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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 --THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 1776
Sundry letters and papers being received, were laid before Congress and read.
Two letters from Major General Schuyler, of the 31 May and 1st June.
A letter from the commissioners in Canada, of the 27 and 28 May.
Three letters from General Thomas, two to the commissioners in Canada, 15 and 20 May, and one to General Wooster, 27 of the same month:
Three from Brigadier General Arnold, to the commissioners in Canada, of the 17, 25, and 27 May, enclosing cartel ∥entered into between him and Captain Foster,∥ for exchange ∥of prisoners:∥
One from Brigadier General Thompson, of the 25 of May, to the said commissioners.1
[Note 1: 1 The letters of Schuyler are in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 153, II, folios 179, 186. That of the commissioners is in No. 166, folio 53. Those of Arnold are in No. 162, folios 68, 72, 74. A copy of the articles of capitulation is in No. 29, folio 251.]
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Resolved, That a copy of the letter from the commissioners in Canada be sent to General Washington;
Resolved, That Brigadier General Wooster be directed immediately to repair to Headquarters at New York:
That the letters just received [and read,] be referred to a committee of 5:
The members chosen, Mr. [Roger] Sherman, Mr. [George] Wythe, Mr. [Jonathan D.] Sergeant, Mr. F[rancis Lightfoot] Lee, and Mr. [Button] Gwinnett.
Resolved, That the Standing Committee for Indian Affairs be directed to devise ways and means for carrying into effect the resolution of the 3d, empowering the General to employ in Canada a number of Indians, not exceeding two thousand.
The committee to whom was referred an extract of a letter from a gentleman in Bermuda, dated 26 April, and continued to May 1, to a gentleman in Philadelphia, brought in their report, which was read, and the same being taken into consideration,
Ordered, To lie on the table.
The Congress took into consideration the speech prepared by the committee to be delivered to the Indians, which was agreed to:1
[Note 1: 1 This report is printed under June 11, p. 430,post.]
Resolved, That the delivery of this speech be deferred for some days.
The Committee of Claims reported, that there is due,
To Captain William West, for expences in conducting money to Williamsburg, horse hire, &c. included, the sum of £82 5 10=219 40/90 dollars:
To Melchior Meng, for twenty one days hire of his waggon and horses carrying money to Virginia, the sum of £15 15=42 dollars:
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To Benjamin Towne, the sum of £9 17 3=26 27/90 dollars for cartouch boxes, being so much paid him less than the price contracted for:
To Robert Porter, for accoutrements for Colonel Hartley's regiment, the sum of £7 0 6=18 66/90 dollars, and that the same ought to be paid and charged to the said regiment:
To John Kuntz, the sum of £8 0 10=21 40/90 dollars, of which sum there is due, for entertaining General Lee's guard, the sum of £4 0 0 ∥=10 60/90 dollars,∥ and for expresses, the sum of £4 0 10 ∥=10 70/90 dollars:∥
To Michael Staddleman, for entertaining General Lee's guards, the sum of £4 5 9=11 39/90 dollars:
To Benjamin Smith, for board and accommodations for prisoners at Trenton, the sum of £11 12 10=31 4/90 dollars. This money became due before the regulation of Congress, for determining the price of their board, took place:
That there is due for expences in apprehending Henry Edwin Stanhope and George Gregory, who broke their parole and ran away from Northampton, ∥in Connecticut,∥ the sum of £14 5 3, lawful money of Connecticut,=47 48/90 dollars, and that the same ought to be paid and charged to the said Stanhope and Gregory:
Ordered, That the said accounts be paid to J. Hancock, Esqr.
The Marine Committee having recommended sundry gentlemen for captains and subaltern officers for the ships building or built for the continent, the same was taken into consideration: Whereupon,
Resolved, That Thomas Thompson be appointed captain of the frigate built in New Hampshire:
John Hopkins, and Samuel Tomkins, for those building in Rhode Island:
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Christopher Miller, for one of those built in New York:
Nicholas Biddle, John Barry, Thomas Read, Charles Alexander, for the four ships building in Philadelphia:
James Nicholson for that building in Maryland.
That the names of the thirteen ships be, theCongress, Randolph, Hancock, Washington, Trumbull, Raleigh, Effingham, Montgomery, Warren, Boston, Virginia, Providence, and Delaware.
Resolved, That Israel Turner be first lieutenant; Joseph Doble, second lieutenant; Mark Dennet, third lieutenant, of Captain Manly's ship.
Resolved, That the Marine Committee be empowered to affix the names to each particular ship, and determine the vessel which each captain is to take command of:
Resolved, That the Marine Committee be empowered ∥and directed∥ to consider the propriety of building two more ships of war, and their size, and report to Congress.
Resolved, That three members be added to the committee appointed to devise ways and means for raising 10 millions of dollars, voted the 6th of May:
∥The members chosen,∥ Mr. [Carter] Braxton, Mr. R[obert R.] Livingston, and Mr. [Matthew] Tilghman.
Resolved, That the Secret Committee be instructed forthwith to fit out two fast sailing vessels and load them with provisions to be sent immediately to supply the inhabitants of the islands of Bermudas, and that the committee of Secret Correspondence be directed to take such measures as they may think proper by those vessels, to discover the state of those islands and the disposition of their inhabitants; and that the Marine Committee be instructed to take such measures as they may think proper for purchasing, manning, arming and fitting at the said islands two sloops of war for the service of the United Colonies.
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Resolved, That the remainder of the report lie on the table for consideration.
Resolved, That doctor Jonathan Potts be employed as a physician and surgeon in the Canada department, or at Lake George, as the general shall direct; but, that this appointment shall not supersede Dr. Stringer.
Resolved, That an express be sent to Hugh Mercer, Esqr. who was yesterday appointed a brigadier general, with his commission, and that he be desired immediately to repair to head quarters, at New York.
A memorial of Jacob Ummensetter was presented to Congress, and read:
Resolved, That it be referred to the committee appointed to contract for casting cannon.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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