That the said committee be directed to deliver to the delegates of NorthCarolina, five tons of lead, for the use of the troops in that state,

The committee to whom the letter from governor Trumbull of the 19th July, with sundry depositions and papers, was referred, brought in their report, which was read:

Ordered, To lie on the table.

A petition from Jeremiah Dugan, was presented and read:

Ordered, To lie on the table.

Congress resumed the consideration of the instructions given to commodore' Hopkins, his examination and answers, &c. and, thereupon, came to the following resolution:

Resolved, That the said commodore Hopkins, during his cruize to the southward, did not pay due regard to the tenor of his instructions, whereby he was expressly directed to annoy the enemy's ships upon the coasts of the southern states; and, that his reasons for not going from Providence immediately to the Carolinas, are by no means satisfactory.

At the request of the delegates of Pennsylvania, the farther consideration of the report was postponed till to-morrow.

A letter of the 14th, from general Washington, one from general Schuyler, of the 7th, and one, of the 5th, from general Gates, being received, were read. Resolved, That 500,000 dollars be sent to Mr. Trumbull, deputy pay-master general, for the use of the army in the northern department.

Resolved, That the secret committee be directed to deliver to the order of the marine committee, such stores by them imported as are necessary for the fleet. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

FRIDAY, August 16, 1776.

A letter, of the 15th, from general Washington, was read.

The board of treasury, who were appointed to prepare instructions for the commissioners appointed to settle the accounts of the army at New-York, and in the northern department, brought in a draught, which was read and agreed

to as follows:

To

Gentlemen: You are appointed commissioners by the Congress, to liquidate the accounts of the army in You will, therefore, proceed immediately to and apply to general to direct all persons who have been engaged in transacting public business, to lay their accounts before you. In your examination, you will observe the utmost exactness; taking care not to allow any accounts for which proper vouchers are not produced. No officer is permitted to hold two commissions; consequently, is not to receive pay for two.

Every colonel of a battalion ought to produce muster-rolls, certified by the muster-master, or such other person as may have been appointed by the commanding officer, to muster the men, of the number his battalion, from time to time, consisted of.

No allowance of pay, or rations, is to be made to any officer for men who have not been actually in the continental service.

If, in the settlement of these accounts, you shall discover any frauds to have been practised, or abuses committed by misapplication of public moneys, you shall take particular notice of them, and make especial report to the committee of treasury. When you have completed this business, you are to transmit a copy of your proceedings, with accounts, to the committee of treasury, to be by them finally adjusted and discharged.

Ordered, That a copy be made out and delivered to the respective commissioners.

t

Resolved, That the sum of 250,000 dollars be sent to Ebenezer Hancock, esq. deputy pay-master general, for the use of the army in the eastern department. Resolved, That the sum of 1000 dollars be advanced to captain John David Whelper, for the bounty money, &c. of his company; he to be accountable. A petition from Dr. Samuel Stringer, was presented and read: Resolved, That it be referred to the medical committee.

Resolved, That the medical committee be empowered to purchase such medicines as they judge proper and useful for the army.

Resolved, That a member be added to the committee to whom were referred the letters and papers respecting the murder of Mr. Parsons:

The member chosen, Mr. J. Ādams.

The committee, to whom the letter from general Putnam, in favor of the rev. Abiel Leonard, was referred, reported,

"That it appears, from a farther certificate of general Putnam, that Mr. Leonard performed the duty of a chaplain to other regiments than that of the general's, for the space of eight months, for which he has had no compensation; and that it also appears, that Mr. Leonard's services, at that time in the army, were very necessary and useful:" Whereupon,

Resolved, That the sum of 300 dollars be paid to the said Mr. Abiel Leonard, as a reward for his services.

Resolved, That the letters received yesterday from general Washington, general Schuyler, and general Gates, be referred to the board of war.

Congress resumed the consideration of the instructions given to commodore Hopkins, his examination and answers, &c. and, thereupon came to the following resolution:

Resolved, That the said conduct of commodore Hopkins deserves the censure of this house, and this house does accordingly censure him.

Ordered, That a copy of the resolutions passed against commodore Hopkins be transmitted to him.

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

SATURDAY, August 17, 1776.

A letter of the 13th, from general Washington, was read.

The delegates of New-Jersey laid before Congress a resolution of their convention, empowering any one of them to represent the said state, in these words:

“IN PROVINCIAL Congress, New-JERSEY, Burlington, June 22, 1776. Upon the question, whether one or more delegates shall be a quorum to represent this province in Continental Congress, it was carried in favor of

one.

"Extract from the minutes,

"WILLIAM PATTERSON, Secretary,"

The committee of treasury reported, that there is due,

To John Bates, for 187 camp-kettles, delivered to Clement Biddle, deputy quarter-master general, 249 dollars:

To George Bunner, for a rifle purchased by lieutenant Moses Rawling, from John Piper, in Maryland, for the use of captain Grier's rifle-company, and to be charged to said company, 10 60-90 dollars :

To Messrs. Gibson and Aston, for 5 rifles furnished captain Morgan's company of riflemen, by persons in Frederick county, Virginia, and certified by the committee there, and to be charged to the said Morgan, 65 30-90 dollars: To James Mercer, for 597 meals furnished to the militia on their march to New-Jersey, 59 63-90 dollars :

To William Clayton, for 454 meals supplied the militia on their march to New-Jersey, 45 36-90 dollars:

1

To William Allibone, for his expenses in search of flint-stones, by direction of the board of war, 6 dollars :

To Joseph Hinzey, for 7 chairs and a stool, for the use of the treasury office, 15 18-90 dollars :

To William McCarroll, for the passage of prisoners taken by captain Barry from Egg-Harbor to Philadelphia, with their maintenance on the road, 4 56-90 dollars:

To colonel Henry Haller, 425 39-90 dollars, of which sum 20 dollars are to be charged to captain Nelson, for two rifles delivered to him by David Miers 14 54-90 dollars to the army, for rations supplied captain Nelson's company; 24 dollars for contingent expenses of three expresses; and 366 75-90 dollars for provisions for the prisoners at Reading, with fire-wood, salt, straw, &c. including 39 days' service of the said Haller :

To George Struylys, for entertainment of the militia on their march to NewJersey, 78 64-90 dollars:

To Robert Jewell, for sundry bills for the repair of the old gaol in Philadelphia, and work done at the new gaol, 178 53-90 dollars :

Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

The committee on Indian affairs, to whom sundry letters and papers from Pittsburg were referred, having examined them, laid the same on the table, and desired they might be read, which was done.

Resolved, That an order for 50 dollars be drawn on the treasurer, in favor of George Morgan, for the use of Peter Long, for his services in the Indian country.

Resolved, That the accounts of George Morgan, esq. be referred to the board of treasury.

A letter of this day, from Martin Johnson, lieutenant of artillery, was laid before Congress and read; wherein he desires Congress to enquire into the circumstances of Mr. Anstruther's diamond ring, which he acknowledges he has; that he never made a secret of it; that he found the ring sometime after the garrison capitulated, and thought it to be a prize; and, for the truth of what he asserts, refers Congress to the certificates of several principal officers.

Resolved, That lieutenant Martin Johnson be directed to deliver the ring to the secretary of the war office, who is ordered to send the same to Mr. Anstruther, the owner.

Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee to whom was referred brigadier-general Wooster's letter, requesting an enquiry into his conduct while he had the honor of commanding the continental forces in Canada, which was read, as follows:

That brigadier-general Wooster produced copies of a number of letters which passed between him and general Schuyler, and of his letters to Congress; from which it appears that he, from time to time, gave seasonable and que notice of the state of the army under his command, and what supplies were, in his opinion, necessary to render the enterprize successful; that a number of officers and other gentlemen from Canada, who were acquainted with his conduct there, and who happened occasionally to be in this city, were examined before the committee; to which letters, and the minutes of the examination of the witnesses herewith exhibited, the committee beg leave to refer Congress for further information, and report, as the opinion of the committee, upon the whole of the evidence that was before them, that nothing censurable or blameworthy appears against brigadier-general Wooster.

The report being again read, was agreed to.

The board of war brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

Resolved, That Gustavus Risberg be appointed assistant to Clement Biddle, deputy quarter-master general to the flying-camp, and that he reside at Philadelphia.

Resolved, That general Washington be desired to propose an exchange of his Britannic majesty's prisoners, captivated at St. Johns and Chambly, for those in the service of the United States, taken in Canada:

That major Meggs be exchanged for major French, and captain Henry Dearborn for an officer of his rank :

That in case a general exchange of prisoners should not be agreed to, that provision be made for supplying our prisoners in Canada with necessaries, by procuring and sending bills of exchange, drawn by British officers, prisoners in these states; or, if such cannot be obtained, that cash be sent to them.

Resolved, That it be recommended to the convention of Maryland, to raise and arm two battalions upon the continental establishment:

That the men for the said battalions be inlisted to serve during the war, unless sooner discharged by Congress :

That the said convention recommend to Congress suitable persons for field officers of the said battalions, and appoint all the other officers:

That the said battalions be taken into continental pay so soon as they are armed and accoutred for service, and accordingly mustered:

That 20,000 dollars be sent to the said convention, to defray the expenses of raising the said battalions; to be accounted for to Congress.

Colonel Biddle having, by order of general Mercer, applied for the following articles, viz. 500 firelocks with bayonets, and 500 bayonets with scabbards of different sizes, 200 spare ramrods, 4,000 priming wires, and 20,000 flints:

Resolved, That Mr. J. Mease, commissary, be directed to provide and deliver to colonel Biddle, or his order, the above articles, or as many of them as can be procured.

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

MONDAY, August 19, 1776.

A letter, of the 12th, from general Washington, with the proceedings and judgment of a court-martial against col. Donald Campbell enclosed, was read: Resolved, That the proceedings and judgment of the court-martial be sent to general, Schuyler for his approbation or disapprobation.

Another letter, of the 14th, from general Washington, with papers enclosed, relative to Mr. Nubile, a foreigner, was read:

Resolved, That it be referred to the board of war.

A letter of the 14th, from commodore Hopkins, was read; Whereupon, Resolved, That commodore Hopkins be directed to repair to Rhode-Island, and take the command of the fleet formerly put under his care.

A letter, of the 19th from lieutenant M. Johnson, was read; Whereupon, Resolved, That the stoppage of lieutenant M. Johnson's pay be taken off, and that he receive what is due to him.

A letter of the 19th, from brigadier-general Wooster, was read;
Ordered, To lie on the table.

The board of war having recommended captain James Chapman to be major of colonel Tyler's battalion, and captain Thomas Dyer to be major of colonel Durkee's,

Resolved, That they be accepted, and that commissions be granted to them accordingly.

Resolved, That the board of treasury be empowered to employ another press to print the bills of credit, and that Matthew Clarkson and Walter Shee, esqrs. be appointed superintendents of the press, in addition to those already appointed for that service.

A petition from Chapman Ashur was presented to Congress, and read.

The committee on Indian affairs, to whom the letters from the commissioners in the middle and southern departments were referred, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

Resolved, That it be left to the discretion of the commissioners in the middle department, to postpone the holding the treaty with the Indians in their department, to such time as they think best; and that, if, by continuing at Pittsburg in the mean while, they are of opinion they shall be able to bring the Indians into a friendly disposition, and to render the treaty more general, they be desired to continue there:

That the invitation given by the said commissioners to such of the Six Nations of Indians, as live on the waters of the Ohio, to attend the said treaty, be approved;

That the said commissioners be instructed to make diligent enquiry into the murder lately committed by Indians, in the neighborhood of Pittsburg, on one Crawford; and that, as soon as they discover by whom the same was committed, they demand due punishment on the offender or offenders, which being granted, this Congress will not consider the same as a national act:

That the said commissioners invite such of the Indian chiefs and warriors of their department, as they think best, to visit Congress at Philadelphia, after the conclusion of the treaty with them:

That the following extract from the speech of Logan, an Indian chief, be transmitted to the commissioners for the middle department, viz. “We still hear bad news. Connesdico and some of us are constantly threatened. And the Bear-skin, a trader from Pennsylvania, amongst others, says, a great reward is offered to any person, who will take or entice either of us to Pittsburg, where we are to be hanged up like dogs by the Big-knife. This being true, how can we think of what is good. That it is true we have no doubt, and you may depend on it, that the Bear-skin told Metopsica every word of what I have mentioned." And that they be directed to do all in their power to remove every jealousy of the United States, or either of them, from the minds of the Indians. And, as it may possibly happen, that the persons concerned in the Indian trade, in order to engross to themselves or to the traders of their own state, the whole of the said Indian trade, may, by false suggestions, endeavor to poison the minds of the said Indians, and render them inimical to any other state, and to involve such state in an Indian war, that it be therefore recommended to the assemblies and conventions of the several states, from which trade is carried on with the Indians, that they take the most effectual measures to prevent the traders of their respective states from pursuing a practice so dangerous to the peace of the United States:

That so much of the Indian speech as relates to the Nantikokes, be sent to the convention of Maryland, and that they be requested to give Congress such information upon the subject as they can obtain:

That agreeable to the proposition from the commissioners for Indian affairs in the southern department, Mr. Galphin and Mr. Ray be desired to invite such of the head men of the Creeks, as they shall think expedient, to visit Congress at Philadelphia, and that Mr. Galphin or Mr. Ray be requested to attend them hither, and that Congress will defray the expenses of such journey.

Resolved, That the part of the report respecting the neutrality of the Indians be postponed.

Resolved, That the sum of 1200 dollars be advanced to the commissioners appointed to audit and settle the accounts of the army at New-York, and in the northern department; they to be accountable.

Congress resumed the consideration of the articles of war, as revised by the committee for that purpose appointed, and after some time spent thereon, the farther consideration thereof was postponed.

Resolved, That captain Archibald Hamilton be permitted to reside at NewBrunswick, until the farther orders of Congress.

The committee to whom was referred, the petition from Elisha Swift, &c. brought in their report.