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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 --MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1780
A representation of the conduct of the State of Maryland in answer to the act of Congress, of the 17 June last, by a committee for that purpose appointed, was read, accompanied with sundry acts and proceedings of the legislative and executive powers of the State, in pursuance of sundry acts and recommendations of Congress.2
[Note 2: 2 This representation is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 70, folio 419.]
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A memorial from William Bingham was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This memorial, undated, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, I, folio 319.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [John] Henry, Mr. [William Churchill] Houston and Mr. [John] Fell.
A representation from the officers on board of the Alliance, was read, also sundry papers signed by officers respecting Captain Landais, were laid before Congress.
Ordered, That they be referred to the Board of Admiralty.
A letter, of 31 August last, from Beza Woodward, in behalf of a convention of members from the towns on both sides Connecticut river, met at Dresden in the New Hampshire Grants;2 and a petition from the said convention; also another letter, of 31st August, from the said Beza Woodward, were read.3
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 40, I, folio 359; the petition, dated August 30, 1780, is on folio 559.]
[Note 3: 3 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 40, I, folio 361.]
The delegates for the State of New York laid before Congress a letter, of 12th, from Governor Clinton, with sundry papers enclosed, which were read:4
[Note 4: 4 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 40, I, folio 365.]
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the Board of Treasury be and hereby are authorised and empowered to send to the commissioners of the loan office in Massachusetts Bay, or to any other commissioner in any other state, such of the bills of exchange drawn on the hon. John Jay, minister plenipotentiary of the United States at the Court of Madrid, and reserved in pursuance of the resolution of Congress of the 21 of April last, for the use of prisoners of war, as they shall judge expedient, ordering the said bills to be sold for specie, on terms to be prescribed by the Board, the proceeds of which shall be applied
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in the same manner as is directed by another resolution of Congress, passed the 23d day of August last.
Ordered, That on the application of Joseph Scudder, a clerk in the war office, a warrant issue on the treasurer in his favour, for five thousand dollars, on account of his salary.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 583.]
A report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon,
At a Board of War Sept 15. 1780
The Board having considered the enclosed letter from Colo Hartley, and being well satisfied of the authenticity of the facts therein stated, Beg leave to report,
Resolved, That Lieutenant WilliAm Wilkinson, of the 62d British regiment, a prisoner of the Convention troops, be permitted to return to Ireland his native country, on parole.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, IV, folio 551.]
Another report from the Board of War was read, enclosing a return from the cloathier general; Whereupon,
War Office Sept 16. 1780
Sir
The Board have the honor to lay before Congress the number of articles of clothing mentioned in the last return received from the Clothier General, which will shew the very scanty stock of clothing on hand and the distressing probability of the calamities the troops will again experience from the want of cloathing; We know of no addition to the quantities mentioned in the return, except the articles agreed for by Otis & Henley with Messs Tracey & Compy which now lie at Boston and cannot be made up for want of money to pay the workmen. There is also a small quantity of clothing arrived in the French fleet, which we hear is sent off to Head quarters; the quantity or species we are unacquainted with, but the whole of these will bear a small proportion to the quantities required. Disappointed as we are in our expectations of the arrivals from Europe of cloathing on public account, and possessed of no means of remedying the misfortune, yet held up to the army as responsible in some degree for the provision of this essentially necessary article, we thought it our duty to lay the matter before Congress for their information and consideration, that some measures may be taken
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if in the power of Congress to prevent the distresses the troops are likely to experience from the severity of the approaching season.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, IV, folio 559.]
Ordered, That so much of the report, as relates to the goods purchased from Messrs. Tracey & Co. be referred to the Board of Treasury.
On motion of Mr. [Robert R.] Livingston, seconded by Mr. [Samuel] Adams,
Ordered, That the Board of War report the quantity of cloathing, military and hospital stores that will be necessary for the army for the ensuing campaign.
A letter, of 15, from General Washington was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, IX, folio 169. It is printed in the Writings of Washington (Ford), VIII, 440.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee on his letter of 20 August.
A letter, of 16, from General Washington; and
A letter, of 17, from the honorable the Minister of France, were read:3
[Note 3: 3 Washington's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, IX, folio 175.]
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the motion of the delegates of Virginia, and made some progress.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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