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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 --SATURDAY, MAY 2, 1778
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the commissioner of the continental loan office in the State of Rhode Island, for one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, in favour of the governor and council of that State; it being advanced agreeably to Governor Cooke's letter of the 4th April; the said State to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This paragraph was reported in the report presented on May 1, but was postponed for a day.]
Ordered, That there be paid to Mr. Nathan Sellers, for making a fine paper mould to manufacture paper for bills of exchange, and for his expences coming to York town, and returning home, 164 50/90 dollars:2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 265.]
Resolved, That the managers of the lottery be authorized to employ their agents in each State, to pay off the prizes of the tickets sold by them respectively; and, for this purpose, to draw on the several continental loan offices for so much of the money arising on the sales of the tickets, and deposited in such offices, respectively, as they shall find necessary to pay off such prizes:
That the several agents be instructed by the managers, previous to the payment of prizes not of the lowest denomination in each class, to receive the tickets entitling the possessers to such prizes, give receipts for the same, and transmit them to the managers for their examination, with the names of the respective owners endorsed thereon, and specifying which of the said prizes are, at the owner's request, to be paid in loan office certificates:
That the loan office certificates which may issue for prizes of the second class of the lottery of the United
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States, shall bear an interest of six per cent. per annum; any resolution to the contrary notwithstanding:
That the managers be directed, forthwith, to prepare and make sale of the tickets of the second class of the lottery; that the drawing thereof commence the first of January next,1 and be completed as soon as may be, and that all the tickets then unsold be the property and at the risque of the United States:
[Note 1: 1 The original report had January, but November was inserted in the writing of Laurens.]
That loan office certificates of the following denominations, bearing an interest of four per cent. per aunum, be struck, under the directions of the Board of Treasury, to be issued to such fortunate adventurers in the first class as may be entitled to and apply for the same, viz.
[Note 2: 2 This report, dated May 1, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 263.]
Resolved, That the committee appointed to superintend the publication of the journals of Congress, be empowered and instructed to employ John Dunlap to continue to print the said journal, instead of Robert Aitkin.
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee to whom was referred the letter from the commissioners at Pittsburg;3 Whereupon,
[Note 3: 3 The rough notes, by William Ellery, are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, II, folio 445.]
Resolved, That two regiments be raised in Virginia and Pensylvania, to serve for one year, unless sooner discharged by Congress, for the protection of, and operations on the western frontiers; twelve companies in Virginia
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and four in Pensylvania; each non-commissioned officer and soldier to receive twenty dollars bounty, and the same cloathing with the other continental soldiers: Every non-commissioned officer and soldier who shall find his own blanket, musquet or rifle and accoutrements, shall have the same allowance as is given by Congress to the drafts from the militia for filling up the continental regiments:
That Brigadier General Hand be recalled from his command at Pittsburg, agreeably to his request:
That a proper officer be immediately sent to take command on the western frontier:
That a proper person be appointed to perform the duties of quarter master, commissary and pay master to the militia of the counties of Rockingham, Augusta, Rockbridge, Bottetourt, Montgomery, Washington and Greenbriar, in Virginia:
That the commissioners at Fort Pitt, or in their absence, the officer appointed to command on the western frontier, be authorized to appoint a person to perform the duties aforesaid, and the officers necessary for commanding the batallions above mentioned:
That General Washington be desired to appoint the officer to take the command at Fort Pitt and western frontiers, and that a copy of the commissioners' letter be sent to the General.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Francis Lightfoot Lee, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 21, I, folio 205. The last paragraph is in the writing of Henry Laurens.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Monday.
During the adjournment, Mr. [Simeon] Deane, brother to S[ilas] Deane, Esqr. one of the commissioners at the court of Versailles, arrived express from France, with sundry important despatches; Whereupon,
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Congress was convened, and the despatches laid before them. Among which a treaty of commerce and alliance, concluded between the king of France and the United States of America, on the 6 February last.
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