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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 --TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 1777
The delegates of Maryland having reported, that they have provided a suitable house in the country for the reception of the public powder,
Resolved, That the said delegates be requested and empowered to agree with a captain, and a proper number of men, to guard the said powder when removed.
Ordered, That the Board of War send forward from this town to General Schuyler, with all possible expedition, twenty tons of cannon powder and ten tons of pistol powder.
A number of letters and papers were laid before Congress and read, viz. a letter of 21 from the committee of Congress, at Philadelphia; one, of the 17, form General Washington, at Morristown; one, of the 19, from General Putnam, at Princetown, to Lord Stirling; also
One of the 22d, one of the 23, and one of the 25, from the committee of Congress, at Philadelphia;
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One, of the 18[19] and one, of the 20, from General Washington, at Morris town.
One, of the 13 and 15, from General Schuyler, at Fish kill, enclosing a letter, of the 3d, to him from Governor Trumbull; one, of the 22, and one, of the 26, from the council of safety of Maryland.
One, of the 6th, from Joseph Trumbull, Esq. at Hartford.
One, of the 18th, from Ebenezer Hancock.
One, of the 12, from Governor Trumbull, with a copy of the minutes of a committee appointed by the four New England States, who met at Providence, on Wednesday, 25 December, 1776, and by adjournments to January 2, 1777.
One, of the 13, from the council of Massachusetts bay.
One, of the 24, from Lieutenant Colonel Kirmovan.
One, of the 15th, from Brigadier genl De Roche Fermoy; and sundry letters from French officers:1
[Note 1: 1 Letters from the Philadelphia committee are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 137, Appendix, folios 103, 111; from Washignton, in No. 152, III, folios 469, 473, 482, of which two are printed in Writings of Washington (Ford), v, 175, 181. The letter of Putnam is in No. 159, folio 35; that of Schuyler in No. 153, III, folio 35; those of the Maryland Council of Safety, in No. 70, folios 127, 131; from Joseph Trumbull, in No. 78, XXII, folio 189; from Governor Trumbull, in No. 66, I, folio 249; and from Massachusetts, No. 65, I, folio 179.]
Ordered, That the letters from Brigadier genl De Roche Fermoy, and from the other French officers, be referred to General Washington, to do therein what he shall think the good of the service requires, without considering this reference as a recommendation in favour of any of the gentlemen applying:
That the letter of Lieutenant Colonel Kirmovan be also referred to General Washington.
A letter, of the 12, from the committee of Frederic county, Maryland, with sundry papers enclosed, was read.2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 70, folio III.]
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A letter from Mr. Bingham, at Martinique, and sundry papers enclosed, were read:
Ordered, That a copy of the enclosed papers be delivered to the delegates of Maryland, to be laid before the assembly of their state; and that the letter and papers be referred to a committee of three;
The members chosen, Mr. [James] Wilson, Mr. [Samuel] Chase, and Mr. R [ichard] H[enry] Lee.
Another letter, from Mr. Bingham, recommending Mons. Celeron to notice of Congress, was read, and ordered to be referred to General Washington.
Resolved, That Friday next be assigned to take into consideration the letters from the State of Massachusetts bay, and Governor Trumbull, and the minutes of the proceedings of the committee of the four New England States.
Resolved, That the committee of Congress at Philadelphia, be informed, that Congress, from the committee's state of things, do not discern the necessity of moving the public stores from that city; but if any circumstances should hereafter arise, to render such a removal proper, Congress desire the committee may do therein what they shall think most conducive to the public service.
Ordered, That the letter from General Schuyler be referred to the committee on the affairs of the northern department.
The Secret Committee informed Congress, that the brig Olive Branch, William Bayly, master, was, by the procuration of Francis Lewis, laden at New York with 718 barrels of flour, on account of the United States, as will appear by bill of lading, signed 26 day of February, 1776, directed to be delivered to Mr. Samuel Carson, at St. Eustatia; that Captain Bayly, contrary to his orders,
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proceeded to Occoys, on the island of Hispaniola, and there put the cargo into the hands of Mons. Croix, who, by several letters, informed Mr. Carson that he should remit said Carson the proceeds of the flour to St. Eustatia; and, in a letter from said Carson, dated St. Eustatia, 30th November, is the following paragraph:--"I have not received one farthing on account of brig Olive Branch's cargo, and God knows when I will;" that Captain Bayly, after landing the flour at Occoys, made a voyage for Mons. St. Croix, to France, and back to Occoys, where the said Croix loaded the brig, and proceeded with her to this port, where they both are at this time, with the vessel, re-laden with provision, &c. and ready to depart for Occoys; that Captain Bayly pretends he has sold the brig to Mons. Croix, and has taken his single promissory note for payment; but, it is obvious, that they have been jointly trading on the public's capital, and defrauding both the public and the owners of the brig; that, with the proceeds of the cargo sold here, they have re-laden the brig with provisions, &c. and have a residue of £2500 cash in their hands:
Resolved, That this matter be referred to the Secret Committee who are empowered to do therein what they shall judge to be just and right, and conducive to the public interest.
∥Resolved,∥ That a committee of 3 be appointed to take into consideration the state of Georgia:
The members ∥chosen,∥ Mr. [Oliver] Wolcott, Mr. R[ichard] H[enry] Lee, and Mr. [Abraham] Clark.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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