To John Dunn, the balance in full due to colonel Heard's battalion, for their pay, subsistence, &c. on the expedition to Long-Island, the sum of 2453.7 dollars. Ordered, That the same be paid. The marine committee having, agreeably to the orders of Congress, recommended gentlemen to be agents for prizes in the several colonies, Resolved, That captain John Bradford be appointed for the colony of Massachusetts-Bay, Daniel Tillinghast for Rhode-Island, Nathaniel Shaw, jun. for Connecticut, Jacobus Vanzantz for New-York, John Nixon, and John Maxwell Nesbit for Pennsylvania, William Lux for Maryland, John Tazewell for Virginia, Cornelius Harnet for Wilmington, Richard Ellis for Newbern, and Robert Smith for Edenton in North Carolina, with power to each, to appoint one or more deputies, if necessary. The committee, to whom the letters from general Washington, general Schuyler, and the letters from Canada and Pittsburg were referred, brought in their report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon, Resolved, That the president signify to colonel Hazen, the approbation of Congress, for his letter, and attention to the public good. Resolved, That 300,000 dollars be immediately sent to general Schuyler, for supplying and paying the army in Canada. Resolved, That the commissioners of Congress in Canada, be desired to publish an address to the people of Canada, signifying, that Congress has been informed of injuries offered by our people to some of them: expressing our resentment at such misconduct, assuring them of our attachment to their security; inviting them to state their grievances to our commissioners, and promising ample redress to them, and exemplary punishment to the offenders. Resolved, That instructions be sent to the commissioners, to cause justice to be done to the Canadians, agreeable to the tenor of the above resolve. Resolved, That the commanding officer in Canada, be directed to be very attentive to military discipline, and inflict exemplary punishment on all those who violate the military regulations established by Congress. Resolved, That general Washington be directed to send six battalions into Canada from the army of New-York. Resolved, That a letter be written by the president to general Washington, requesting his opinion whether any farther additional troops are necessary to be sent for the reduction of Quebec, and for the security of Canada; and, if he shall think, more troops necessary, whether they can, with safety, be spared from the army now in New-York? Resolved, That if any of the troops from New-Jersey or Pennsylvania, which were raised at five dollars a month, be sent to Canada, they shall be allowed at the rate of six dollars and two-thirds of a dollar a month, from the time they begin their march. Resolved, That the farther consideration of the report be postponed till to morrow. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow. WEDNESDAY, April 24, 1776. A memorial from the committee of inspection and observation of the city and liberties of Philadelphia, was presented to Congress, and read: Resolved, That it be referred to a committee of three : The members chosen, Mr. Hewes, Mr. Duane, and Mr. Alexander. Mr. R. Morris reported, that in pursuance of the order of Congress, he has purchased and delivered to Mr. James Price, bills of exchange to the amount of three thousand pounds sterling, for which he produced Mr. Price's receipt. Resolved, That an order for 14,800 dollars be drawn on the treasurers, in favor of Mr. R. Morris, in full for the above bills of exchange. Resolved, That the committees appointed to confer with Mr. Price, be directed to draw up instructions to him, for his government, in disposing and laying out the money put into his hands. Resolved, That Mr. Trumbull, the commissary-general, be directed to provide and forward to general Schuyler, 2000 barrels of pork, with all possible despatch, for the use of the continental army in Canada, and that the said commissary be supplied with a sum not exceeding 20,000 dollars for that purpose, he to be accountable for the same. Resolved, That Mr. Alsop, Mr. Sherman, and Mr. Lewis be requested to purchase and forward, with all convenient despatch, to general Schuyler, for the use of the continental army in Canada, 10,000 pair of shoes, 10,000 pair of stockings; and that 15,000 dollars be advanced to them for those purposes, they to be accountable. Resolved, That a letter be written to general Schuyler, to inform him of the ten additional battalions lately ordered for Canada, and of the 2000 barrels of pork, and the 10,000 pair of shoes, and 10,000 pair of stockings, ordered by Congress to be sent to him; and to desire him to pursue the best means for furnishing such other necessary articles of clothing and food as may be wanting for the continental army in Canada, having regard to such of these as Mr. Price, the commissary in that province, can supply there: Also, that general Schuyler be desired to inform the president, what quantity of gun-powder he has received for Canada since the first of January last, and that he continue, as hitherto, to give the earliest notice to Congress of the occasion for-further supplies of this and other necessaries that may be wanting, and not in his power to procure. Resolved, That the secret committee be directed to forward from Mr. Wisner's and Mr. Livingston's powder-mills, five tons of powder, to general Schuyler, to be by him forwarded to Canada. The committee of claims reported, that there is due, To John Gibson, agent appointed by the commissioners for Indian affairs, for sundry services in the middle department, by order of the commissioners, the sum of 377.9 dollars: To John Davis, for wagonage for the 6th Pennsylvania battalion, the sum of 60 dollars: To Furman and Hunt, for provisions, &c. for the prisoners at Trenton, the sum of 183.8 dollars: To Duncan M'Donald, the sum of 15.8 dollars, of which sum, 13.6 dollars ought to be charged to captain Hendrick's company, and 2.2 dollars to captain Cluggage's company, for goods furnished to the said companies; and that the same ought to be paid to Ephraim Blaine, esq. To Margaret Smith, for nursing two men in the small pox, belonging to captain Benezet's company, the sum of 24 dollars. Ordered, That the said accounts be paid. The convention of South-Carolina having appointed delegates to represent that colony in Congress, the credentials of their appointment were presented to Congress, and read, as follows: "IN CONGRESS, CHARLESTON, SOUTH-CAROLINA, February 16, 1776. Resolved, That Thomas Lynch, John Rutledge, Edward Rutledge, Arthur Middleton, and Thomas Heyward, jun. esqrs. be, and they are hereby appointed and fully authorized, to represent this colony in the Continental Congress, for one year next ensuing. March 23, 1776. Resolved, That the delegates of this colony in the Continental Congress, or a majority of such of them as shall at any time be present in the said Congress, 1 or any one of the said delegates, if no more than one shall be present, be, and they and he are, and is, hereby authorized and empowered, for and in behalf of this colony, to concert, agree to, and execute every measure, which they or he, together with a majority of the Continental Congress, shall judge necessary for the defence, security, interest, and welfare of this colony in particular, and of America in general. Resolved, That another delegate be forthwith chosen by ballot by this Congress, to represent this colony in the Continental Congress, in addition to, and with as full powers, in all respects, as the delegates already chosen, have, and are invested with. The Congress then proceeded to ballot for said delegate, and Thomas Lynch, jun. esq. appearing to be, and being declared, duly chosen, Resolved, That Thomas Lynch, jun. esq. be, and he is hereby, appointed a sixth delegate from this colony, to represent the same in the Continental Congress. A true copy, PETER TIMOTHY, Secretary." The Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration general Washington's letter of the 27th of March, and after some time spent thereon, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. Harrison reported, that the committee have had under consideration the letter referred to them, but not having come to any determination thereon, desired him to move for leave to sit again. Resolved, That Congress will, to-morrow, resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into their farther consideration, the letter from general Washington of the 27th of March, and the petition enclosed therein. The other matters to this day referred, being postponed, Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow. THURSDAY, April 25, 1776. Two letters from general Washington, of the 22d and 23d, were laid before Congress, and read: Resolved, That they be referred to a committee of three. The members chosen, Mr. R. H. Lee, Mr. J. Adams, and Mr. Hewes. Resolved, That an order for 2000 dollars be drawn on the treasurers in favour of Ephraim Blaine, esq. for the purpose of purchasing shoes and blankets for the continental troops in Virginia; he to be accountable. The committee on qualifications having recommended Thomas Holland to be a second-lieutenant in the Delaware battalion, in the room of James M'Donnough, deceased, and John Corse, ensign, in the room of Thomas Holland, Resolved, That commissions be granted to them accordingly. The committee, to whom the petition of Noah Phelps, was referred, brought in their report, which was agreed to; Whereupon, Resolved, That the committee of inspection of the city of Albany, be requested to adjust Mr. Noah Phelps's account of services performed at Ticonderoga; and that Mr. Noah Phelps be allowed and paid for his further services, including those of contractor from the time of his joining general Montgomery, at the rate of one dollar for each day, until he quitted the service, and an equivalent to a captain's rations during the said time, provided he has not already had them; the latter account to be settled by general Schuyler, who is requested to pay to the said Noah Phelps, what may appear to be due to him for the whole of his services aforesaid. The committee, to whom the letter from lord Sterling, of the 10th of March last, with the papers therein enclosed, was referred, brought in their report, which was read: Ordered, To lie on the table: On application from the committee of Lower Pennsneck, in the county of Salem, in New-Jersey, Resolved, That the secret committee be directed to sell to the said commit tee, 75lb. of gun-powder. Resolved, That a copy of the intercepted letter from John Butler, at Niagara, dated the 29th of February, be sent to general Schuyler. Resolved, That a copy of the report of the committee appointed to enquire into the truth and foundation of the story, "That the Indians have been invited by governor Penn to come to Philadelphia," be sent to general Schuyler; and that general Schuyler be directed to cause the person to be arrested, who pretended to have carried such invitation to the Indians. The committee of claims reported, that there is due, For the expenses of general Lee's guard, the sum of 10.8 dollars, and that the same ought to be paid to Timothy Matlack: On a draught drawn by Ephraim Blaine, esq. on the commissioners for Indian affairs in the middle department, in favour of Samuel Semple, the sum of 77 dollars, for expenses of the said commissioners, and that the said sum ought to be paid to Robert Miller, esq. of the county of Cumberland: For the subsistence of A. Hill Brice, captain of the 7th regiment of foot, of royal fusileers, the sum of 39.5 dollars, and that the same ought to be paid to Thomas M'Kean, esq. and charged to the said captain: Ordered, That the said accounts be paid. Agreeable to the order of the day, Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into their farther consideration, the letter from general Washington of the 27th March last, and the papers therein enclosed; and, after sometime, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. Harrison reported, that the committee had come to a resolution on the matters referred to them, which he read, and delivered in. The report being again read, Resolved, That the consideration thereof be postponed. Information being given to Congress, that Allan Cameron, who is confined in gaol, is in such a state of health as to require the attendance of a physician, and that he is desirous of the assistance of Dr. Cadwallader: Resolved, That Dr. Cadwallader have leave to attend him. FRIDAY, April 26, 1776. Resolved, That the secret committee be directed to settle and pay to the colony of Connecticut, the powder lent by the said colony to general Washington, for the use of the continent, and to act as they shall judge best for the public service, and the benefit of Connecticut, in exchanging the powder which the said colony has in Philadelphia, for powder in the eastern ports belonging to the continent. Resolved, That 50,000 dollars be sent to the committee of safety of Virginia, and that the president write to the said committee, and request them to use their utmost endeavors to have it exchanged for specie, and remit the same to the continental treasurers; and, in case they can procure more specie, that they send it, and draw for the amount on the pay-master in Virginia, who is ordered to pay such draughts. Resolved, That the sum of 250,000 dollars be sent to the pay-master in` Virginia, for the use of the continental troops, he to be accountable. A letter from Dr. Cadwallader was laid before Congress, and read, giving an account of A. Cameron's state of health: Whereupon, Resolved, That the said A. Cameron be allowed the benefit of air in his room, and of walking an hour every morning in the yard, in company or pre sence of the gaoler, and that his uncle, Dr. M'Clean, from New-York, who is . now in town, be allowed to converse with him in presence of the gaoler. Edmund Randolph, who was appointed deputy muster-master general of the southern department, having been chosen by the citizens of Williamsburg, to represent them in convention, and an ordinance having been passed, excluding all persons holding any military post of profit from a seat therein, begged leave to resign his office: Resolved, That the resignation of Mr. Randolph be accepted. Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to take into consideration the state of the eastern department, and report thereon: The members chosen, Mr. Rutledge, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Wythe, Mr. Harrison, and Mr. Duane. The committee of claims reported, that there is due, To Dr. Robert Johnson, for attendance on the 6th battalion, and for medicines, the sum of 53.1 dollars. Ordered, That the said account be paid. The committee, to whom the letters from general Washington of the 22d and 23d instant, were referred, brought in their report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon, Resolved, That the pay of the aids-de-camp of the commander in chief, be raised to forty dollars à month. a Resolved, That none of the troops already raised, be, for the present, disbanded for want of arms; and that the general apply to the convention, and committee of safety of New-York, for such arms, as may have been collected under the resolve of Congress, for disarming non-associators and disaffected persons, or any other arms they can supply, and that they be delivered to the New-York troops. Resolved, That Mr. Baldwin, the assistant engineer, ordered to Canada, be allowed, in consideration of his merit, the pay and rank of lieutenant-colonel on the continental establishment. Resolved, That the respective governments from whence militia have come. for the defence of the city of New-York, be desired speedily to transmit to Congress, authenticated muster-rolls, and accounts of monies due to such respective militias, in order to their being immediately settled and discharged. Resolved, That Congress approve the assistance given by the general to commodore Hopkins. Resolved, That the farther consideration of the report be postponed till to morrow. Congress then took into consideration the report of the committee on the petition of colonel James Easton: Whereupon, Resolved, That the claims of the persons concerned in the surprize and reduction of the fortress of Ticonderoga, having already been submitted by Congress to the committee of Albany, the petitioner be referred to the said committee of Albany for a settlement of his demand on that account. As from the testimonials produced by the petitioner, it appears-that he and his battalion behaved with great diligence, activity, and spirit in the successful enterprize against general Prescot, and the vessels and troops under his command, in the river Sorell, in which important service they were joined by colonel Bedel and a part of his regiment that to encourage the party employed in that important service, the late general Montgomery promised them all the public stores which should be taken in the vessels under general Prescot's command, excepting ammunition and provisions; and, as the petitioner alleges that no part of those stores was delivered, nor any composition made to the troops concerned in the acquisition; Therefore, Resolved, That it be recommended to the general commanding in Canada, to appoint commissioners to estimate all the public stores taken with general |