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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 --MONDAY, JULY 20, 1778
A letter, of 18, from Lieutenant Colonel Laurens, one of General Washington's aids, was read.
A letter, of 8, from Governor Henry, of Virginia, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War and Ordnance, and that the Board be directed to take the same under their immediate consideration, and report thereon as soon as possible.
A letter, of 6, from General Heath, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A letter, of 8, from General Heath, enclosing sundry papers relative to Ensign John Brown, under sentence of death, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 165, folio 1; that of Henry, in No. 71, I; folio 165, Heath's of the 8th and 9th are in No. 157, folios 170 and 174; that of James Smith, in No. 78, XX, folio 275, and the deposition of Bosley on folio 279.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to a committee of three;
The members chosen, Mr. [Roger] Sherman, Mr. [Henry] Marchant, and Mr. [William Henry] Drayton.
A letter, of 9th, from General Heath, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 15, from James Smith, Esqr. directed "to the Hon. vice president and council of the State of Pennsylvania," with a deposition of Mr. John Bosley, enclosed, was laid before Congress and read:
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 9th, from the council of Massachusetts bay, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 65, I, folio 326.]
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An account of Mons. du Coudray's funeral expences, was laid before Congress:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
The committee to whom was referred the letter of the 11, from Ebenezer Hazard, Esq. and the papers thereto relating, report,
"That they have had the same under consideration, and, having conversed with Mr. Hazard upon the subject, are of opinion that Mr. Hazard's undertaking is laudable, and deserves the public patronage and encouragement, as being productive of public utility:" Whereupon,
Resolved, That it be recommended to the several governors, presidents, and executive powers of the several states in this union, to assist Mr. Hazard, and give facility to his labors in making a collection of the various state papers relative to the origin and progress of the several European settlements in North America, and such as relate to the rise and progress of the present war with Great Britain: that, for this purpose, he be admitted to an inspection of public records, and be furnished, without expence, with copies of such papers as he may judge will conduce to the valuable end he hath in view:
That it be also recommended to such private gentlemen as may have collected any material of the kinds above mentioned, to assist Mr. Hazard in his laudable undertaking.
The committee farther report, that, in their opinion, the making this collection will not interfere with Mr. Hazard's employment in the post office, nor interrupt the discharge of his duty as a surveyor of the post in the eastern department; but that Mr. Hazard must necessarily be put to expence of various kinds in procuring the extensive collection of materials he proposes to make; Whereupon,
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Resolved, That to enable Mr. Hazard to sustain such expence one thousand dollars be advanced to him upon account, returns being made to Congress of his expences in this business.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Richard Henry Lee, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, III, folio 75.]
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on John Gibson, Esq. auditor general, for six thousand dollars, in favour of Joseph Nourse, pay master for the Board of War and Ordnance, to enable the Board of War to pay Colonel Broadhead three months' pay of his regiment, who are now on their march to the western country; the said Joseph Nourse to be accountable.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 413.]
In consequence of an adjustment by the commissioners of claims at the treasury orifice, the auditor general reports,
That there is due to Mr. G[ouverneur] Morris, for his expences on the road to and from camp, on public service, last spring, 51 dollars:
That there is due to John Young, who was a private in the 3d Virginia regiment, in Captain Reuben Briscoe's company, as per certificates, for his pay from the 14 February, 1778, to the 16 June last, inclusive, is four months and two days, during which time he was a prisoner with the enemy in Philadelphia, and was wounded at the battle of Brandywine, 27 10/90 dollars:
That there is due to the Rev. Mr. Lotbinier, a balance of 87 65/90 dollars, as per account stated herewith, for rations, agreeable to a resolve in Congress of 2d June last, and for his pay and subsistence from 11 June to 10 July, 1778, the sum of 60 dollars, making, in the whole, 147 65/90 dollars:3
[Note 3: 3 This report, dated July 17, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 409.]
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That there is due to the Chevalier de Faillie his pay as lieutenant colonel, from the 1 April to the 30 June, 1778, three months, at 60 dollars per month, 180 dollars; and for his rations from 1 April to 31 May, is 61 days, at five rations per day, is 305 rations, at 30/90ths of a dollar per ration, 101 60/90 dollars; and for his subsistence allowed in lieu of rations, from the 1st to 30 June, 1778, inclusive, 40 dollars; making, in the whole, 321 60/90 dollars:1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 411.]
Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.
Congress again resumed the consideration of the report of the committee appointed to report on the time and manner of the public reception of the Sieur Gérard, Minister Plenipotentiary from his most Christian Majesty, &c.: Whereupon,
Resolved, That so much of the said report as relates to the ceremonial respecting ambassadors and residents be postponed.
Resolved, That the ceremonial for a minister plenipotentiary or envoy shall be as follows:
When a minister plenipotentiary or envoy shall arrive within any of the United States, he shall receive, at all places where there are guards, sentries and the like, such military honours as are paid to a general officer of the second rank in the armies of the United States.
When he shall arrive at the place in which Congress shall be, he shall wait upon the President, and deliver his credentials, or a copy thereof. Two members of Congress shall then be deputed to wait upon him, and inform him when and where he shall receive audience of the Congress.
At the time he is to receive his audience, the two members shall again wait upon him in a coach belonging to the states; and the person first named of the two shall return with the minister plenipotentiary or envoy in the
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coach, giving the minister the right hand, and placing himself on his left, with the other member on the front seat.
When the minister plenipotentiary or envoy is arrived at the door of the Congress hall, he shall be introduced to his chair by the two members, who shall stand at his left hand. Then the member first named shall present and announce him to the President and the house; whereupon he shall bow to the President and Congress, and they to him. He and the President shall then again bow unto each other, and be seated; after which the house shall sit down.
Having spoken and being answered, the minister and the President shall bow to each other, at which time the house shall bow, and then he shall be conducted home in the manner in which he was brought to the house.
Those who shall wait upon the minister shall inform him, that, if in any audience he shall choose to speak on matters of business, it will be necessary previously to deliver in writing, to the President, what he intends to say at the audience; and if he shall not incline thereto, it will, from the constitution of Congress, be impracticable for him to receive an immediate answer.
The style of address to Congress shall be, "Gentlemen of the Congress."
All speeches, or communications in writing, may, if the publick ministers choose it, be in the language of their respective countries. And all replies, or answers, shall be in the language of the United States.
After the audience, the members of Congress shall be first visited by the minister plenipotentiary or envoy.
Adjourned to 9 o'Clock to Morrow.
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