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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, OCTOBER 20, 1778
An appeal from the judgment of a court of admiralty for the State of Pensylvania, on the libel of "Yelverton Taylor, &c.versus the sloopPolly," was lodged with the secretary and referred to the Committee on Appeals.
Also an appeal from the judgment of a court of admiralty for the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, on the libel "Charles Jenks, &c.versus sloopFancy," was lodged with the secretary at his chamber, on the 16th, and referred to the Committee on Appeals.
A letter, of this day, from Jeremiah Wadsworth, commissary general of purchases, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XXIII, folio 573.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. R[ichard] H[enry] Lee, Mr. [Roger] Sherman, and Mr. [Henry] Marchant.
The Committee, to whom was referred the Letter of Colonel Jeremiah Wadsworth, Commissary General of purchases, of the 20th of October last, requesting permission to resign his said Office by the first day of January next, Report:
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That on conference with Colonel Wadsworth it appears that his desire of resigning his Office is not for want of inclination to render to the public every service in his power; but from the great difficulties attending the execution of that important office, under present circumstances, he fears he shall not be able to do it to good satisfaction: But the Committee are of opinion that Colonel Wadsworth from his experience in that business will be better able to surmount the difficulties attending it, than another person who has not had such experience, therefore it will not be expedient to permit him to resign, but that he be requested to continue in the execution of his office, and assured that every proper measure will be taken by Congress to facilitate the execution thereof.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Roger Sherman, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XXIII, folio 577.]
A letter, of 14th, from General Washington, and a letter of 12 September, from Major General Heath, with a paper of intelligence enclosed, were read. Also a letter, of this day, from Christopher Hele, lieutenant of the Preston man of war, ∥was read:∥2
[Note 2: 2 The letter of Washington is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, VI, folio 399; that of Heath, in No. 157, folio 200; and that of Hele, in No. 78, XI, folio 397.]
Ordered, To lie on the table.
A memorial of Gershom Mort and Robert Walker, in behalf of themselves and others, captains in the regiment of artillery commanded by Colonel John Lamb, accompanied with sundry papers therein referred to, was read:3
[Note 3: 3 This memorial is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, II, folio 411.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 22 September, from Colonels Morgan, Williams and Davies, enclosing four memorials of same tenor and date, but signed differently by the field officers and captains with the army, was read:4
[Note 4: 4 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, VII, folio 191. It is endorsed by Laurens: "Delivered me, with other papers, by Mr. Griffin, as from Mr. Harvie, who had left them in his hands."]
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Ordered, To lie on the table, until Congress have fully considered and determined on the report of the committee of arrangement.
A letter, of the 18, from David Franks, directed to Moses Franks, and one signed Matthew Clarkson, A. D. camp, and directed to General Maxwell, or in his absence, to Colonel Shrieve, were laid before Congress, and read:
Ordered, That they be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen,Mr. Gerry Mr. [William] Duer, Mr. [Daniel] Roberdeau, and Mr. [William Henry] Drayton.
A memorial from Griffin Greene & Co. was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This memorial is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, III, folio 395.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three, and that they confer thereon with the commissary general of purchases:
The members chosen, Mr. [John] Mathews, Mr. [Francis] Lewis, and Mr. M[eriwether] Smith.
A letter, of 14, from Major Gen. Marquis de la Fayette, was read.
Resolved, That the sum of one hundred thousand dollars, be transmitted by the Board of War to Benjamin Harrison, jun. Esq. deputy pay master general in the State of Virginia, for paying the arrears due to the continental troops in that State, and for the balance due to the militia of that State that were in continental service the last year, and for the pay and subsistence of the continental troops and levies recommended to be sent from that State to Charleston, for the defence of the states of South Carolina and Georgia; he to be accountable.
Resolved, That the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars be transmitted by the Board of War to William Blount, Esq. deputy pay master general in the State
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of North Carolina, for the pay and subsistence of the levies recommended to be sent from that State to Charleston, for the defence of the States of South Carolina and Georgia, he to be accountable.
Resolved, That the sum of one million of dollars be transmitted by the Board of War to John Lewis Gervais, Esq. who is hereby unanimously appointed deputy pay master general in the State of South Carolina, for the pay and subsistence of the continental troops and levies ordered to Charleston for the defence of the states of South Carolina and Georgia; he to be accountable.
Three o'Clock, p. m.
A letter, of 18, from Mr. President Rodney, of Delaware, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of Rodney is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 70, folio 667.]
A letter, of 10, from William Pynchon, of the county of Hampshire, in the State of Massachusetts bay, was read, informing, that he has received, for the use of the Continent, one hundred and twenty pounds, money of that State, and desiring to know to whom he shall pay the same:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on Thomas Smith, Esq. commissioner of the ∥continental∥ loan office in the State of Pensylvania, for one hundred and fifty thousand dollars in favour of James Mease, Esq. cloathier general, to enable him to compleat the payment of balances due from his department; for which he is to be accountable:2
[Note 2: 2 This report, dated October 14, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 621.]
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That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of Major John Clark, for eight hundred and fifty dollars, in discharge of William Palfrey, Esq. pay master general, his bill on the President of Congress, for that sum, in favour of Major Clark, dated the 25 September, 1778; the said pay master general to be accountable:
That a warrant issue on David Rittenhouse, Esq. treasurer, of the State of Pensylvania, in favour of the Marine Committee, for five thousand dollars, advanced upon their application, to be paid out of the public tax laid in the said State, agreeable to resolution of Congress of the 22d November last; for which the said committee is to be accountable:
That, upon the application of the Board of War and Ordnance, a warrant issue on David Rittenhouse, Esq. treasurer of the State of Pensylvania, in favour of Brigadier Count Pulaski, for ten thousand dollars, on account of his corps, for which he is to be accountable; which sum is to be paid out of the public tax laid in the said State, agreeable to resolution of Congress of 22 November last:
That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of Captain Cosmo Medici, for one thousand five hundred dollars, in satisfaction of his account of expences of himself and four troopers, escorting loan office certificates to the southern states:1
[Note 1: 1 This report, dated October 17, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio, 631.]
That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of Mr. J[onathan] Elmer, a delegate from the State of New Jersey, for two hundred dollars, advanced upon his application; the said State to be accountable:
That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of Mr. N[athaniel] Scudder, a delegate from the State of New
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Jersey, for five hundred dollars, advanced upon his application; the said State to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 635.]
In consequence of an adjustment by the commissioners of claims, the auditor general reports,
That there is due to the Rev. Mr. White, for his pay as chaplain to Congress, from the 1st October, 1777, to the 1st October, 1778, seven hundred and twenty dollars, and for his rations and subsistence during the same time, three hundred and three and six ninetieths dollars, making in the whole, 1023 6/90 dollars:
That there is due to William Woodhouse, for stationary for the use of Congress, one hundred and five and 60/90 dollars:
That there is due to George Bright, for superintending the making of paper for loan office certificates, twenty five days, one hundred and fifty dollars:
That there is due to Robert Patton, his pay as doorkeeper to Congress, from 16 June to the 13 October, 1778, inclusive, two hundred and forty dollars:2
[Note 2: 2 This report, dated October 16, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 625. Patton specified "a glass Ink Pott for the President, two thirds of dollar."]
That there is due to sundry persons for articles for the public entertainment on 4th of July last, two thousand eight hundred and thirty-five sixty-nine ninetieths dollars, of which the committee appointed to conduct the said entertainment have received for articles sold, two hundred and eighty-nine and 15/90 dollars, which leaves a balance of 2546 54/90 dollars; which ought to be paid to Mr. Mathews:3
[Note 3: 3 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 633. The report recited: "The Particulars of the Bills many of them appear high charged, but the Difficulty is to know how to reduce them. Congress will be pleased to determine if any Reduction should be made."]
Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.
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A letter, of this day, from the Board of War, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter, in the writing of Richard Peters, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, II, folio 343.]
Ordered, To lie on the table.
Resolved, That on Friday Congress will take under consideration the proceedings of the court martial on Major General Lee, immediately after reading the public letters and taking order on them, and that all the members in town be summoned to attend.
The committee to whom was referred a letter of 25 September, from Peter Colt, Esq. brought in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on Nathaniel Appleton, Esq. commissioner of the continental loan office in the State of Massachusetts bay, for seventy thousand dollars: another warrant on John Lawrence, Esq. treasurer of the State of Connecticut, for one hundred thousand dollars, being part of the sum to be raised by the said State, for supplying the continental treasury: and one other warrant on John Lawrence, Esq. commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Connecticut, for twenty thousand dollars, in favour of Peter Colt, Esq. deputy commissary general of purchases, to enable him to discharge the debts which he contracted under William Buchanan, Esq. late commissary general of purchases, who is to be accountable for the said sums, amounting to one hundred and ninety thousand dollars, and to be furnished with a copy of this order.
Resolved, That Mr. Colt be directed to transmit to the Board of Treasury the accounts of purchases made under the direction of William Buchanan, Esq. late commissary general of purchases, in order for settlement.
That the Commissary and Quarter Master General be directed forth-with to contract with their Deputies and Assistants respectively, and
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allow them fixed salaries for discharging the Duties of their Offices; and as an Encouragement to the said Deputies and Assistants to use their utmost endeavours for reducing the high Prices of Articles in their respective Departments, that each be allowedp. cent, on all savings which they may make by purchasing such Articles at Prices less than those at which they are now obtained; provided that the allowance now made to the Commissary, and Quarter Master General shall be continued.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 579. It is endorsed: "Read and debated 19 October. Two first resolves agreed."]
Whereas by a resolution of Congress of the 22 April, 1777, it is provided, that the several commanding officers of parties, detachments or corps on their march to or from the camp, shall send to the military hospitals such of their officers and soldiers as, from time to time, are unable to proceed, unless from the distance of the hospitals or other causes, it shall at any time be necessary to deliver them to the care of private physicians or surgeons, in which eases the deputy director general shall discharge the reasonable demands of the physicians and surgeons conducting, agreeably to the said resolve.
And, whereas, no provision is therein made for discharging the accounts of other persons who have been or may be employed by proper officers for taking care of and providing for such officers and soldiers:
Resolved, That the deputy directors general be respectively authorized and instructed to discharge such of the said accounts as shall appear to be reasonable and just, provided that each person who may hereafter be employed to provide for officers and soldiers as aforesaid, shall give the earliest notice thereof to the deputy director general, or the physician or surgeon general of the district, in order for their speedy removal to the military hospitals.
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Resolved, That Lieutenant Colonel du Cambray be ordered to repair with all convenient expedition to the State of South Carolina, for the purpose of putting the town and harbour of Charleston in the most respectable posture of defence, and to render such other service to the states of South Carolina and Georgia, as shall be required of him by the commanding officer of that department.
Resolved, That henceforward Congress meet only once a day: to meet precisely at ten o'Clock, and sit till three o'clock, P. M.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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