| 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 --TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 1778
A letter, of 27 May, from General Gates, at Fish kill, enclosing copies of letters that passed between him and General Washington, and between him and Governor Trumbull, with sundry other papers; also a letter of 23 May, from General Conway, were read:1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of Gates is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 154, I, folio 332; that of Conway is in No. 159, folio 481.]
Ordered, That they be referred to the Board of War.
Congress proceeded to the election of a deputy adjutant general in the northern department, in the room of Lieutenant Colonel Troup, who declines, and whose commission is returned by General Gates; and the ballots being taken,
Colonel William Malcolm was elected.
The Board of War having represented, "that the corps of artificers is sufficient for the protection of the magazines and stores at Carlisle,"
Resolved, That Major Wilson's corps, raised as guards for the stores and magazines at Carlisle, in the State of Pensylvania, be dismissed the service of the United States.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Richard Peters, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, II, folio 67.]
Resolved, That the officers hereinafter mentioned be entitled to draw one ration a day, and no more; that where they shall not draw such ration, they shall not be allowed any compensation in lieu thereof; and to the end, that they may be enabled to live in a manner becoming their station:
Resolved, That the following sums be paid to them monthly for their subsistence, to wit: to every colonel,
Page 561 | Page image
fifty dollars; to every lieutenant colonel, forty dollars; to every major, thirty dollars; to every captain, twenty dollars; and to every lieutenant and ensign, ten dollars; and to every regimental surgeon, thirty dollars; to every regimental surgeon's mate, ten dollars; and also to every chaplain of brigade, fifty dollars.
Resolved, That subsistence money be allowed to officers and others on the staff, in lieu of extra rations, and that henceforward none of them be allowed to draw more than one ration a day.
Ordered, That the committee of arrangement be directed to report to Congress, as soon as possible, such an allowance as they shall think adequate to the station of the respective officers and persons employed on the staff.
The commissioners of claims, with the approbation of the auditor general, report,
That there is due to the Rev. Mr. George Duffield, as chaplain to Congress, from I October, 1777, to 30 April, 1778, inclusive, exclusive of rations due to him, being seven months, at 60 dollars a month, 420 dollars, which is to be paid to the Rev. Dr. [John] Witherspoon, at the request of Mr. Duffield:
There is also due to Mr. Duffield rations for some time, but as the Commissioners of Claims cannot ascertain the value of a ration, the same is deferred until a future settlement with him.
That there is due to Peter Scriber, for making a box for a paper mould for bills of exchange, six dollars:1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 335.]
Ordered, That the said sums be paid.
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That 800 dollars be advanced to Brigadier Mcintosh, [on account of his extra disbursements in
Page 562 | Page image
repairing from Georgia to headquarters, and thence to Fort Pitt, in pursuance of the order of Congress.]
Ordered, That 30,395 62/90 dollars, be paid to Reading Blount, in discharge of a draft of his excellency Richard Caswell, governor of the State of North Carolina, in favour of Nicholas Long, deputy pay master general of that State, for the sum of £1,400, and £10,758 5 shillings 6 pence, North Carolina currency, expressed to be for the purchase of waggons, and the balance of the said Nicholas Long's account, the said State to be accountable.
Ordered, That 1,500 dollars be paid to Captain Harman Courter, in compensation for his public services, and to defray his expences to Boston.
N. B. Captain Courter acknowledges to have received a Curricle from the Board of War at Boston which he engages to deliver up on his return to Boston, or will deliver the Curricle here, provided the Public will furnish him with means to carry back his Baggage.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 337. The words in brackets were inserted by Henry Laurens.]
Resolved, That the order of the day for taking into consideration the articles of confederation, be postponed.
Three o'Clock, p. m.
Resolved, That an interpreter and translator of languages to Congress be appointed; that his pay be one hundred dollars per month:
The ballots being taken,
Mr. Paul Fooks was elected.
A letter, of 31 May, from General Washington, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, VI, folio 55.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Thomas] M'Kean, Mr. [John] Witherspoon, and Mr. James Smith.
Page 563 | Page image
Congress resumed the consideration of the instructions to the commissioners ∥of the United States∥ at foreign courts, and after some time spent thereon,
Resolved, That the farther consideration thereof be postponed till to morrow.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |