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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 --TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1778
A letter of the 4th, from E. Blaine, Esqr. ∥deputy commissary,∥ and one, of this day, from W. Buchanan, Esq[r]. ∥commissary general of purchases,∥ were read:2
[Note 2: 2 The letter of Blaine is in the Papers of the Continental Congress. No. 78, II, folio 328. That of Buchanan is on folio 333.]
Ordered, That they be referred to a committee of six: the members chosen, Mr. [William] Ellery, Mr. [Abraham] Clark, Mr. [Francis] Lewis, Mr. [Cornelius] Harnett, Mr. J[onathan] B[ayard] Smith, and Mr. [William] Clingan.
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The committee to whom the letters from Governor Livingston and Dr. Rush were referred, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the cloathier general be directed to deliver to the order of the director general as much linen and as many blankets as can be spared, to be retained in the hospital for the use of the sick:
That the cloathier general be directed to supply the convalescents with necessary cloathing, in order that, when properly recovered, they may join the army:
That a member of Congress be forthwith appointed to visit the hospitals in the middle department: the member chosen, Mr. [John] Penn.
That a recommendation be sent to the clergy of all denominations in the said ∥middle∥ district, to solicit charitable donations of woollens and linen, made or unmade, for the sick soldiers in the hospitals; and to send the same to the Board of War, or any hospital, as may be most convenient.
That Dr. Shippen and Dr. Rush be directed to attend Congress on the 26 day of January inst. to be examined touching certain abuses said to prevail in the hospital.
Resolved, That the farther consideration of the report be postponed ∥to the afternoon.∥
Adjourned to 3 o'Clock, P. M.
Three o'Clock
Congress resumed the consideration of the report under debate this morning; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the sum of ten dollars shall be paid by every officer, and the sum of four dollars by every soldier, who shall enter, or be sent into any hospital to be cured of the venereal disease; which sums shall be deducted out of their pay, and an account thereof shall be transmitted
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by the physician or surgeon who shall have attended them, to the regimental pay master for that purpose; the money so arising to be paid to the director general, or his order, to be appropriated to the purchasing blankets and shirts for the use of sick soldiers in the hospital.
Congress proceeded to the election of a secretary to the Board of War, and, the ballots being taken, James Wilkinson, Esq.r was elected.
A letter, of 17 December last, from the council of New York, to their delegates in Congress, with sundry Papers enclosed, was laid before Congress and read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 67, I, folio 354. Thomson has endorsed the vote on the committee: J. Smith, 4; Lewis, 0; Langworthy, 0; Roberdeau, 3; Wood, 6; Gerry, 2; Dana, 1; Dyer, 2; Duer, 1.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to a committee of three: the members chosen, Mr. [Joseph] Wood, Mr. J[ames] Smith and Mr. [Daniel] Roberdeau.
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee on the propositions of the committee lately sent to the camp, &c., Whereupon,
Resolved, That General Heath be directed to order the deputy quarter master general of the eastern department, forthwith to provide 1,000 good bell tents, and send them to the army under the command of General Washington.
Resolved, That the six first paragraphs be referred to a committee of the whole, and that the consideration of the last pargraph be postponed.
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon, Congress came to the following resolutions:
Whereas it appears, by a return made to the Board of Treasury, from the managers of the lottery of the United States, that the invasion of the State of Pensylvania by the enemy has obstructed this business, and produced considerable delays in the sale of the tickets, in so much,
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that the number yet remaining on hand, renders it necessary once more to postpone the drawing; and whereas, Congress being desirous, as far as possible, to fulfil the expectations of the adventurers, think it proper to give them the fullest assurance, that, at the time herein proposed, the managers are to proceed on this business without further delay:
Resolved, That the drawing of the first class of the lottery mentioned, be postponed to the 1st day of May next, at which time the managers are directed to proceed therein, and complete it as soon as may be, and that all the tickets, then unsold, shall be the property and at the risque of the United States:
That ½ per cent upon the amount of tickets sold be allowed to the persons employed by the managers, or by the several states to sell tickets, in lieu of the encouragement given by a resolution of Congress of the 30th day November, 1776.
∥The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,∥
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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