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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, JULY 10, 1779
A letter, of 9th, from Pieter] Wikoff, was read, declining to accept the office of cloathier general;2 Whereupon,
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XXIV, folio 53.]
Ordered, That Congress proceed to a new election.
Mr. James Stevenson was nominated for that office by Mr. [John] Dickinson;Mr. Samuel Caldwell by Mr. McKean; Mr. George Measom by Mr. [Roger] Sherman;Mr. William Henry by Mr. McClene; Mr. Peter Wikoff by Mr. [Henry] Laurens.
Ordered, That Mr. [Nathaniel] Scudder have leave of absence.
A letter, of 7, from Captain Thomas Pitcairn, at Reading, and
One, of 17, from Major H. Lee, were read:3
[Note 3: 3 Pitcairn's letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XVIII, folio 231; that of Lee, in No. 78, XIV, folio 267.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of War.
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The Board of War, to whom was referred the letter from Major General Gates, in recommendation of Captain Bancke, brought in a report; Whereupon,
At a Board of War,July 10, 1779.
Present, Col Pickering and Mr Peters.
The Board having taken into consideration the case of Captain Bancke, recommended by General Gates in his letter of the twenty sixth day of June last, referred to them by Congress, beg leave to report:
That Captain Bancke appears to be a man of character and experience in his profession, and has the merit of early embarking in our cause, having left Europe in 1776 with a View of entering into the service of the United States, but being captivated by the enemy (in company with the Marquis de Britigni) lost his baggage and effects, and suffered a long and severe imprisonment.
That altho' Captain Bancke merits our warmest acknowledgements for his zeal and attachment to the interests of these States, we find it impracticable under our present circumstances to employ him in the Army. We therefore take the liberty of recommending,
Resolved, That Captain Bancke be informed that although Congress have a high sense of his merit and are obliged by his offers to serve in the army of these States, yet they find it impracticable to employ him suitably to his wishes.
That in consideration of the peculiar circumstances of Captain Bancke's case, the expences he has incurred, and the losses by him sustained, the sum of three thousand dollars be paid to him, to enable him to return to Europe; and that until a convenient passage can be procured by Captain Bancke, he proceed to the army under the command of Major General Gates, who is authorized to employ him, during his necessary stay in America, in such way as the general shall think most conducive to the good of the service and agreeable to Captain Bancke.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, III, folio 511.]
The Committee on the Treasury report, that they have received returns from the commissioners of the loan offices of
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the states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts bay, Rhode Island and Delaware, by which it appears that the sum of the emissions of the 20 May, 1777, and April 11, 1778, received to be exchanged, amounts to five millions three hundred and seventy nine thousand five hundred and thirty eight dollars;1 that by a return from the treasurer, of the 8th instant, there remained in the treasury 6,027,000; that there are no returns from the continental loan offices of any other states; that the escort charged with the money of the emissions called out of circulation, having delivered the same to the treasurer of loans, are ready to return, and the commissioner for Massachusetts bay has requested that the said escort may bring back the money to be exchanged; that the committee do not chuse, without the authority of Congress, to determine upon sending the money to the states above mentioned, lest they might give dissatisfaction, if for want of money, the public business should be obstructed, or any other State delayed when the money collected therein of the said emissions shall be brought into the treasury; and therefore pray for the sense of Congress:
[Note 1: 1 The details of this total are as follows:
{table}
This report, dated July 9, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 455.]
Whereupon, a motion was made by Mr. [Samuel] Huntington, seconded by Mr. [Roger] Sherman,
That the Board of Treasury be directed to transmit to the loan offices in the states above mentioned a sum sufficient
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to exchange the money by them respectively received for exchange and transmitted to the treasurer of loans.
On the question to agree to this, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Meriwether] Smith,
{table}
So it was resolved in the affirmative.
The President informed Congress, that the Minister of France had communicated to him certain intelligence, about which it would, in his opinion, be expedient for Congress to confer with the Minister: Whereupon,
Resolved, That Mr. Gérard be informed by the President that Congress are desirous of conferring with him in a Committee of the Whole on the subject of the intelligence communicated by him to the President; and that, if it be agreeable to him, a private audience be had on Monday next, at 12 o'Clock.1
[Note 1: 1 This resolution was entered only in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs.]
Adjourned to 10 oClock on Monday.
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