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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 --FRIDAY, JULY 25, 1777
A letter, of the 19, from Brigadier P. Muhlenberg; one, of the 2d, from council of Massachusetts bay, and an application from the general assembly of the State of New Hampshire, for a sum of money to redeem the bills issued by that State, were read:2
[Note 2: 2 The letter from Muhlenberg is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 163, folio 506; that from Massachusetts, in No. 65, I, folio 199; and that from New Hampshire, is printed inNew Hampshire State Papers, VIII, 588.]
Ordered, That the application from the general assembly of New Hampshire be referred to the Board of Treasury.
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the Board of War; and, after debate,
Resolved, That the farther consideration thereof be postponed.
Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to take into consideration the state of Georgia:
The members chosen, Mr. [Henry] Laurens, Mr. [George] Walton, Mr. [Benjamin] Harrison, Mr. [James] Wilson and Mr. S[amuel] Adams.
The Board of War brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Resolved, That Congress have a just sense of the merit of Lieutenant Colonel Meigs, and the officers and men
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under his command, who distinguished their prudence, activity, enterprize and valour, in the late expedition to Long Island; and that an elegant sword be provided by the commissary general of military stores, and presented to Lieutenant Colonel Meigs:
Resolved, That Congress have a just sense of the gallant behaviour of Lieutenant Colonel Barton, of a militia regiment of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, and the brave officers and men of his party, who distinguished their valour and address in making prisoners of Major General Prescot, of the British army, and Major William Barrington, his aid-de-camp; and that an elegant sword be provided by the commissary general of military stores, and presented to Lieutenant Colonel Barton.
Resolved, That the Board of War be empowered to contract with proper persons to supply the army with beer, cyder, vegetables, soap, vinegar and sour-crout; and that they be directed to advertise, in the several papers, that all persons whom it may suit to supply the army with those articles, may make their proposals to the Board.
Resolved, That General Washington be empowered to increase the ration of soap according to his discretion:
That so much of General Washington's letter as relates to an auditor's attending the army to settle and adjust accounts before warrants are drawn for payment, be referred to the Board of Treasury:
That General Washington be empowered to appoint Mr. Robert Erskine, or any other person that he may think proper, geographer and surveyor of the roads, to take sketches of the country, the seat of war, and to have the procuring, governing and paying the guides employed under him; the General to affix the pay of the said geographer, &c. and the allowance that shall be made to the guides.
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Resolved, That that part of the report respecting a supply of cloathing be re-committed, and that the remainder of the report lie for farther consideration.1
[Note 1: 1 This paragraph read: "That it be recommended to the Legislatures, or in their recess, to the Executive Powers of each State, that they use their utmost Endeavours to procure Supplies of Cloathing, particularly Shoes, Stockings, Shirts and Blankets for the Regiments raised in their respective States."]
That General Washington be supplied with a portableTo lie Printing Press by the Quarter Master General, the said Press to be entirely under the General's Directions.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, dated July 25, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, I, folio 288. The members of the Board present were: John Adams, James Wilson, Samuel Adams, William Duer and Francis Lightfoot Lee.]
The Marine Committee having represented that the extravagant prices now demanded for all kinds of materials used in ship-building, and the enormous wages required by tradesmen and labourers, render the building of the ships of war already ordered by Congress not only excessively expensive, but also difficult to be accomplished at this time, and that it appears, by information lately received, that some of the frigates have been set on the stocks in improper places; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the Marine Committee be empowered to put a stop to the building of such of the continental ships of war already ordered by this Congress to be built, as they shall judge proper, and to resume the building of them again when they shall find it consistent with the interest of the United States so to do.
Congress took into consideration a report of the Marine Committee, on an application of sundry commanders in the navy; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the commanders of continental vessels of war of ten guns and upwards, be allowed 5 1/3d dollars per week, for subsistence whilst in domestick or foreign ports:
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That commanders of vessels under ten guns be allowed 4 dollars per week for subsistence whilst in domestic or foreign ports:
That commanders of continental vessels of war of ten guns and upwards, be allowed, whilst at sea, 2 2/3ds dollars per week for cabin expences:
That lieutenants, surgeons, captains of marines and chaplains, be allowed 4 dollars per week subsistence in domestic ports, during such time as the ships they respectively belong to are not in condition to receive them on board:
That the Marine Committee be empowered to allow such cabin furniture for continental vessels of war as they shall judge proper:
That when agents for the United States, or any persons in authority under them, put passengers on board any continental vessel of war, they shall lay in the necessary stores for their accommodation, to prevent expence and inconvenience to the commanders.
The several matters &c ∥of this day referred, being postponed,∥
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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