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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, JULY 25, 1780
A letter, of this day, from the Minister of France was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is printed in the Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution (Wharton), III, 881.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Thomas] McKean, Mr. B[enjamin] Huntington and Mr. [Whitmill] Hill.
A letter, of 20, from General Washington, was read, enclosing copy of a letter of the same date from Brigadier General Maxwell, requesting leave to resign:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, IX, folio 33.]
Resolved, That the resignation of Brigadier General Maxwell be accepted.
Ordered, That the letter be referred to the Board of War. A letter, of 24, from J. Gibson was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Admiralty to take order.
A memorial of Joseph Browne, surgeon of the 7th Pensylvania regiment, was read:3
[Note 3: 3 This memorial, dated July 24, 1780, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, I, folio 295.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Medical Committee to report.A petition of Abel Westfall was read:4
[Note 4: 4 This petition, undated, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, VIII, folio 192.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 24, from W. Gibbes, one of the commissioners of the continental loan office for the State of South Carolina, was read:5
[Note 5: 5 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, X, folio 255.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
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The delegates for New Hampshire laid before Congress a letter, of 30 June, from President Weare, which was read, together with a petition from John McClintock, and sundry papers enclosed, respecting a capture made by him and others and carried to Granada.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XVI, folio 45.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Foreign Affairs.
A report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon,
At a Board of War, July 24, 1780
Present Col. Pickering, Mr. Peters, Col. Grayson, Genl. Scott, Genl. Ward
The board having received information that Margaret Corbin (for whom Congress made provision in their act of July 6. 1779 for her gallant conduct in serving a piece of artillery when her husband was killed by her side) still remains in a deplorable situation in consequence of her wound, by which she is deprived of the use of one arm, and is in other respects much disabled and probably will continue a cripple during her life, Beg leave to report
Resolved, That Margaret Corbin receive annually, during her natural life, one compleat suit of cloaths out of the public stores, or the value thereof in money, in addition to the provision made for her by the act of Congress of July 6, 1779.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, IV, folio 460.]
Another report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That Monsieur la Clause receive one year's pay as lieutenant in the legion late Pulaski's, and that bills of exchange for two hundred dollars on the Commissioners at Holland be granted to him, to enable him to return to Europe. and that the sum of the eight thousand dollars, in continental currency, be granted to him, to enable him to return to Europe.3
[Note 3: 3 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, IV, folio 465.]
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Congress proceeded to the election of an assistant quarter master general, to reside near Congress, and the ballots being taken, Charles Pettit, esq. was elected, ∥having been previously nominated by Mr. [John] Armstrong∥
On motion of the delegates for Pensylvania,
Resolved, That the supreme executive of the several States, which are called upon to furnish waggons for the service of the United States, be authorised to make such allowance for the hire of waggons as they shall think adequate, until deputy quarter masters are appointed for the states respectively,
A report from the Board of Treasury was read: Whereupon,
Resolved, That the interest due on the certificates issued from the loan office in the State of North Carolina be referred to that office for payment, to which office bills of exchange have been sent for the purpose of paying such interest.
And that the interest due on the certificates issued from the loan Postponed office in the State of Georgia be postponed until the papers and books of said loan office be deposited with the Treasurer of the United States.
Ordered, That on the application of Charles Pettit, assistant quarter master general, approved by the Board of War, a warrant issue on the treasurer in his favour, on account of Major General Greene, Q. M. G. for nine thousand seven hundred and ninety two dollars, for the use of the department of the said quarter master general, who is to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 439.]
That on the application of Charles Pettit, A. Q. M. G. accompanied with an estimate of monies wanted in the department of John Mitchell Deputy Quartermaster General approved by the Board of War, a warrant issue on the treasurer in his favour, on account of Major General Greene, Q. M. G. for two hundred thousand dollars, to be applied
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to the payment of road and ammunition wagons, of men employed by the day, and occasional expences of men to go with horses and teams to camp, per month, and to the purchase of camp equipage; and for which the said Major General Greene, Q. M. G. is to be accountable.
That on the application of David Claypoole, printer, a warrant issue on the treasurer in his favour, for two thousand dollars for the purpose of binding the Journals of Congress for the year 1778; and for which the said David Claypoole is to be accountable.
That on the application of Joseph Carleton, paymaster to the Board of War and Ordnance, a warrant issue on the treasurer in his favour, for twenty thousand dollars, for the contingent expences of office; and for which the said Joseph Carleton is to be accountable.
That on the application of Jacob Heiltzeimer, a warrant issue on the treasurer in his favour, for sixty thousand dollars, for the purpose of purchasing forage for the horses under his care; and for which the said Jacob Heiltzeimer is to be accountable.
That on the application of Mr. W[hitmill] Hill, a delegate for the State of North Carolina, a warrant issue on the treasurer in his favour, for ten thousand dollars; for which the said State is to be accountable.
That on the application of the Board of Admiralty, a warrant issue on the treasurer in their favour, for forty thousand dollars, to enable them to advance a month's pay to the men belonging to the Saratoga sloop of war, which is now ready to fall down the river; and for which sum the said Board of Admiralty is to be accountable.
The Board of Treasury, to whom was referred the letter, of 18, from Sir James Jay, brought in a report; Whereupon,
That it appears by the aforesaid that the 20,000 dollars therein mentioned were put into the hands of the
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continental cloathiers in Boston, by Sir James Jay, in the month of July 1778;
That it appears by the Treasury books that a warrant issued on the 18 day of August following, for the purpose of discharging in full the draught on James Mease, clothier general, for the aforesaid 20,000 dollars. From which it appears, that it was in the power of Sir J. Jay To receive payment in as short a time as could reasonably be expected. That the delay was created by himself, and was not occasioned by the United States, and that he neglected to receive payment till October last; and therefore
Resolved, That although Sir James Jay has suffered considerably by the depreciation, in common with many other patriotic and virtuous citizens of these states, yet it is inexpedient to give any relief in the case stated in his letter of 18 July, 1780.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 441.]
Resolved, That Congress agree to the said report.
Treasury Office July 25, 1780.
The Board having considered the resolution of Congress of yesterday authorizing the Board of War to procure shot and shells for the present Campaign, referred to them to provide the ways and means of furnishing the necessary supplies of money, for carrying the same into execution Beg leave to Report,
That at present there is no money in the Treasury of the United States, but that there is reason to expect that the several quotas of the sum of ten millions of dollars required by Congress on the nineteenth day of May last, will speedily arrive, part of which may be applied to the purposes of the aforesaid Resolution
That the Board of War be authorized to contract in Continental Currency for the whole quantity of the articles ordered to be procured by the Resolution aforesaid on such terms as may be obtained most advantageous to the public, which Contracts Congress do hereby declare shall bona fide be executed on the part of the United States within two months from this date, as from this date, and that adequate compensation
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shall be made for all losses that may be occasioned by depreciation should any arise after the time of contract until payment is made--
They Beg leave further to Report,
That the Committee of Commerce be furnished with -- dollars in Bills of Exchange on -- for the purpose of importing Gun powder for which sum the said Committee is to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 445. It is indorsed: "Postponed and report of Board of War adopted."]
Resolved, That to enable the Board of War to execute the authority vested in them by the resolution of the 24, for the purchase of shot and shells, they be supplied with the sum of four millions of dollars, and that they be authorized to contract for the whole quantity of shot and shells mentioned in the resolution aforesaid, on the best terms possible, and agree, on behalf of the United States, to make payment in specie, or an equivalent in the currency of these states, at such periods as shall be mutually agreed on between the said Board and the manufacturers, with interest at six per cent. per annum, from such times as shall be fixed on by the said Board.
That the said Board be furnished with the further sum of four hundred and thirty five thousand dollars, for the purpose of procuring the articles of military stores enumerated in their second estimate of the 24th instant.2
[Note 2: 2 This resolution was also entered in the manuscript Secret (Domestic) Journal.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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