| 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 --WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1777
Dr. [John] Witherspoon, a delegate from New Jersey, attended, and took his seat.
A letter, of the 14 and 15, from General Washington, near the Gulph, with a copy of a letter to him from Lieutenant General Burgoyne, dated Cambridge, November 25.
Also a letter, of 10, [16] from William Livingston, governor of New Jersey. And one, of the 9, from Charles Alexander, late captain of the ∥frigate∥ Delaware, directed to the Marine Committee, were laid before Congress, and read:1
[Note 1: 1 The draft of the letter of Washington is in Letters of Washington, Series A, III, folio 141. It is printed in Writings of Washington (Ford), VI, 242. The letter of Livingston is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 68, folio 301.]
Ordered, That the letter from Governor Livingston be referred to the Board of War; and that the letter from Captain Alexander be returned to the Marine Committee.
Resolved, That General Washington be directed to inform General Burgoyne, the Congress will not receive nor consider any proposition for indulgence or altering the terms of the convention of Saratoga, unless immediately directed to their own body.
According to the order of the day, Colonel Rawlins attended, and having informed Congress of the treatment our prisoners in the hands of the enemy receive from them, withdrew.
Adjourned to 3 o'Clock.
Page 1033 | Page image
Three o'Clock, p. m.
Met.
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the letter from Mr. S. A. Otis, and, after making some progress therein,
Resolved, That it be re-committed, and the committee be instructed to prepare a circular letter to the states, to accompany the resolutions of Congress.
Resolved, That Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry be added to the committee.
Resolved, That the governor and council of safety of Connecticut be authorized and requested to use their utmost endeavours to lay up all the supplies of salted provisions they are able, and employ proper persons therefor, and co-operate with Mr. Colt therein.
Robert Lawson, a colonel of one of the batallions of Virginia forces, having sent in his commission [to Congress,] and requested leave to resign the same; Whereupon,
Resolved, That his resignation be accepted.
A remonstrance from the council and general assembly of Pensylvania, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This remonstrance is printed in Pennsylvania Archives, First Series, VI, 104.]
Ordered, That the consideration thereof be postponed till to morrow.
∥The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,∥
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.2
[Note 2: 2 The original entry read 3 o'Clock, and the corrected Journal also gives an afternoon session only on Thursday.]
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |