1 nada, and was promised by gen. Arnold, the pay of £14 10 per month, including rations; and that there is now a balance of 124 dollars 84-90ths due, and that the same ought to be paid to him, and he continued a chaplain in the pay of the United States: That Jean Fiscul ought to receive nine months' pay as a private, and a present of 20 dollars for particular service, the whole amounting to 80 dollars, and that he be permitted to inlist in the artillery at New-York: That Pierre du Calvert ought to receive 106 dollars and 2-3ds, for 8 months' pay as an ensign, and a commission as a brevet lieutenant. That Alexander du Clos ought to receive 33 dollars and 1-3d, for 5 months' pay as a private, and be discharged, with permission to inlist again in the service, at his election: That Jean Baptist du Vidal ought to receive 56 dollars for seven months' pay as a serjeant, and be discharged, or continued in the service, at his election: That Louis Russe ought to receive 32 dollars for his services as a nurse and attendant on the sick, and a present of 40 dollars on account of his humanity to them: That Juet a Voir ought to receive a present of 10 dollars, and be discharged, or continued in service at his election: That La Junesse ought to receive a present of 40 dollars, and be discharged: That John Hamptreneck ought to receive 186 dollars and 2-3ds, as deputy commissary, from the 15th of September to the 5th of February, and 164 dollars for his pay as a captain from the 5th of February to this day, being 6 months and 5 days; the whole amounting to 350 dollars and 60-90ths. That John Diamond and Walker Moody ought to receive a present of 40 dollars each: That Andrew Pepin ought to receive 33 dollars and 39-90ths, for 5 months' pay as a private, for his services as a volunteer, and be continued in pay as a lieutenant: That all persons who have acted as volunteers in Canada, and retreated with the army, be referred to general Schuyler; and that he be directed to enquire into their service and characters, and to order them such rewards and wages as shall appear to have been merited: That 300 dollars be advanced to colonel James Livingston, and his general account against Congress referred to the inspection and determination of general Schuyler. Resolved, That the said report be agreed to. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, MONDAY, August 12, 1776. A letter from general Washington of the 8th, with sundry papers enclosed, and one from general Mercer, with one enclosed to him from colonel Dickinson, were read: Resolved, That the letter from general Washington, with the papers enclosed, be referred to the board of war: That the letter from brigadier-general Mercer, with the enclosed letter from colonel Dickinson, be communicated to the convention of Pennsylvania. Sundry resolutions, passed by the convention of New-York, were laid before Congress, and read. A letter from a gentleman at Cape-Francois, in Hispaniola, dated July the 23d, was also read: Resolved, That it be referred to the secret committee. That the delegates of North-Carolina be empowered to send by water, at the risk of the continent, the military stores necessary for that state. On application of one of the parties, Resolved, That the hearing the appeal against the sentence passed on the schooner Thistle, be postponed to Monday, the 26th instant. The council of safety of Pennsylvania having recommended Philip Schrauder, as a second lieutenant of the fifth company of Germans, to be raised in that state, Resolved, That he be accepted, and that a commission be granted to him accordingly. A letter of the 3d, from the council of Virginia, and one of the same date, from brigadier-general Lewis, were read. Agreeable to the order of the day, commodore Hopkins attended, and was admitted ; when the examination, taken before the marine committee, and the report of the said committee in consequence thereof, were read to him; and the commodore being heard in his own defence, and having delivered in some further answers to the questions asked him by the marine committee, and two witnesses being, at his request, introduced and examined, he withdrew. Congress then took into consideration the instructions given to commodore Hopkins, his examination and answers to the marine committee, and the report of the marine committee thereupon; also, the farther defence by him made, and the testimony of the witnesses; and, after some debate, the farther consideration thereof was postponed. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, TUESDAY, August 13, 1776. Resolved, That the 8th Virginia battalion be taken into pay from the 27th day of May last, and the 7th from the 17th day of June last. The marine committee having recommended William Barnes for first lieutenant on board one of the frigates built at Philadelphia; Thomas Vaughan, second mate of the ship Alfred, to be third lieutenant of the Washington frigate, commanded by Thomas Reed, esq. and Elisha Hinman, to the command of the Cabot, Resolved, That they be accepted, and that commissions be granted to them accordingly; and that captain Saltonstal be ordered to discharge Mr. Vaughan, that he may repair to the command to which he is now appointed. Colonel Mercer, of the 3d Virginia battalion, being promoted to the rank of brigadier-general, and William Christian, who was appointed colonel of the first battalion, having declined to accept his commission, and colonel William Peachy, of the fifth battalion, having resigned, Congress proceeded to the election of officers to fill the vacancies occasioned thereby, and the ballots being taken, Charles Scott, George Weeden, and Isaac Reade, esquires, were elected colonels; Alexander Spotswood, Thomas Marshall, and Robert Lawson, esqrs. lieutenant-colonels; and James Junis and John Green, esqrs. majors. The committee of treasury reported, that there is due, To Courad Alster, for 214 meals supplied to the militia on their march to New-Jersey, the sum of 21 36-90 dollars : To James Davis, for 70 meals supplied captain Clark's company of militia, on their march to New-Jersey, 7 9-90 dollars: To major Blackden, for the hire of a sleigh and two horses from Albany to Quebec, cash expended going express from general Arnold to Sorel, and for a horse, bridle, and saddle, lost at Dechambeau, in the service of the colonies, 153 dollars: Ordered, That the above accounts be paid. The board of treasury to whom it was referred to devise ways and means for paying Messrs. Price and Heywood, brought in their report; Whereupon, Resolved, That an order be sent to general Schuyler and general Gates, to pay all the specie that they may have in their hands, belonging to the United States, to Messrs. Price & Heywood, in part of the balance due to them from the said states, and transmit an account thereof to Congress : 1 That the committee of treasury be directed to use their endeavors to procure gold and silver, as quickly as possible, to discharge the remainder: That Messrs. Price and Haywood be allowed at the rate of five per cent. per annum interest, for the balance that may be due to them, after deducting the sum that shall be paid them by generals Schuyler and Gates, from the time of such payment until the said balance is paid. Resolved, That Mr. J. Mease be directed to advance one month's pay to the officers and men from Maryland, on their march to the flying-camp: That the deputy quarter-master general be directed to supply the troops from Maryland with such articles as they may stand in need of, out of the stores in his hands belonging to the continent. Resolved, That the five millions of dollars, last ordered to be emitted, consist of the following numbers and denominations, viz. Resolved, That an order for 2,666 2-3 dollars, be drawn on the treasurers in favor of Ludwick Karcher, for the purpose of victualling the troops marching to the flying-camp; he to be accountable. The board of war brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon, Resolved, That general Washington be informed that Congress have not received the treaty between the state of Massachusetts-Bay and the St. John's and Micmac Indians, and that he be requested to send a copy thereof: That the secret committee be directed to furnish colonel Wilson with 23 muskets, 22 lb. of powder, and 88 lb. of lead, for the use of his battalion of militia. The said board having recommended William Caldwell to be pay-master of colonel Baldwin's regiment of continental troops raised in Massachusetts-Bay, and William Lawrence to be pay-master of colonel Shee's battalion of continental troops, raised in the state of Pennsylvania, Resolved, That they be accepted, and that commissions be granted to them accordingly. Resolved, That an order for 296 1-3 dollars be paid to the order of Messrs. Simon and Campbell, in full of a draught in their favor by George Morgan, dated at Pittsburg, June 3d, 1776, and that the same be charged to the account of the commissioners for Indian affairs in the middle department. Resolved, That the marine committee be directed to deliver to James Mease, the sheeting, in their hands, for the use of the continental troops. Congress being informed that Alexander Ross is detained at Pittsburg, Resolved, That it be recommended to the commissioners for Indian affairs, to enquire into this matter, and, if they find no new cause for detaining him since he was before the committee of Congress, and they think it proper, that they permit him to pursue his journey into the Indian country. Resolved, That a member be added to the committee appointed to consider the application of the Rev. Mr. Leonard. The member chosen, Mr. Hall. A letter of the 12th, from brigadier-general Mercer, was read: Resolved, That it be referred to the board of war. Congress took into consideration the articles of war, and, after some time spent thereon, the farther consideration thereof was postponed till to-morrow. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow. VOL. F 56 WEDNESDAY, August 14, 1776. A letter of the 12th, from general Washington, with a return of the army at New-York, and sundry other papers enclosed, being received, was read : Also, sundry letters from England were read. Resolved, That the letter from general Washington, with the papers enclosed, be referred to the board of war. On request of the delegates of New-Jersey, Resolved, That the tutors in Princeton college be detained from going to the flying-camp, and that the said tutors be directed to continue in the said college exercising their several functions. The committee appointed to devise a plan for encouraging the Hessians, and other foreigners, to quit the British service, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon, Congress came to the following resolution: Whereas it has been the wise policy of these states to extend the protection of their laws to all these who should settle among them, of whatever nation or religion they might be, and to admit them to a participation of the benefits of civil and religious freedom; and, the benevolence of this practice, as well as its salutary effects, have rendered it worthy of being continued in future times. And whereas, his Britannic majesty, in order to destroy our freedom and happiness, has commenced against us a cruel and unprovoked war; and, unable to engage Britons sufficient to execute his sanguinary measures, has applied for aid to foreign princes, who are in the habit of selling the blood of their people for money, and from them has procured and transported hither considerable numbers of foreigners. And it is conceived, that such foreigners, if apprised of the practice of these states, would choose to accept of lands, liberty, safety and a communion of good laws, and mild government, in a country where many of their friends and relations are already happily settled, rather than continue exposed to the toils and dangers of a long and bloody war, waged against a people, guilty of no other crime, than that of refusing to exchange freedom for slavery; and that they will do this the more especially when they reflect, that after they have violated every Christian and moral precept, by invading, and attempting to destroy, those who have never injured them or their country, their only reward, if they escape death and captivity, will be a return to the despotism of their prince, to be by him again sold to do the drudgery of some other enemy to the rights of mankind. And whereas, the parliament of Great-Britain have thought fit, by a late act, not only to invite our troops to desert our service, but to direct a compulsion of our people, taken at sea, to serve against their country: Resolved, Therefore, that these states will receive all such foreigners who shall leave the armies of his Britannic majesty in America, and shall choose to become members of any of these states; and they shall be protected in the free exercise of their respective religions, and be invested with the rights, privileges and immunities of natives, as established by the laws of these states; and, moreover, that this Congress will provide, for every such person, fifty acres of unappropriated lands in some of these states, to be held by him and his heirs in absolute property. Resolved, That the foregoing resolution be committed to the committee, who brought in the report, and that they be directed to have it translated into German, and to take proper measures to have it communicated to the foreign troops. Resolved, That Dr. Franklin be added to the said committee. The committee of treasury reported, that there is due, To captain William Ross, for subsistence and ferriage of his company of 67 men, of colonel Smith's battalion, on their march from York county to New Jersey, the sum of 52 dollars, and 49-90ths: To Daniel Smith, for captain Gamble's allowance, from 26th April to 10th August instant, being 15 weeks, at 2 dollars a week, the sum of 30 dollars: To John Davis, for 33 days hire of a wagon transporting the baggage of capt. Hay's company of col. Irwin's battalion, from Carlisle to New-York, 110 dollars, and for 41 meals supplied capt. Thomas Turbutt's company of col. Wilson's battalion, on their march from Cumberland county to New-Jersey, the sum of 4 dollars and 9-90ths. To John Eshenbach, for 19 meals supplied recruits of capt. Cluggage's company of colonel Hand's battalion, 1 dollar and 81-90ths: To colonel Clement Biddle, for 150 camp-kettles, 200 dollars: To Dr. John Coates, for a set of surgeon's instruments lost on his march with general Arnold from Cambridge to Quebec, the sum of 26 dollars and 60-90ths: To Sarah Campbell, for nursing and boarding 7 sick men belonging to captains Beaty, Benezet and Miller's companies, 30 dollars and 7-90ths. Ordered, That the said accounts be paid. A petition from Elisha Swift, and Adonijah Spanborrough, was presented to Congress, and read: Resolved, That it be referred to the delegates from Pennsylvania and Connecticut. The board of war brought in a report, which was taken into consideration : Whereupon, Resolved, That Monsieur Weibert, now serving in the continental army at New-York, as an engineer, be appointed assistant engineer, with the rank and pay of lieutenant-colonel; and that his pay commence from the time of his engaging in the service. That general Mercer be directed to discharge or grant furloughs to Joseph Kerr, hatter, a private of captain Will's company in the first battalion; and to Philip Mause, stocking-weaver, a private in captain Kling's company of the fourth battalion of Philadelphia militia; these two persons being applied for by Mr. Mease, commissary, to whom their services are indispensably necessary in making and providing clothing for the army. Resolved, That the remainder of the report be postponed till to-morrow. THURSDAY, August 15, 1776. The board of war brought in a report, which was taken into consideration : Whereupon, Resolved, That James Livingston, having been appointed a colonel of a regiment by general Montgomery, have a colonel's commission given him, with orders to inlist as many companies of Canadians as are willing to engage in the service; and that the commander in chief, in the northern department, be directed to recommend to Congress, proper persons for officers under him. The council of safety of Pennsylvania, having recommended Mr. Bernard Hubley, jun. as first lieutenant in the fifth company of the German battalion, Resolved, That he be accepted, and that a commission be granted to him accordingly. A petition from Return Jonathan Meigs, in behalf of himself and others, was presented to Congress, and read: Resolved, That it referred to the board of war. Resolved, That an order for 30,000 dollars be drawn on the treasurers, in favor of James Mease, for the use of the militia going to New-Jersey. Resolved, That the sum of 500 dollars be lodged in the hands of the auditorgeneral, for the purpose of discharging small debts; he to be accountable. Resolved, That the secret committee be directed to deliver to colonel M'Callister, eight stand of arms for the use of his battalion, the said committee taking security for the return of the said arms: |