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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, APRIL 3, 1778
A paragraph of a letter, of 25 March, from the navy board at Bordentown. to the Marine Committee, was laid before Congress:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 21 March, from General Washington, enclosing a copy of a letter to him from Dr. Rush, dated Princeton, 25 February, was read; also a letter of 9 March, with a postscript of 19, from Dr. Rush to Mr. [Daniel] Roberdeau, was laid before Congress:1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of Washington is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, V, folio 411; that of Rush to Washington is in No. 78, XIX, folio, 211; and that of Rush to Roberdeau, in the same volume, folio 215.]
Ordered, That the said letters be referred to a committee of three:
That the committee be directed to enquire into the charges contained in Dr. Rush's letters against Dr. Shippen, and into the conduct of Dr. Shippen as director general of the hospital, and report specially to Congress:
That the committee be authorized to send for such persons and papers as they may judge necessary, and allow the reasonable and necessary expences of the witnesses attending this business:
The members chosen, Mr. [William Henry] Drayton, Mr. [Samuel] Huntington, and Mr. [John] Banister.
Resolved, That Mr. [Edward] Langworthy be appointed a member of the Marine Committee.
Four o'Clock, p. m
The committee appointed to confer with Mr. Wadsworth, brought in a report, which was read.
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
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Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of the pay master of the Board of War and Ordnance, on the application of that Board, for 7000 dollars, for the use of Colonel Sheppard's and Captain Kingsbury's corps; for which the said pay master is to be accountable:
That a warrant issue on the treasurer for 1000 dollars, in favour of Mr. E[liphalet] Dyer, upon his application; and that the same be charged to the State of Connecticut.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 195.]
In consequence of an adjustment by the commissioners of claims, the auditor general reports,
That there is due to Lieutenant James Berwick, for his services acting as judge advocate at a court martial held at Lancaster, from 4 February to 22 March, 1778, the sum of 235 dollars, and for his expences in Yorktown, from 22 March to this day, the sum of 30 dollars, making together the sum of 265 dollars:
That there is due to Captain Ebenezer Sullivan, for pay from 1 January, 1777, to 1st instant and 42 days' rations, deducting the sum of 120 dollars, received from Major General Heath, a balance of 494 dollars:2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 191.]
Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.
The Committee on the Treasury, to whom the case of Captain E. Sullivan was referred, report, "that they have examined his account of expences for support of a party of troops commanded by Major Sherburn, in their march from St. John's to St. Ann's, amounting to 11 dollars, and considered his loss of 250 dollars of public money, which, by affidavit, he declares were taken from him by the enemy, and are of opinion, that the said sums, together with the farther sum of 750 dollars, making in the whole, 1011 dollars, should be paid to him, in
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full compensation of his services and sufferings as a hostage for the troops taken by the enemy at the Cedars, in May, 1776:1
[Note 1: 1 This report, including the grant to Thomas Burke, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 195a.]
Ordered, That the said sum be paid.
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a farther report: Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Mr. [Thomas] Burke, delegate from the State of North Carolina, for the sum of 1500 dollars, advanced on his application, and that the same be charged to the State of North Carolina.
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee appointed to confer with Mr. Wadsworth, and after debate,
Resolved, That the farther consideration thereof be postponed, till the committee sent to camp return.
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer for 200,000 dollars, in favour of William Buchanan, Esqr. commissary general of purchases, for the use of the middle district; the said commissary general to be accountable.2
[Note 2: 2 The original report called for 600,000 dollars, to be equally divided among the three districts. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 193.]
A report from the Board of War was read; after debate,
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. J[ames] Smith, Mr. [Abraham] Clark and Mr. [John] Henry.
Ordered, That Mr. [Eliphalet] Dyer have leave of absence.
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A letter, of 21, and one of 24 March, from Major General Heath, were read.1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of Heath, of the 21st, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 157, folio 97.]
Adjourned to 9 o'Clock to Morrow.
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