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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 --WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1780
A letter, of 11 October, from the honble. J. Adams was read.4
[Note 4: 4 This letter is printed in the Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution (Wharton), IV, 88.]
A letter, of 20, from S. Atlee, and a petition of the burgesses of the borough of Lancaster, were read:5
[Note 5: 5 Atlee's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, I, folio 387; the petition, dated December 19, 1780, is on folio 391.]
Ordered, That they be referred to the Board of War to take order.
A letter, of 13, from James Willing was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Admiralty.
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That on the application of Mr. [John] Sullivan, a delegate for the State of New Hampshire, a warrant issue in his favour on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental
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loan office for the State of Pensylvania, for twenty thousand dollars; for which the said State is to be accountable.
Treasury Office December 27, 1780
The Board of Treasury Report,
That Thomas Smith Esqr Commissioner of the Continental Loan Office for the State of Pennsylvania is possessed of some specie, received in consequence of the sale of the Bills of Exchange deposited in his hands, the quantity of which this Board is not informed of; but submit to Congress the following Resolution--
Resolved, That Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pensylvania, be, and hereby is, authorised and directed to pay to the paymaster of the Board of War and Ordinance all the specie he is possessed of, not exceeding sixteen hundred and eighty seven dollars, and thirty ninetieths of a dollar, arising from the sale of bills of exchange on the minister of the United States in Europe, in order that the same may be transmitted by the flag now ready to sail to Charlestown, for the use of the prisoners of war there.
The Board beg leave to lay before Congress for instruction a letter just received from Thomas Smith Commissioner of the Loan Office for this State, dated this day, requesting to know whether he may receive the money of this and other States in payment of Bills of Exchange.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 783.]
The Board of Treasury report, that they have received a letter, of the 9th, from Edward Chinn, one of the commissioners of accounts for the northern department, informing them of the death of John Welles, the other commissioner of the extra chamber of accounts, appointed by Congress the 13th of October last, for that department; Whereupon,
Treasury Office Decr. 22d. 1780
The Board of Treasury have before them a letter of the 9th Instant from Edward Chinn one of the Commissioners of accounts for the
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Northern department informing the Board of the death of John Wells the other Commissioner of the extra chamber of accounts appointed by Congress the 13th of October last for that Department, and as the Board are of opinion the vacancy should be filled up immediately in order that the necessary business in which the Chamber aforesaid was engaged should be prosecuted, and as Mr Gansevoort of the State of New York has been strongly recommended to fill that vacancy, the following Resol. is submitted--
Resolved, That Mr Leonard Gansevoort be and he is hereby appointed one of the Commissioners of the Extra Chamber of accounts for the Northern Department in the room of John Wells deceased, subject to the Rules and Regulations of that Chamber as expressed in the resolution of Congress of the 13th of Octr last.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 779.]
Ordered, That to morrow be assigned for electing a commissioner of the extra chamber, in the room of Mr. Welles, deceased.
Mr. Leonard Gansevort was put in nomination by Mr. [William] Floyd.
On motion of Mr. [John] Sullivan, seconded by Mr. [Abraham] Clark,
Resolved, That a commissioner of the Board of War be appointed to act during the absence of Colonel Pickering and that to morrow be assigned for the election.
Mr. E[zekiel] Cornell was nominated by Mr. [John] Sullivan.
The committee appointed to prepare additional instructions to the honble. Doctor Franklin, delivered in a draught which was agreed to.
Resolved, That the third article of instructions given to Dr. Franklin the 28th of November last, be added to those given to Mr. J. Laurens, as additional instructions.2
[Note 2: 2 See ante November 28, 1780. A copy of the additional instructions to Col. J. Laurens, in the writing of George Bond, of the Secretary's Office, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, I, folio 381.]
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ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS TO DR. FRANKLIN
Sir,
Since your last instructions, Congress have thought it expedient to send Colonel John Laurens with powers to negotiate specially the important affairs to which they more immediately relate. This gentleman, from the nature of his services and situation, has had opportunities of information which peculiarly qualify him for giving to his Most Christian Majesty a more lively idea of our circumstances, of our indispensable wants, and of the great advantages which must result to the allies from his majesty's complying with our requests.
The negotiation is besides so critically important that it was deemed highly requisite, by the mission of this special minister, to guard against the accident of your want of health, and the consequent delay in making the application.
Notwithstanding this appointment, should the duplicates of the despatches reach you before this minister's arrival, you will consider it as the desire of Congress, that you take, with all possible expedition, every step in your power for effecting the business, or at least for disposing his Most Christian Majesty and his ministers to take a favourable impression from the representation which Colonel Laurens, from his advantages of fuller information, may be better able to make. He is instructed, and it is well known to be his own disposition, to avail himself of your information and influence. And Congress having a high sense of your experience, wisdom, love of your country, and the esteem entertained for you by the Court at which you reside, doubt not that the success of this measure will be much promoted by the assistance he will derive from you. And they desire you to consider your attention to him, as a matter which
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will be very satisfactory to Congress, and advantageous to your country.
Done by Congress, at Philadelphia, 27th day of December, in the year of our Lord, 1780, and in the 5th year of our independence.
(Signed) Saml. Huntington, President.
Ch. T. Sec'y.1
[Note 1: 1 The additional instructions to Franklin and Laurens were entered only in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs. They are printed in the Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution (Wharton), IV, 211 and 212. The report, in the writing of Thomas Burke, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, I, folio 385.]
A report of the Board of War was read; Whereupon,
War Office, Decr. 23, 1780
Sir,
The Board have offered to them to purchase for the use of the army as much cloth as will make fifteen hundred suits of clothes, and five hundred blankets at 3¼ for one on the sterling cost. Perhaps they may be obtained lower, but not very much under this price. They are at Philadelphia. The shocking situation of the Southern troops, and indeed of the whole army on the score of cloathing induces this representation to Congress, that if they choose to enable the Board to purchase the articles, they will be pleased to direct,
Ordered, That bills of exchange out of those already drawn on Doctor Franklin, to the amount of eighty thousand livres tournois, be put into the hands of the Board of War, for the purpose of purchasing a quantity of woolen cloth and blankets for the army.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, IV, folio 745.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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