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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1775
A letter from General Schuyler, 14th December, 1775;1 a letter from Lord Stirling dated, Trenton, 14 December, also a letter from Captain Livingston,2 being received, were read.
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 153, I, folio 362.]
[Note 2: 2 The letter from Henry Beekman Livingston, without date, is in Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XIV, folio 51.]
The Committee appointed to fit out armed vessels, laid before Congress a list of the officers by them appointed, agreeable to the resolutions of Congress, viz.
Ezek Hopkins, Esqr commander in chief of the fleet.
Resolved, That the pay of the commander in chief of the Fleet be 125 dollars per calendar month.
Resolved, That commissions be granted to the above officers agreeable to their rank in the above appointment.
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Resolved, That the Committee for fitting out armed vessels, issue warrants to all officers employed in the fleet under the rank of 3d lieutenants.
Resolved, That the Committee for fitting out armed vessels be directed (as a secret committee) to give such instructions to the commander of the fleet, touching the operations of the ships under his command, as shall appear to the said committee most conducive to the defence of the United Colonies, and [to] the distress of the enemy's naval forces and vessels bringing supplies to their fleets and armies, and lay such instructions before the Congress when called for.
Resolved, That the said Committee be directed to consider how the share of the prizes allotted to the captors ought to be divided between the officers and men, and report to Congress.
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to confer with the Indians lately arrived, and report to Congress.
The members chosen, Mr. [George] Wythe, Mr.[Thomas] Lynch, and Mr. S[amuel] Adams.
Agreeable to the orders of the day, the Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into farther consideration the report of the Committee of Conference relative to an attack on Boston, and after debate, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. [Samuel] Ward reported, that the Committee had taken into their farther consideration the matter to them referred, and had come to a resolution, which he was ready to report. The report of the committee being read, the same was agreed to as follows:
Resolved, That if General Washington and his council of war should be of opinion, that a successful attack may be made on the troops in Boston, he do it in any manner
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he may think expedient, notwithstanding the town and the property in it may thereby be destroyed.1
[Note 1: 1 Against these paragraphs in the "corrected Journals," was written the word "Secret."]
Resolved, That the quarter master general have the rank of a colonel in the Army of the United Colonies
The Committee of Claims reported that there is due,
To Benjamin Harrison, Esqr for his expences ∥in his late journey∥ to Maryland, amounting to £27.3.2.=72.4 dollars.
Ordered, That the above be paid.
Ordered, That the papers found with J. Connolly and the examination of said Connolly and the others taken with him, be printed.
Resolved, That Mr. [Thomas] Jefferson, Mr. [William] Hooper, Dr. [Benjamin] Franklin, Mr. [John] Jay, and Mr. [Silas] Deane, be a committee to examine the journals, and lay before Congress a list of the matters that are therein unfinished, and which are proper to be acted upon.
The orders of the day being renewed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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