Prescot, (excepting ammunition and provisions) and pay the value thereof among the officers and men employed in that service, in such proportions as the commissioners shall determine. As the petitioner's account of monies received, and disbursements made by him for the use of his regiment, on which he claims a balance, can, for want of proper vouchers and information here, only be adjusted in Canada, where the business was transacted, Resolved, That the same be referred for settlement in such mode as the commissioners from Congress, in that province, shall direct; but, as the petitioner is in want of money, Resolved, That 200 dollars be advanced to him in part of his demand against the United Colonies. With regard to the petitioner's request, that a court of enquiry may be called respecting the charge against him and major Brown, for plundering the effects of the prisoners-As brigadier-general Arnold in his letter of the 1st of February last alleges, that the petitioner and major Brown had been publicly accused of plundering the officers' baggage, taken at Sorell, contrary to the articles of capitulation, and to the great scandal of the American arms; for which reason, he declared it to be his opinion, that it would give great disgust to the army in general, if either of them should be promoted until these matters were cleared up; and, as the petitioner asserts his innocence, declaring that he neither plundered, nor directed, nor was privy to the plundering of any prisoner or other person whatever: considering, therefore, on one hand, the aggravated nature of this charge, which is an impediment to the petitioner's promotion, and, on the other, the great confidence reposed in him by general Montgomery, and the essential service which the petitioner has rendered to his country: Resolved, That the commissioners from Congress, in Canada, be instructed to cause enquiry to be made by a court-martial, or otherwise, into the charge against the petitioner, giving him an opportunity of making his defence; and that the proceedings thereon be transmitted to Congress, in order that justice may be done to the petitioner, if he has been accused without sufficient reason. 'The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow. SATURDAY, April 27, 1776. Resolved, That an order for 350 dollars be drawn on the treasurers in favor of Mr. Edy; of which 250 for himself, and 100 for Isaiah Beaudreau, for sèrvices done. Sundry letters and papers from North-Carolina were laid before Congress and read, viz. An affidavit respecting the capture of W. Ginn's brig. A letter from Samuel Johnson, president of the convention, dated the 10th instant, enclosing sundry resolves of the said convention, and an extract of a letter from brigadier-general Moore. Resolved, That the affidavit be delivered to the secret committee: That the other papers be referred to a committee of three: The members chosen, Mr. Duane, Mr. Sherman, and Mr. Alexander. Congress proceeded to the election of a pay-master general, in the room of Mr. Warren, whose resignation was accepted; and the ballots being taken, and examined, William Palfrey, esq. was elected. Congress also proceeded to the election of a deputy commissary-general, for supplying the troops in Virginia with rations; and the ballots being taken, and examined, William Aylet, esq. was elected. Resolved, That Mr. Rodney and Mr. Read be added to the committee appointed to supply the troops in Philadelphia, and the battalion in the lower counties on Delaware. A memorial from the committee of safety of Pennsylvania was presented to Congress and read. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, MONDAY, April 29, 1776. Sundry letters and papers being received, were laid before Congress and read, viz. A letter of the 25th, from general Washington, enclosing a return of the army at New-York: A letter from major Wrixon, declining to accept of the commission of chief engineer: A letter from the council of safety of Maryland, with the examination of Alexander Ross, and sundry papers found in his possession: Resolved, That the letter from general Washington and the letter from the council of safety of Maryland, with Mr. Ross's papers, be referred to a committee of five: The members chosen, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Rutledge, Mr. Goldsborough, Mr. Paine, and Mr. Rodney. Also, a letter of the 19th from general Lee, and one from Thomas Bullet; and a petition from Dr. J. Potts, were read, and referred to the said committee. Resolved, That letters be written by the president to general Schuyler and the committee of safety of New York, desiring them to inform this Congress, whether the continental commissions sent to them for the officers of the troops raised by Connecticut the last campaign, were delivered, or offered to them, or to any, and which of them, and whether any, and which of them refused, or accepted the same? and particularly, whether commissions were offered to colonel Waterbury and colonel Easton, and whether they refused accepting them ? Resolved, That captain Peter Adams, from Maryland, under whose custody Alexander Ross was brought to Philadelphia, be dismissed, and that the said Alexander Ross be committed to the care of the officer commanding the continental troops in Pennsylvania. Resolved, That a standing committee be appointed for Indian affairs; that it consist of five: that the election of the members be postponed till to-morrow. Resolved, That the Congress, relying on the integrity and honor of captain A. McGee, order, that he be permitted to go at large, on giving his parole to the committee of West Augusta, not to engage or be concerned in any measure injurious to these colonies, by stimulating the Indian nations to make war against them, or otherwise. The committee of claims reported, that there is due, To Benjamin Marshall, for tin cartouch boxes, the sum of 465 dollars: To Ephraim Blainc, esq. for subsistence, wagonage, and ferriages of the 6th Pennsylvania battalion, the sum of 2756 dollars: Ordered, That the said accounts be paid. Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee on ge neral Washington's letter of the 19th, &c. Whereupon, Resolved, That the papers from Fort-Pitt be referred to the committee appointed to consider the state of Indian affairs in the middle department. Resolved, That no traders ought to go into the Indian country without license from the agent in the department; and that care be taken by him to prevent exorbitant prices for goods being exacted from the Indians. Resolved, That a ton of powder be sent to Mr. G. Morgan, to be distributed to such Indians as he shall be convinced are in our interest. Resolved, That measures be immediately taken to procure goods to supply the Indians at the treaties ordered to be held with them. Resolved, That the councils of Massachusetts-Bay and New-Hampshire, and the governors of Connecticut and Rhode-Island, be earnestly requested to take the most speedy and effectual measures to collect as much hard money in their respective colonies as possible, and to send the same, as collected, to general Schuyler, and draw upon the president of Congress for the amount. Resolved, That the further consideration of the report, and the several matters to this day referred, be postponed till to-morrow, to which time Congress adjourned. TUESDAY, April 30, 1776. Agreeable to order, Congress proceeded to the election of a standing committee for Indian affairs, when, Mr. Wythe, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Wolcott, Mr. L. Morris, and Mr. Rutledge, were elected. The committee of claims reported, that there is due, To Matthew Swan, for carrying two brass field-pieces from Philadelphia to Williamsburgh, the sum of 93.6 dollars, over and beside the sum of 80 dollars paid him by Robert Erwin, and 13.3 dollars paid by the committee of Williamsburg: For house-rent, carriage, and other contingent expenses of the fourth Pennsylvania battalion, the sum of 358.6 dollars, and that the same ought to be paid to John Harper, quarter-master of the said battalion : For provisions for captain Ross's company, supplied by Charles Jackson, the sum of 9.1 dollars, and that the same ought to be paid to Timothy Matlack, Ordered, That the said accounts be paid. The committee to whom was referred the memorial from the committee of inspection and observation of the city and liberties of Philadelphia, praying the advice of Congress whether they ought to continue the exercise of the power of regulating the price of goods in other instances than that of green tea, brought in their report, which, being taken into consideration, was agreed to: Whereupon, Resolved, That the ninth article of the association, which enjoined the inhabitants of the United Colonies to sell goods and merchandise at the rates they had respectively been accustomed to do for twelve months then last past, was, in its nature, a temporary regulation respecting the goods then on hand; but as those goods are nearly consumed, and a further supply must be obtained at an extraordinary risk and expense, and it is reasonable that adventurers should be encouraged by a prospect of gain adequate to the danger which may be incurred in the importation, and a free trade being now opened from the United Colonies to all parts of the world except the dominions belonging to the king of Great-Britain, Resolved, That the power of committees of inspection and observation to regulate the prices of goods, in other instances than the article of green tea, ought to cease. Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on gen. Washington's letter of the 24th of March: Whereupon, Resolved, That the vessels which were left in the docks and harbor at Boston, by the enemy, and which different persons claim as their property, ought to be restored to their former owners, being inhabitants of these colonies, on their making proof of their title, unless the said parties so claiming, shall have been voluntarily active against the rights of the United Colonies, by affording aid and assistance to the British fleet and army; and that it be recommended to the government of Massachusetts-Bay to appoint commissioners to hear such claims, and determine on the sufficiency of the proof thereof ; Provided, That any person apprehending himself or herself to be aggrieved by the adjudication of the commissioners, may appeal from their sentence to Congress, such appeal being demanded and lodged with the secretary of Congress, within the times limited, and the appellant giving security, in the manner prescribed in the case of an appeal from the sentence of a court appointed for hearing maritime causes. Resolved, That the further consideration of the report be postponed. Resolved, That an order for 2,000 dollars be drawn on the treasurers in favor of George Evans, who has contracted to supply the Delaware battalions with rations, he to be accountable. The delegates for New-Jersey having laid before Congress a number of bills counterfeited to imitate the continental bills of credit, Resolved, That a committee of six be appointed to consider of this matter, and report thereon to Congress. The members chosen, Mr. W. Livingston, Mr. M'Kean, Mr. Sherman, Mr. J. Adams, Mr. Braxton, and Mr. Duane. Adjourned to ten o'clock on Thursday. THURSDAY, May 2, 1776. Sundry letters being received, were laid before Congress and read, viz. one of the 22d of April, from the committee of secrecy, war, and intelligence, of North-Carolina, with a list of prisoners sent to Philadelphia; One of the 30th of April, from general Washington, enclosing a memorial from governor Cooke ; and One of the 29th of the same month, from the committee of safety of NewYork. Ordered, That the letter from general Washington, with the memorial enclosed, be referred to the committee appointed to take into consideration the state of the eastern colonies. Resolved, That a letter be written to general Schuyler, desiring him, in case major Douglass declines to take the command of the vessels on the lakes, to appoint captain Wyncoop to that command, and inform Congress thereof by the first opportunity. Resolved, That an order for 20,000 dollars be drawn on the treasurers in favour of James Mease, commissary, for the use of the Pennsylvania battalions, he to be accountable. A letter of the 1st, from Henry Fisher, of Lewistown, directed to the committee of safety of Pennsylvania, was laid before Congress, and read; Whereupon, Resolved, That the commanding officer of the Delaware battalion, be directed to station thirty-five men, with an officer, at the False Cape, till farther orders. Resolved, That the secret committee be directed to send 200lb. of powder, and 200lb of lead, to Lewis.town, for the use of the companies stationed there. The committee of claims reported, that there is due, To Dr. William Murry, for account of medicine and attendance for the fourth Pennsylvania battalion, the sum of 58.3 dollars. Ordered, That the said account be paid. The committee, to whom were refered the papers laid before Congress by the delegates from North-Carolina, brought in their report, which was read: Ordered, to lie on the table. Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee on general Washington's letter of the 24th of March last; and after debate, Resolved, That it be recommitted; and, as the members of the former committee are absent, that a new committee be appointed. The members chosen, Mr. Dickinson, Mr. W. Livingston, and Mr. W. Rutledge. Resolved, That it be recommended to that branch of the council of safety of Delaware government, residing in Kent county, to furnish the commanding officer of the Delaware battalion, with as many of the public arms of that county as may be sufficient for arming the companies of the said battalion, stationed at Lewistown, to be used by them till otherwise ordered by the said branch of the council of safety. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, FRIDAY, May 3, 1776. The committee of claims reported, that there is due, To David Williams for wagon-hire, the sum of 112 dollars : Ordered, That the said account be paid. Resolved, That the secret committee be directed to send two hundred pounds of Peruvian bark to the commanding officer in Virginia, for the use of the continental forces in the southern department. A petition from Peter Simon was presented to Congress and read: The members chosen, Mr. McKean, Mr. Wythe, and Mr. J. Adams. Resolved, That the secret committee be directed to sell to Hendrick Vanbrune and Thomas Littel, 300 lb. of powder, for the use of the inhabitants of the township of Shrewsbury, to enable them to defend their sea-coast. Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the letter from brigadier lord Sterling, dated the 18th of March last; which was agreed to; Whereupon, Resolved, That the appointment of lieutenant-colonel Ogden, of the first battalion of New-Jersey, was made upon good grounds, the Congress having reserved and frequently exercised the right of promoting men of distinguished merit: That the commissary, Mr. Lowry, be directed to supply such of the soldiers of the said battalion, as desire it, with uniforms, the cost to be deducted from their pay: That as the army is now removed from Cambridge to New-York, the consideration of raising a regiment of artillery for the service in that city, as applied for in the said letter, be postponed till further advice may be received from general Washington, or the commanding officer there. A petition from captain Oswald Eve was presented to Congress and read: Resolved, That it be referred to a committee of three. The members chosen, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Floyd, and Mr. Sergeant. Resolved, That an order for 20,000 dollars be drawn on the treasurers, 'in favour of colonel John Haslet, for the use of the Delaware battalion under his command, he to be accountable. Resolved, That the secret committee be directed to send 300lb. of powder, and a proportionable quantity of lead, to Lewistown, for the use of the troops stationed there. The committee, to whom the report on general Washington's letter of the 24th of March last was recommitted, brought in their report, which was read: Ordered, To lie on the table. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow. SATURDAY, May 4, 1776. The committee of claims reported, that there is due, |