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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, JUNE 2, 1777
Nicholas Vandyke, Esqr. a delegate from the State of Delaware, attended, and took his seat.
Two letters, of the 31 of May, from General Washington, at Middlebrook, with sundry papers enclosed;
One, of the same date, from General Sullivan, at Princeton, to General Arnold;
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One, of the 24 of the same month, from General Gates, at Albany, with sundry papers enclosed;
One, of the 17th of May, from General Heath, at Boston, with the proceedings of a court-martial on Peter Pickman Fry, a soldier;
One, of the 15, from Mons. du Coudray;
And one, of the 15, from Jeremiah Powel, president of the council of Massachusetts bay, with sundry papers enclosed;
And a memorial from Messrs. Archibald, Allan and Ronald M'Donald, at Reading, were read:1
[Note 1: 1 The letters of Washington are in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, IV, folios 207 and 216. One is printed inWritings of Washington (Ford), V, 401. That of Sullivan is in No. 160, folio 31; that of Gates, in No. 154, I, folio 208; that of Heath in No. 157, folio 13. The petition from the McDonells is in No. 41, VI, folio 7, with the endorsement in Richard Peters' writing: "To enquire of Mr. Duer and Mr. Duane. Mr. Duane does not think the Petitioners' request as to a Pass should be complied with."]
Ordered, That the letter from Jer. Powel be referred to the Marine Committee; and that the other letters, with the papers enclosed, be referred to the Board of War.
Ordered, That extracts of intelligence received, so far as it respects the enemy's designs on Philadelphia, be transmitted by the delegates of Pensylvania and Delaware, to the executive power of their respective State:
That the commanding officer at Philadelphia be directed to send a muster master to muster the militia at Bristol, and make a return to Congress.
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee on the commissary's department; and, after some time spent thereon, and sundry amendments made,
Resolved, That the said report be re-committed.
The Committee of Treasury reported,
That there is due to Margaret Holmes, for 42 meals supplied the militia, the sum of 4 18/90 dollars:
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That there is due to William Shaw, for his account for thirty powder barrels, cooperage, &c. the sum of 64 66/90 dollars.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 207.]
Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.
Mr. Burke, the delegate attending from North Carolina, laid before Congress credentials of the appointment of delegates for that State, which were read, as follows:
State of North-Carolina.
To Thomas Burke, John Penn, and Cornelius Harnett, esqs. greeting: Whereas the general assembly hath elected you delegates to attend the Congress of the United States: these are, therefore, to commissionate, authorize, and empower you, the said Thomas Burke, John Penn, and Cornelius Harnett, to attend the said Congress of the United States of America, in behalf of this state, until such time as the general assembly shall direct otherwise; and you are hereby invested with such powers as may make any act done by you, or any of you, or consent given in the said Congress, in behalf of this state, obligatory on every inhabitant thereof. Witness, Richard Caswell; esq. governor, captain-general, and commander in chief of the said state, under his hand and seal at arms, at Newbern, the 4th day of May, Anno Domini, 1777, and in the first year of the independence of this state.
Richard Caswell.
By his excellency's command,
Js. Glasgow,Secretary.
A memorial from Jacob Fantz was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This memorial is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, III, folio 183.]
Ordered, That, it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
The Board of War brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Resolved, That a letter be written to the council of Massachusetts bay, and to the governor and council of Virginia, acquainting them, that Congress have received information, that General Lee is treated by General Howe with kindness, generosity and tenderness, and desiring
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the former to treat Colonel Campbell, and the latter to treat the five Hessian officers, with kindness, generosity, and tenderness, consistent with the confinement and safe custody of their persons.1
[Note 1: 1 The report of the Board, dated May 30, read as follows:
"That the Council of the Massachusetts Bay be informed that a Letter from General Lee of the 19th Instant to Robert Morris, Esq., having been laid before Congress, wherein, it is set forth, that, 'General Lee's table is very handsomely kept by the General (Howe) who has indeed treated him in all respects with kindness, Generosity and Tenderness' the Council of the said State be requested, to treat Lieutenant Colonel Campbell with every kindness and civility, consistent with the Confinement of his person." It is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, I, folio 195.]
Ordered, That twenty copies of the volume of journals be delivered to the delegates of each State, for the use of their respective States; and that the remainder of the 700, which Congress agreed to take, be lodged in the secretary's office, for the use of members.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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