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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, JUNE 16, 1778
Resolved, That the Board of War be directed to order Colonel Hartley's regiment immediately to repair to camp, and join the army.
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to prepare a resolution for preventing any correspondence with the enemy:
The members chosen, Mr. [William Henry] Drayton, Mr. Samuel Adams, and Mr. [Richard Henry] Lee.
A letter, of 13, from J. Nourse, secretary of Board of ∥War and∥ Ordnance, was read:
Referred to the Board of Treasury.
A memorial from Tallemon and others, French captains in the port of Boston, was read, complaining of an affront offered by the captain of the Warren frigate to their commandant, and praying redress:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Marine Committee, and that they be directed to take order thereon.
A letter, of the 11, from Colonel B. Flower, commissary general of military stores, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report: Whereupon,
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Ordered, That 7,784 60/90 dollars be advanced to the delegates of Virginia, upon their application, for the use of that State, which is to be accountable:1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 365.]
That 750,000 dollars be advanced to Joseph Nourse, pay master to the Board of War and Ordnance, to be by him transmitted to Jonathan Trumbull, Esqr. pay master in the northern department, for the use of the said department and the posts on Hudson's river; who is to be accountable.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 363.]
The committee to whom was referred the letter of 8 from General Greene, Q. M. G., brought in a report, which was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
Congress resumed the consideration of the motion respecting the letter from the commissioners of the king of Great Britain, which was amended, and is as follows:
"That this Congress cannot hear any language reflecting upon the honor of his most Christian majesty, the good and faithful ally of these states:"
On motion, that the consideration thereof be postponed, Mr. [William Henry] Drayton required the yeas and nays:
{table}
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
A motion was then made, that the letter from the commissioners of the king of Great Britain lie on the table: passed in the negative.
On motion, Resolved, That the letter and papers accompanying it, be read; Whereupon,
The letter, of the 9th, and one dated June 1778, both signed Carlisle, William Eden, and George Johnstone; a paper endorsed copy of the commission for restoring peace, &c. To the earl of Carlisle, lord viscount Howe, Sir William Howe, or in his absence Sir Henry Clinton, William Eden, and George Johnstone, were read; and also three acts of the parliament of Great Britain:
Ordered, That they be referred to a committee of five;
The members chosen, Mr. [Richard Henry] Lee, Mr. S[amuel] Adams, Mr. [William Henry] Drayton, Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, and Mr. [John] Witherspoon.
Three o'Clock, p. m.
Congress took into consideration a report from the Committee on the Treasury, dated May 5th; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the Board of War and Ordnance be
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authorized till the further orders of Congress, to increase the salary of the secretary of the Board of Ordnance and pay master of the said Board of War and Ordnance, to a sum not exceeding one hundred dollars per month; and that the Committee of Commerce, the Marine Committee, the Committee of Treasury, Board of War and Ordnance, and secretary of Congress, be authorized to increase the salary of their clerks respectively, to a sum not exceeding one hundred dollars per month; having due regard to their qualifications and employments.
The committee to whom were referred the letters and papers from the Earl of Carlisle, &c. commissioners from the king of Great Britain, reported the draught of a letter, which was read: and after debate,
Resolved, That the farther consideration thereof be postponed until to morrow.
The Board of War brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Congress came to the following resolution:
The Board taking into consideration the little effect of the reward offered in March last to such drafts as should bring firelocks &c with them into the field, reflecting too on the small number of arms and accoutrements in the public stores, are of opinion that larger reward should be proposed to the two new regiments ordered to be raised in Virginia and Pennsylvania, to induce them to come armed and accoutred; and beg leave to report--
Whereas, Congress, on the 2d day of May last, resolved that two regiments be raised in Virginia and Pensylvania, to serve for one year, and it is expedient that as many as possible of the non-commissioned officers and soldiers should provide themselves with arms and other necessaries:
Resolved, That each non-commissioned officer and soldier of the said regiment, who shall so provide himself
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with arms and other necessaries, shall receive the following compensations, to be paid as soon as he has passed muster, upon his producing the said articles, viz.
For a good serviceable rifle, with a powder horn, bullet pouch, and mould, eight dollars; for a good serviceable musket, with a bayonet and a powder horn, and bullet pouch, or a good cartouch box, six dollars; for a like musket and accoutrements, without a bayonet, five dollars; for a knapsack, two dollars; for a haversack, one dollar; for a blanket, eight dollars.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Timothy Pickering, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, II, folio 105.]
The Board of War having taken into Consideration a Memorial from the Officers in the Pensilvania Line complaining of the great distress the Pensilvania Troops are in for Want of Cloathing, and finding upon Enquiry, that considerable Quantities of Cloathing, particularly Linnen Shirts, have been purchased by the Pensilvania State Purchasers, which cannot be delivered unless Money is supplied for that Purpose from the public Treasury, beg leave to recommend to Congress,
That the Sum of Eighty thousand Dollars be advanced to James Mease Esq. Cloathier General, to be by him advanced to such of the Pensilvania State Purchasers, as, having made Purchases of Cloathing, cannot collect the Same, without an Advance of Money, and that the Cloathier General confer with the Supreme Executive Council of the State of Pensilvania concerning the Persons to whom it shall be judged necessary to make an Advance of Money, and the Sums proper to supply them with.
That the Cloathing so purchased be delivered by the respective Purchasers to the Cloathier General to be by him issued to the Officers and Men in the Pensilvania Line.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Timothy Pickering, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, II, folio 101. It is endorsed "June 16, 1778. Postponed 17th."]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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