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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 --THURSDAY, MAY 8, 1777
Resolved, That an order for 100,000 dollars, be drawn on Thomas Smith, Esqr. commissioner of the loan office for the State of Pensylvania; and another order for 20,000 dollars on the continental treasurer at Baltimore, both orders in favour of James Mease, cloathier general, for the public service; he to be accountable.
Ordered, That Mr. [Thomas] Nelson have leave to return to Virginia, for the recovery of his health.
A letter, of the 6, from Joseph Trumbull, Esqr. commissary, with an account referred to him, enclosed, was read:
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A letter, from Governor Livingston, to Dr. Witherspoon, dated Haddonfield, May 7, was laid before Congress, and read, wherein he requests a guard of 25 or 30 continental troops, for purposes therein mentioned; Whereupon,1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 68, folio 255.]
Resolved, That General Schuyler be empowered and directed to send to Governor Livingston, at Haddonfield, in New Jersey, a guard of 25 or 30 continental troops, under proper officers, to be under the command and direction of the said Governor Livingston.
The Secret Committee having laid before Congress sundry letters and papers, received by the Amphitrite, arrived at Portsmouth, from France; and the same being read,
Ordered, That the said Committee furnish the Board
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of War with copies of the invoices of military stores and entrenching tools, with a list of the French officers, and copies of their agreement with Mr. Deane, in order that the said Board may give the necessary directions relative thereto:
That the said Committee furnish the cloathier general with copies of the invoices of all cloathing and articles that relate to his department, that he may give the proper orders relative thereto:
That the Board of War send copies of the invoices, agreements, and list of the officers, with copies of their orders relative to the same, to General Washington.
That the Secret Committee give such directions relative to the Amphitrite, and other French ships employed in bringing stores from France, as they shall judge most likely to promote the public service.
Resolved, That Mr. J. Langdon be empowered to advance to the French officers arrived in the State of New Hampshire, with whom Mr. Deane has contracted, such sums of money as is necessary for their subsistence, and to enable them to proceed to such posts or places as they may be ordered to by General Washington; and transmit an account of the money so advanced to the pay master general.
Congress took into consideration the memorial from Major General Schuyler; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the explanation given in Major General Schuyler's memorial, of the expressions used in his letter of the 4th of February last, to Congress, is satisfactory; and that Congress entertain now the same favourable sentiments concerning him which they entertained before that letter was received.
It being represented, that the standing committee, for hearing and determining appeals, is too numerous, and that several of the members are absent,
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Resolved, That the said committee be discharged, and that a new committee of five be appointed, they or any three of them to hear and determine upon appeals brought to Congress.
The members chosen, Mr. [James] Wilson, Mr. [James] Duane, Mr. J[ohn] Adams, Mr. [Jonathan Dickinson] Sergeant, and Mr. [Thomas] Burke.
Resolved, That Mr. [George] Clymer be discharged from serving as a member of the Board of Treasury, in order that he may be enabled to give attendance at the Board of War.
Resolved, That a member be added to the Board of War:
The member chosen, Mr. [Charles] Carroll.
Resolved, That a member be added to the Board of Treasury:
The member chosen, Mr. [George] Walton.
Ordered, That the Secret Committee sell 1,000 lb. of sulphur to Mr. [Henry] Wisner, and 1,000 lb. to Mr. [Philip] Livingston, for the use of their powder mills.
The Committee of Treasury reported,
That there is due to Robert Jewell, for the maintenance of state prisoners, from the 21 February to the 11 April, including fire-wood and candles, the sum of 1,497 80/90 dollars, being the ballance of his account:
That there is due to Captain Thomas Rodney, for pay, subsistence and mileage of a volunteer company from the Delaware State, the sum of 424 8/90 dollars:
That there is due to Cæsar Rodney, for his pay and rations as brigadier general from the 6 of January to the 6 March, the sum of 314 dollars:
That there is due to Lieutenants M'Kennan, Cox, Brattan and Duff, of the Delaware batallion, commanded by Colonel Hall, for 11 days in going to Lancaster, and
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returning as an escort to the prisoners sent from hence, the sum of 115 18/90 dollars:
That there is due to James Gillingham, for two chests and two letter cases made for the treasury office, 27 30/90 dollars:
That there is due to Lieutenant Thomas Houston, for the pay of a company of Bucks county militia, in Colonel Kirkbride's batallion, the sum of 115 69/90 dollars:
That there is due to Thomas Plunket, for the expence of himself and a guard with money from Baltimore to this city, and for their expences returning, the sum of 59 89/90 dollars:
That there is due to Lieutenant William Bird, of the 3d Pensylvania regiment, for a ballance of pay between the first March, 1776. and 5th January, 1777. 109 30/90 dollars:
That there is due to Dr. Thomas Hendrey, for his extraordinary services in New Jersey. the sum of 50 dollars:
That there is due to Reuben Smith, for 5 days service, taking a list of medicine in Woodbury, Connecticut, the sum of 11 7/90 dollars:
That there is due to John Brick, for expences paid for two sick privates of Colonel Seely's batallion of New Jersey militia, the sum of 22 36/90 dollars:
That there is due to Dr. John Griffith, for medicine and attendance on sundry sick soldiers, the sum of 38 45/90 dollars:
That there is due to William Hurrie, for sundry expences he paid while attending Congress, 8 12/90 dollars; for 36 days attendance as door keeper, from 10 March to 1 May, at 1 dollar a day, 36 dollars:
That there is due to Captain Thomas Hanson, for mileage of his company of Maryland flying camp, from Philadelphia
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to Charlestown, Maryland, 200 miles out and home, 391 10/90 dollars.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 155.]
Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.
The Committee for Foreign Affairs reported the draught of a ∥news∥ commission for commanders of private ships of war, and a bond to be given by them, which were read and agreed to.
∥The form of the commission is as follows:∥
IN CONGRESS
The delegates of the United States of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, to all unto whom these presents shall come, send greeting. Know Ye, That we have granted, and, by these presents, do grant, licence and authority to, mariner, commander of the, called the, of the burthen of tons or thereabouts, belonging to, mounting carriage guns, and navigated bymen, to fit out and set forth the said, in a warlike manner, and by and with the said, and the crew thereof, by force of arms, to attack, subdue, and take all ships and other vessels whatsoever, carrying soldiers, arms, gun-powder, ammunition, provisions or any other contraband goods to any of the British armies or ships of war employed against these United States: And also to attack, seize, and take all ships or other vessels belonging to the inhabitants of Great Britain, or to any subject or subjects thereof, with their tackle, apparel, furniture and ladings, on the high seas, or between high and low water marks, (the ships or vessels, together with their cargoes, belonging to any inhabitant or inhabitants of Bermuda, Providence, and the Bahama Islands, and such other ships and vessels bringing persons with intent to settle and reside within any of the United States, or bringing arms, ammunition, or warlike stores to the said states, for the use thereof; which said ships or vessels you shall suffer to pass unmolested, the commanders thereof permitting a peaceable search, and giving satisfactory information of the contents of the ladings, and destination of the voyages, only excepted,) and the said ships or vessels so apprehended as aforesaid, and as prize taken,
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to carry into any port or harbour within the dominions of any neutral state willing to admit the same, or into any port within the said United States, in order that the courts there instituted to hear and determine causes civil and maritime, may proceed in due form to condemn the said captures, if they be adjudged lawful prize; or otherwise according to the usage in such cases at the port or in the state where the same shall be carried. The saidhaving given bond with sufficient sureties, that nothing be done by the saidor any of his officers, marines, or company thereof, contrary to, or inconsistent with the usage and customs of nations; and that he shall not exceed or transgress the powers and authorities contained in this commission. And we will and require all our officers whatsoever in the service of the United States, to give succour and assistance to the saidin the premises. This commission shall continue in force until the Congress shall issue orders to the contrary. Dated at
By order of the Congress,
Attest,President.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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