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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, JULY 21, 1780
A letter, of 20, from Mr. Du Simitière was read.1
[Note 1: 1 Thomson wrote in the margin: "24 July, he had leave to withdraw this."]
The Medical Committee, to whom was referred the letter, of 15, from General Washington, brought in a report, which was read; Whereupon,
The Medical Committee to whom was referred the letter of the Commander in Chief of July 15th beg leave to report,
That they have conversed with D. Cochran and other gentlemen of the Hospital department by whom, and the many distressing accounts the Committee almost daily receive from every quarter, it appears that the department is in want of almost every article necessary for the comfortable sustenance of the sick and wounded soldiery. They are therefore clearly of opinion that a sum of two hundred thousand dollars is immediately necessary to put the department on such a footing, that the danger the General apprehends in his letter may be avoided. They beg leave to refer to the enclosed estimate and submit the following resolution.
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Jonathan Potts, purveyor of the hospitals in the middle district, for two hundred thousand dollars, for the use of the hospitals in the middle district, to be applied as the Medical Committee shall direct; the said purveyor to be accountable.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Frederick A. Muhlenberg, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, folio 287.]
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The Medical Committee, to whom was referred the letter, of 15, from Doctor Brown, brought in a report, which was read; Whereupon,
The Medical Committee to whom D. Will. Brown's letter of July 15th was referred, beg leave to report:
That they have conversed with D. Brown and find that his circumstances will no longer permit his continuance in the service, and as it appears to them that he has been a faithful and diligent officer they submit the following Resolution.
Resolved, That Congress entertain a high opinion of the abilities, integrity and past services of Doctor William Brown, physician general, but as his present circumstances will no longer permit his continuance in the service, his resignation be accepted.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Frederick A. Muhlenberg, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 423.]
The committee, to whom was referred the extract of a letter from W. Denning, brought in a report, which was read:
Ordered, That the consideration of the said report be assigned for Tuesday next.
Ordered, That a copy of the said extract be transmitted to the Board of War to take order.
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Treasury Office, July 20, 1730.
The Board having considered the letter from Benedict Arnold dated July 17, 1780, referred to them by Congress, report.
Ordered, That the sum of twenty five thousand dollars be advanced to Major General Arnold, on account of his pay; and for which he 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 favour, on account of Major General Greene, quartermaster
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general, for one hundred thousand dollars, to be applied in the department aforesaid to 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 435.]
A report from the Board of Admiralty was read; wherein they recommend "that Mr. Van Dyck be appointed captain of marines, to act at present and receive pay as lieutenant of marines, on board the Saratoga."
Board of Admiralty July 15th 1780.
The Board beg leave to represent to the Honorable the Congress, that there being a vacancy on board the Saratoga of Lieutenancy of Marines, that ship from her size is not permitted to have a Captain and Mr. Van Dyck being strongly recommended to the Board by General Washington to an employment in the navy, the Board thought it proper that he should be appointed to act at present and receive pay as Lieutenant of Marines on board the Saratoga, but as the General hath recommended him to a Captaincy, and he appears to merit that rank, the Board therefore wish that a Commission of Captain of Marines in the Navy of the United States may be granted too Abraham Van Dyck Esqr.
Inclosed is Genl. Washington's recommendatory letter, which was omitted when the commission for Mr. Van Dyck was transmitted to his Excellency the President of Congress.
The Board take leave further to observe that there are but two Captains of Marines out of Employ, excepting such as are Prisoners, and about six Lieutenants, and where they are, or in what business engaged is altogether uncertain, none of them are here. It would be a great injury to the Service to have marines on board our ships without officers to Command them, until absent officers should be sought for and found, and when any of them should be found they may be either employed in private, or decline further public service.2
[Note 2: 2 This report and enclosure axe in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 37, folios 415 and 423.]
On the question to agree to this report, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Timothy] Matlack,
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So it passed in the negative.
On motion of Mr. [Timothy] Matlack, seconded by Mr. [Whitmill] Hill.
Ordered, That the Board of Admiralty enquire into the circumstances under which a quantity of sugars and other merchandise were imported in the frigate Confederacy, and who were the persons concerned in that transaction, and report thereon to Congress.
A report from the Board of Admiralty was read:
Admiralty Office 321 July 1780.
The Board beg leave to report to Congress that a warrant issue i their favor upon the Treasurer for 976,736. Dollars, being the amount of the estimate, to enable them to fit the Confederacy for sea.
The money arising from the sales of sugar imported by the Commissary General of Purchases, and to be sold under the directions c the commercial Commee, would furnish a considerable sum, and we could wish that it might be applied to this purpose, especially as by a Resolution of Congress, all prize money is to be applied to the use of the navy, and it is exceedingly natural, that money obtained by the navy should go to its use when wanted.
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It is not proposed that the whole sum specified, if it could be supplied, should be drawn all at once, but from time to time as necessity may require.
The Board beg further to report that a warrant issue on the Treasurer in their favor for forty thousand Dollars to enable them to advance a month's pay to the men belonging to the Saratoga, which is now ready to fall down the river1
[Note 1: 1 This report and the enclosure "an estimate of what is necessary to fit the Confederacy for sea," are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 37, folios 265--273.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of Treasury.
Mr. James McCall was put in nomination by Mr. [Francis] Kinloch for a commissioner in the chambers of accounts.
On a representation made by the Delegates of Massachusetts Bay, that there is no General Officer to draw warrants on the Deputy Paymaster General in that Department and that Officers and Soldiers in that State have consequently not been paid their wages agreeably to resolutions of Congress.
Resolved that the, President with the advice of the Council of the State of Massachusetts Bay be, and hereby is authorized and empowered to draw warrants upon the Deputy Paymaster General in that Department for such sums of money as now are or shall become due to Officers and Soldiers doing duty in that State, and to those of the regiments lately under the command of Colonels Jacobs and Tyler for their service in the State of Rhode Island entitled to receive pay agreeably to resolutions of Congress2
[Note 2: 2 This motion, in the writing of Samuel Adams, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, I, folio 85.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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