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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 --THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1777
Two letters, of the 10, and, one, of the 11, from R. H. Harrison, ¾ after 8 A.M., were read, the last advising, that the enemy are advancing, and that their present
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appearance indicates a disposition to pursue the route by Chad's Ford:1
[Note 1: 1 These letters are in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, V, folios 37--45.]
Ordered, That the last be referred to the Committee of Intelligence.
The committee to whom was referred a report from the [2] respecting the officers receiving their rations in messes ∥"to consider under what regulations and restrictions regimental officers shall for the future receive their rations,"∥ brought in a report, which was taken into consideration:
[Note 2: 2 Some words omitted in the MS. journals.]
Whereas, by the 24 article of the regulations of the department of the commissaries, it is provided, "That no provision be issued to any persons but by the written order of the commander in chief, the commander of any department, the quarter master general, any of his deputies or assistants, the commanding officer of a party, describing the person in whose favour such order shall be given, or upon a return signed by the commanding officer of a corps or detachment thereof, whether commissioned or non-commissioned officer, or by the regimental quarter master:" and whereas, by the last clause of the said article, the issuing commissaries, upon receiving such returns, have considered themselves authorized or obliged to issue provisions indiscriminately to the officers and privates therein contained, and many inconveniences have arisen therefrom:
Resolved, That the officers of each regiment, corps and detachment, be empowered to divide themselves, as often as they shall think proper, into messes, not exceeding six to a regiment, and to signify the same to the officer signing the provision returns, who shall thereupon distinguish in each return the names of the officers so divided into
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messes; and the issuing commissaries are respectively directed to deliver to the head of each mess, as aforesaid, the rations due to the same, or such part thereof as the head of the mess shall require, taking receipts therefor on the respective returns, a.nd charging the whole of the rations delivered to the officers and privates, contained in each return, to the proper regiment, corps, or detachment, as directed in the 22d article of the said regulations.
Congress was moved to pass a resolve, and the same being read,
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. J[ohn] Adams, Mr. [Samuel] Chase, and Mr. [Joseph] Jones.
The Committee on Foreign Applications laid before Congress the demands of the Baron de Kalb and the Count de Mauroy, in behalf of themselves and the gentlemen who accompanied them, for their expences on this continent and return to France:1
[Note 1: 1 The demands of Baron de Kalb are in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, V, folio 1.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A memorial, from David Forman, for himself and partners, was read, praying for a guard of one hundred men to protect a salt works, which, on obtaining such a guard, they undertake to erect:2
[Note 2: 2 This memorial is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, III, folio 185.]
Ordered, That it be dismissed.
The committee appointed to consider the memorial of the Rev. Dr. Allison and others, report, "That they have conferred fully with the printers, &c. in this city,and are of opinion, that the proper types for printing the Bible are not to be had in this country, and that the paper cannot be procured, but with such difficulties and subject to such casualties, as render any dependence on it altogether
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improper: that to import types for the purpose of setting up an entire edition of the bible, and to strike off 30,000 copies, with paper, binding, &c. will cost £10,272 10, which must be advanced by Congress, to be reimbursed by the sale of the books:
"That, your committee are of opinion, considerable difficulties will attend the procuring the types and paper; that, afterwards, the risque of importing them will considerably enhance the cost, and that the calculations are subject to such uncertainty in the present state of affairs, that Congress cannot much rely on them: that the use of the Bible is so universal, and its importance so great, that your committee refer the above to the consideration of Congress, and if Congress shall not think it expedient to order the importation of types and paper, your committee recommend that Congress will order the Committee of Commerce to import 20,000 Bibles from Holland, Scotland, or elsewhere, into the different ports of the states in the Union:"1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Daniel Roberdeau, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 28, folio 203.]
Whereupon, the Congress was moved, to order the Committee of Commerce to import twenty thousand copies of the Bible;
The question being put, the house was divided:
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
The house was moved to pass a resolution, and the same being read,
Ordered, The consideration thereof be postponed to Saturday next, to be taken up after reading the public letters.
Adjourned to 6 o'Clock.
Six o'Clock p. m.
Congress met. No business done.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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