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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
The Committee of Claims reported, that there is due,
To William Brady for thirty days waggonage in conveying Captain Stevenson's baggage from Virginia to Roxbury, the sum of 60 dollars; and that the same ought to be paid to Daniel M'Pherson.
To James M'Donnell,1 for waggonage, in conveying baggage belonging to Captain Talbot's company of the sixth Pensylvania batallion, to New York, the sum of £44 4 46=117 9/10 dollars:
[Note 1: 1 In the Warrant Book this name is McDonald.]
Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.
A letter of the 5 from General Washington;
A letter of the 4 from William Palfrey, pay master general;
A letter of the 2 from Captain De la place, a prisoner, were laid before Congress and read:2 also
[Note 2: 2 The letter of Washington is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, I, folio 657. It is printed inWritings of Washington, (Ford) IV, 64. That of Palfrey is in No. 165, folio 416. That of William Delaplace is in No. 78, VII, folio 35.]
A petition from Captain Gideon Warren, and a letter from Joseph Woodward, chairman of the committee of
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the New Hampshire grants, were presented to Congress, and read:
The orders given by the Naval Committee to Commodore Hopkins. being laid before Congress, and read,
America:
ToEsek Hopkins, Esquire,
Commander in Chief of the Fleet of the United Colonies.
Sir,
The United Colonies directed by principles of just and necessary preservation against the oppressive and cruel System of the British Administration whose violent and hostile proceedings by Sea and land against these Unoffending Colonies, have rendered it an indispensable duty to God, their Country and Posterity to prevent by all means in their Power the ravage, desolation and ruin that is intended to be fixed on North America. As a part and a most important part of defence, the Continental Congress have judged it necessary to fit out several Armed Vessels which they have put under your Command having the strongest reliance on your Virtuous Attachment to the great cause of America and that by your Valour, Skill and diligence, seconded by the Officers and Men under your Command our unnatural Enemies may meet with all possible distress on the Sea. For that purpose you are instructed with the utmost diligence to proceed with the said Fleet to Sea and if the Winds and Weather will possibly admit of it to proceed directly for Chesepeak Bay in Virginia and when nearly arrived there you will send forward a small swift sailing Vessel to gain intelligence of the Enemies Situation and Strength. If by such Intelligence you find they are not greatly superiour to your own you are immediately to Enter the said bay search out and attack, take or destroy all the Naval force of our Enemies that you may find there. If you should be so fortunate as to execute this business successfully in Virginia you are then to proceed immediately to the Southward and make yourself Master of such forces as the Enemy may have both in North and South Carolina in such manner as you may think most prudent from the intelligence you shall receive; either by dividing your Fleet or keeping it together,
Having compleated your Business in the Carolina's you are without delay to proceed Northward directly to Rhode Island, and attack, take and destroy all the Enemies Naval force that you may find there. You are also to seize and make prize of all such Transport Ships and
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other Vessels as may be found carrying Supplies of any kind to or any way aiding or assisting our Enemies.
You will dispose of all the Men you make prisoners in such manner as you may judge most safe for North America and will least Retard the service you are upon. If you should take any Ships or other Vessels that are fit to be Armed and Manned for the Service of the United Colonies you will make use of every method for procuring them to be thus equipped. You will also appoint proper Officers for carrying this Matter into execution and to Command said Ships as soon as they can be made ready for the Sea. For this purpose you will apply so the several Assemblies, Conventions and Committees of Safety and desire them in the name of the Congress to aid and assist you by every way and means in their power for the execution of this whole Service.
Notwithstanding these particular Orders, which 'tis hoped you will be able to execute, if bad Winds, or Stormy Weather, or any other unforseen accident or disaster disable you so to do You are then to follow such Courses as your best Judgment shall Suggest to you as most useful to the American Cause and to distress the Enemy by all means in your power.
You are to consider these as your instructions until you shall receive farther or other Orders from the Continental Congress or Committee of Congress appointed for such purpose.
You are also authorized to draw on the Continental Treasurers wherever you may be for such Sums as are absolutely necessary for the use of the Fleet under your Command, and such drafts shall be duly honored.
Given under our hands at Philadelphia, Jany 5th 1776. By order of Congress.
Step Hopkins
Chris Gadsden
Silas Deane
Joseph Hewes
A true Copy
pr Saml Lyon Secy to the
Commr in Chief.1
[Note 1: 1 This copy is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 58, folio 239. SeeJournals, December 22, 1775.]
Resolved, That they be referred to a committee of seven;and that the said committee be directed to consider the appropriation of the cannon taken by Commodore
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Hopkins1 and Also, to consider the situation of the governor and lieutenant governor of Providence, and the other officer, brought from thence, and report what, in their opinion, is proper to be done with them:
[Note 1: 1 See entry trader May 22, 1776.]
The members chosen, Mr. [Benjamin] Harrison, Mr. J[ohn] Adams, Mr. [Thomas] M'Kean, Mr. [James] Duane, Mr. [Thomas] Lynch, Mr. [Roger] Sherman, and Mr. [William] Livingston.
Resolved, That the letters from General Washington and William Palfrey, and Captain De la place be referred to a committee of 5.
The members chosen, Mr. S[amuel] Adams, Mr. [George] Wythe, Mr. [Caesar] Rodney, Mr. R[ichard] H[enry] Lee, and Mr. [William] Whipple.
Information being given to Congress, that Kirkland, a prisoner, has broke gaol and made his escape,
Resolved, That a committee 3 be appointed to devise ways and means to have him retaken:
The members chosen, Mr. [Thomas] M'Kean, Mr. [Thomas] Lynch, and Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry.
Resolved, That the Letter from Joseph Woodward be referred to a committee of five, and that they be directed to hear the persons mentioned in said Letter and report to Congress.
The members chosen, Mr. [Caesar] Rodney, Mr. [Benjamin] Harrison, Mr. [Joseph] Hewes, Mr. [Thomas] Lynch, and Mr. [Robert] Alexander.
Resolved, That whenever it shall appear to this Congress, that any officer or officers, bearing continental commissions, shall have departed from orders, that an enquiry shall be made.
Resolved, That the Secret Committee be directed to sell
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to Aaron Biddle and John Helm, 75 lbs. of powder, for the use of the inhabitants of Upper Penns Neck, in New Jersey.
Agreeable to the order of the day, the Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into their farther consideration the state of the colonies; and, after some time spent thereon, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. [Benjamin] Harrison reported, that they have had under consideration the matters referred to them, but not having come to any resolution thereon, have desired him to move for leave to sit again.
Resolved, That this Congress will, to morrow, again resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into their farther consideration the state of the United Colonies.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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