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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 --WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 1778
A memorial from the Marquis de Bretigny, was laid before Congress.2
[Note 2: 2 This memorial, on the reduction of St. Augustine, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, III, folio 31. A translation is on folio 51. The letter of Bingham is in II, folio 503; that of Sweers, in XX, folio 259.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee to whom his letter of the 18th was referred.
A letter, of 6 July, from Mr. W. Bingham, at St. Pierre, Martinique, directed to the Committee of Foreign Affairs, and enclosing sundry papers relative to vessels captured in the West Indies, was read:
Ordered, That the same be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Titus] Hosmer, Mr. [William Henry] Drayton, and Mr. [Samuel] Chase.
A letter, of 24, from Cornelius Sweets, was read:
A memorial from John Harper & Co. owners of the schooner Liberty, respecting the said schooner, and proceedings thereon, was read:
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Ordered, That the same, together with the papers accompanying it, be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Samuel] Chase, Mr. [James] Smith, and Mr. [William] Duer.
The Board of War report, "That the commissaries general of purchases and issues have represented to them, that from the moving state of the army, many parts of the ration, as established by Congress, cannot frequently be obtained, and, from the peculiar circumstances attending the supplies, there is sometimes an over-quantity of one article while others are extremely scarce, some of the states affording greater quantities of meat, while others abound more in flour; and that hence great embarrassments arise in the delivery of the stated ration; and that under such fluctuating circumstances, which change with the motions of the army, it is impracticable and troublesome to apply to Congress on every alteration of situation;" Whereupon,
Resolved, That the Commander in Chief of the armies of the United States shall, in the army under his immediate command, and the commander of a separate department shall, in the army under his command, settle and determine according to circumstances, the ration to be issued to the troops, from time to time, giving an over proportion of a plentiful article in lieu and in full satisfaction of such as are scarce or not to be had, and which have been heretofore deemed part of the ration, reporting, from time to time, to the Board of War, the alterations and regulations by them respectively made in this respect.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Richard Peters, and dated August 25, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, II, folio 211. The members present were Pickering, Peters, and Duer. The rest of the report is printed under September 1, 1778, post.]
Ordered, That the remainder of the report be taken into consideration to morrow.
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A letter, of this day, from the Board of War, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter, on the fitting of John Dickinson's house for the residence of the French Ambassador, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, II, folio 215.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. R[obert] Morris, Mr. [Henry] Merchant, and Mr. S[amuel] Adams.
In consequence of an adjustment by the commissioners of claims, the auditor general reports,
That there is due, to John Pinkerton, for six windsor chairs for the use of the treasury office, the sum of 36 dollars:
That there is due, to Lewallin Barry, for riding express from June 1, 1777, to Nov. 1, and contingent expences, a balance of 246 82/90 dollars:
That there is due, to Col. George Morgan, for sundry contingent expences paid by him at Fort Pitt, by order of George Clymer, Sampson Matthews, and Samuel M'Dowell, Esqrs. commissioners appointed by Congress, being for their own expences and the expence of two expresses from the Mississippi, &c. 1867 68/90 dollars:2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 503.]
Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.
The Committee on the Treasury report,
Resolved, That a Commissioner of Claims for the Treasury, and an Agreed Auditor for the Army, be appointed.
That they have considered the extra services and peculiar circumstances of William Bedlow, as set forth in his memorial, referred to them, and are of opinion that he be allowed thirty-five dollars per month, whilst acting as deputy pay master to William Palfrey, Esq. pay master general, in addition to his former allowance of fifty dollars per month:3
[Note 3: 3 This report, dated August 25, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 507.]
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Resolved, That Congress agree to the said report.
The petition of James Hawker, Captain of the Mermaid, prisoner in the new gaol, praying to be discharged on parole, was read, and it appearing to Congress that the said Captain Hawker had treated such American prisoners as fell into his hands with singular humanity and tenderness;
Ordered, That the Marine Committee enlarge the said Captain Hawker on his parole.
Adjourned to 9 o'Clock to Morrow.
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