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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 13, 1779
A letter, of 3d, from General Washington, enclosing a memorial from Colonel Moses Hazen in behalf of Captain Joseph Louis Gill, and one, of the 5th, from the same, were read:1
[Note 1: 1 Washington's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, VIII, folio 159; that of Gill, on folio 163.]
Ordered, That they be referred to the Board of War.
Mr. [Frederick A.] Muhlenberg, a delegate from the State of Pensylvania, laid before Congress the credentials of the delegates for the said State, which were read as follows:
State of Pennsylvania,
In General Assembly, November 12th, 1779.
The House proceeded to the Choice of five Persons to serve this State in Congress. The election being taken by ballot, John Armstrong, James Serle, Frederick Muhlenburgh, James McClean, and William Shippen, Senior, Esquires, were duly elected, and declared accordingly.
Extract from the Minutes,
Thomas Paine,2
Clerk of the General Assembly.
[Note 2: 2 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Pennsylvania, Credentials of Delegates.]
A letter, of the 6th, from General Washington, was read.
A letter, of 9th, from Major General Sullivan, was read, requesting leave, on account of his ill state of health, to retire from the service:3
[Note 3: 3 Washington's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, VIII, folio 167; that of Sullivan, in No. 160, folio 340.]
Whereupon, a motion was made by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, seconded by Mr. [Cornelius] Harnett, "that the resignation of Major General Sullivan be not accepted, but that he have leave to retire from the service as long as he shall judge it expedient for the recovery of his health:"
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A motion was made by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, seconded by Mr. [John] Mathews, that the foregoing letter and motion be referred to a committee of three;
On which the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
The members chosen, Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, Mr. [Cornelius] Harnett and Mr. [James] Forbes.
A letter, of this day, from Samuel B. Webb, and one from John Gooch, were read.1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of Webb is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XXIV, folio 113; that of Gooch, dated October 21, is in No. 78, X, folio 177.]
A report of the Board of War on the petition of Robert Jewell, which was re-committed on the 5th, was brought in amended, and the same being read:
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Cornelius] Harnett, Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, and Mr. [William] Sharpe.
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At a Board of War November 3rd., 1779.
Present Mr Peters and Colo. Pickering
The Board having considered the Petition of Robert Jewell, Keeper of the New Goal, for additional allowances to him, his assistants and Turnkey, beg leave to observe, That the business of Mr Jewell demands the utmost vigilance and care, and is attended with much anxiety and no inconsiderable danger. That they have exhibited constant proof of their ability, diligence, fidelity and spirit in executing the trust reposed in them. That the said Robert Jewell in particular is, in our opinion, an exceedingly valuable officer. That he and his assistants for some time past have been suffering greatly, from the smallness of their pay, the keeper having from the beginning of the present year received only eight dollars a day for himself, Turnkey, and occasional clerk, and his assistants but four dollars each. That this pay appears to the Board as inadequate to their services as to their support. We therefore beg leave to report,
ThatDollars per day be allowed to Robert Jewell keeper of the new Goal in Philadelphia;Dollars per day to each of his assistants; andDollars per day to his Turnkey, until the farther orders of Congress; and that this increased pay commence the day oflast
The Board were induced to propose that the increased pay should begin at some time past, from the obvious disproportion of the present allowances to the necessary expences of Mr Jewell and his assistants, who have been obliged to spend of their own effects and run in debt for their subsistence, in confidence that they should receive an indemnification.
By order of the Board
Tim: Pickering1
[Note 1: 1 Endorsement: "Read November 5. Recommitted, that the Board may report their opinion on the sums and time with which the blanks are to be filled."]
War Office, Nov. 13, 1779.
The Board are of opinion that there should be allowed to Robert Jewell thirty dollars and one ration per day.
To each of his assistants twenty dollars and one ration per day.
To his Turnkey ten dollars and one ration per day. And that the said Robert provide a clerk occasionally, as he shall have need, at his own expence.
By order of the Board
Tim: Pickering.
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The Board are further of opinion that this increased pay should commence the eighteenth day of last August.
By order of the Board
Tim: Pickering.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, IV, folio 23.]
A letter, of this day, from W. Palfrey, pay master general, was read, enclosing a letter, of the 3d, from John Pierce, Jun. deputy pay master general:2
[Note 2: 2 Palfrey's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 165, folio 521; that of Pierce, on folio 525.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of Treasury.
On motion of Mr. [Jesse] Root, seconded by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris,
Resolved, That the Board of War be informed, that Major General Philips and Brigadier General Riedcsel, with their families, are permitted to proceed to New York on parole; and that they take necessary measures to forward them immediately.
On motion of the committee, to whom was referred the letter, of the 9th July last, from General Washington,
Resolved, That the said committee be discharged.
The committee, to whom was referred the intended speech of the Minister, brought the draught of an answer, which was read, debated by paragraphs, and agreed to.
Resolved, That Wednesday next be assigned for giving audience to the hon. Chevalier de la Luzerne, minister plenipotentiary of his most Christian majesty.
Congress proceeded to the election of two members to wait upon the hon. the Chevalier de la Luzerne, and conduct him to the audience:
The members chosen, Mr. [John] Mathews and Mr. Lovell [Gouverneur] Morris.
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to direct and superintend an entertainment to be given by Congress to
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the honble the Chevalier de la Luzerne, minister plenipotentiary from his most Christian Majesty, on Wednesday next, the day assigned for his public audience.
The members chosen, Mr. [Jesse] Root, Mr. [Henry] Marchant, and Mr. [Cyrus] Griffin.
Resolved, That a member be added to the Committee on the Treasury, in the room of Mr. [Henry] Wynkoop:
The member chosen, Mr. [Frederick A.] Muhlenberg.
Resolved, That Tuesday next be assigned for electing a deputy secretary.
Mr. George Bond was put in nomination for that office by Mr. [James] Lovell.
Resolved, That the door of the Congress chamber be open during the audience to be given to the Minister Plenipotentiary of his most Christian Majesty.
Resolved, That the delegates of Pensylvania be requested to inform the president and supreme executive council, and the speaker and assembly of the said State, that the Minister Plenipotentiary of his most Christian Majesty the King of France, will receive his audience of Congress on Wednesday next, at twelve o'clock; when the doors of the Congress chamber will be opened.
Resolved, That each member of Congress may give two tickets for the admittance of other persons to the audience, and that no person, except those specified in the foregoing resolution, be admitted without such a ticket, or a ticket signed by the members appointed to introduce the Minister to Congress.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Monday.
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