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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, MARCH 31, 1777
The proceedings of a general court martial, held at Philadelphia, the 29th of this instant, March, 1777, on James Molesworth, accused of being a spy from the enemy, for endeavouring to inveigle three pilots into their service, to pilot the ships of war to the attack of this city, were laid before Congress, and read; and, it appearing thereby, that the said James Molesworth is found guilty of the crimes laid to his charge, and sentenced to suffer death; Thereupon,
Resolved, That Congress approve the sentence aforesaid, and confirm the orders of Major General Gates for the execution of it.
A letter, of the 26, with two papers enclosed, and one, of the 29, from General Washington; were read.
One, of the 11th, from the convention of New York, with sundry papers enclosed was read, also,
A letter of the 30 from Colonel Thomas Hartley, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 The letters of Washington are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, IV, folios 27 and 35. That of the 29th is printed in Writings of Washington (Ford), V, 296.]
Ordered, That the last be referred to the Board of War.
Resolved, That 1,258 dollars be paid to Messrs. Willing and Morris, the same being in full of a bill drawn by Esek Hopkins, at New Providence, 14 March, 1776, payable to Mr. Alexander Frazer, or order, and endorsed to the said Willing and Morris, to be charged to the said Esek Hopkins.
A letter from George Chardin Nicholson, and one of the 29, from the Chevalier de Celeron, were read:
Resolved, That the said George Chardin Nicholson, and the Chevalier de Celeron, be referred to Major General
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Gates, who is empowered to employ them in such manner as he shall judge most for the interest of the United States.
That 150 dollars be advanced to the Chevalier de Celeron, to be deducted out of his future pay.
Resolved, That Major General Gates be empowered and directed to take with him, and employ under him in the northern department, Brigadier de [Roche] Fermoy, and such other of the French officers in the service of the United States as he shall think proper.
Ordered, That the letters from General Washington be referred to the Board of War.
That the letter from the Convention of New York be referred to the delegates from that State.
A letter, of the 20, from William Sever and Thomas Cushing, ∥at Boston,∥ was read.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 65, I, folio 191.]
Congress having received advice that the ship Mercury, of Nantz, was arrived at Portsmouth, in New Hampshire, with a cargo for the United States, consisting of 11,987 fusees, 1,000 barrels of powder, 11,000 gun-flints, 48 bales of woollens, 9 bales of handkerchiefs, thread, cotton, and printed linens, 2 cases of shoes, 1 box of buttons and buckles, 1 case of sherry, oil &c, 1 box lawn, and 1 case of needles and silk neckcloths;
Resolved, That 5,000 of the arms lately arrived at Portsmouth, in New Hampshire, be delivered to the order of the council of Massachusetts bay, for the purpose of arming the troops raised in that State for the army of the United States; and that the said council order two receipts to be taken from the several colonels, to whom the arms shall be delivered, and transmit one of the said receipts to the commissary of military stores, and the other to the Board of War.
Resolved, That fifteen tons of the powder lately arrived at Portsmouth, be delivered to the order of the council of
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Massachusetts, to repay the powder advanced by that State, for the use of the continental army and navy, and that the said council transmit to the Board of War, a particular account of the powder advanced by their State for the use of the United States, and the persons to whom delivered.
Resolved, That the Secret Committee be directed to deliver the remainder of the powder, arms, and flints, to the order of the Board of War, and the remainder of the cargo to the cloathier general, or his order.
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on tories and disaffected persons; and, after debate,
Resolved, That the same be re-committed.
The Committee of Treasury, to whom the letter from James Warren, was referred, brought in a report, Whereupon,
Resolved, That the loss sustained by James Warren, Esq. whilst pay master general, in consequence of his keeping an additional office at Cambridge, at the request of the General, for the convenience of the army, as particularly set forth in the depositions of himself, Isaac Lothrop, Esqr. and William Winthrop, amounting to one thousand four hundred and one and 42/90 dollars, be allowed in the adjustment of his account at the treasury office:1
[Note 1: 1 This report and depositions are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folios 59--61.]
∥Ordered, That the said allowance be made.∥
Resolved, That two members be added to the committee for revising and printing the journal.
The members chosen, Mr. J[onathan] B[ayard] Smith and Mr. [Nathan] Brownson.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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