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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 --FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1779
A letter, of 17 October last, from General Washington, was read, enclosing an application in favour of Captain Lieutenant John Van Dyke for a furlough, in order to make a voyage for the recovery of his health:
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of War. A letter, of 4, from Doctor Forster, was read, requesting that a court of enquiry may be appointed to examine into his conduct:2
[Note 2: 2 The letter of Washington is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, VIII, folio 117; the application is on folio 121; the Forster letter is in the Washington Papers, 92, folio 311.]
Ordered, That it be transmitted to the Commander in Chief.
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A letter, of 27 October, from General Gates, was read, informing that the island of Rhode island was evacuated by the enemy's troops on the night of the 25th:
Ordered, That so much thereof as relates to the evacuation be referred to the Committee of Intelligence:
Ordered, That so much thereof as relates to cloathing and stores be referred to the Board of War.
A report from the commissioners of claims was read: Whereupon,
Ordered, That twelve thousand dollars be advanced to David C. Claypole, printer to Congress; for which sum he is to be accountable.
That two hundred dollars be advanced to Steiner and Cist, printers, on account.
Ordered, That the residue [of the] report be referred to the committee appointed to superintend the printing the journal.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is printed in the Bibliographical Notes, 1779, p. 1460, post.]
Resolved, That on Tuesday next immediately after reading the journals, Congress proceed to the election of officers for the different offices of the Treasury, and a commissioner for the Board of War, and that no other business be taken up without unanimous consent, until the elections are made.
The following gentlemen were put in nomination:
For treasurer, Mr. Hillegas, by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry.
For assistant auditor general, Mr. Nourse, by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry.
For the two chambers of accounts: Mr. James Milligan, Mr. William Govett, Mr. Resolve Smith, Mr. William Geddes, Mr. John D. Mercier, Mr. Eleazer McComb, Mr. John Welles, by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry; Mr. Nathaniel Mumford, by Mr. [Henry] Marchant.
For commissioner of the Board of Treasury, Mr. Christopher Ellery, by Mr. [Henry] Marchant.
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For secretary of the Board of Treasury, Mr. Robert Troup, by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry.
For clerks of the chambers of accounts, Mr. John Nicholson, and Mr. William Ramsay, the clerks of the present commissioners, by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry.
For auditors of the army, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Felix Harley, Mr. Joseph Howell, Mr. Bedlow and Mr. Alexander Fowler, by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry.
Resolved, That a member be added to the present Committee on the Treasury, in the room of Mr. [Joseph] Hewes, whose health will not admit his attendance:
The member chosen, Mr. [William] Sharpe.
On motion of Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, seconded by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris,
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to report a plan for an executive board to superintend officers of these United States, to enquire into their conduct respectively, to order tryal, when necessary, of such as may be delinquent, or try them when not amenable to other authority under Congress, and to execute such other matter as they may direct.
The members chosen, Mr. [Thomas] McKean, Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, and Mr. [John] Mathews.
Resolved, That two members be added to the committee appointed to superintend the departments of the quarter master and commissary general:
The members chosen, Mr. [Jacob] Wynkoop and Mr. [James] Forbes.
A motion was made by Mr. [John] Mathews, seconded by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, to reconsider the resolution of the 1st instant, authorizing Mr. Laurens to employ a secretary, so far as to alter the salary from three hundred to a sum not exceeding five hundred pounds sterling.
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On the question, Shall the resolution be reconsidered, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris,
{table}
So it was resolved in the affirmative.
On motion of Mr. [John] Mathews, seconded by Mr. [Samuel] Holten, the word "three" was struck out.
A motion was then made by Mr. [John] Mathews, seconded by Mr. [Samuel] Holten, that the word "five" be inserted.
When the question was about to be put, the determination thereof was postponed by the state of New York.1
[Note 1: 1 These proceedings were entered only in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs.]
Adjourned to 10 oClock to Morrow.
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