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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, MAY 12, 1777
A letter, of the 5th, from Major General St. Clair, at Bedford, was read.
A petition from Ebenezer Hazard, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 The letter of St. Clair is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 161, folio 497; that of Hazard is in No. 41, IV, folio 15.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to the committee on the post office.
Ordered, That the Committee for foreign affairs, prepare a draught of a commission and proper instructions for the commissioners appointed to the courts of Madrid, Vienna, Berlin and Tuscany.
A petition from Simon Edwards and others, pilots at Lewes, was read:
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Marine Committee.
Resolved, That the Secret Committee be empowered to employ the Amphitrite as an armed vessel in the service of the United States, on the best terms they can make with the captain, and to allow him for his owners, himself
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and crew, such share of the prizes by her taken as shall be agreed on between them.
Congress proceeded to the election of two brigadiers general, and, the ballots being taken, Colonel Jedediah Huntington, and Colonel Joseph Reed, were elected.
The committee on the post office, to whom Mr. Hazard's Memorial was referred, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Resolved, That all post masters, post riders, and persons immediately concerned in conducting the business of the post office, ought to be exempted from all military duties; and that it be recommended to the legislatures of the different states, to exempt such persons accordingly.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Richard Henry Lee, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 61, folio 449.]
A letter, of the 5, from Governor Trumbull, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 66, I, folio 333.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of War.
A motion being made respecting General Schuyler:
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of the 9th, from General Washington, with a copy of one of the 30th November last from S. Deane, brought by Colonel Conway, were read:3
[Note 3: 3 This letter and enclosures are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, IV, folio 157. It is printed in Writings of Washington (Ford), V, 353.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Committee on Foreign Applications.
Resolved, That a member be added to the said committee:
The member chosen, Mr. [Charles] Carroll.
Resolved, That 1,000 dollars be advanced to Captain Matthew Irwin, to enable him to raise the company to which he is appointed by General Washington, in one of the sixteen regiments.
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Resolved, That the committee on appeals be authorized to appoint a register to attend the said committee.
The several matters &c ∥to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to ten o'Clock toMorrow.∥
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