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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, AUGUST 16, 1776
A letter, from General Washington, of the 15th, being received, was read.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, II, folio 413. It is printed inWritings of Washington (Ford), IV, 346.]
The Board of Treasury, who were appointed to prepare Instructions for the commissioners appointed to settle the accounts of the army at New York, and in the northern department, brought in a draught, which was read and agreed to as follows:
To--
Gentlemen: You are appointed commissioners by the Congress, to liquidate the accounts of the army in
You will, therefore, proceed immediately toand apply to generalto direct all persons who have been engaged in transacting public business, to lay their accounts before you.
In your examination, you will observe the utmost exactness; taking care not to allow any accounts for which proper vouchers are not produced. No officer is permitted by Congress to hold two commissions; consequently, is not to receive pay for two.
Every colonel of a batallion ought to produce muster rolls, certified by the muster master, or such other person as may have been appointed by the commanding officer, to muster the men, of the number his batallion, from time to time, consisted of.
No allowance of pay, or rations, to be made to any officer for men who have not been actually in the continental service.
If, in the settlement of these accounts, you shall discover any frauds to have been practised, or abuses committed by misapplication of public monies, you shall take particular notice of them, and make especial report to the Committee of Treasury. When you have compleated this business, you are to transmit a copy of your proceedings, with accounts, to the Committee of Treasury, to be by them finally adjusted and discharged.
Ordered, That a copy be made out and delivered to the respective commissioners.
Resolved, That the sum of 250,000 dollars be sent to
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Ebenezer Hancock, Esqr. deputy pay master general, for the use of the army in the eastern department.
Resolved, That the sum of 1,000 dollars be advanced to Captain John David Woelper, for the bounty money, &c. of his company; he to be accountable.
A petition from Dr. Samuel Stringer, was presented to Congress and read:
Resolved, That it be referred to the Medical Committee.
Resolved, That the Medical Committee be empowered to purchase such medicines as they judge proper and useful for the army.
Resolved, That a member be added to the committee to whom were referred the letters and papers respecting the murder of Mr. Parsons:
The member chosen, Mr. J[ohn] Adams.
The committee, to whom the letter from General Putnam, in favour of the Rev. Abiel Leonard, was referred, reported,
That it appears, from a farther certificate of General Putnam, that Mr. Leonard performed the duty of a chaplain to other regiments than that of the general's, for the space of eight months, for which he has had no compensation; and that it also appears, that Mr. Leonard's services, at that time in the army, were very necessary and useful: Whereupon,
Resolved, That the sum of 300 dollars be paid to the said Mr. Abiel Leonard, as a reward for his services.
Resolved, That the letters received yesterday from General Washington, General Schuyler, and General Gates, be referred to the Board of War.
The Congress resumed the consideration of the instructions given to Commodore Hopkins, his examination and answers, &c. and, thereupon came to the following resolution:
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Resolved, That the said conduct of Commodore Hopkins deserves the censure of this house, and the house does accordingly censure him.
Ordered, That a copy of the resolutions passed against Commodore Hopkins be transmitted to him.
The Secret Committee having informed Congress that a quantity of powder about five tons was arrived in New Jersey,
Resolved, That the said Secret Committee be directed to send the said powder to Brigadier General Mercer for the use of the flying camp, under a proper guard.1
[Note 1: 1 In the margin is written by Francis Hopkinson: "reconsidered and ordered to the city of Philadelphia; it appearing to Congress that for the present there is a sufficient quantity of Powder in the Jerseys for the use of the troops."]
The several matters to this day referred, being farther postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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