pension, in consideration of his services, not being supported by any certificate, as a voucher relating to such services, no allowance can, at present, properly be made to him:

That there be paid to Francis Bourignon, the sum of 45 1-3 dollars, due to him for his service, as a private, three months, and as a serjeant, four months, in colonel Hazen's and colonel Brown's regiments:

The said report being read, was agreed to.

A letter of the 2d, from general Lee, at Charleston, with an intercepted letter enclosed, was read.

Resolved, That Mr. J. Mease be directed to provide proper clothing for the German battalion, and also for the two Virginia battalions on their march to New-York, the cost of which clothing to be deducted out of the pay of the men by stoppages.

Resolved, That the secret committee be directed to provide proper arms for the German battalion; and, in case they cannot otherwise provide arms, that they be empowered to apply to this purpose those ordered to be put into the hands of the marines:

That the said committee be directed to deliver to Mr. James Mease the bale of clothes in their possession, for the public service, he to be accountable. That the said committee be directed to import the medicines ordered by the medical committee.

The committee of treasury reported, that there is due,

To Joseph Sheerer, for account of captain Cowden, for 608 rations due to his company of militia, at the time of their march from Lancaster county, on their way to New-Jersey, 54 4-90 dollars:

To Joseph Sheerer, for account of captain James Murray, for 700 rations due to his company of militia, at the time of their march from Lancaster county, on their way to New-Jersey, 61 20-90 dollars:

To Richard Chiney, for 1311 meals, supplied the militia on their march to New Jersey, 122 66-90 dollars :

To David Jones, for his pay as chaplain to the 3d and 4th Pennsylvania battalions, from the 13th of June to the 29th of August, inclusive, 84 40-90 dollars: To Josiah Fessenden, for services as an express, including horse-hire and travelling expenses, 89 dollars:

Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

The board of war brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

Resolved, That George Measam, esq. be continued in the office of superintendent, commissary of stores, except artillery stores, for the northern army, with the pay of 33 1-3 dollars per month.

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to devise ways and means of regulating the post-office, and of establishing advice-boats between the southern colonies and Philadelphia, so as to facilitate and expedite the conveying intelligence from one part of the continent to another :

The members chosen, Mr. Heyward, Mr. Jefferson, and Mr. Morris. Resolved, That the letter enclosed in that of general Lee's, of the 2d, and which was found on Long-Island, in South-Carolina, be published.

A letter from Monsieur Le Chevalier Saurelle was read, and referred to the board of war.

Resolved, That the committee to whom the plan of treaties, with the amendments, was re-committed, be empowered to prepare such farther instructions as to them shall seem proper, and make report thereof to Congress.

The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

FRIDAY, August 30, 1776.

A letter of the 29th, from general Washington, and one of the 22d, from governor Trumbull, were read.

Resolved, That the letter from governor Trumbull be referred to the board of treasury.

Resolved, That the duck, in the hands of Mr. Green, at Rhode-Island, be made up into tents, and forwarded, with all possible expedition, to gen. Washington.

Resolved, That Mr. J. Mease be directed to purchase all the linen in this city, suitable for tents, and have the same made up, as soon as possible, and report to Congress immediately the quantity thatc an be procured.

A memorial from David White, of the county of Somerset, in New-Jersey, was presented to Congress, and read; Whereupon,

Resolved, That, from the state of facts in the said memorial, Congress have no objection to Mr. White's being excused from bearing arms, but remit the

same to the assembly of New-Jersey, to whom the enquiry and determination properly belong.

A memorial from Mr. Kosciusko was read and referred to the board of war. Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on governor Trumbull's letter of the 19th of July, and, after debate, the report was re-committed for the purpose of stating the facts and circumstances which induced governor Trumbull to stop the vessels going out of the sound.

The committee for regulating the post-office, brought in their report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

Resolved, That the communication of intelligence with frequency and despatch, from one part to another of this extensive continent, is essentially requisite to its safety; that, therefore, there be employed on the public postroads, a rider for every twenty-five or thirty miles, whose business it shall be, to proceed through his stage three times in every week, setting out immediate ly on receipt of the mail, and travelling with the same, by night and by day, without stopping, until he shall have delivered it to the next rider; and that the post-master general be desired, either by the use of way-bills, or by such other means as he shall find most efficacious, to prevent delays in the riders, or to discover where they happen, that such dilatory riders be discharged.

And, as it is requisite that the deputy post-masters should attend with punctuality at their several offices for the receipt and delivery of letters,

Resolved, That it be recommended to the assemblies and conventions of these states, to consider how far it may be consistent with the policy and the good of their respective states, to excuse such deputy post-masters from those public duties, which may call them from attendance at their offices, and to proceed therein as to their wisdom shall seem best.

Resolved, That three advice-boats be established; one to ply between the state of North-Carolina, and such port as shall be most convenient to the place at which the Congress shall be sitting; one other between the state of SouthCarolina and the said port, and one other between the state of Georgia and the same port; that such advice-boats be armed, and put under the direction of the secret committee, who are empowered to freight them with such merchandises or commodities, as, without retarding their passage, may, together with the usual postage on letters, and other papers transmitted by them, contribute to defray the expenses of the said boats.

The convention of New-York having represented that, for want of blacksmiths, they are greatly delayed in obstructing the passage of Hudson's river, in the Highlands, which is an object of great importance:

Resolved, That the convention of New-York be empowered to employ, for the purpose aforesaid, the blacksmiths that are now engaged in building the continental frigates at Poughkeepsie.

The committee, to whom the petition of William Bell & Co. was referred, brought in their report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

Resolved, That it be recommended to governor Trumbull to permit the sloop Freemason, Epaphros Mygat, master, with her cargo, belonging to the petitioners, to proceed on her voyage to the island of St. Eustatia, so soon as the said master shall judge she may sail without falling into the hands of the enemy on the coast.

The committee appointed to enquire into the claims of sundry Canadians, report, that there is due,

To Andrew Pepin, for two months' services as a captain, and 6 months' services as a lieutenant, together with rations during the time of his said services, 201 dollars and 1-3d:

To James Pellieur, for five months' services as a private, and three months' services as a lieutenant, together with one ration a day, during the said three inonths, 99 dollars and 1-38.

Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

The committee on the treasury reported, that there is due,

To Melchior Meng, for wagon and horse-hire, carrying money to New-York, escorted by Mr. Fullerton and others, the sum of 28 dollars and 4-90ths: To John Bates, for 150 camp-kettles, delivered to Clement Biddle, deputy quarter-master general, 200 dollars:

To Jacob Hilzheimer, for expresses to Albany, New-York, Boston, Burlington, &c. between the 11th of May and 13th of August, 1776, and for keeping a continental horse, the sum of 537 dollars and 60-90ths:

To capt. John Thacher, for the pay of his independent company, in the service of the United States, at New-York, under general Lee, 405 dollars and 9-90ths:

To George Haas, for conveying money to Albany, 21 days, at 2 dollars, and expenses of himself, horse-hire and ferriages, 100 dollars and 71-90ths, and for carriage of captain Gamble's baggage from Philadelphia to Reading, 16 dollars; the whole 116 dollars and 71-90ths:

To Robert Jewell, 333 dollars and 62-90ths, viz. for his account for entertaining prisoners in gaol, from the 23d of July to the 20th of August, inclusive, 234 dollars and 60-90ths; for his account for entertaining ten deserters, from the 23d of July to the 20th of August, 42 dollars and 85-90ths, and his account for making three pine tables, two pine desks, a book case, sign-board, &c. for treasury board, 61 dollars and 69-90ths:

To William Clayton, for 303 meals of victuals supplied the militia on their march to New-Jersey, 30 dollars and 27-90ths:

To Thomas Cheesman, for carriage of $2 cwt. 1 lb. 3 qrs. salt petre, from Egg-harbor to Cooper's ferry, opposite to Philadelphia, 22 dollars and 52-90ths: Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

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

SATURDAY, August 31, 1776.

A letter, of the 25th, from major-general Schuyler at Albany, was laid before Congress, and read.

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

MONDAY, September 2, 1776.

A letter, of the 31st of August, from general Washington, enclosing the determination of a council of war, and the reasons for quitting Long-Island, and a copy of a letter from lord Sterling:

Also, one of the 23d, from general Gates, with sundry papers enclosed; one from sundry field officers in the army at Ticonderoga, dated the 19th of August, with the proceedings between a court-martial and brigadier-general Arnold:

Also, a letter of the 23d, from captain John Nelson, and one from Benjamin Harrison, jun. deputy pay-master general, with his weekly account, were read, and referred to the board of war.

Congress being informed, that gen. Sullivan was come to Philadelphia, with a design to communicate a message from lord Howe,

Ordered, That he be admitted, and heard before Congress.

A petition from Michael Fitzgerald; one from John Weitzel, and one from James Paul Govert, were read, and referred to the board of war.

A petition from Peter Dicthery was read, and referred to the medical committee.

A letter from William Bausman, of Lancaster, was read: Whereupon, Resolved, That an order for 1333 1-3 dollars be drawn on the treasurer, in favor of the committee of Lancaster, for defraying the expenses of the barracks ordered to be built in that borough; the said committee to be accountable.

Resolved, That an order for 4577 63-90 dollars be drawn on the treasurer, in favor of Francis Lewis, esq. and charged to the account of Jonathan Trumbull, deputy pay-master general; the same being for so much paid by Mr. Lewis's order to the said J. Trumbull.

A memorial from Francis Guillot was read, and referred to the marine committee.

The committee to whom was recommitted the report for ascertaining the value of the several species of gold and silver coins current in these states, and the proportion they and each of them ought to bear to Spanish milled dollars, brought in their report, which was read:

Ordered, o lie on the table.

A petition from the officers of the 1st and 2d Virginia battalion, was read and referred to the board of war.

Resolved, That an order for 30,000 dollars be drawn on the treasurer, in avor of J. Mease, for the public service; he to be accountable.

General Sullivan being admitted, delivered a verbal message he had in charge from lord Howe, which he was desired to reduce to writing, and then withdrew.

Resolved, That an order for 120,000 dollars be drawn on the treasurer, in favor of the delegates of Rhode-Island, and charged to the account of that state, to be accounted for.

Congress being informed that Donald M'Donald, who was sent to this city from North-Carolina, is considered by lord Howe as a brigadier-general in the service of his Britannic majesty:

Resolved, That he be admitted to his parole, and liberated upon signing the form prescribed by Congress.

A petition from Anthony Mosengill, was read, and referred to the assembly of the state of New-Jersey.

Resolved, That the board of war be directed to prepare and bring in a plan of military operations for the next campaign.

Resolved, That the continental agents be empowered to inspect or appoint some suitable person or persons, to inspect all gun-powder manufactured or purchased in, or imported into the respective states, wherein they reside, on account of the United States; except in those states where an inspector is appointed by Congress.

The committee of treasury reported, that there is due,

To Robert Erwin, wagon-master, for the hire of wagons going to Egg-harbor for powder, viz. Adam Weaver, Joseph Champeney, Michael Grossman, Israel Fry, Jacob Hindman and George Raser, one trip each, and David Boxe, William Park and Alexander Miller, two trips each, making twelve trips, allowing five days to each, at 4 dollars a day, 240 dollars:

To captain James Sterling, 664 14-90 dollars, being the balance of his account for the expense of a guard appointed to convey a number of British prisoners from Burlington to Lancaster, and Frederick county in Maryland, with wagon and horse-hire, amounting to 1464 14-90 dollars, of which sum he received from the committtee of safety of Pennsylvania, and for which they are to be credited, July 16th, 1776, 100 dollars; July 17th, 1776, 700 dollars, and there remains 664 14-90 dollars :

Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

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

TUESDAY, September 3, 1776.

A memorial from colonel Moses Hazen was read and referred to the committee appointed to enquire into the causes of the miscarriages in Canada. General Sullivan having reduced to writing the verbal message from lord Howe, the same was read as follows: