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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 --WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1780
A letter, of 17th, from the supreme executive council of Pensylvania was read, with sundry papers enclosed:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 69, II, folio 189. The enclosures are on folio 205, 209, 213, 217, 221, 225, 227, 231, 235, 239, 243, 247, 252, 254.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to a committee of five:
The members chosen, Mr. [Samuel] Adams, Mr. [John] Henry, Mr. [Nathaniel] Folsom, Mr. [Abrahm Clark and Mr. J[oseph] Jones.
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Mr. [John] Fell laid before Congress an extract of a letter from W. Denning, representing great waste and neglect of public provisions at sundry posts through which he passed in the State of New Jersey:
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Thomas] McKean, Mr. [Timothy] Matlack and Mr. [John] Fell.
A memorial of James Pyne, captain, and Charles McCarthy, lieutenant, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This memorial, dated July 18, 1780, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, VIII, folio 132.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Admiralty.
A report from the Board of War was read, enclosing a letter, of 12, from Moore Furman, D. Q. M. G.2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 148, I, folio 145. A copy of Furman's letter is in No. 19, II, folio 365.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Roger] Sherman, Mr. [Abraham] Clark and Mr. [Ezekiel] Cornell.
A report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon,
At a Board of War, July 15, 1780
Present Mr Peters, Col. Grayson, Genl Ward
The Board having considered the memorials of Lieut: Beaulieu and Lt: La Clause of the late Count Pulaski's Corps are of opinion that each of those gentlemen should receive the pay now due them, from the paymaster general, which the Board will order. In addition to which they beg leave to report
Resolved, That Lieutenant La Clause receive the brevet of captain in the army of the United States and that he be permitted to return to Europe.
That the sum ofDollars be granted to Monsr: La Re-committed. Clause to enable him to prosecute his voyage.3
[Note 3: 3 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, IV, folio 441.]
Ordered, That the remainder be re-committed.
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A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
The Board having considered the report of the Board of War dated the 14th instant referred to them by Congress beg leave to report
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Joseph Carleton, paymaster to the Board of War and Ordnance, for three hundred and sixty thousand dollars, to be applied to the purpose of procuring accoutrements for the cavalry in the southern army; and for which the aforesaid Joseph Carleton is to be accountable.
That on the application of Charles Pettit, assistant quarter master general, accompanied with an estimate approved by the Board of War, a warrant issue on the treasurer in his favor, on account of Major General Greene, Q. M. G. for four thousand and sixty six dollars, to be applied in the department aforesaid for the purposes mentioned in the said estimate; and for which the said Major General Greene, Q. M. G. is to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 427.]
That on the application of Major General Greene, Q. M. G. accompanied with an estimate approved by the Board of War, a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of Charles Pettit, assistant quarter master general, for four hundred and sixteen thousand dollars, to be applied to the purposes prescribed in the said estimate; and for which the aforesaid Major General Greene, quarter master general is to be accountable.
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of William Palfrey, paymaster general, for five hundred thousand dollars, to be applied to the payment of subsistence money due to the officers of the line; and for which the aforesaid William Palfrey is to be accountable.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 431.]
A report from the Board of Admiralty was read; Whereupon,
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Board of Admiralty July 18th 1780.
The Board beg leave to inform the Honorable the Congress, that in consequence of an application made to them by the Honorable Henry Laurens Esqr. they have ordered the Mercury Packet, belonging to the United States, to be got in readiness, to convey him to the United Provinces of the Netherlands.
As a quantity of Duck and Ship-Chandlery, which are very much wanted for the navy, and some small Duck, which may be wanted for tents for the army, may be imported in the Mercury, Passed. provided the Board are furnished with a Bill upon any one of your Commissioners for that purpose and as the profit upon such an importation would in some measure countervail the expence of about eighty thousand Dollars which will be incurred by sending the Mercury on the proposed voyage, the Board therefore request Congress to furnish them with a Bill of Exchange for £1000 Sterling, on the Honorable John Jay Esqr.
The Board further beg leave to move, that a warrant may issue in their favor on the Treasury for thirty thousand Passed. Dollars, to enable them to procure sea stores for the Passage of the Honorable Henry Laurens, Esqr.
It will be impossible for the Board to proceed in fitting the Confederacy, if the small sum of money they are possessed of is applied to any other purpose, and indeed unless they can be furnished very soon with a supply of cash that fine ship, which at this time might be usefully employed, must to the great grief of the Board and dishonor of these States continue to lie a useless expence at the Wharf.
Fran: Lewis, By order.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 37, folio 431.]
Resolved, That a bill of exchange on the honble John Jay, for one thousand pounds sterling, be drawn by the Board of Treasury, in favour of the order of the Board of Admiralty, to enable them to purchase and import duck and ship chandlery.
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of the Board of Admiralty, for thirty thousand dollars, to enable them to procure sea stores for the passage of the honble Henry Laurens.2
[Note 2: 2 This order was also entered in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs.]
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According to the order of the day, Congress took into consideration the proceedings of the court martial on the trial of Doctor W. Shippen, director general of the hospitals, and some time being spent therein;
Ordered, That the farther consideration thereof be postponed till to morrow.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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