Resolved, That the board of war be directed to sell to the petitioners, 1600 lb. of powder, and 800 lb. of lead, for the use of their privateers, general Lee and colonel Parry.

The committee appointed to confer with brigadier-general Mifflin, reported, that, upon the conference, they find the following supplies will be necessary for the use and comfort of the army, which ought to be procured as soon as may be, viz. 200 wagons, with four horses each,-50 ox-teams, with 2 oxen each, for sundry uses,-50 drays, with one horse each, for various small services,-100 strong horses for the artillery, 50 horses, for expresses and commissary uses,-25,000 bushels of Indian corn,-15,000 bushels of oats,—10,000 bushels of rye-meal,-10,000 bushels of spelts,-1800 tons of hay,-50 cutting-boxes,-2000 axes,-2000 wheel and hand-barrows,-8000 cords of wood,-a set of carpenters' tools for each regiment,-a wagon-master, and one deputy,-20 conductors of wagons on captains' pay, allowing 10 wagons for each conductor,-5 conductors for artillery,-100 casks of nails and spikes,-10,000 knapsacks,-10,000 camp-kettels,-two million feet of boards, planks and joists, for barracks, platforms, &c.

That a company of 50 blacksmiths should be immediately sent to camp, 12 harness and collar-makers, and 25 wheelwrights.

Resolved, That for these various and necessary supplies, 300,000 dollars be advanced to the quarter-master-general:

That one-eighth part of a dollar, over and above their soldiers' pay, be allowed to such persons as are necessarily draughted for quarter-masters' uses: That as 5000 tents will be necessary for the spring-campaign, they be provided in due time:

That it be recommended to the several states, to make legal provision to compel the furnishing of necessary supplies and assistance to the quarter-master-general of the continental army, on reasonable terms, for the public use.

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to consider of a plan for providing carriages for the public service, so as any demands may be speedily complied with, and all oppression of private persons effectually prevented: The members chosen, Mr. Witherspoon, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Huntington. Resolved, That Benjamin Fishbourne be appointed pay-master to the second Pennsylvania battalion, commanded by colonel Wood.

A memorial from the council of safety of Pennsylvania was read: Ordered, That it be referred to the committee of treasury, who are directed to report thereon as soon as possible.

The committee of treasury reported that there is due,

To George Measam, on account of sundry articles supplied the army in Canada, 9 47-90ths dollars:

Ordered, That the said account be paid.

The committee, to whom the resolutions passed by the convention of NewYork, were referred, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

Resolved, That the president write to general Schuyler, and inform him, that Congress cannot consent, during the present situation of their affairs, to accept of his resignation, but request, that he continue the command which he now holds; that he be assured, that the aspersions, which his enemies have thrown out against his character, have had no influence upon the minds of the members of this house, who are fully satisfied of his attachments to the cause of freedom, and are willing to bear their testimony of the many services which he has rendered to his country; and that, in order effectually to put calumny to silence, they will, at an early day, appoint a committee of their own body, to enquire fully into his conduct, which, they trust, will establish his reputation in the opinion of all good men.

Resolved, That the limits prescribed in the parole of John Foxcroft and Fran

cis Dashwood, esquires, be extended as far as the bounds of Pennsylvania, within which they are to confine themselves, till farther orders. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

THURSDAY, October 3, 1776.

On application from the council of safety of North-Carolina,

Resolved, That Michael Holt, a prisoner in the gaol of Philadelphia, be discharged from his imprisonment, that he may return to his family; he taking the oath prescribed by the said council of safety.

Resolved, That Mr. J. Mease be directed to purchase, immediately, one hundred hogsheads of rum, and forward the same to the commissary-general, for the use of the army.

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

Resolved, That the letter from general Mercer, which was received and read yesterday, wherein he recommends col. Humpton to the command of a regiment in the new army, and capt. Dawson to a majority, be referred to the council of safety of Pennsylvania:

That captain Persifer Frazer be commissioned as major of colonel Wayne's battalion of the Pennsylvania troops, in the room of major Housigger, promoted. The committee appointed to repair to the camp, having executed that service, and returned, brought in a report, which was read:

Ordered, To lie on the table.

Resolved, That Charles Startin be permitted to return to England, with his wife and family, from any of the United States he thinks proper, except NewYork.

The committee of treasury reported, that there is due,

To Martin Housman, for the hire of his wagon and ferriages, with generals Prescot and McDonald's baggage to Newark, 43 dollars.

To George Campbell, for his own and Mr. Caldwell's and Mr. Tod's expenses, as an escort to money from Philadelphia to Albany, 189 67-90ths dollars : To John Sparhawk, for quills, &c. for the use of the treasury-office, 27 84-90ths dollars:

To Ludwick Karcher, a balance of 3,150 36-90ths dollars; the whole of his account amounting to 8,483 66-90ths dollars; of which he has received 5,333 30-90ths dollars; the balance is 3,150 36-90ths:

Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

Congress took into consideration the report of the board of treasury, on the ways and means for raising a farther sum of money;

Whereupon, Resolved, That five millions of continental dollars be immediately borrowed for the use of the United States, at the annual interest of four per cent. per annum:

That the faith of the United States be pledged to the lenders for the payment of the sums to be borrowed, and the interest arising thereon, and that certificates be given to the lenders in the form following, viz.

"The United States of America acknowledge the receipt of dollars from which they promise to pay to the said

or bearer, on the day of with interest annually, at the rate of four per cent. per annum, agreeable to a resolution of the United States, passed the third day of October, 1776. Witness the hand of the treasurer, this "Countersigned" by the commissioners of one of the loan-offices hereafter

mentioned.

-day of

A. D.

That for the convenience of the lenders, a loan-office be established in each of the United States, and a commissioner, to superintend such office, be ap

pointed by the said states respectively, which are to be responsible for the faithful discharge of their duty in the said offices:

That the business of the said commissioners shall be to deliver certificates for all such sums of money, as shall be brought into their respective offices, agreeable to these resolutions, which certificates shall be indented and the checks kept in the said office-to keep books, in which regular entries shall be made of the sums borrowed, and the time when, and the names of the persons by whom the said sums were lent-to transmit to the continental treasurer, once a month, an account of the cash in their respective offices, and to answer all draughts of the treasurer to the amount of the cash, which they shall, at any time, have in their hands, as aforesaid:

That the treasurer of the United States shall send to the respective loanoffices, such a number of certificates and of such denominations as shall be ordered by the commissioners of the treasury:

That no certificate be issued for a less sum than 300 dollars:

That the several sums of money to be borrowed, shall be repaid at the office where the same was lent, at the expiration of three years, and that the annual interest shall likewise be paid at the said office:

That the said commissioners of the respective loan-offices be entitled to receive of the United States, one-eighth per cent. on all monies which shall be brought into their respective loan-offices, in lieu of all claims and demands, that they may have for transacting the business of the said office.

Resolved, That the secret committee be empowered to take such measures, as they shall judge necessary, for purchasing, arming and equipping, a frigate and two cutters, in Europe, and to give proper orders for the said frigate making a cruize in the British channel against our enemies, and for the said cutters to be employed in transporting to these states, such articles, as the said committee have been ordered to import.

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

FRIDAY, October 4, 1776.

A petition from the officers and men of the brig Andrew Doria was presented, and read; Whereupon,

Resolved, That the continental agents in Philadelphia be directed, with all despatch, to make an estimate of the prizes taken by the Andrew Doria, and lay the same before the marine committee for their approbation; and that the said agents be directed to pay to the officers and men of the Andrew Doria, one half of what may be estimated to be due to them:

That the said agents be farther directed to make an estimate of the stores and prizes taken by the fleet, commanded by commodore Hopkins, and brought from Providence, and lay the same before the marine committee for approbation, as aforesaid, and pay to the officers and men entitled thereto, one half of what may be estimated to be due to them.

A letter of the 2d and 3d, from general Washington, and two, of the 25th and 26th September, from general Schuyler, being received, were read.

Congress took into consideration the report of the committee sent to head-
quarters; and, after debate, the farther consideration thereof was postponed.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

SATURDAY, October 5, 1776.

A letter, of the 23d of Sept. from James Bowdoin, with a copy of resolutions passed by the general assembly of Massachusetts-Bay; one, of the 24th of the same month, from the committee of safety of New-Hampshire; and one of the 3d instant from governor Livingston, were read.

Ordered, That the letters from general Washington and general Schuyler, with the papers enclosed, which were read yesterday, be referred to the board of war:

That the letter from Mr. Bowdoin be referred to the marine committee: That the letter from governor Livingston be referred to a committee of three, and that the said committee be directed to take into consideration the case of the prisoners in the gaol of Philadelphia.

The members chosen, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Ross, and Mr Floyd.

Ordered, That the petition of Jacob Sheafe be referred to the commissioners appointed to hear and determine upon the appeal against the sentence on the libel against the ship Elizabeth:

That R. Peters, esq. be empowered to prosecute the said appeal.

Resolved, That the board of war be directed to sell to Joseph Golden, 10 lb. of powder.

Resolved, That five months' pay be advanced to the officers and three month's pay to the men who were taken prisoners in Canada, and sent to these United States by general Carlton.

Resolved, That the report of the board of war, which was brought in the 14th of September, be taken in consideration on Monday next.

Ordered, That the board of war, at that time, lay before Congress, the papers relative to the dispute between the court-martial, and brigadier-general Arnold.

Resolved, That the continental agents be directed to deliver to the commissary-general, for the use of the army, all the salt in their hands belonging to the continent.

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

MONDAY, October 7, 1776.

Resolved, That 8000 dollars be advanced to the committee of Lancaster, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of enclosing the barracks in that borough with a stockade, and supporting a guard; the said committee to be accountable.

Congress proceeded to the election of a deputy muster-master general for the flying-cainp, in the room of Jonathan B. Smith; and, the ballots being taken,

William Davies was elected.

A letter, of the 14th of September, from brigadier-general Moore, and one from John Hanson, dated St. Croix, 14th August, being received, were read:

Resolved, That it be recommended to the assemblies and conventions of the United States, respectively, to annex such penalties, by law, to the crime of counterfeiting the certificates or notes of the continental loan-office, as are or shall be annexed to the crime of counterfeiting the continental currency.

Ordered, That the resolutions for borrowing five millions of dollars, together with the above resolve, be published, and copies thereof sent to each of the United States, and that the respective states be desired to send to the committee of the continental treasury, the names of the commissioners by them appointed in consequence of the said resolutions.

A petition from James Browne, a prisoner, was laid before Congress, and read, praying for leave to return to Ireland, the place of his nativity: Resolved, That the prayer of the petition be granted.

General Lee having informed Congress of his arrival in Philadelphia, and that he waited their orders:

Ordered, That general Lee attend in Congress.

Resolved, That a commissary of prisoners of war be appointed in each of the United States :

1

That the said commissaries be directed to make monthly returns of the state and condition of the prisoners, under their respective care, to the board of

war:

That the said commissaries be appointed by the respective states.

Agreeable to order, general Lee attended; and having given an account of the state of affairs in the southern department, he withdrew.

The secret committee informed Congress, that they had chartered and loaded in Virginia, the Aurora, late the prize-ship called the Oxford, for account of the continent: Whereupon,

Resolved, That the president write to the governor and council of Virginia, and request them to give all the, assistance in their power, in manning and despatching the said ship.

Resolved, That Matthias Hite, a first lieutenant of the eighth Virginia battalion, have a continental commission, in lieu of that which he received from the committee of safety of that state; and that his commission bear date the 19th of February last.

Resolved, That general Lee be directed to repair to the camp at Haerlem, with leave, if he thinks proper, to visit the posts in New-Jersey.

The committee appointed to take into consideration the application from the president of South-Carolina, in behalf of general Lee, reported,

That this Congress, having a just opinion of the abilities of general Lee, applied to him to accept a command in their service, which he readily agreed to, provided the Congress would indemnify him against any loss, which he might sustain in consequence thereof, he having, at that time, a considerable sum of money due to him by persons in the kingdom of Great-Britain, which he was resolved to draw from thence as soon as possible. That the Congress unanimously concurred in his proposal: That he accordingly entered into their service; that he has since drawn bills upon his agent in England, which bills have been returned protested. That general Lee, having purchased an estate in Virginia, the purchase money for which has been long due, is likely to sustain, by means of the protested bills, many injuries, unless this house prevent the same by an advance of thirty thousand dollars: Whereupon,

Resolved, That the sum of 30,000 dollars be advanced to general Lee, upon his giving bond to the treasurer to account for the same, and taking such steps, in conjunction with Robert Morris, esq. on behalf of the Congress, as will secure the most effectual transfer of his estate in England, to reimburse the Congress for the advance now made to him.

Ordered, That the committee, who brought in the foregoing report, prepare a suitable bond.

Congress took into consideration the report of the board of war of the 4th instant: Whereupon,

Resolved, That Monsieur Pierre Francois de Bois be commissioned as a major by brevet, and sent to general Mercer, to be employed in such way as he shall think proper :

That Mr. Bartholomew Van Heer's account be referred to the board of treasury.

The committee appointed to enquire into the causes of the miscarriages in Canada, brought in a report:

Ordered, To lie on the table.

Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the letters from general Washington of the 24th and 25th of September: Whereupon, Resolved, That as a further encouragement for gentlemen of abilities, to engage as commission-officers in the battalions to be furnished by the several states, to serve during the war, their monthly pay be increased as follows:

A colonel, 75; lieutenant-colonel, 60; major, 50; captain, 40; lieutenant, 27; ensign, 20; quarter-master, 27; adjutant, 40 dollars.