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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, FEBRUARY 16, 1778
Mr. [Oliver] Wolcott and Mr. [Samuel] Huntington, 2 delegates from Connecticut, attended, and produced the credentials of their appointment, ∥which were read as follows:∥
(L. S.) At a general assembly of the governor and company of the state of Connecticut, holden at Hartford, by adjournment on the 11th of October, Anno Domini 1777:
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Resolved, by this assembly, That Roger Sherman, Eliphalet Dyer, Samuel Huntington, Oliver Wolcott, Titus Hosmer, Oliver Ellsworth, and Andrew Adams, esqrs. be, and they are hereby appointed delegates to represent this state at the general Congress of the United States of America, for the year ensuing, and until new be chosen and arrive in Congress, if sitting; and one or more of them who shall be present in said Congress are hereby fully authorized and empowered to represent this state in said Congress, to counsel, and advise, and resolve upon measures necessary to be taken and pursued for the defence, security and preservation of the rights and liberties of the said United States, and for their common safety: and of such their proceedings and resolves they do transmit authentic copies, from time to time, to the general assembly of the state.
A true copy of the record, examined by
George Wyllys, Secretary.
A letter, of the 3d, from James Wilkinson, Esqr. at Albany, and one of the 27 January, from General Heath, at Boston, and one of the 26 January from General Schuyler, at Albany, with two papers enclosed, ∥were read.∥1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of Wilkinson is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XXIII, folio 447; that of Heath is in No. 157, folio 85; that of Schuyler is in No. 153, III, folio 268.]
Ordered, That they be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of the 20, and one, of the 25, from Jonathan Trumbull, Esq. deputy pay master in the northern department, were read:
Ordered, That they be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A letter, of the 24 January, from Governor Trumbull, ∥was read,∥ informing that Colonel Joseph Trumbull will, if Congress thinks fit to keep his seat vacant, attend and take his seat at the Board of War as soon as his health will permit:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 66, I, folio 378.]
Ordered, That the President inform the governor, that Congress expects Colonel Trumbull's attendance as soon as his health will permit.
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A letter, of 30 January, from Thomas Cushing, Esqr. president of a convention of committees from the New England states, which met at New Haven, 15 to 20 January, with the proceedings of said convention, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter, and the proceedings of the convention, are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 33, folio 329.]
Ordered, That the same, together with the letter of the 11, from Governor Caswell, with the resolutions enclosed, be referred to a committee of five:
The members chosen, Mr. [John] Witherspoon, Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, Mr. [Thomas] M'Kean, Mr. [James] Lovell, and Mr. [Francis Lightfoot] Lee.
A letter of the 3d; one of the 5, with five papers enclosed; one, of the 6, with a draught of proposed resolutions, one, of the 11, and one, of the 12, from the committee of Congress at camp, were read.2
[Note 2: 2 The letter of the 3d is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 33, folio 79 that of the 5th is on folio 91; the 11th, on folio 117; and the 12th, on folio 128; the 6th in No. 78, VII, folio 159. The letter of the 11th concerned the "irruption into Canada," and bears the following endorsement: "Referred to the Board of War, who are directed to report specially thereon, and to lay before Congress a copy of the orders given to the officer."]
The delegates from Pensylvania laid before Congress, a letter of the 7th, from the council of their State, which was read, containing complaints against R. L. Hooper, Esqr. deputy quarter master general:3
[Note 3: 3 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 69, I, folio 467.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
Ordered, That the letter of the 11, from the committee at camp, respecting the irruption into Canada, be referred to the Board of War, who are directed to report specially thereon, and to lay before Congress a copy of the orders given to the officer commanding the irruption.
Ordered, That the letter of the 6th, from the committee at camp, so far as relates to the prisoners of the convention
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at Boston, be referred to a committee of three, who are to confer with the Board of War:
The members chosen, Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, Mr. [Oliver] Wolcott, and Mr. [William] Ellery.
Three o'Clock, p. m
In consequence of an adjustment by the commissioners of claims, the auditor general reports,
That there is due to Richard Peters, Esqr. late secretary to the Board of War, his salary from the 13 June, 1776, to the 27 November, 1777, being one year, five months, and fourteen days, at 800 dollars per annum, the sum of 1,164 40/90 ∥dollars,∥ and for his fee for prosecuting the appeal in the case of the ship Elizabeth, 60 dollars; in all, 1,224 40/90 dollars; that he has received of the Board of War, in cash, 928 dollars, and in fire wood, left at Lancaster, 9 dollars, making in all, 937 dollars, leaving a balance due to Mr. Peters of 287 40/90 dollars:
That there is due to Mr. Joseph Nourse, his salary as deputy secretary to the Board of War, from the 10 November, 1777, to 10 February, 1778, inclusive, being three months, at 65 dollars per month, 195 dollars; and for cash paid William Handen, express to Lancaster, 4 dollars; the whole amounting to 199 dollars:
That there is due to Gotlieb Ziegler, for victualling Pensylvania militia, in July and August, 1776, 20 3/90 dollars:1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 81.]
Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.
A letter from the Board of War, with a letter from R. L. Hooper, and sundry papers enclosed, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 The letter of the Board of War is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, I, folio 521.]
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Ordered, That they be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Thomas] M'Kean, Mr. [Abraham] Clark, and Mr. [Nathaniel] Scudder.
The Committee on the Treasury, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of Brigadier General de Roche Fermoy, for 800 dollars, to enable him to pay the demands now against him, and procure a passage to the West Indies; and that bills be taken for this sum, and also for the balance that may appear to be due to the United States, on adjustment of his account at the Board of Treasury, payable to the treasurer of the United States, at the rate of one dollar for three, being the ∥present∥ exchange.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 79.]
A letter, of the 10 January, from Governor Clinton, of New York, to Mr. F[rancis] L[ightfoot] Lee, was laid before Congress, and read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
Another letter, of the 16, from Governor Clinton, was read.2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 67, II, folio 102.]
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the commissioner of the loan office in the State of New York, for the sum of 50,000 dollars, in favour of Jonathan Trumbull, Jun. Esqr. deputy pay master general for the northern department; for which he is to be accountable.
Resolved, That two millions of dollars be emitted, under the direction of the Board of Treasury, and on the faith of the United States:
That the bills shall, excepting the numbers, be of the
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same tenor and date as the emission directed the 21 of January last, be numbered from the last number of each respective denomination of that emission, progressively, and consist of the following denominations:
That all powers and duties of Michael Hillegas, Esq. and of the inspectors of the press, signers and printers of the emission directed on the 10 May last, shall extend to the said two millions now to be emitted, subject, however, to such directions and instructions as the Board of Treasury may judge expedient.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 83.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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