| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |
A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1780
The delegates for the State of Maryland laid before Congress a letter, of 20, from the governor of that State, which was read; Whereupon,3
[Note 3: 3 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 70, folio 431.]
Ordered, That a warrant issue on Thomas Harwood, commissioner of the continental loan office in the State of Maryland, in favour of Joseph Clay, paymaster in the southern department, for two thousand six hundred and sixty six dollars and two thirds of a dollar, to enable the extra regiment raised by the said State to proceed to the southward; and for which the said Joseph Clay is to be accountable.
The committee, to whom was referred the letter, of 29 September, from Colonel Pickering, Q. M. G. delivered in a report, which was read, and being taken into consideration,
Page 973 | Page image
Resolved, That where Congress have resolved that a certain sum in specie is a proper compensation for the services of officers in the quartermaster's department, and have determined that payment shall be made either in specie or other current money equivalent, by equivalent is intended a real and not a nominal equivalent.
That when the quartermaster general shall lay before the Board of Treasury the pay rolls of his department, containing the sums due to his officers, the Board be and hereby are directed to give order for the discharge of the same out of the warrants already granted, in favour of the quartermaster general, and which remain unsatisfied.1
[Note 1: 1 In the margin Charles Thomson noted: "Reconsidered, 26th See 22 November." This report, in the writing of Jared Ingersoll, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, V, folio 155.]
Congress resumed the consideration [of] the report of the Committee of Estimates and Ways and Means, wherein they state the following facts:
That from the report of the Board of War of the 10th of September, referred to this committee, it appears that the troops are again in danger of suffering distress from the want of cloathing; and that Congress are called upon to make every possible exertion to prevent a calamity which may be productive of the worst consequences.
That from the return of the cloathier general dated the 1st June last, and referred to in the foregoing report of the Board of War, it appears that there were in store 1196 coats, 2027 vests, 586 woolen, 971 leather, and 1256 drilling and linen breeches, and 24,645 pair of shoes.
That from an examination of different returns of the agents, the committee are of opinion there is a quantity of made shirts, and linen on hand sufficient in the whole for 35,000 shirts; and that there are also on hand 14,000 blankets;
Page 974 | Page image
but what part of the articles mentioned in the said returns are since expended, the committee are uninformed.
That it appears from the abovementioned report of the said Board, that they know of no addition to the quantities of cloathing specified in the cloathier general's return, except the articles agreed for by Otis and Henley, with Messrs Tracey & Co., which lie at Boston, and cannot be made use of, for want of money to pay the workmen; and except a small quantity of cloathing arrived in the French fleet, which they are informed is sent off to headquarters, the quantity or species they are unacquainted with; but that the whole stock of cloathing on hand will bear a small proportion to the quantities requisite. That from an estimate made by Otis and Henley, the goods purchased from them will make up 2300 suits of clothes, 4650 vests, and 267 pair of cloth breeches, exclusive of their contract for 300 pair of leather breeches.
The committee find that Mr. Beaumarchais, under the name of Roderique Hortalez and Company did, in the month of May, 1777, lade on board of the ship La Therese, at Nantes, a large quantity of cloathing for the United States, consigned to Mr. Carabasse, the correspondent of Mr. Beaumarchais, at Cape François, in the island of St. Domingo. That part of the said cloathing has, from time to time, been shipped by Mr. Carabasse in different small vessels consigned to the agents of Congress, most of which, it is said, have safely arrived in North and South Carolina.
That it further appears to the committee, that there still remains in the hands of Mr. Carabasse at Cape François, a considerable part of the said cloathing, viz. 98 bales of woolen cloths, 55 bales of thin woolen cloths, 70 bales of white linen, 25 bales of worsted hose, 23 bales of blankets, 20 bales of worsted caps, and a quantity of buttons, silk, thread, and
Page 975 | Page image
trimmings. That by a letter from Mr. Carabasse, of the 18 May, it appears, that it was not in his power to remit the said goods for want of vessels; and that he is very importunate to be reimbursed his advances on account of the United States:
That on the 15 day of June, 1779, Congress agreed upon a representation and request to his Most Christian Majesty, setting forth that the supplies of arms, ammunition and cloathing for our armies have ever since the war been irregular, fortuitous, and scanty; and therefore requesting his Majesty to furnish us with these necessary supplies, and pledging the faith of these States for the repayment with interest of whatever sums may be advanced for that purpose, as soon as the restoration of peace shall have enabled us. That on the 10th of July following, the Board of War laid before Congress an estimate of the articles of the supplies necessary for the Army and the Marine Committee, an estimate of the articles for their department, copies of which were ordered to be transmitted with the representation to his Most Christian Majesty.
That our minister at the Court of Versailles, in his despatches of the 4th of March last, assures Congress that the disposition of that court continued as favourable as ever, though it could not comply with all our demands. That the supplies required in the invoices sent to him appeared too great and numerous to be immediately furnished. That three millions of livres were however granted him, with which, after deducting what would be necessary to pay the interest bills and other late drafts of Congress, he could not venture on ordering more than 10,000 suits of cloathes; and that with these he should have 15,000 arms and accoutrements; and that a great deal of cloths would go over in the Alliance purchased by Mr. Ross, which it was computed would make seven or eight thousand suits more.
Page 976 | Page image
That the said minister in the said letter repeats his earnest request, that some person of skill in maritime affairs may be appointed in the character of consul to take charge of them, he himself being unexperienced in such affairs; and in a letter of the 4 of October preceding, he expresses his wish that his time and attention were not taken up by any concerns in mercantile affairs, and he thereby be diverted from others more important: Whereupon,
Resolved, That the Board of War be, and hereby is, directed to order such quantities of cloth and trimmings, purchased from Messrs. Tracey and Company and now in store, as the Commander in Chief shall direct, to be forwarded, in order to be made up in the army; and that they take the necessary measures for having the rest of the cloathing made up and delivered to the cloathier general for the use of the troops, as they may be required.
That the Board of Admiralty be, and hereby is directed to despatch one of the continental frigates, as soon as can be done with any prospect of safety, to Cape François, for the cloathing and other public effects now in the care of Mr. Carabasse; and to bring the same into such port as the said Board shall judge to be most safe and convenient.
That it be referred to the Commercial Committee to report the ways and means for reimbursing Mr. Carabasse the money he has advanced for the United States.
That it is necessary to obtain as far as possible the supplies of cloathing, medicines, arms, and ammunition requested from his most Christian Majesty on loan; as well as without loss of time to import such of the cloathing and other articles as have been granted, or purchased in France for the public use. That for these and other purposes a consul be appointed to reside in France, whose duty it shall be, in addition to his consular functions, to receive and forward
Page 977 | Page image
all supplies to be obtained in that kingdom for the use of the United States, and to assist in directing our naval affairs.1
[Note 1: 1 This paragraph was written separately from the rest of the report by James Duane. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 31, folio 69. As embodied in the committee's report it read: "That for these and other purposes a Postponed Secretary be forthwith appointed to the minister plenipotentiary at the Court of Versailles and that he be invested also with the office of consul for the United States and in that character be charged to take upon himself an active part in procuring and forwarding all loans and supplies from France for the use of these States, and in conducting our naval and commercial affairs in that kingdom." Thomson gives the clause and postponement as follows: "That for these and other purposes a beforthwith appointed, whose duty it shall be in addition to his Consular functions to provide and forward for the use of the United States all such supplies as he may be enabled to do either by loans procured by the Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of Versailles or advances transmitted by Congress for that purpose. To which it was moved by Mr. [James] Duane seconded by Mr. [Theodorick] Bland to add.
That he shall carry on no private trade or business for himself or others, and shall be entitled to a salary ofper annum, in lieu of all commissions.
On which the yeas and nays being required by Mr [James] Duane:{table}
So it Passed in the Negative.
Ordered, That the Paragraph be recommitted."]
That the Board of Admiralty be and hereby is directed, to report to Congress the reasons that the public cloathing and military stores have not been imported agreeably to the intentions of our minister at the Court of Versailles.
That in addition to the measures taken by Congress it be and hereby is recommended to the respective states to exert their utmost endeavours to furnish their quotas of troops in
Page 978 | Page image
the continental line with cloathing on the terms mentioned in the former resolutions of Congress on this subject.1
[Note 1: 1 These resolutions, except the last paragraph, were also entered in the manuscript Secret Journals, Domestic and Foreign Affairs. I have followed the arrangement of paragraphs in the regular Journals. The report, in the writing of James Duane, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 31, folios 67 and 73.]
The heads of the Report of the Committee to whom the Report of the Board of Treasury and letters of the Board of War were referred.
That a Consul or Agent be appointed to reside in France.
That Thursday next be assigned for the election. That he be directed to forward all cloathing and stores belonging to the United States, now in France as soon as possible.
That a Letter be wrote to Dr. Franklin to direct him to forward in the mean time all he can.
That an estimate of cloathing sufficient for the officers and soldiers upon the present establishment be made and sent to France.
That the Minister of France be desired to use his influence with the Court of France to obtain a loan for the cloathing.
That the Board of Admiralty send the Deane Frigate and prize Brigantine to Hispanola for the cloathing there; that they take Tobacco from Maryland belonging to the Continent, sufficient to pay the Charges that have arose at that place.
That the States from New Hampshire to Virginia Inclusive, be called on for their proportion of cloathing for 15,000, exclusive of Shirts and Blankets.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, without date other than the year, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, I, folio 291.]
Ordered, That Monday next be assigned for the election of a consul to reside in France for the proposes above mentioned.
Mr. William Palfrey was nominated for that office by Mr. [John] Walker.
A memorial from James McCallister was read:3
[Note 3: 3 This memorial, undated, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, VI, folio 199.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
Congress took into consideration another report of the Committee of Estimates and of Ways and Means; and after debate,
Page 979 | Page image
Admiralty Office, October 25, 1780.
The Board, to whom the annexed Memorial was referred, Report,
That the information they have received of Mr. James Pyne's qualifications, and former services under the State of South Carolina, are such, as in the opinion of this Board, may recommend him to the Rank of a Lieutenant in the navy of the United States--But they beg leave to inform Congress, that they have at present several Lieutenants of long standing upon their navy list, who are not in actual service. Mr. Charles McCarthy, the other Memorialist, is engaged in private Service.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, indorsed upon Pyne and McCarthy's memorial of July 18, 1780, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, VIII, folio 132.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |