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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 --FRIDAY, JULY 31, 1778
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to direct and superintend an entertainment to be given by Congress to the Hon. Sieur Gérard, minister plenipotentiary from his most Christian majesty, on Thursday next, the day assigned for his public audience:
The members chosen, Mr. J[oseph] Reed, Mr. [Francis] Dana, and Mr. G[ouverneur] Morris.
Your Committee to whom was referred the Letter from the Board of War of the Massachusetts Bay of the 26th of March, 1778, and the Inclosures therein contained, beg leave to report:
That in the Opinion of your Committee it will be necessary to the Reception of Ambassadors and other Foreigners of Importance, that the President of the Congress for the Time being should be allowed a House and Table at the Public Expence, and that a Master of the Ceremonies should be appointed to superintend the same, adjust the Ceremonies and the like, the which by the assent of Congress ought
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to be framed into Rules and published, Wherefore your Committee beg Leave to submit the following Resolutions:
Resolved, Thatbe, and he hereby is, appointed Master of the Ceremonies to the United States of America, and that for his Services he be allowed the Sum ofannually, and that he Rank as a in the Armies of the United States.
Resolved, That the Sum ofbe annually paid to the said Master of Ceremonies, for the Purpose of Keeping a House and Table for the President of the Congress for the Time being, for which the said Master is to account,1
[Note 1: 1 This undated report, in the writing of Gouverneur Morris, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 23, folio 351. The letter of the Massachusetts Board of War was referred on April 8 to a committee, of which Morris was not a member.]
A letter, of 23, from J. Wadsworth, commissary general of purchases, directed to E. Blaine, Esq. one of his deputies, was laid before Congress, and read:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XXIII, folio 513.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. G[ouverneur] Morris, Mr. R[obert] Morris, and Mr. [Samuel] Holten.
A letter, of 30, from the Board of War, with one enclosed from John Beatty, Esq. commissary of prisoners, dated 24 July, was read:
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of Treasury.
Resolved, That Mr. [William] Duer, agreeably to his request, be excused from acting on the committee appointed on the 23 instant, to ascertain the property of the goods, wares and merchandise in possession of the inhabitants of the city of Philadelphia at the time it was evacuated by the enemy, viz: so far as to determine whether any, or what part thereof may belong to the king of Great Britain or to any of his subjects, agreeably to the resolution of the 4 of June last, and for other purposes; and that another be appointed in his room:
The member chosen, Mr. [Henry] Marchant.
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An extract from the minutes of the supreme executive council of Pensylvania,∥ was laid before Congress,∥ appointing the Hon. Vice President, Mr. Hart, Mr. Reed and Mr. Hoge, a committee to meet with the committee of Congress of 23 July, mentioned in the foregoing resolution:
Ordered, That it be referred to the said committee.
A memorial from John Mitchell, Esq. deputy quarter master general, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the foregoing committee.
A memorial and account of Colonel Michael Swoope,
A petition from Mons. Pierre Saverit,
A petition from William Cooper, and a petition from Charles Bergé, Printer, were read:1
[Note 1: 1 The memorial of John Mitchell, dated July 24, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No 41, VI, folio 47; Cooper's petition, dated July 31, in No. 42, II, folio 44; and that of Bergé, dated July 20, in No. 42, I, folio 165.]
Ordered, That they be referred to the Board of War.
A memorial from William Storey, clerk of the Navy Board, in the eastern department, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Marine Committee.
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer for three thousand two hundred dollars, in favour of Paul Feager, it being an advance made him on account of making money paper.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 429.]
Resolved, That Mr. Benjamin Randolph, of the city of Philadelphia, be, and he is hereby appointed, to superintend the making of paper for loan-office certificates and bills of exchange.
A motion being made by a member from South Carolina, after debate,
Resolved, That the consideration thereof be postponed.
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Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee to whom the petition from the prisoners of war on Long Island was referred; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the commissioners of claims examine the estimate of the accounts due for cloathing and board for our prisoners of war in the hands of the enemy.
Resolved, That a sum of money in specie, not exceeding twenty-six thousand six hundred and sixty-six and two thirds dollars, be issued to Elias Boudinot, late commissary general of prisoners, for the discharge of such accounts, for which he is to be accountable.
The yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Samuel] Chase, on the question for passing this part of the report:
{table}
So it was resolved in the affirmative.
Resolved, That the further consideration of the report be postponed.
Adjourned to 9 o'Clock to Morrow.
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