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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, NOVEMBER 20, 1780
A letter, of this day, from W. Grayson, a commissioner of the Board of War, was read, desiring leave of absence for four weeks to visit his family.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, X, folio 277.]
Ordered, That leave be granted.
A petition of Captain John Traversi was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This petition, dated November 20, 1780, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, VII, folio 398.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 6, from Governor Clinton; and
A letter, of 2d, from John Bradford, were read:3
[Note 3: 3 Clinton's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 67, II, folio 328.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Admiralty, and that a copy be transmitted to the Board of Treasury.
A letter of 22, and one of 23 of August, from the honorable John Adams at Amsterdam, were read:4
[Note 4: 4 Adams's letters are printed in the Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution (Wharton), IV, folios 36 and 41.]
Ordered, That they be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [John] Mathews, Mr. [Willie] Jones and Mr. [Richard] Howly.
A letter, of 10 March, from John de Neuville & Son was read, with sundry papers enclosed respecting a Dutch vessel taken by Captain Jones:
Ordered, That the same be referred to the committee, to whom was referred the report of the Board of Admiralty on the 3d instant.
A letter, of 22 July, from O. Pollock was read:5
[Note 5: 5 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 50, folio 257.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
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Sundry letters from Mr. Dumas were read, viz.
One of March 21, one of 22, one of 25, and one of 31 of July and one of 18 August:1
[Note 1: 1 Dumas' letter of March 21 is printed in the Diplomatic Correspondence of the Revolution (Wharton), III, 565.]
Ordered, That they be referred to the committee on his letter of December 30.
That Mr. [James] Lovell be added to the said committee.
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on Nathaniel Appleton, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Massachusetts Bay, in favour of Colonel Benjamin Flower, commissary general of military stores, for the sum of one thousand two hundred and eighty dollars and 38/90 in bills of credit, emitted pursuant to the act of Congress of the 18th of March, to enable the said commissary general to discharge the balance of Thomas Dickinson's account; and for which sum the said Benjamin Flower is to be accountable.
The Committee of Estimates and of Ways and Means brought in a report which was read; and after debate,
Ordered, That it be re-committed.
Ordered, That two members be appointed to the Board of Treasury.
The members chosen, Mr. [William Churchill] Houston, Mr. [Isaac] Motte.
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on Governor Jefferson's letter of 7; and thereupon,
Resolved, That it be recommended to the governor of Virginia, to cause the prisoners taken at King's Mountain to be secured in such manner and at such places as he may judge proper:
That a list of the names of the tory prisoners be taken, distinguishing the states, county, or district, to which they severally belong, and transmitted to the executive of their
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several states, who are requested take order respecting such as ought not to be pardoned and that the commanding officer in the southern department take order respecting the remainder [to take such order respecting them, as the public security and the laws of the respective states may require].1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the writing of William Sharpe, except the words in brackets, which are in the writing of Theodorick Bland. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, II, folio 257.]
A letter, of this day, from E. Blaine was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 165, folio 383.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee on his letter of the 12th.
The Board of War, to whom was referred the report of the Board of Treasury respecting Mordecai Sheftal made report.
At a Board of War Nov 20 1780
Mr Peters Col Grayson
The Board of War beg leave to report on the reference from Congress of part of the memorial of Mordecai Sheftal.
That on his arrival from the West Indies an account was presented of the pay due to him as Deputy Commissary General of issues and a Warrant was drawn thereupon and paid by the pay master general. That at the time Mr Sheftal objected to the sum being insufficient and claimed an allowance for the depreciation, but being informed by the Board that they had no authority in the case further than to give a warrant for the nominal sum there being no Resolve of Congress for making good the depreciation to the staff officers, Mr Sheftal took the Warrant with a reservation of his claim to the depreciation, if Congress should thereafter think proper to make the allowance to the Staff of the army.3
[Note 3: 3 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, IV, folio 685.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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