The order of the day being renewed, and the several matters to this day referred, being postponed,

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

SATURDAY, December 30, 1775.

Two letters from general Washington, of the 19th and 21st, enclosing a copy of a letter to general Howe, and accompanied with a number of intercepted letters, being received and read,

Resolved, That the letters from the general, and the intercepted letters, be referred to a committee of five.

The members chosen, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Hooper, Mr. Wythe, Mr. Deane, and Mr. S. Adams.

A letter from general Schuyler of the 21st, being received, was read. Another letter from general Washington, dated 14th December, brought by two strangers, was laid before Congress and read.

Resolved, That this be referred to the secret committee, who are directed to confer with the bearers, and to pursue such measures as they may think proper for the interest of the United Colonies.

Resolved, That major Preston have leave to go to Amboy to visit his uncle who lives there, and to remain in that place one week, and then return to Philadelphia, and wait the orders of Congress.

The committee appointed to equire into the grounds of the information, respecting a quantity of arms and ammunition being to be procured, report, that they have examined into the same, and have received intelligence that a quantity of arms and ammunition, and other articles are concealed in Tryon county, in which also there are several tories armed and inlisted in the enemy's service: Whereupon,

Resolved, That the said committee be directed to communicate this intelligence to general Schuyler, and in the name of the Congress, desire him to take the most speedy and effectual measures for securing the said arms and military stores, and for disarming the said tories, and apprehending their chiefs.

Resolved, That an order be drawn on the treasurers in favour of the said committee, for the sum of forty dollars, for expediting the business to them committed.

Ordered, That the delegates of Pennsylvania do immediately count the silver and gold in the treasury, and forward the same, with all convenient speed, under a guard of five men, to general Schuyler; and that the persons to be sent by the foregoing committee, accompany said guard.

Resolved, That the treasurers be empowered to employ a broker to collect silver and gold, in exchange for continental bills of credit.

The committee on captain Sellick's petition, brought in their report, which was read.

Resolved, That the contents of the intercepted letters this day read, and the steps which Congress may take in consequence of the intelligence thereby given, be kept secret until further orders, excepting only that the delegates of Virginia and South-Carolina have leave to send to their conventions, extracts of such parts of the said letters, as they may think necessary for the welfare of their colonies.

The committee on the petition of sundry merchants in Philadelphia, also brought in their report, which was read.

Adjourned to ten o'clock on Monday next.

MONDAY, January 1, 1776.

A letter from governor Trumbull, dated the 23d of December, being received, was read.

The Congress took into consideration, the report of the committee on captain Sellick's petition, which was agreed to, as follows:

That they have maturely considered the petition, and have examined captain Simeon Sellick particularly thereon, and are of opinion, that the petitioner be allowed, as a compensation for his expenses, trouble, and risk in taking the goods at Turtlebay, for the use of the United Colonies, the sum of 333 dollars and one-third, and that the committee of Fairfield be directed to take into their possession, for the use of the said colonies, all the goods taken by captain Sellick, which are not already delivered by him, and to forward the two boxes of salt-petre now in capt. Sellick's custody, to the powder mill in Ulster county, to be manufactured into gun-powder for the continental service.

The Congress, taking into consideration the report of the committee on lord Sterling's letters, after debate thereon,

Resolved, That it be recommitted.

The Congress proceeded to the election of an adjutant for the battalion raised in Pennsylvania, and the ballots being taken and examined,

John Patterson was elected.

Resolved, That the president sign commissions to the field officers appointed by the provincial Congress of North-Carolina, to command the two battalions directed to be raised in that colony by this Congress, and that such commissions bear like date with those issued to the said officers by the said provincial Congress of North-Carolina.

Resolved, That, in case of vacancy occasioned by the death or removal of a colonel or inferior officer, the provincial convention of North-Carolina, or, in their recess, the provincial council, appoint another person to fill up such vacancy, until a commission shall issue from this Congress; and that they return to this Congress a list of the names of the person or persons so appointed. The delegates of New-York having received new powers from their convention, laid the same before Congress, as follows:

" IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, New-York, December 21, 1775. "Resolved, That the present delegates of this colony, in Continental Congress, be requested to make such an arrangement among themselves, as that five of them only continue at Congress, and represent this colony at any one time; and that, in case of the necessary absence of any one or two of the delegates so attending, according to such arrangement, that three or four of them be a quorum, and enabled to represent the colony during such absence.

"A true copy from the minutes.

"JOHN M'KESSON, Secretary.

The committee to whom the letters from general Washington, and the intercepted letters, were referred, brought in their report, which being taken into consideration, the Congress came to the following resolutions:

Resolved, That the president of the provincial council of North-Carolina and of Georgia, be requested to procure committees of their several bodies to repair immediately to Charleston, and there to confer with a committee of the council of safety of South-Carolina, upon weighty and important matters relative to the defence and security of these colonies.

Resolved, That it appears the British ministry and their agents have meditated and are preparing to make attacks upon Charleston, in South-Carolina, and several places in Virginia, and probably in North Carolina; and that it be recommended to the conventions or committees of safety of the two former colonies, and to the provincial council of the other, by all possible means, to make a vigorous defence and opposition; and that it be farther recommended to the committee of safety of Virginia, and the provincial council of North-Carolina, to meet together and confer and conclude upon such operations as they may think most for their mutual interest.

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

TUESDAY, January 2, 1776.

The committee of claims reported, that there is due,

To James Chambers the sum of 25.8 dollars for his expenses from Cambridge. To Judah Alden 50 dollars, advanced on account of expenses in attending the French gentlemen.

Ordered, That the above be paid.

Resolved, That general Schuyler be directed to have brigadier general Prescot, lately made prisoner by the continental forces in Canada, taken into custody, and safely and securely kept until the further orders of this Congress.

Resolved, That a copy of the above be sent immediately to general Schuyler, and that the general be informed by letter of the reasons which induced the Congress to give such orders.

The committee of claims reported, that there is due to Egbert Dumond, on account of expenses in bringing the prisoners, taken at St. John's, from Kingston, in New-York government, to Lancaster, in Pennsylvania, the sum of 2526.2 dollars.

Ordered, That the same be paid.

The Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the petition of captains Paddock and Coffin, and after debate,

Resolved, That the prayer of said petition be not granted.

The committee on the state of New-York brought in their report, which was read.

The report of captain Motte, with regard to the disposition of the officers taken prisoners at St. John's, was laid before Congress, and read.

The committee, to whom the report on lord Sterling's letters was recommitted, brought in their report, which being taken into consideration, the Congress thereupon came to the following resolutions:

Resolved, That the president acquaint his lordship, that the Congress has provided against the inconvenience of vexatious arrests of the men inlisting in the continental service.

Resolved, That the barracks in the colony of New-Jersey be prepared for the reception of such of the battalions as may not be in readiness to proceed to New-York, and that the ministerial troops or prisoners at present occupying them, be accommodated in the said colony, in such manner, as the committee of safety for said colony, shall think most prudent and convenient. That Mr. Lowry, the commissary, be directed to supply the said battalions with stockings, and that the delegates for the colony of New-Jersey, transmit to lord Sterling six dozen printed copies of the articles of war.

That considering not only the defenceless condition of the colony of NewJersey, for want of ammunition in case of an hostile invasion of that colony, but the evident want of the assistance of those battalions for the defence of New-York, where an attack of the enemy is most probably to be apprehended, a requisition be made by the Congress to the committee of safety of Pennsylvania, of four hundred weight of powder for the said battalions.

That the same fire-wood, camp equipage, and barrack utensils be allowed to each of the New-Jersey battalions as are allowed to the battalion raised in Pennsylvania.

That the hundred stand of arms supplied by the colony of New-York for the New-Jersey battalions, be paid for by the convention of New-Jersey; and that in order to enable the said convention to make such payment, as well as to furnish such of the men belonging to the said battalions, as are yet unprovided with arms, the farther sum of 1000 dollars be advanced to the said convention; and that the price of the arms be deducted out of the wages of the privates belonging to the said battalions.

That lord Sterling be directed to seize and secure all the ammunition and warlike stores belonging to the enemy, which now are or hereafter may be imported into the colony of New-Jersey, and keep them till he shall receive the

orders of Congress respecting them: And further, that he do, from time to time, give aid and protection to all the friends of America, who may be employed in importing into the said colony, ammunition, or other commodities not prohibited by the association and resolves of this Congress.

Whereas it has been represented to this Congress, that divers honest and well-meaning, but uninformed people in these colonies, have, by the art and address of ministerial agents, been deceived and drawn into erroneous opinions respecting the American cause, and the probable issue of the present contest: Resolved, That it be recommended to the different committees, and other friends to American liberty, in the said colonies, to treat all such persons with kindness and attention; to consider them as the inhabitants of a country determined to be free, and to view their errors as proceeding rather from want of information than want of virtue or public spirit; to explain to them the origin, nature and extent of the present controversy; to acquaint them with the fate of the numerous petitions presented to his majesty, as well by assemblies as Congresses, for reconciliation and redress of grievances: and that the last from this Congress, humbly requesting the single favor of being heard, like all the others, has proved unsuccessful; to unfold to them the various arts of administration to ensnare and enslave us, and the manner in which we have been cruelly driven to defend, by arms, those very rights, liberties and estates, which we and our forefathers had so long enjoyed unmolested in the reigns of his present majesty's predecessors. And it is hereby recommended to all conventions and assemblies in these colonies, liberally to distribute among the people, the proceedings of this and the former Congress, the late speeches of the great patriots in both houses of parliament relative to American grievances, and such other phamphlets and papers as tend to elucidate the merits of the American cause, the Congress being fully persuaded that the more our right to the enjoyment of our ancient liberties and privileges is examined, the more just and necessary our present opposition to ministerial tyranny will appear.

And, with respect to all such unworthy Americans, as, regardless of their duty to their Creator, their country and their posterity, have taken part with our oppressors, and, influenced by the hope or possession of ignominious rewards, strive to recommend themselves to the bounty of administration, by mirepresenting and traducing the conduct and principles of the friends of American liberty, and opposing every measure formed for its preservation and security,

Resolved, That it be recommended to the different assemblies, conventions and committees or councils of safety in the United Colonies, by the most speedy and effectual measures, to frustrate the mischievous machinations, and restrain the wicked practices of these men: And it is the opinion of this Congress, that they ought to be disarmed, and the more dangerous among them, either kept in safe custody, or bound with sufficient sureties to their good behaviour.

And, in order that the said assemblies, conventions, committees or councils of safety, may be enabled, with greater ease and facility to carry this resolution into execution,

Resolved, That they be authorized to call to their aid, whatever continental troops, stationed in or near their respective colonies, may be conveniently spared from their more immediate duty; and the commanding officers of such troops, are hereby directed to afford the said assemblies, conventions, committees or councils of safety, all such assistance in executing this resolution, as they may require, and which, consistent with the good of the service, may be supplied.

Resolved, That all detachments of continental tooops, which may be ordered on the business in the foregoing resolution mentioned, be, while so employed, under the direction and controul of the assemblies, conventions, committees or councils of safety aforesaid.

Resolved, That it be recommended to all the United Colonies, to aid each other (on request from their respective assemblies, conventions, committees, or councils of safety and county committees) on every emergency, and to cultivate, cherish and increase the present happy and necessary union, by a continual interchange of mutual good offices.

And whereas the execrable barbarity, with which this unhappy war has been conducted on the part of our enemies, such as burning our defenceless towns and villages, exposing their inhabitants, without regard to sex or age, to all the miseries which loss of property, the rigour of the season, and inhuman devastation can inflict, exciting domestic insurrections and murders, bribing savages to desolate our frontiers, and casting such of us as the fortune of war has put in their power, into gaols, there to languish in irons and in want, compelling the inhabitants of Boston, in violation of the treaty, to remain confined within the town, exposed to the insolence of the soldiery, and other enormities, at the mention of which decency and humanity will ever blush, may justly provoke the inhabitants of these colonies to retaliate.

Resolved, That it be recommended to them, to continue mindful that humanity ought to distinguish the brave, that cruelty should find no admission among a free people, and to take care that no page in the annals of America be stained by a recital of any action which justice or Christianity may condemn, and to rest assured that whenever retaliation may be necessary or tend to their security, this Congress will undertake the disagreeable task.

Resolved, That the assemblies, conventions, or committees, or councils of safety, be requested forthwith to transmit to this Congress, copies of all the petitions, memorials, and remonstrances, which have been, by the respective colonies, presented to the throne, or either house of parliament, since the year 1762, and that they also inform the Congress, whether any and what answers were given to them.

Resolved, That Mr. Bartlett be appointed one of the committee of claims, in the room of Mr. Langdon, and Mr. S. Adams in the room of Mr. Cushing, who have leave of absence.

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

WEDNESDAY, January 3, 1776.

A letter from general Washington, dated the 25th of December, with sundry papers enclosed, was read.

The committee of safety for Pennsylvania, having recommended sundry gentlemen to be field officers of the four battalions ordered to be raised in said colony, the Congress proceeded to the election of colonels, and the ballots being taken and examined, the following gentlemen were chosen:

Arthur St. Clair, esq. John Shee, esq. Anthony Wayne, esq. Robert Magaw, esq.

The Congress, taking into consideration the report of the secret committee, came to the following resolutions:

Resolved, That the following goods and stores ought to be imported as soon as possible, for the use of the United Colonies, viz.

60,000 striped blankets.

120,000 yards of 6-4 cloths, brown and blue, from Ss. to 6s. ster.

10,000 yards of do. different colours, for facings, at 4s.

3,000 pieces of duffils, or some such cloth.

100 m. sorted needles.

50 m. do. none fine.

10 m. do. for sail cloth.

3,000 pieces of raven's duck.

3,000 pieces ticklenburgs.

1,500 pieces oznaburgs.