Ordered, That the said account be paid.

A letter of the 3d, from colonel Hand, of the rifle battalion, was read; Whereupon,

Resolved, That an order for 4000 dollars be drawn on the treasurers in favor of colonel Hand, for the use of his battalion, he to be accountable.

That the letter from colonel Hand be referred to a committee of three. The members chosen, Mr. Read, Mr. Sergeant, and Mr. Huntington. The Congress taking into consideration the letter of the 29th of April, from the committee of safety of New-York: Whereupon,

Resolved, That a major be appointed for the first New-York battalion, in the room of major Benedict, who has resigned:

The ballots being taken and examined,

Barnabas Tuthill, esq. was elected.

Sundry letters, just received, were laid before Congress, and read, viz. one of the 10th of April, from brigadier general Wooster, at Holland-House, before Quebec:

One of the 28th of said month, from general' Schuyler, dated Fort-George, enclosing the examination of Michael Ryan:

One of the 27th of the same month, from governor Trumbull, enclosing a letter from N. Shaw, jun. with a list of the cannon left at New-London.

Ordered, That the marine committee lay on the table, on Monday next, the instructions given by the naval committee to commodore Hopkins, upon his leaving this port.

Congress resumed the consideration of the report on general Washington's letter of the 24th of March: Whereupon,

Resolved, That all the cannon, and other stores, in Boston, which were originally purchased and provided by and at the expense of the colonies of Massachusetts-Bay and New-Hampshire, be considered as belonging to the colony that so purchased and provided them; and that all the other cannon left in the colony of Massachusetts-Bay, by the British forces, be presented to the said colony:

The farther consideration of the report, at the request of a colony, was postponed till Monday next.

Congress then took into consideration the report of the committee on general Washington's letter of the 4th of April: Whereupon,

Resolved, That the pay of the officers and soldiers of the militia, lately called to Cambridge, commence on the day of their march, and cease on that of their return.

Resolved, That the farther consideration of the report be postponed.
Adjourned to ten o'clock on Monday.

MONDAY, May 6, 1776.

Advice being received that captain Young, who was fitted out at the expense of the continent, by Mr. Lewis and Mr. Alsop, was arrived ;

Resolved, That the secret committee be directed to give proper orders for landing, securing and bringing to Philadelphia the cargo imported by captain Young.

A memorial of captain Herman Allen was presented to Congress, and read: Ordered, That it be referred to the committee of claims.

Congress resumed the consideration of the report on general Washington's letter of the 24th of March; and, thereupon, came to the following resolution: Whereas general Washington has requested directions concerning the conduct that should be observed towards commissioners, said to be coming from Great-Britain to America,

Resolved, That general Washington be informed, that Congress suppose, if commissioners are intended to be sent from Great-Britain to treat of peace,

that the practice usual in such cases will be observed, by making previous application for the necessary passports or safe conduct, and on such application being made, Congress will then direct the proper measures for the reception of such commissioners.

The committee appointed to bring in a resolution, whereby persons resident, or having property in America, who assist any of the enemies of these United Colonies in the captures of vessels or goods, may be made liable to make good the damage to the sufferers, brought in a report which was read: Ordered, To lie on the table.

A letter of the 24th of April, from general Lee, was read.

The Congress then resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into their consideration, the state of the United Colonies; and after some time spent thereon, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. Harrison reported, that the committee had taken into consideration the matter to them referred, and had thereupon come to sundry resolutions, which he was ordered to report when the house should be ready to receive them.

Ordered, That the report be now delivered in.

The report of the committee of the whole being read, was agreed to as follows:

Resolved, That ten millions of dollars be raised for the purpose of carrying on the war for the current year:

That the Indian goods said to be at Fort-Pitt, be purchased for the use of the United Colonies :

That Indian goods to the value of ten thousand dollars, be purchased at Montreal, for the use of the United Colonies:

That treaties be held with the Indians in the different departments, as soon as practicable; and that the sum of ten thousand dollars be paid out of the treasury, to the commissioners of each respective department, for presents to the Indians and the expenses of such treaties.

Mr. Harrison further reported, that the committee desired him to move for leave to sit again: Whereupon,

Resolved, That Congress will, to-morrow, resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the state of America.

Resolved, That a committee of seven be appointed to devise ways and means for raising the ten millions of dollars:

The members chosen, Mr. Duane, Mr. R. Morris, Mr. Rutledge, Mr. Gerry, Mr. Sherman, Mr. R. H. Lee, and Mr. Hewes.

Resolved, That the convention, or council of safety of Virginia, be empow ered to appoint surgeons to the battalions raised in the said colony, for the service of the continent.

Resolved, That John Taylor be appointed judge-advocate to the continental troops in the colony of Virginia.

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

TUESDAY, May 7, 1776.

Sundry letters being received, were laid before Congress, and read,

One of the 5th of April from general Washington:

viz.

One of the 14th from John G. Frazer, enclosing a list of the vessels, cannon,

and ordnance-stores left by the enemy at Boston:

One from sundry prisoners at Hartford, in Connecticut, dated 21st March:
One from L. F. of St. Eustatia, dated 5th of April :

Resolved, That the said letters be referred to a committee of three:

The members chosen, Mr. S. Adams, Mr. Braxton, and Mr Duane.

A petition from John Bayard, P. Moore, and John Patton, was presented to Congress and read: Whereupon,

Resolved, That the secret committee be directed to sell to the petitioners 600lb. of powder, for the use of the privateers they are fitting out.

+

Resolved, That one hundred dollars be paid by the treasurers to M. Giason, a Canadian prisoner, upon his giving a bill upon his friend at Montreal for the like sum, payable on demand.

Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the papers laid before Congress by the delegates of North-Carolina: Whereupon,

Resolved, That another battalion raised, in North-Carolina, in addition to the five battalions already ordered for the defence of that colony, be taken into the pay and service of the United Colonies:

That a deputy quarter-master general be appointed for the southern department, to be employed in North-Carolina:

That the secret committee be directed to procure and forward twelve fieldpieces for the use of the troops in North-Carolina:

That the secret committee be directed to forward three tons of gun-powder for the defence of the said colony:

That the committee on qualifications be directed to purchase and forward to North-Carolina, a chest of medicines and instruments, equal in value to one of those furnished by the Pennsylvania battalions, for each of the six battalions raised in the colony of North-Carolina.

Congress proceeded to the election of a deputy quarter-master general for the southern department; and the ballots being taken,

Nicholas Long, esq. was elected.

Resolved, That Nicholas Long, esq. have the rank of a colonel in the continental army.

The convention of North-Carolina having recommended sundry gentlemen for field-officers of the six battalions raised in that colony, Congress proceeded to a choice, and the following gentlemen were elected:

Francis Nash, esq. colonel, Thomas Clarke, esq. lieutenant-colonel, William Davis, esq. major, of the 1st battalion.

Alexander Martin, esq. colonel, John Patton, esq. lieutenant-colonel, John White, esq. major, of the second battalion.

Jethro Sumner, esq. colonel, William Alston, esq. lieutenant-colonel, Samuel Lockart, esq. major, of the 3d battalion.

Thomas Polk, esq. colonel, James Thackston, esq. lieutenant-colonel, William Davidson, esq. major, of the 4th battalion.

Edward Bancombe, esq. colonel, Henry Irwin, esq. lieutenant-colonel, Levi Dawson, esq. major, of the 5th battalion.

Alexander Lillington, esq. colonel, William Taylor, esq. lieutenant-colonel, Gideon Lamb, esq. major, of the 6th battalion.

Ordered, That the letter received yesterday from general Lee, be referred to the committee to whom were referred the letters received this morning.

Resolved, That the committee appointed to purchase stockings for the troops in Canada, be directed to apply to the general assemblies of MassachusettsBay and Connecticut, and request them to assist in procuring the said stockings.

Congress took into consideration the memorial from the committee of safety of Pennsylvania; Whereupon,

Resolved, That twenty of the heaviest cannon, taken by commodore Hopkins, at New-Providence, and brought from thence to New-London, and since carried to Newport, be brought to the city of Philadelphia, and delivered to the committee of safety of Pennsylvania, for the defence and protection of the said city; to remain there during the pleasure of Congress.

William Peachy, esq. colonel of the fifth Virginia battalion, having resigned, Congress proceeded to elect a gentleman to supply his place; and, the ballots being taken,

Charles Scott, esq. was elected; and,

Alexander Spotswood was elected lieutenant-colonel of the second battalion, in the room of colonel Scott.

Resolved, That such of the iron cannon, as was brought from Ticonderoga to Boston, and have not been removed by general Washington, be lent for the defence of the town and harbor of Boston, to remain there during the pleasure of Congress.

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

WEDNESDAY, May 8, 1776.

The committee of claims reported, that there is due,

To William Brady for thirty days wagonage in conveying captain Stevenson's baggage from Virginia to Roxbury, the sum of 60 dollars; and that the same ought to be paid to Daniel McPherson.

To James McDonnel, for wagonage, in conveying baggage belonging to captain Talbot's company of the sixth Pennsylvania battalion, to New-York, the sum of 117.9 dollars:

Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

A letter of the 5th from general Washington, one of the 4th from William Palfrey, pay-master general, and one of the 2d from captain Delaplace, a prisoner, were laid before Congress and read.

Ordered, That they be referred to a committee of five.

The members chosen, Mr. S. Adams, Mr. Wythe, Mr. Rodney, Mr. R. H. Lee, and Mr. Whipple.

A petition from captain Gideon Warren, and a letter from Joseph Woodward, chairman of the committee of New-Hampshire grants, were presented to Congress, and read:

Ordered, That they be referred to a committee of five, who are directed to hear the persons mentioned in the said letter, and report thereon to Congress: The members chosen, Mr. Rodney, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Hewes, Mr. Lynch, and Mr. Alexander.

The instructions given by the naval committee to commodore Hopkins, being laid before Congress, and read,

Ordered, That they be referred to a committee of seven ; and that it be an instruction to the said committee, to enquire how far commodore Hopkins has complied with the said instructions, and if, upon enquiry, they shall find that he has departed therefrom, to examine into the occasion thereof; also, to enquire into the situation of the governor and lieutenant-governor of Providence, and the other officer, brought from thence, and report what, in their opinion, is proper to be done with them:

That the said committee have power to send for witnesses and papers: The members chosen, Mr. Harrison, Mr. J. Adams, Mr. M'Kean, Mr. Duane, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Sherman, and Mr. W. Livingston.

Information being given to Congress, that Kirkland, a prisoner, has broken gaol and made his escape,

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to devise ways and means to have him retaken :

The members chosen, Mr. McKean, Mr. Lynch, and Mr. Gerry.

Resolved, That whenever it shall appear to this Congress, that any officer or officers, bearing continental commissions, shall have departed from orders, an enquiry shall be made.

Resolved, That the secret committee be directed to sell to Aaron Biddle and John Helm, 75 lbs. powder, for the use of the inhabitants of Upper-Pennsneck, in New-Jersey.

Agreeable to the order of the day, Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the state of the colonies; and, after some time spent thereon, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. Harrison reported, that the committee have had under consideration the matter to them VOL. I. 43

referred, but not having come to any resolutions 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 consideration the state of these colonies.

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

THURSDAY, May 9, 1776.

A letter from Ab. Livingston, offering to resign the contract made with the convention of New-York, for supplying the troops, in that colony, with provisions; also, a letter of the 8th from colonel James Easton, were laid before Congress, and read:

Ordered, That they be referred to a committee of three:

The members chosen, Mr. M'Kean, Mr. S. Adams, and Mr. Wythe. Application being made for a safe conduct for Mrs. Bellew, wife of captain Bellew, of the Liverpool, to pass through the country to her relations in Marblehead,

Ordered, That it be referred for consideration to Mr. R. H. Lee and Mr. R. Morris.

The committee of claims report, that there is due,

To Wm. Bedford, for cartouch straps, the sum of 193.3 dollars :

To colonel Jos. Read, for camp equipage, &c. procured for general Washington, the sum of 434.2 dollars :

Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

The said committee having reported on the petition and accounts of captain Herman Allen, which were referred to them,

Resolved, That the said petition and accounts be referred to the committee on the treasury.

The committee on prisoners, to whom the letter from Henry Beaumont, of the 26th regiment of the king of Great-Britain, was referred, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon,

Resolved, That the said Henry Beaumont be permitted to reside with his wife and family at Elizabeth-town, in the colony of New-Jersey, he giving to the committee of inspection and observation of the said borough, his parole, in the form prescribed by Congress.

The committee appointed to devise ways and means för raising ten millions of dollars for the service of the current year, brought in their report, which was read and considered: Whereupon,

Resolved, That five millions of dollars be emitted in bills of credit, in part of the ten millions voted for the service of the current year

That the thirteen United Colonies be pledged for the redemption of the said five millions of dollars, at such periods, and in such manner and proportions as Congress shall hereafter direct and appoint.

Resolved, That it be referred to the superintendents of the treasury, to consider of and report a plan for carrying into effect the before-mentioned resolution for emitting five millions of dollars in bills of credit, towards the service of the current year.

The committee having informed Congress that they have not had time to complete their report :

Resolved, That they have leave to sit again.

Captain Budden having been taken by the Liverpool man of war, and permitted, on his parole, to come to Philadelphia, in order to procure a prisoner to be given in exchange for him,

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to consider the propriety of exchanging seamen :

The members chosen, Mr. R. Morris, Mr. Hewes, and Mr. Huntington. Agreeable to the order of the day, Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the state of the United Colonics ; and,