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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 --MONDAY, MAY 10, 1779
A letter, of 7th, from General Washington, was read, enclosing an extract of a letter from General Schuyler, with an account of Colonel Van Schaick's expedition against Onondaga; also a report by Colonels Davies and Harrison of their conferences with the British commissioners on the subject of a cartel for the mutual exchange of prisoners:1
[Note 1: 1 Washington's letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, VII, folio 295; the two enclosures are on folios 299 and 301; the report of the cartel is in No. 28, folio 1.]
Ordered, That the letter from General Washington be referred to the Board of War.
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That the extract of the letter from General Schuyler, with the account of Colonel Van Schaick's expedition, be referred to the Committee of Intelligence.
Resolved, That the thanks of Congress be presented to Colonel Van Schaick, and the officers and soldiers under his command, for their activity and good conduct in the late expedition against the Onondagas.
Resolved, That Congress approve of the conduct of Colonels Davies and Harrison, in the course of their conferences with the British commissioners on the subject of a cartel for the mutual exchange of prisoners.
Ordered, That the report of Colonels Davies and Harrison to the Commander in Chief, of their conferences aforesaid, be published.
Resolved, That copies of the said report be transmitted to the American prisoners with the enemy; and that it be, and hereby is earnestly recommended to them to persevere in enduring their captivity with the magnanimity and patience by which they have hitherto been distinguished, and that they be assured of the constant endeavors of Congress to render their situation as convenient as the nature of things will admit.
A letter, of this day, from Colonel L. Nicola, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of April 29, from General Schuyler, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 Nicola's letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 163, folio 23; that of Schuyler, in No. 153, III, folio 442.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
A letter, of 22 September, from Benjamin Franklin, Arthur Lee and John Adams, commissioners of the United States of of America at the court of Versailles, in favour of Jonathan Loring Austin, and a memorial from the said Jonathan Loring Austin, were read:2
[Note 2: 2 This memorial is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, I, folio 39.]
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Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A letter, of 8, from W. Livingston, governor of New Jersey, was read,1 enclosing a representation of the legislative council and general assembly of the State of New Jersey.
[Note 1: 1 This letter and representation are in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 68, folios 449, 451.]
Resolved, That the President inform the governor of New Jersey, that as soon as Congress shall have concluded their deliberations on certain affairs of great moment now before them, the circumstances of the army shall be duly considered, and due attention shall be paid to the subject matter of his letter and the paper therein enclosed.
Ordered, That the representation of the legislative council and general assembly of the State of New Jersey be referred to the Board of War.
A memorial from the honble. Sr Gérard, minister plenipotentiary of France, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee appointed to superintend the departments of the commissary and quarter master general.
Ordered, That a copy of the said letter be transmitted to the Commander in Chief, and that he consider himself at liberty so to direct the military operations of these states as shall appear to him most expedient.2
[Note 2: 2 "The Intelligence conveyed by the Letter from the Minister is important, and may occasion alterations in the Plan for the ensuing Campaign. Congress confide fully in your Excellency's Prudence and Abilities; and I am directed to signify to you their wish, that neither an undue Degree of Delicacy or Diffidence may lead you to place too little Reliance on your own Judgment, or pursuade you to make any further Communications of your Designs than necessity or high Expedience may dictate."Jay to Washington, May 10, 1779. Washington Papers,Letters to Washington, 32, folio 245.]
A letter, of April 23, from P. Henry, governor of Virginia, [to the Delegates of Virginia] was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War, and that they take order thereon.
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A letter of M. de Francy was read, accompanied with a memorial respecting M. de Beaumarchais' affairs, which was in part read:1
[Note 1: 1 Henry's letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 71, I, folio 221; that of Francy, dated the 7th, in No. 78, IX, folio 257.]
Ordered, That the reading of the remainder be postponed till to morrow.
Adjourned to 10 oClock to Morrow.
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