Resolved, That col. James Livingston have leave to recruit his regiment in any of the United States.

A petition from Charles Noel Romand, sieur de Lisle, captain in a corps of artillery in the service of France, was read:

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

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Resolved, That the board of war be empowered and directed immediately to confer with the council of safety of Pennsylvania, or a committee by them pointed, on the best ways and means of defending the city of Philadelphia, in case it should be attacked.

Resolved, That the committee of treasury, or either of them, be empowered to administer oaths to persons whom they shall examine or employ in executing the resolutions of Congress.

The committee to whom the letter from Timothy Danielson, and the papers enclosed therein, were referred, brought in a report, which was read ; and, after debate,

Resolved, That the further consideration thereof be postponed.

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

TUESDAY, November 12, 1776.

A letter, of the 10th, from gen. Mifflin ; one, of the same date, from R. Dallam; and one, of the 9th, from Dr. Shippen, were read.

The committee of treasury reported, that there is due,

To George Stultz, for iron-work, and repairing a continental light-wagon, 12.60 dollars:

To John Tyler, for bayonet-scabbards, and repairing arms for the German battalion, 82.30 dollars:

To Mons. Lotbinier, a Canadian chaplain, for his pay and rations, from 10th of October to 10th of November, 41.30 dollars:

To doctor Beaumont, a prisoner, of the 26th regiment, for his allowance from 21st July to 3d November, inclusive, being 15 weeks, at 2 dollars a week, 30 dollars:

To William McLeod, a prisoner, of the 59th regiment, for his allowance from 21st July to 3d November, inclusive, being 15 weeks, at 2 dollars a week, 30 dollars:

That there is to be paid to Daniel du Chemin, for the allowance due to Messrs. Hertel, Giasson, and la Magdalaine, Canadian prisoners, from the 1st August to 6th November, inclusive, 14 weeks, at 2 dollars a week, 28 dollars each, 84 dollars:

That there should be paid to Joel Zane, for the allowance due to lieut. Hamar, of the 7th regiment, from 20th July to 1st November, inclusive, 15 weeks, at 2 dollars a week, 30 dollars; and to captain Swan, of the 26th regiment, from 21st June to 1st November, being 19 weeks, at 2 dollars, 38 dollars; the whole 68 dollars:

To James Budden, for himself, and others of the light-horse, their expenses. as an escort with money to New-York, 82 dollars, and for his expenses with general Prescot from Reading to Philadelphia, 24.42 dollars; both sums making 106.42 dollars :

To William Woodhouse, for wafers for the use of Congress, 1.12 dollars: To Thomas Smith, for paper for the use of the commissioners for the NewYork department, 15.78 dollars :

That there should be paid to Dr. Rush 625 dollars for 5 months' advance pay to brigadier-general Thompson, who is to be accountable:

Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

The committee of treasury, to whom that part of the petition and memorial of John Brown, lieutenant-colonel of the regiment commanded by col. Elmore,

praying that his extraordinary services in Canada, last year, may be considered, was referred, brought in a report, which was read :

Ordered, To lie on the table.

A letter to Willing & Morris, from Samuel Smith, master of the Hancock & Adams, (who, on his passage to Philadelphia, was taken by the Gamecock privateer, of Rhode-Island, commanded by Timothy Pierce, and carried into Bedford, in Massachusetts-Bay) dated Bedford port, November 1, was laid before Congress and read:

Ordered, That it be referred to the secret committee, and that they report the cargo on board the Hancock & Adams, and how it ought to be disposed of. The board of war, to whom a request from the state of Virginia was referred, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

Resolved, That the demands of the continent for cannon are at present of so pressing a nature that none can be spared for the particular use of any state; but, as soon as a sufficient quantity of ordnance is supplied to the United States, the request of the state of Virginia, to be permitted to purchase cannon at Hughes's works, shall be complied with.

That Monsieur Romand de Lisle be appointed a major of artillery in the service of the United States, and sent to general Washington, to be employed as he shall think proper.

A petition from James M'Connaughy was read.

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

A memorial from Azariah Dunham was read:

Ordered, That it be referred to the council of safety of Pennsylvania.

A letter, of the 9th, from general Washington, enclosing one of the 31st of October from general Gates, at Ticonderoga, was read.

Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee on the let-ter of Timothy Danielson; Whereupon,

Resolved, As the opinion of Congress, that if the soldiers to be raised by the state of Massachusetts-Bay, be inlisted on the the terms offered to them, which are more advantageous than what are offered to other soldiers serving in the same army, it would much retard, if not totally impede, the inlistment of the latter, and produce discontent and murmur, unless Congress should equally increase the pay of these, which, it is the opinion of Congress, would universally be reprobated as an immoderate expense, and complained of as a grievous burden by those who must bear it; and, therefore, that the committee from the state of Massachusetts-Bay be desired not to inlist their men on the additional pay offered by the assembly of that state.

Upon re-consideration, the resolution of the 16th of September last, for raising 88 battalions to serve during the present war with Great-Britain, Congress being of opinion, that the readiness of the inhabitants of these states to enter into the service for limited times, in defence of their invaluable privileges, on all former occasions, gives good ground to hope the same zeal for the public good will appear in future, when necessity calls for their assistance, and, lest the uncertain length of time which forces, raised during the continuance of the present war, may be compelled to serve, may prevent men from inlisting who would otherwise manifest their attachment to the common cause, by engaging for a limited time; therefore,

Resolved, That all non-commissioned officers and soldiers who do not incline to engage their service during the continuance of the present war, and shall inlist to serve three years, unless sooner discharged by Congress, shall be entitled to, and receive all such bounty and pay as are allowed to those who inlist during the continuance of the present war, except the 100 acres of land; which land is to be granted to those only who inlist without such limitation of time. And each recruiting officer is required to provide two distinct inlisting

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rolls, one for such to sign as inlist during the continuance of the war, and the other for such as inlist for three years, if their service shall be so long required. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

WEDNESDAY, November 13, 1776.

A letter, of the 12th of October, from Joseph Trumbull, commissary-general, was read; Whereupon,

Resolved, That 40,000 dollars be advanced to Thomas Lowry, and charged to the account of Joseph Trumbull, agreeable to his request.

The marine committee having recommended colonel John Nixon, and John Wharton, as fit persons to execute the business of the navy, under the direction of the marine committee,

Resolved, That they be accepted.

A letter, of the 10th, from M. Tilghman, president of the convention of Maryland, enclosing sundry resolutions of that body, relative to the raising their quota of the new levies, was laid before Congress and read:

Ordered, That the president furnish the commissioners of the said state, sent therefrom to raise their levies, with the resolution of yesterday, admitting the new levies to inlist for three years only, and, at the same time inform them, that, if the inhabitants of that state will inlist to serve during the continuance of the present war, they already have the faith of the United States of America pledged for the land to be granted to such soldiers.

The committee of treasury reported, that there is due,

To Mons. la Marque, a Canadian prisoner, for his allowance from the 31st of August to the 8th of November, inclusive, being 10 weeks, at 2 dollars a week, 20 dollars, to be paid to Mons. de la Magdalaine:

To capt. Thomas Gamble, a prisoner of the 47th regiment, for his allowance from the 10th of August, to the 2d of November, inclusive, 12 weeks, at two dollars a week, 24 dollars, to be paid to James Biddle, esq.

To Michael Leightner, and to be paid to George Aston, for victualling troops on their march, 15.5 dollars:

To John Nourse, for ferriage of himself, and of general Lee and his servants, horses, &c. over Hoe's ferry, 4.60 dollars, to be paid to col. B. Harrison :

To doctor Samuel Wilson, for board, attendance, and medicine, to sick soldiers of the 6th Virginia regiment, 33.60 dollars:

To Wollore Meng, for 12 scabbards delivered to captain Ralph Falconer, of the 5th Virginia battalion, 4.72 dollars:

That there should be paid to Thomas Armer, on account of Elizabeth Robinson, for so much short paid on settlement of her account, the 14th of October last, for board, &c. of sick soldiers belonging to captain Grier's company, 10 dollars:

That there should be paid to the Pennsylvania hospital, for the support and clothing of J. Hughes, a wounded soldier, 36.54 dollars :

That there should be paid to Adam Eccle, 8.78 dollars,, being so much paid by him to serjeant John Byers, of captain Hubley's company, in colonel Shee's battalion, to enable him to support his party, being a guard to powder from Philadelphia to North-Carolina:

That there is due to Willam O'Harra, a soldier in the late captain William Hendrick's company, taken at Quebec, and now returned, for his pay from 1st January to 10th November, 10 months and 10 days, at 6.60 dollars a month, 68.80 dollars :

To Henry Taylor, a soldier in captain Smith's rifle-company, taken at Quebec, and now returned, for his pay from 1st June to 10th November, 5 months and 10 days, at 6.60 dollars, 35.50 dollars:

To Dr. William Sarringhausen, for medicine and attendance to the sick of of captain Woelpper's company, in the German battalion, 24.1 dollars :

To. Benjamin Eyre, ship-wright, for his pay and rations, employed in constructing row-gallies at New-York, horse-hire, and travelling expenses to Albany, to engage boards, &c. for the army, 427.77 dollars:

That 60,000 dollars be sent to R. Dallam, esq. deputy pay-master general of the flying camp, for the use of the army:

That there is due to Daniel Naef, for the ferriage of Virginia troops, their baggage, wagons and horses, over Susquehanna, 61.72 dollars:

To Andrew M Nair, for his attendance on Congress 146 days, cleaning house, &c. to 1st November, 118.81 dollars:

Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

The board of treasury brought in a report respecting the certificates to be given to the lenders of the five millions of dollars, voted to be borrowed, which was read.

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

Resolved, That 2000 dollars be advanced to colonel Hausegger for the use of the German battalion; he to be accountable.

Resolved, That the remainder of the report be postponed till to-morrow. The secret committee, to whom the letter from captain Smith was referred, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon,

Resolved, That the secret committee be directed to write letters to governor Cooke, to the continental agent in Rhode-Island, and such other persons as they shall think proper, to make strict enquiry into the conduct of captain Timothy Pierce, respecting the capture or seizure of the ship Hancock & Adams, employed in the continental service, and cause him to be prosecuted for the penalty of the bond given, when he received his commission, if it shall appear, on the enquiry, that in justice to the continent, such prosecution should be commenced; and the said committee are authorized to do what may be necessary for supporting the prosecution.

The remainder of the report postponed.

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

THURSDAY, November 14, 1776.

A letter, of the 4th, from R. H. Harrison, and one, of the 17th October, from James Bowdoin, esq. were read:

Ordered, That they be referred to the board of war.

Resolved, That a committee of two be appointed to confer with the council of safety of Pennsylvania, and enquire what quantity of salt they have on hand, or expect shortly, and what proportion can be spared for the public service:

The members chosen, Mr. S. Adams, and Mr. Whipple.

Information being given to Congress, that part of the enemy's fleet was seen coming out of the Hook, and steering its course to the southward:

Resolved, That copies of the letter, giving the information, be sent by express to general Washington, and to governor Livingston, of New-Jersey, and also to the southern states.

Resolved, That the board of war confer immediately with the council of safety of Pennsylvania, and co-operate with them in devising ways and means for calling forth the strength of that and the neighboring states, for the defence of this city, against any attempts which the enemy may make to obtain possession of it; and that, for this purpose, the board of war be invested with the full powers of Congress, to promote most effectually this important purpose: That the marine committee also be directed to make such disposition of the naval force, now in the river Delaware, or the neighborhood thereof, as will best conduce to defeat the designs of the enemy.

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

FRIDAY, Noven.ber 15, 1776.

A letter, of the 11th, from general Washington, at Peek's-kill; one, of the 5th, from general Gates, at Ticonderoga, informing of general Carlton's retreat from Crown-Point; one, of the 8th, from general Schuyler, at Albany; one of the 12th, from general Green; one, without date, from general Lewis; one from Robert Ogden, of the 11th; and one from R. Dallam to R. Peters, were laid before Congress, and read :

Ordered, That the letter from general Lewis be referred to the marine-committee.

Resolved, That the council of safety of Pennsylvania be requested to supply E. Blain, esq. with 230 bushels of salt, for the public service: That the said council of safety be, and they are hereby requested, to supply Messrs. Lowry, Wharton, Ogden, and Dunham, assistants to the commissary-general, or any one of them, with one half of such quantities of salt, as are, or may be, in their hands, for the use of the continent.

Two memorials, one from Eleazer Oswald, and the other from Samuel Lockwood, were read:

Ordered, That they be referred to the board of war.

M. Romand de Lisle, who, on the 12th, was appointed a major of artillery, thinking that appointment inadequate to his merit and abilities, and requesting to be sent to general Washington, that he may have an opportunity of giving a specimen of his abilities:

Resolved, That he have leave to go to general Washington.

Ordered, That the marine committee apply to the council of safety of Pennsylvania, for 1500 24 lb. 1800 18 lb. cannon shot, and 500 bar-shot, which shall be re-placed by Congress; and that the said committee send the shot and ́six tons of powder to South-Carolina, for the defence of that state and NorthCarolina:

That a copy of the intelligence contained in general Green's letter of the 12th, be sent by express, with all possible expedition, to the southern states.

The secret committee having reported, that the cargo belonging to the continent, imported in the Hancock & Adams, consisted of the following articles, viz. 72 chests of arms, 311 barrels of gunpowder, 338 pigs of lead, 9 casks of gun-flints, 1 case of pins, 133 barrels tin-plates, 5 cases of iron-wire, 70 casks of salt-petre, and 10 bales of merchandisê:

Resolved, That the secret committee direct the entire cargo of the Hancock & Adams to be landed at Bedford, and, deposited in places of safety, under the care of the committee of that place, until ordered from thence:

That the muskets, powder, lead, and gun-flints, be delivered by the committee of Bedford, to the order of the board of war, who are to inform the general of these stores, and direct the whole, or any part that may be wanted for the use of the army, to be delivered to him; with an injunction not to put the muskets into the hands of any but those soldiers who inlist under the late resolves and regulations of Congress:

That every part of the merchandise on board the said ship, that is now wanted for the use of the army, be applied to that use, and that the secret committee inform general Mifflin, the quarter-master general, thereof, and enclose him an order for the immediate delivery of all such parts as he shall desire : That the remainder of the cargo be subject to the directions of the secret committee, who are empowered to order it from thence, either by sea or land, to any other part or parts of these states, where the articles may be wanted for the public service.

The committee of treasury reported, that there is due,