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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, AUGUST 4, 1778
Mr. John Williams, a delegate from North Carolina, attended and took his seat in Congress.
A letter, of 28 July, from General Washington, by Major General Putnam, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 The letter of Washington is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, VI, folio 179; that of Massachusetts is in No. 65, I, folios 330 and 334.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Titus] Hosmer, Mr. R[ichard] H[enry] Lee, and Mr. [Nathaniel] Scudder.
A letter, of 20 July, and one of the 22d July, from the council of Massachusetts bay, were read:
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Ordered, That the letter, of the 22d, be referred to the committee on the letter of 23 July, from J. Wadsworth, Esq. commissary general.
A letter, of 24 July, from W. Finnie, deputy quarter master general, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A letter, of 21 [20] July, from Colonel D. Mason, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 3d, from Major General Arnold,1 accompanied with the proceedings of a general court martial against Jacob Rhoads and Jacob Gandy, both sentenced to suffer death, but at the same time recommended by the court as proper objects of mercy, was read, setting forth "that he has ordered the sentence to be suspended until the pleasure of Congress is known, and begging leave, as many circumstances appear in favour of the prisoners, to recommend them to Congress as proper objects of mercy:" Whereupon,
[Note 1: 1 Mason's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XV, folio 375; that of Arnold in No. 162, folio 122. The court martial record is with it.]
Resolved, That a pardon be granted to the said prisoners.
A representation from William de Galatheau, Esq. proprietor and commander of the ship Foubonne, was read.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Marine Committee.
A petition and memorial from James OEllers and Henry Horn, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This petition is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, VII, folio 185.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three, who are directed to report specially thereon:
The members chosen, Mr. [William Henry] Drayton, Mr. [Titus] Hosmer, and Mr. R[ichard] H[enry] Lee.
A letter, of 18 July, from Colonel T. Bland, of the light dragoons, respecting rank, was read:3
[Note 3: 3 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, III, folio 21.]
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Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of Mr. Joseph Nourse, pay master to the Board of War and Ordnance, for one million of dollars, to be by him transmitted to William Palfrey, Esq. pay master general at camp, for the use of his department, and for which he is to be accountable.
Ordered, That the following warrants issue in favour of Colonel John Cox, assistant quarter master general, for the use of the quarter master general's department, amounting to the sum of two millions of dollars, to be charged to Major General Greene, quarter master general, viz.
One on the treasurer for the sum of one million five hundred thousand dollars; one on Derick Ten Broek, commissioner of the continental loan office in the State of New York, for one hundred thousand dollars; one on John Lawrence, Esq. commissioner of the continental loan office in the State of Connecticut, for one hundred and fifty thousand dollars; one on Joseph Clarke, Esq. commissioner of the continental loan office in the State of Rhode Island, for one hundred thousand dollars; and one on Nathaniel Appleton, Esq. commissioner of the continental loan office in the State of Massachusetts bay for one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 429a.]
Ordered, That the Committee on the Treasury lay before Congress an account of the sums of money granted to the present quarter master general for the use of his department; of the sums granted to the present commissary general of purchases, for the use of his department; and of the sums granted to the commissary general of
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military stores, for the use of his department; and also to the cloathier general, for the use of his department.
The Committee on the Treasury brought in another report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer for 1759 15/90 dollars, in favour of the Committee of Commerce, to enable them to pay James Warren, Esq. of Boston, his account of freight and charges on sundry merchandise belonging to the United States, agreeably to his account rendered them, dated 16 July last; the said Committee to be accountable:
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer for one hundred thousand dollars, in favour of Jonathan Potts, Esq. deputy director general of the middle district, for the use of his department; he to be accountable.
That a Committee be appointed to repair to Camp to confer with General Washington on the best mode of introducing economy into the several Departments of the Staff, and retrenching the enormous expence of the same.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 431. The last paragraph was postponed.]
On motion, Ordered, That the commissary general of prisoners do, from time to time, on the exchange of prisoners in the possession of the enemy, take proper care of those who shall appear to be in such ill state of health as to be unable to travel, either by sending them to a public hospital, or when that cannot be readily effected, by appointing proper persons to take care of them on the easiest terms practicable; and that those who are able to travel, be furnished with orders on the different commissaries of issues, on their way for such a number of rations as may be necessary for their support to their respective places of abode; also that the commissary of prisoners do keep exact accounts of the expences attending those that
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belong to the different states, and are not in the continental service.
The Marine Committee, to whom was referred the petition of William Storey, clerk to the navy board of the eastern department, report as their opinion, that it is not expedient at this time to raise salaries, when measures are about to be taken by Congress for the appreciation of the currency; but in consideration of the great and constant business in which the above petitioner is engaged, and the expensive living for the past and at the present time, the committee think a compensation of 500 dollars, for his extra services and expences since his appointment, should be allowed him.
The Committee farther report, that as the commissioners of the navy board of the eastern department, are necessarily obliged, for the right discharge of their duty, frequently to visit the different parts of their extensive district, they be allowed 365 dollars each, for their travelling expences the year past.
Resolved, That Congress agree to the said report.
Congress resumed the consideration of the letter of the 2d, from Captain Hawker, and the other officers of the Mermaid, and after debate,
Resolved, That the farther consideration thereof be postponed.
A letter of this day from the Board of War, signed "by order of the Board, T. Pickering, President" was read; whereupon a motion was made that the said letter signed "by order of the board, Timothy Pickering" is a breach of the privilege of Congress.
Moved to postpone the consideration of the motion, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Henry] Marchant:
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
Resolved, That the execution of the resolution of yesterday, relative to the arrest of Colonel Benjamin Flower, commissary general of military stores, be committed to Major General Arnold; and that the secretary transmit to the general a copy of the said resolution.
Adjourned to 9 o'Clock to Morrow.
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