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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 --MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 1776
Sundry letters were laid before Congress and read; viz.
Two from General Washington, of 31 July and 2 August;
One from the council of Virginia, of the 27 July, with copies of sundry letters from North and South Carolina, enclosed.
One from Ephraim Anderson, of 31 July;
And sundry resolutions, passed by the convention of Pensylvania:1
[Note 1: 1 The letters of Washington are in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, II, folios 317 and 325. The latter is printed inWritings of Washington (Ford), IV, 315. That of Virginia is in No. 71, I, folio 37. The letter of Anderson, recommending M. La Marquisie, is in No. 78, I, folio 19. That of the convention of Pennsylvania is in No. 69, I, folio 205.]
Resolved, That the said letters and resolutions be referred to the Board of War.
The Board of War brought in a report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon,
Resolved, That the commanders of all ships of war and armed vessels in the service of these states, or any of them, and all letters of marque and privateers, be permitted to inlist into service on board the said ships and vessels, any seamen who may be taken on board any of the ships or vessels of our enemies, and that no such seamen be entitled to receive the wages due to them out of the said prizes, but such as will so inlist, and that all other seamen, so taken, be held as prisoners of war, and exchanged for others taken by the enemy, whether on board of vessels of war or merchantmen, as there may be opportunity:
That Lieutenant Colonel Rufus Putnam be appointed an engineer, with the rank of colonel, and pay of sixty dollars per month.
A petition from Esek Hopkins, commander in chief of the continental fleet, was presented to Congress, and read;
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setting forth, that "he has been informed that certain complaints, interrogatories and report, charging him with sundry crimes and misdemeanors, had been exhibited to the honorable Congress; the purport of which complaints, &c. he is ignorant of; and praying that he may be furnished with copies thereof, and of all other proceedings against him, which are now before this honorable body; and that time may be allowed him to prepare for, and a day assigned for, his being heard before Congress in his own defence."
Resolved, That the prayer of the petition be granted, and that Friday next be appointed for hearing Commodore Hopkins.
Resolved, That the Marine Committee be directed to order the ships and armed vessels, belonging to the continent, out on such cruizes as they shall think proper.
Resolved, That Monday next be assigned for hearing and determining the Appeal against the verdict and sentence passed on the schoonerThistle.
Resolved, That the Secret Committee be directed to deliver to the Delaware batallion, as many of the arms, lately imported, as will be necessary to arm them completely:
That they deliver to the council of safety of Delaware government, 193 of said arms, in lieu of so many had from them; and
That the remainder of the said arms be delivered to the council of safety of Pensylvania, they to be accountable.
Resolved, That the batallion, above mentioned, when armed, be ordered to New Jersey, subject to the farther orders and directions of the general.
The Board of Treasury reported, that there is due, To Thomas Dundas for 24 riffles and one firelock, purchased
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for the use of Colonel Irvine's battalion, the sum of 313 78/90ths dollars, and that the same ought to be paid to Andrew Robeson by his order.1
[Note 1: 1 "See 11 July, then settled." Note by Charles Thomson.]
To J. Symes, a prisoner of the royal Highland emigrants, 28 dollars, for fourteen weeks' allowance, from the 24 April to the 30th July.
Ordered, That the said account be paid.
Resolved, That the Board of War be directed to furnish the Committee of Treasury with the names of the British officers and other prisoners, who are entitled to the allowance made by Congress of two dollars per week, with the times of their captivity, and the places where they are quartered.
Resolved, That the pay of an assistant clerk to the Board of War, be 266 2/3 dollars [a year].
Resolved, That an order for 1,000 dollars be drawn on the treasurers, in favour of Francis Lewis, Esqr. and that the same be charged to the account of the pay master general; it being for so much received by him, by the order of Mr. Lewis.
The Congress took into consideration the report on Messrs. Price and Haywood's accounts; and, after some debate,
Resolved, That the said accounts be re-committed, and that the commissioners to Canada be desired to attend the Board of Treasury at the examination of the said accounts.
Resolved, That an order for 53 1/3 dollars, be drawn on the treasurers, in favour of Monsieur Artur Vermonet, it being two months' advance, for which he is to be accountable.
A petition from Lewis De Linkensdorff, was presented to Congress, and read:
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Resolved, That it be referred with the papers accompanying it to the Board of War.
The Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the causes of the miscarriages in Canada; and, after debate,
Resolved, That it be re-committed.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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