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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 30, 1776
A letter of the 29th, from General Washington, and a letter of the 22d, from Governor Trumbull, were laid before Congress, and read.2
[Note 2: 2 The letter of Washington is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, II, folio 503. It is printed inWritings of Washington (Ford), IV, 371.]
Resolved, That the letter from Governor Trumbull be referred to the Board of Treasury.
Resolved, That the duck, in the hands of Mr. Green, at Rhode Island, be made up into tents, and forwarded, with all possible expedition, to General Washington.
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Resolved, That Mr. J. Mease be directed to purchase all the linen in this city, suitable for tents, and have the same made into tents, as soon as possible, and report to Congress immediately the quantity that can be procured.
A memorial from David White, of the county of Somerset, in New Jersey, was presented to Congress, and read; Whereupon,
Resolved, That, from the state of facts in the said petition, Congress have no objection to his being excused from bearing arms, but remit the same to the assembly of New Jersey, to whom the enquiry and determination properly belong.
A memorial from Mr. Kosciusko was presented to Congress, and read.
Resolved, That it be referred to the Board of War.
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on Governor Trumbull's letter of the 19th July, and, after debate,
Resolved, That the same be re-committed for the purpose of stating the facts and circumstances that induced Governor Trumbull to stop the vessels going out of the sound.
The committee for regulating the post office, brought in their report, which was taken into consideration; Where-upon,
Resolved, That the communication of intelligence with frequency and despatch, from one part to another of this extensive continent, is essentially requisite to its safety; that, therefore, there should be employed on the several post roads, a rider for every twenty five or thirty miles, whose business it shall be, to proceed through his stage three times in every week, setting out immediately on receipt of the mail, and travelling with the same, by night and by day, without stopping, until he shall have delivered
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it to the next rider; and that the post master general be desired, either by the use of way bills, or by such other means as he shall find most efficacious, to prevent delays in the riders, or to discover where they happen, that such dilatory riders may be discharged.
And, as it is requisite that the deputy post masters should attend with punctuality at their several offices for the receipt and delivery of letters,
Resolved, That it be recommended to the assemblies and conventions of these states, to consider how far it may be consistent with the policy and the good of their respective states, to excuse such deputy post masters from those public duties, which may call them from attendance at their offices, and to proceed therein as to their wisdom shall seem best.1
[Note 1: 1 Printed in thePennsylvania Evening Post, 14 September, 1776.]
Resolved, That three advice boats be established; one to ply between the state of North Carolina, and such port as shall be most convenient to the place at which the Congress shall be sitting; one other between the state of South Carolina and the said port, and one other between the state of Georgia and the same port; that such advice boats be armed, and put under the direction of the Secret Committee, who are empowered to freight them with such merchandise or commodities, as, without retarding their passage, may, together with the usual postage on letters, and other papers transmitted by them, contribute to defray the expences of the said boats.
The convention of New York having represented that, for want of blacksmiths, they are greatly delayed in obstructing the passage of Hudson's river, in the Highlands, which is an object of great importance:
Resolved, That the convention of New York be empowered to employ, for the purpose aforesaid, the blacksmiths
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that are now engaged in building the continental frigates at Poughkeepsie.
The committee, to whom the petition of William Bell & Co. was referred, brought in their report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Resolved, That Governor Trumbull be requested to permit the sloopFreemason, Epaphros Mygat, master, with her cargo, belonging to the petitioners, to proceed on her voyage to the island of St. Eustatia, so soon as the said master shall judge she may sail without falling into the hands of the enemy on the coast.
The committee appointed to enquire into the claims of sundry Canadians, report, that there is due,
To Andrew Pepin, for two months' services as a captain, and 6 months' services as a lieutenant, together with rations during the time of his said services, the sum of 201 and 1/3d dollars:
To James Pelieur, for five months' services as a private, and three months' services as a lieutenant, together with one ration a day, during the said three months, the sum of 99 1/3d dollars.
Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.
The Committee on the Treasury reported, that there is due,
To Melchior Meng, for waggon and horse hire, carrying money to New York, escorted by Mr. Fullerton and others, the sum of 28 4/90ths dollars:
To John Bates, for 150 camp kettles, delivered to Clement Biddle, deputy quarter master general, 200 dollars:
To Jacob Hilzheimer, for expresses to Albany, New York, Boston, Burlington, &c. between the 11 May and 13 August, 1776, and for keeping a continental horse, the sum of 537 60/90ths dollars:
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To Captain John Thacher, for the pay of his independent company, in the service of the United States, at New York, under General Lee, 405 9/90ths dollars:
To George Haas, for conveying money to Albany, 21 days, at 2 dollars, and expences of himself, horse hire and ferriages, 100 71/90ths dollars, and for carriage of Captain Gamble's baggage from Philadelphia to Reading, 16 dollars; the whole 116 71/90ths dollars:
To Robert Jewell, 333 62/90ths dollars, for his account for entertaining prisoners in gaol, from the 23 July to 20 August, inclusive, 234 60/90ths dollars; for his account for entertaining ten deserters, from the 23 July to the 20 August, 42 85/90ths dollars, and his account for making three pine tables, two pine desks, a book case, sign board, &c. for Treasury Office, 61 69/90ths dollars:
To William Clayton, for 303 meals of victuals supplied the militia on their march to New Jersey, 30 27/90ths dollars:
To Thomas Cheesman, for carriage of 32 cwt. 1.qr. 3 pound salt petre, from Egg harbor to Cooper's ferry, opposite to Philadelphia, 22 52/90ths dollars:
Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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