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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 --WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1776
The Committee of Treasury reported, that there is due,
To Mr. Allen, for his expences in being detained here for the purpose of taking charge of the money for Virginia, the sum of 17 20/90 dollars:
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That a farther sum of 77 46/90 dollars be paid to Mr. Fairlamb, which will be the ballance due to him on his account as it now stands, exclusive of his request for a farther allowance on the ration stipulated in his contract, and of twenty seven cords of wood, not allowed for want of vouchers:
Ordered, That the above accounts be paid.
Resolved, That the sum of 30 dollars be paid to Captain Moore, to enable him to proceed to Europe.
A letter of this day from Colonel Moses Hazen was read;
A petition from Andrew Stalker, late commander of the brigantine Three Friends, was read, praying for leave to depart the states of America, and revisit his native country.
Resolved, That leave be granted.
A petition from John Tillman was read.
A letter from Governor Livingston, of the 25, was read, and referred to the committee to whom a former letter from Governor Livingston was referred, namely, Dr. [Benjamin] Rush, Mr. [George] Ross, and Mr. [Thomas] Lynch [Jr.].1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 68, folio 227.]
Resolved, That 2,000 dollars be advanced to Colonel Scott, of the 5 Virginia batallion, for the use of his batallion, he to be accountable.
Resolved, That 2,000 dollars be advanced to Colonel Hausegger, of the German batallion, for the use of his batallion, he to be accountable.
The Board of War having recommended Jacob Mylé to be quarter master, and Eberhart Michael, pay master to the German batallion;
Resolved, That they be accepted, and commissions granted to them accordingly.
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Mr. Duché having, by a letter to the president, acknowledged his obligations for the kind manner in which Congress have expressed their approbation of his services, requests, as he accepted their appointment from motives perfectly disinterested, that Mr. Hancock will please to put the 150 dollars voted to him, may be applied to the relief of the widows and children of such of the Pensylvania officers, as have fallen in battle in the service of their country:1
[Note 1: 1 Mr. Duché's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, VII, folio 75.]
Resolved, That the money be deposited with the council of safety of Pensylvania, to be applied agreeable to the request and desire of Mr. Duché.
A memorial of Robert Jewell was read and referred to the committee on Governor Livingston's letter.
Resolved, That 1331/3 dollars be advanced to Evans and Stretch, the commanding officers of the guard going with money and cloathing to the northern army, they to be accountable.
The Committee of Treasury reported, that there is due,
To Mons. Pierre Gamelin, a prisoner from Canada, for his allowance from 26 March to 28 October, inclusive, being 31 weeks, at 2 dollars a week, 62 dollars:
To Marcus Lucullus Ryall, a prisoner, for his allowance from 22d August to 24 October, inclusive, being 9 weeks, at 2 dollars, 18 dollars:
To Lieutenant Jacob Schalch, a prisoner, for his allowance from 19 July to 25 October, inclusive, being 14 weeks, at 2 dollars, 28 dollars:
To Dr. James Gill, a prisoner, for his allowance from 19 July to 25 October, inclusive, being 14 weeks, at 2 dollarss, 28 dollars:
To Lieutenant Simon Evans, a prisoner, for his allowance from 23 August to 18 October, inclusive, being 8 weeks, at 2 dollars, 16 dollars:
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To Pelatiah Webster for 200 lbs. of rhubarb, 600 dollars:
To Alexander Middleton, of the 5th Virginia batallion, for his account of medicines, board, nursing, and necessaries for the sick of the said regiment, 86 60/90 dollars:
Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.
The committee, to whom were referred the resolutions of the convention of Maryland, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon,
Resolved, That the president write to the convention of Maryland, and inform them, that their resolutions relative to their paying ten dollars in lieu of the 100 acres of land, determined by Congress to be given to such noncommissioned officers and soldiers as shall enlist to serve during the war, will, (in the opinion of this house,) if carried into execution, prove extremely detrimental to these states, as it will, in all probability, induce such soldiers as are to compose the remainder of the levies, to require an equal sum from the United States, and by refusing to inlist until their demands shall be complied with, compel the Congress to the immediate payment of an additional bounty, far beyond what is reasonable:
That this house, being satisfyed with the propriety of offering land to the soldiery, as an inducement to inlist in the service, cannot rescind the said resolution, and are of opinion, that the faith, which this house, (by virtue of the power with which they were vested,) has plighted, must be obligatory upon their constituents; that no one state can, by its own act, be released therefrom, and that the interest of the United States would be deeply and injuriously affected, should the Congress, at this time, consent to a compromise between any state and the forces to be by them raised:
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That the said convention, by their said resolutions, seem to apprehend, that their state would be obliged, in their individual capacity, to make good the bounty of land hereafter to be given to the soldiery; whereas, it was the intention of Congress to provide the said land at the expence of the United States:
That the said convention be requested to reconsider the said resolutions, and to give to their commissioners, appointed to repair to the camp, such instructions as will enable them to carry into execution the views of Congress: That the said convention be informed, that the pay master general has been furnished with a sum of money for the purpose of paying the bounty of 20 dollars ordered by Congress to such soldiers as shall inlist to serve the United States during the war.
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the Marine Committee: Whereupon,
Resolved, That the rank of officers of marines be the same as officers of similar commissions in the land service:
That the commanders, officers, seamen, and marines in the continental navy, be entitled to one half of merchantmen, transports, and store ships by them taken, from and after the first day of November, 1776, to be divided amongst them in the shares and proportions fixed by former resolutions of Congress:
That the commanders, officers, seamen and marines, in the continental navy, be entitled to the whole value of all ships and vessels of war belonging to the crown of Great Britain, by them made prize of, and all privateers authorized by his Britannic Majesty to war against these states, to be divided as aforesaid.1
[Note 1: 1 Printed in the Pennsylvania Gazette, 6 November, 1776.]
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Resolved, That the part of the report relative to the rank and pay of naval officers, be referred to a special committee of three.
The members, Mr. [Robert] Morris, Mr. [William] Whipple, and Mr. R[ichard] H[enry] Lee.
Resolved, That the remainder of the report be re-committed.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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