Resolved, That the pay of the commissioner to be sent into Canada be four dollars a day. The board of war and ordnance, to whom was referred the case of the officers who served last winter in Canada, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon, Resolved, That the convention of New-York be requested to set on foot the raising another regiment on continental establishment, to serve for three years, or during the war, unless sooner discharged by Congress; and that in forming the said regiment, they commission such officers as served in the last campaign in Canada, and have not been yet provided for: That the said officers be informed that the commissions to be granted them, are on condition that they raise their companies to their full complement, or nearly thereto, and that their commissions be withheld until the said condition be complied with: That it be recommended to the said convention to make suitable provision for major Dubois, with whose good conduct Congress are well satisfied, and that they return his name, with the names of the other field officers, for the approbation of Congress. That a commission of lieutenant-colonel be given to major John Fischer, in colonel John Nicholson's regiment, in the New-York forces. The Congress then resumed the consideration of the report from the committee of the whole: Whereupon, Resolved, That general Washington be directed to order an enquiry to be made into the conduct of the officers heretofore employed in the Canada department; that the said enquiry be made at such times and places as, in his judgment, shall be most likely to do justice, as well to the public as to the individuals; and that the result of the said enquiry, together with the testimonies upon the subject, be transmitted to Congress : that, moreover, all officers accused of cowardice, plundering, embezzlement of public moneys, and other misdemeanors, be immediately brought to trial: And whereas, Congress is informed that an opinion has prevailed that officers resigning their commissions are not subject to trial by a court-martial for offences committed previous to such resignation, whereby some have evaded the punishments to which they were liable, it is hereby declared that such opinion is not just. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, MONDAY, June 24, 1776. Two letters of the 20th and 21st, from general Washington, with sundry papers enclosed, were laid before Congress and read: Whereupon, Resolved, That a letter be written to the general, desiring him to put a stop to the raising the companies of Mohickan and Stockbridge Indians, mentioned in one of the enclosed papers; and that a like letter be written to governor Trumbull. A letter of the 21st, from the convention of New-Jersey, was laid before Congress and read, together with sundry papers enclosed therein, containing the questions proposed to William Franklin, esq. an account of his behavior on the occasion, and the resolution of the convention, " declaring him a virulent enemy to this country, and a person that may prove dangerous, and that the said William Franklin be confined in such place and manner as the Continental Congress shall direct;" Whereupon, Resolved, That William Franklin be sent under guard to governor Trumbull, who is desired to admit him to his parole; but, if Mr. Franklin refuse to give his parole, that governor Trumbull be desired to treat him agreeable to the resolutions of Congress respecting prisoners. Resolved, That Mr. Mease be directeed to advance to captain Matthew 1 Smith, of the rifle-battalion, one thousand and forty dollars, for the purpose of recruiting his company; the said captain Smith to be accountable. Resolved, That Mr. Mease, and the committee of claims, be directed to forward to the pay-master general, an account of the monies advanced and ordered to be charged to the rifle-battalion, or the respective rifle companies, in order that the same may be deducted, and stopped from their pay. The Congress being informed that a quantity of tents, which were sent from Philadelphia for the use of the colony of Massachusetts-Bay, have been stopped at New-York, by the order of the quarter-master general: Resolved, That the president write to the general on this subject, and desire him to order the said tents to be delivered up, and forwarded to the colony of Massachusetts-Bay immediately. Resolved, That a committee, to consist of a member from each colony, be appointed to enquire into the causes of the miscarriages in Canada: That the said committee have power to send for persons and papers: The members chosen, Mr. Whipple, Mr. Paine, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Clinton, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Paca, Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Hewes, Mr. Middleton, and Mr. Hall. The committee of claims reported, that there is due, To Gunning Bedford, the sum of 202 dollars, of which sum 103 dollars and 30-90ths, for pay and subsistence for two months, the remainder for a horse for the continental service: Ordered, That the said accounts be paid. Resolved, That the report on the cartel for exchange of prisoners, entered into between brigadier-general Arnold and captain Foster, be recommitted. Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on spies; Whereupon, Resolved, That all persons abiding within any of the United Colonies, and deriving protection from the laws of the same, owe allegiance to the said laws, and are members of such colony; and that all persons passing through, visiting, or make a temporary stay in any of the said colonies, being entitled to the protection of the laws during the time of such passage, visitation or temporary stay, owe, during the same, allegiance thereto: That all persons, members of, or owing allegiance to any of the United Colonies, as before described, who shall levy war against any of the said colonies within the same, or be adherent to the king of Great-Britain, or other enemies of the said colonies, or any of them, within the same, giving to him or them aid and comfort, are guilty of treason against such colony: That it be recommended to the legislatures of the several United Colonies, to pass laws for punishing, in such manner as to them shall seem fit, such persons before described, as shall be proveably attainted of open deed, by people of their condition, of any of the treasons before described. Resolved, That it be recommended to the several legislatures of the United Colonies, to pass laws for punishing, in such manner as they shall think fit, persons who shall counterfeit, or aid or abet in counterfeiting, the continental bills of credit, or who shall pass any such bill in payment, knowing the same to be counterfeit. Resolved, That the remainder of the said report be recommitted. A petition from Antoine Felix Wiebert was presented to Congress, and read : Resolved, That the same, together with the papers accompanying it, be referred to the board of war and ordnance. The board of war and ordnance, to whom was referred a petition from Carpenter Wharton, brought in their report, which was read: Ordered, To lie on the table: and that the president write to general Wash VOL. I. 49 ington, and request him to inform Congress of the cost of a ration as furnished by the commissary-general. The matters to this day referred, being postponed, Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow. TUESDAY, June 25, 1776. A letter of the 23d from general Washington, with sundry letters from major-general Schuyler, brigadier-general Sullivan, brigadier-general Arnold, and others, were laid before Congress, and read: Resolved, That the same be referred to the board of war and ordnance; who are directed to sit immediately, and report thereon as soon as possible. A memorial from captain Stephen Rowe Bradley was presented to Congress and read, together with sundry accounts: Resolved, That the same be referred to the committee on the treasury. The, marine committee having recommended captain Samuel Nichols, to be promoted to be major of marines; Andrew Porter, Joseph Hardy, Samuel Shaw, Benjamin Deane, and Robert Mullin, to be captains of marines; Daniel Henderson, David Love, Franklin Reed, and Peregrine Brown, to be first-lieutenants of marines; James M'Clure, William Gilmore, Abel Morgan, and Hugh Montgomery, to be second-lieutenants of marines; John Stewart to be captain; Thomas Pownal, first-lieutenant, and Richard Harrison, second-lieutenant, of marines, for the frigate building in Maryland: * John Langdon, esq. to be agent of prizes for the colony of New-Hampshire: Resolved, That they be approved, and that commissions be granted to them accordingly. Resolved, That the secret committee be directed to sell to John Maxwell Nesbit & Co. 125 lb. of powder, for the use of the privateer they are fitting out. Resolved, That the committee appointed to contract for making muskets, be directed to consider the propriety of granting a bounty, or other means, for encouraging the making of muskets. Adjourned to four o'clock. EODEM DIE, P. M. A declaration of the deputies of Pennsylvania, met in provincial conference, was laid before Congress, and read; expressing their willingness to concur in a vote of Congress, declaring the United Colonies Free and Independent States. The board of war and ordnance, to whom the several letters received this morning were referred, brought in their report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon, Resolved, That the number of men destined for the northern department, be augmented to four thousand : That a colonel's commission be immediately issued to major Dubois, with instructions forthwith to raise a regiment to serve for three years, or during the war, and that the corps of officers be composed of such as have served with credit in Canada; no officer to receive his commission until his company be raised and armed; the arms of the people inlisting themselves, to be valued by the committees of the counties, where the companies are raised, and paid for by the continent, on their being mustered: That it be earnestly recommended to the colony of New-Hampshire, to send immediately one regiment of their militia to Massachusetts-Bay, two regiments of their militia to Connecticut, one regiment of their milita to augment the troops destined for the northern department: That letters be sent to the general assemblies of the colonies, from whence the several regiments of militia are and have been requested, earnestly pressing them to be expeditious in raising and equipping their troops, and requesting the several assemblies to take upon themselves the care of providing the said troops with clothes, tents, and all necessary camp-equipage, and assuring them that the United Colonies will be answerable for the expense of the same: That a regimental pay-master, who is not to be an officer of the army, be appointed by the said colonies to each of the said battalions, who shall keep all the accounts of his respective battalion, and to whom particular returns shall be made of the expense of clothing the said battalion, in order that the same may be deducted out of the pay of the soldiers, for whom the articles shall have been provided. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, WEDNESDAY, June 26, 1776. A letter of the 21st from general Washington, and, one of the 26th, from brigadier-general Wooster, were laid before Congress, and read: Ordered, That the letter from brigadier-general Wooster be referred to the committee appointed to enquire into the causes of the miscarriages in Canada. The board of war brought in a report, which was taken into consideration, Whereupon, Resolved, That Mons. Antoine Felix Weibert, who applies to be employed as an engineer in the continental army, be recommended to general Washington as a person who appears to be qualified to act in that capacity; but, as he asks no more at present than to be placed in a situation, in which he may be enabled to evidence his abilities, that the general be desired to employ him in such way, as he shall judge will best conduce to the good of the service, and answer Mons. Weibert's request. Resolved, That the following gentlemen be appointed officers of the battalion to be raised under colonel Lewis Dubois; their commissions to be given them as soon as their complement of men shall be raised : Jacobus S. Bruyn, lieutenant-colonel; William Goforth, major; David Dubois, Elias Van Banscholen, Thomas de Witt, Issac Wool, Philip D. B. Bevier, Richard Platt, Albert Pawling, and Cornelius T. Jansin, captains; James Gregg, Aaron Austin, Jonathan Piercy, Evans Wherry, Garret Van Wagenan, Henry Vandenburg, Nathaniel Conklin, and Henry Dodge, first lieutenants; Daniel Glans, second-lieutenant in the first company; John Coates, surgeon; and Henry Dubois, adjutant. Resolved, That the president write to the convention of New-York, and explain to them, the reasons that induced the Congress to enter into the foregoing resolution; and to request the convention to appoint the other officers of the battalion, and to use their best endeavours in equipping and forwarding the said battalion as soon as possible. Resolved, That the marine committee be empowered to purchase the armed brig Catharine, with her guns, tackle, apparel and furniture, as she now lies in Connecticut. The committee of claims reported, that there is due, To Dr. Bond, the sum of 9'30-90 dollars for medicines and attendance for three Indians: To Benjamin Armitage, for boarding and lodging Thomas Folmer, the Indian interpreter, twenty days, the sum of 12 25-90 dollars. To Richard Cheny, the sum of 4 82-90 dollars for victualling general Lee's guard, and that the same ought to be paid to John Morton, esq. To Anthony Welte, for provisions supplied captain Nelson's company, the sum, of 18 18-90 dollars. To Aaron Phips, the sum of 7 44-90 dollars for sundry expenses of general Lee's guard: To John Osborne, the sum of 8 dollars; namely 6 dollars for boarding and lodging a sick soldier, and two dollars for a coffin for one of captain Vanzant's men : To George Howes, for wagon-hire, &c. carrying money to Cambridge at the time Mr. Franks went, the sum of 70 40-90 dollars, To Messrs. Hanson, Donaldson, and Franks, for carrying money to the camp in March last, the sum of 238 28-90 dollars: To Isaac Sorrel, the sum of 26 85-90 dollars; of which 10 69-90 dollars were for the expenses of the prisoners that were brought from North-Carolina and the guard, the remainder for the expenses of the guard that went with the powder, &c. to colonel Miles, at Marcus-hook. To Henry Haller, the sum of 645 46-90 dollars; of which sum, captain John Nelson is to be charged, for two rifles, 24 dollars; the remainder, viz. expenses of captain John Nelson's company at Reading, 12 89-90 dollars; expenses of prisoners from St. John's and Chambly to 8th June, 538 47-90 dollars; Mr. Haller's pay, as commissary, from 30th March to 7th June, 70 days, at 7s 6, 70 dollars. Ordered, That the said accounts be paid. Resolved, That a bounty of ten dollars be given to every non-commissioned officer and soldier, who will inlist to serve for the term of three years. Ordered, That the resolutions passed yesterday, be sent to general Washington, and that he be desired to afford such assistance to the northern or Canada department, as he shall be enabled to do consistently with the safety of NewYork; and, from time to time, to give such directions as he may think expedient for the public service. A paragraph of a letter from general Washington to one of the members, being laid before Congress, and read: Resolved, That it be referred to the board of war and ordnance. Resolved, That the secret committee be directed to supply the marine committee with one ton of powder, for the use of the vessel which they were this morning empowered to purchase. Resolved, That Michael Hillegas, esq. be empowered and directed to pay such sums of money as are or may be due to the several signers of continental bills of credit, for their services, agreeable to the resolve of Congress for that purpose. The committee to whom was referred the petition of William Whiting, a soldier who was wounded in the continental army at Quebec, brought in their report, which was read: Whereupon, Resolved, That the sum of twenty dollars be paid out of the public treasury to William Whiting, to enable him to return to his family at Norfolk, in Connecticut. The committee on the treasury, to whom were referred the petition and accounts of Shephen Rowe Bradley, brought in their report: Whereupon, Resolved, That there be paid to Stephen Rowe Bradely the sum of 691 22-90 dollars, for the service of himself and his company, from the 25th day of January to the 25th day of February, during which time they were employed in the service of the continent. The matters to this day referred, being postponed, THURSDAY, June 27, 1776. A letter of the 17th from governor Trumbull, was laid before Congress and read; also, Two petitions; one from colonel John Brown, the other from William Holton: Resolved, That the petition from colonel Brown be referred to the committee appointed to enquire into the causes of the miscarriages in Canada: |