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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 26, 1779
A letter, of the 9th, from Colonel D. Brodhead, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, III, folio 355. The New York letter is in No. 67, II, folio 214.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
Mr. G[ouverneur] Morris laid before Congress a letter from the Senate of New York, to their delegates in Congress, dated October 1st, 1779, which was read:
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of War. A memorial from Lewis Weiss, attorney in fact, of the wardens of the Single Brethren at Bethlehem, was read, with an account enclosed:2
[Note 2: 2 This memorial, dated October 23, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, X, folio 399.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A report from the Board of War, relative to an advance of money to Captain de Frey, to enable him to prosecute his voyage to France, was read:
Ordered, That the same be re-committed.
The committee, to whom was referred the petition of Ralph Smith, Jonathan Patten and Joseph Ruggles, brought in a report; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the commissary general of purchases, or his deputy, be directed to pay to the petitioners for the four hundred and thirty eight barrels of flour taken from them for the use of the public, the same per hundred weight, including what he bath already paid them, as he gave to others at that time in Baltimore for flour of the like quality.3
[Note 3: 3 This report, in the writing of Jesse Root, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 22, folio 153.]
Congress proceeded to the consideration of foreign affairs and some time being spent thereon,
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Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on instructions to the person appointed to negotiate a loan in Holland: Whereupon,
Resolved, That he be instructed to borrow a sum not exceeding ten million dollars, at the lowest rate possible, not exceeding six per cent. per annum.
Resolved, That he be empowered to employ, on the best terms in his power, some proper mercantile or banking house in the city of Amsterdam, or elsewhere, in the United Provinces of the low countries, to assist in the procuring of loans, to receive and pay the money borrowed, to keep the accounts, and to pay the interest.
That he be also empowered to pledge the faith of the United States, by executing such securities or obligations for the payment of the money as he may think proper; and also that the interest shall not be reduced, nor the principal paid, during the term for which the same shall have been borrowed, without the consent of the lenders, or their representatives.
That he be directed to give notice to Congress of any loan made by him, or under his authority, and to direct the house by him employed to accept and pay the bills of exchange which may be drawn under the authority of Congress.
Resolved, That a commissioner be appointed, and furnished with instructions for entering into a treaty of amity and commerce with the United Provinces of the low countries.
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to prepare a commission for the person appointed to negotiate a loan in the United Provinces of the low countries, and also instructions for the person to be appointed to negotiate a treaty of amity and commerce with the said provinces, and a commission for that purpose.
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The members chosen--Mr. [John] Mathews, Mr. [William Churchill] Houston, and Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris.1
[Note 1: 1 These resolves were entered only in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs. The last resolve, in the writing of George Bond and John Mathews, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, I, folio 167.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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