| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |
A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1777
Ordered, That a duplicate of the recommendation of Congress to the several states to set apart a day of thanksgiving, signed by the president, be sent to the respective states, and to General Washington and General Gates.
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the Board of Treasury, of the 5th; Whereupon,
Resolved, That one million of dollars be emitted under the direction of the Treasury Board and on the faith of the United States:
That the bills shall, excepting the numbers, be of the same tenor and date as the emission directed on the 13th of August last, be numbered from the last number of each respective denomination, viz.
{table}
Page 874 | Page image
That all power and duties of Michael Hillegas, Esqr. and of the inspectors of the press, signers and printers of the said emission, directed on the 13th August, shall extend to the said one million to be emitted; subjected, however, to such directions and instructions as the Board of Treasury may judge expedient.1
[Note 1: 1 This formed part of the report printed under November 5, ante.]
Whereas, Major General Mifflin, by his letter of the 8th day of October last, has requested leave to resign his commissions of major general, and quarter master general in the army, on account of his ill state of health:
Resolved, That General Mifflin's resignation of his commission of quarter master general be accepted, but that his rank and commission of major general be continued to him, without the pay annexed to that office, until farther order of Congress.
Congress proceeded to the election of a Board of War, and the ballots being taken,
General Mifflin, Colonel Timothy Pickering, and Colonel Robert H. Harrison, were elected.
Ordered, That the president inform the several gentlemen of their appointment, and desire their attendance with all convenient despatch.
A memorial from John Richards, in behalf of himself, James Taylor and company, and Hall and Hornor, was laid before Congress, and read.
Congress being informed, that Mr. Houston has declined the office of deputy secretary, ∥on account of his being elected a member of assembly, for the State of New Jersey:∥2
[Note 2: 2 Houston's letter, dated October 18, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XI, folio 243.]
Resolved, That another deputy secretary be appointed:
Resolved, That the pay of the deputy secretary be seventy-five dollars per month.
Page 875 | Page image
Resolved, That Jacob Rush, be appointed deputy secretary.
On motion, Resolved, That Mr. John Eustace, who has served with honour, fidelity and bravery as aid-de-camp to General Lee and General Sullivan, have the commission of a major,4 in the service of the United States.
[Note 4: 4 In margin is written the word "brevet."]
Resolved, That to morrow be assigned for electing a quarter master general in the room of General Mifflin.
The Board of Treasury, to whom was recommitted their report of the 6th, reported, "That agreeable to the order of Congress, referring to the Board the claims of Mens. le Brun and the other French gentlemen who accompanied the late Mons. du Coudray from France in consequence of an agreement with Mr. Deane, they have been attended by Mons. le Brun, who is agent for the other gentlemen:
That the Board offered Mons. le Brun to report it as their opinion, and which they had reason to believe would be agreeable to Congress, notwithstanding they had declared that the United States were not bound by Mr. Deane's convention, that Mons. le Brun and all the other gentlemen whom he represents should be received into the service of the United States and enjoy the several ranks and employments which had been stipulated for them by Mr. Deane, and the same pay and appointments which were allowed to other officers of similar ranks and employments in the American army, explaining, at the same time, the mischief which must arise from partial distinctions in the appointments of the officers of the army; that they had made the same propositions and remarks with respect to him and the gentlemen whom he represents, to Monsr. du Coudray, in his life time, which they presume had been communicated; that Monsr le
Page 876 | Page image
Brun, in answer to this proposal, declared that he, and the gentlemen whom he represented, were determined to return to France as soon as possible, and presented a paper setting forth their claims against the United States, which, with the account referred to them by Congress, the Board took into consideration:
That Congress, on the 13th day of October last, did pass the following resolution:
"Resolved, That the commissioned and non-commissioned officers who have accompanied Monsr. du Coudray from France, have the ranks proposed for them in France, together with the pay and emoluments of officers of equal ranks in the service of the United States:"
That it appears from a memorial presented to Congress by Monsr. du Coudray, that he received, at Havre-de-Grace, in France, from Mr. Montieu, by order of Mr. Deane, twenty-six thousand five hundred and forty-one livres, as well for himself as the officers who accompanied him; which sum was intended to have been applied to defray the expence of their voyage to America, and of furnishing themselves with necessary camp equipage on their arrival, and for which the committee agreed to make no charge against them. On these principles the Board submit to Congress the following resolution:
Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee, that the return of the said gentlemen to France, at their own request, be facilitated, and that it will be doing full justice to allow them continental pay according to their respective stations, from the time of their agreement with Mr. Deane, to the first day of November, 1777, their expences in travelling to the eastward or southward for embarkation for Europe, and a farther sum in bills of exchange for their passages to France and travelling charges to Paris; that the bills be drawn in their favour, by the president, on the commissioners in France, at thirty days'
Page 877 | Page image
sight, and that these allowances shall be in full satisfaction of their several claims against the United States; and the committee having made an estimate of the allowances according to this resolution, submit the same, in manner following:
{table}
[Note 1: 1 In a list of names submitted by Du Coudray in September the following difference in spelling is noted: Fontpeyde, Rivau, Cauyette, Boischard.]
Page 878 | Page image
Of which they have been paid 11,421 dollars, so that there remains a balance of pay 4,201 2/3 dollars, for travelling expences 2,800 dollars, and for taking a draught at Marcus Hook 219 dollars, amounting in the whole to 7,220 2/3 dollars.
The said report being read,
Resolved, That Congress agree to the said report and resolution of the Board of Treasury, and that the said balance of seven thousand two hundred and twenty dollars and two thirds of a dollar be paid, and the bills drawn ∥for 25,200 livres∥ accordingly.
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a farther report, which was read; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the provision made for Monsr. le Brun, and the officers who accompanied him from France, be extended to Mr. le Balme, who has resigned his commission as inspector general of horse in the service of the United States, and intends to return to Paris, and that there be paid to the said Monsr. le Balme the balance of his pay 167 45/90 dollars, and also one hundred dollars for his travelling expences to Boston or Charlestown, and a further sum of 900 livres, in bills of exchange, for his passage to France, and travelling charges to Paris, and that the bills be drawn in his favour on the commissioners in France, at thirty days' sight, and that these allowances shall be in full satisfaction of his claims against the United States.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of James Duane, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 467.]
Adjourned to 4 o'Clock.
Four O'Clock, p. m.
A motion being made for supplying Colonel Dayton with a horse,
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
Page 879 | Page image
Application being made by Monsr. le Brun for two waggons to assist carrying the effects of himself and the other gentlemen to Boston, or the southward:1
[Note 1: 1 This application is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, II, folio 291.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War, with power to grant his request, and to employ the waggons on their return in such public service as they think proper.
Congress resumed the consideration of the confederation.
It was moved, in the 6 line, p. 4, after "preside," to insert "provided that no person be allowed to serve in that office more than one year in any term of three years:" and the yeas and nays being required:
{table}
So it was resolved in the affirmative.
It was moved to strike out the whole fifteenth article ∥relative to the powers of the committee of the states,∥ and insert, "The committee of the states, or any nine of them, shall be authorized to execute, in the recess of
Page 880 | Page image
Congress, such of the powers of Congress, as the United States in Congress assembled, by the consent of nine states, shall from time to time think expedient to vest them with, provided that they delegate to the said committee no power for the exercise of which, by the articles of confederation, the voice of nine states in the Congress of the United States assembled is requisite." On the question put, resolved in the affirmative.
On motion, in the 2 line of the 16 article ∥respecting Canada∥ to strike out "entirely" ∥before "joining" and read "Canada acceding to this confederation and joining in the measures of the United States,"∥ resolved in the affirmative.
Ordered, That Mr. Samuel Adams, and Mr. J[ohn] Adams, have leave of absence to visit their families.
∥The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,∥
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |