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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, NOVEMBER 18, 1776
Resolved, That the sum of 40,000 dollars be advanced to the council of safety of Pensylvania; the said state to be accountable.2
[Note 2: 2 The resolution of the Council of Safety calling for this amount, dated November 18, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 69, I, folio 249.]
A letter, of the 14, from General Washington, enclosing copies of letters which passed between him and General Howe; one of the 6th, from General Gates; one, of the 10, from Richard Stockton, and G. Clymer, at Albany; one, of the 11, from General Schuyler, at Albany; one, of the 16th, from Brigadier General Stephen, at Amboy;
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and one, from B. Harrison, of the 1st, ∥pay master in the southern department;∥ and, one of the 8th, from Brigadier General Lewis, at Williamburg, were read:1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of Washington is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, III, folio 249. It is printed in Writings of Washington (Ford), V, 24. The letter of Gates is in No. 154, I, folio 117; that of Schuyler is in No. 153, II, folio 487; two letters from Stockton and Clymer of the 10th are in No. 21, folio 21, and No. 78, XX, folio 79. A letter from Schuyler to Stockton and Clymer, dated November 6, with other papers, is in No. 21, folios 85, 99. The letter from Stephen is in No. 162, folio 229.]
Also a letter and memorial from Joseph Trumbull, and a memorial from Ebenezer Hazard, were read, and referred to the Board of Treasury.
Ordered, That the letters from General Washington, General Schuyler, and General Gates, and General Stephen, be referred to the Board of War; and the letters from Brigadier General Lewis and from B. Harrison, be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A letter from Juliana Zedwitz was read, and referred to the Committee on the State of Prisoners.
Resolved, That a member be added to the said committee, and that they be directed to take into consideration the case of Lieutenant M'Lean, who was sent to Philadelphia by General Wooster:
The member chosen, Mr. [William] Hooper.
The Marine Committee having recommended Francis Hopkinson, Esqr. as a fit person to execute the business of the navy, under their direction,
Resolved, That he be accepted.
A memorial of Isaac Cox, in behalf of Alexander Frazer and others, inhabitants of the Island of Providence, owners of two sloops called the Dragon and the Molly, taken by private sloops of war, called the Congress and the Chance, and brought into the port of Philadelphia, but afterwards released, | praying for letters of safe conduct for the said sloops to the port of Providence, in order to
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prevent any arrest or molestation from ships of war in the service of the United States.1
[Note 1: 1 This memorial is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, II, folio 13.]
Resolved, That the prayer of the petition be granted.
A petition from Muscoe Livingston, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [James] Wilson, Mr. [George] Wythe and Mr. [George] Ross.
Congress took into consideration the report of the Committee on the Lottery; Whereupon,
Resolved, The scheme of the lottery be as follows, viz.
That it consist of 100,000 tickets, each ticket to be divided into four billets, and to be drawn in four classes.
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The lottery being intended to raise a sum of money on loan, bearing an annual interest of four per cent. which, with the sums arising from the deduction, is to be applied for carrying on the present most just and necessary war, in defence of the lives, liberties and property of the inhabitants of these United States:
Resolved, That the fortunate adventurers in the 1st class, who draw more than 20 dollars, and so in the 2d and 3d classes, who draw more than 30 or 40 dollars, shall, at their option, receive a treasury bank note for the prize or
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prizes drawn, payable at the end of five years, and an annual interest on the same, at the rate of four per cent., or the pre-emption of such billets in the next succeeding class, as shall not be renewed within the time hereinafter limited. Every adventurer in the 1st class shall have a right to go through the subsequent classes, but shall not be obliged to do it. The drawers of 20, 30 and 40 dollars in the 1st, 2d and 3d classes, who do not apply for their money within six weeks after the drawing ends, shall be deemed adventurers in the next succeeding class, and have their billets renewed without any further trouble. If any others shall neglect or decline taking out and paying the price of their billets, for a subsequent class, within six weeks after the drawing ends, their billets shall be sold to the fortunate adventurers in the preceding class, or to such as shall apply for the same. The fortunate adventurers in the last class, who draw 50 dollars, shall, upon application to the commissioners of the loan offices in the respective states, where the drawers reside, receive their money, without any deduction, and all who draw above that sum, shall receive in like manner, without deduction, for the sums drawn, bank treasury notes payable at the end of five years after the drawing, at the loan office of the state in which the drawers reside. The interest to commence from the last day of drawing, and to be paid annually at the said respective loan offices:
That, for carrying into execution the said lottery, there shall be seven managers, who shall give bond, and be on oath, for the faithful discharge of their duty:
That the money, as fast as received by the managers for billets, be lodged in the continental treasury:
That the drawing of the first class begin at Philadelphia, on the 1st of March, 1777, or sooner, if sooner full.
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Resolved, That the further consideration of the report be postponed till to Morrow.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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