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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 --SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1778
A memorial of Captain Stephen Chambers, being presented, was read.5
[Note 5: 5 This memorial is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, II, folio 43.]
Sundry certificates relative to the purchase of horses by Colonel Hartley were read; Whereupon,
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Ordered, That the quarter master general be directed to pay for horses purchased by order of Colonel Hartley, for the purpose of marching the infantry commanded by Lieutenant Carberry, and for baggage horses on the late excursion against the Indians, on proper certificates being produced.
A letter of the 29 October, from Major General Heath, was read:
Another letter of the same date inclosing a letter from Major Harnage, was read.
Ordered, That they be referred to a committee of three;
The members chosen, Mr. [James] Lovell, Mr. [Nathaniel] Scudder, and Mr. [Henry] Marchant.
A letter, of the 31 October, from General Sullivan, at Providence, ∥was read,∥ inclosing a letter from Major Talbot:
Ordered, That the letter of Major Talbot be published and referred to the Marine Committee.
A petition from Mons. Lasserre was read:1
[Note 1: 1 Heath's letters are in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 157, folios 217 and 221; that of Sullivan, in No. 160, folio 207. The petition of Lasserre, dated November 7, is in No. 42, IV, folio 168.]
Ordered, That the petition be dismissed.
A letter, of the 30 October, from General Schuyler, with sundry papers enclosed, was read:
Ordered, That they be referred to the Board of War.
Resolved, That Wednesday next be assigned for consideration of the proceedings of the court martial on General Schuyler.
A petition of Chevalier de Crenis was read; Whereupon,
Resolved, That a brevet commission of lieutenant colonel be granted to the Chevalier.
A letter, of the 8 October, from J. Connolly, was read:
Ordered, To be referred to the committee to whom was referred that of the 15 September from J. Beatty.
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A letter, of the 7th, from D. Franks, was read.1
[Note 1: 1 Schuyler's letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 153, III, folio 364; that of Connolly, in No. 78, V, folio 241; that of Franks, in IX, folio 197.]
The committee to whom was referred the letter of D. Franks to Moses Franks, then brought in a report; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the letter of David Franks of the 18 day of October last, and the proceedings of Congress thereon, be transmitted to the supreme executive council of the State of Pensylvania, and that he be no longer considered as a prisoner of the United States.
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of the hon. John Williams, Esq. one of the delegates of the State of North Carolina, for eight hundred dollars, advanced upon his application; the said State to be accountable:
That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favor of William Kennon, copper plate printer, for two hundred dollars, advanced him on account of printing bills of exchange:2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 681.]
Resolved, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favor of the Marquis de la Fayette, major general in the service of the United States, payable to his order, agent or attorney, for three thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven and thirty-six ninetieths dollars, for sundry expences and disbursements in consequence of his appointment to the command of the northern department, in February last.
Ordered, That the chaplains of Congress be directed to prepare and report a recommendation to the several states, for setting apart the 30th day of December next, as a day of general thanksgiving throughout the United States.
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The Board of War to whom were referred the letter of J. Simons, of the 5, and of 28 October, from J. Loring to David Franks, brought in a report; Whereupon,
At a Board of War,November 7, 1778.
Present Mr. Sherman, Mr. Matthews, Mr. Peters.
The Board having taken into their Consideration the letters from Joseph Simons, and Joshua Loring relative to the Supply of the British Prisoners of War beg leave to report to Congress:
That from the Evidence which has appeared to the Board, they are of opinion that David Franks Esqr. is and ought to be, treated and considered as the Agent Employed by the Enemy for the Supply of their Troops captivated by the United States, and as such has been acknowledged by them in many Instances, notwithstanding the Terms in which Mr. Loring's Letter is couched are intended to induce the contrary Opinion,
That from the Conduct of the said Mr. Franks, Congress having thought proper to forbid his further Proceeding in his former Employment, and the Enemy not having after Notice given, thought proper to authorize any Person with the Approbation of Congress, to supply their Prisoners with Provisions, they must be reduced to speedy Want if some measures are not taken for their supply: Therefore we take the Liberty of suggesting the following Resolutions:
Resolved, That the commissary general of prisoners be directed to take proper measures, until the farther order of Congress, for the temporary supply of the British prisoners of war captivated by the army of the United States, with such quotas of rations as are furnished our prisoners in the hands of the enemy by the British commissaries:
That the commissaries general of purchases and issues and their deputies, be directed to comply with such requisitions as shall be made to them, from time to time, by the commissary general of prisoners, for such articles of provision as shall be necessary for furnishing the British prisoners agreeably to the above direction of Congress.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, II, folio 359.]
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Ordered, That the secretary furnish the commissary of prisoners with the copy of the letter of 19 January, 1778, from General Sir William Howe to General Washington, with the papers enclosed, specifying the quota of rations furnished to our prisoners in the enemy's hands by the British commissaries.
Ordered, That the memorial of ∥Lieutenant∥ Colonel Oswald, presented ∥and read∥ the 2d instant, be referred to a committee of three:
The members ∥chosen,∥ Mr. [Roger] Sherman, Mr. [William] Duel and Mr. [Henry] Merchant.
A letter, of the 6, from Captain [Samuel] Mansfield, desiring leave to resign ∥his commission,∥ was read.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XV, folio 407.]
Resolved, That his resignation be accepted, and that the commission be sent to the Board of War, who are directed to make such endorsement thereon as they shall think suited to his merit.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Monday.
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