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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, FEBRUARY 6, 1781
A letter of 11 January last, from the executors of Major Samuel Clarke, was read:3
[Note 3: 3 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, V, folio 445.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury to take order.
Ordered, That two members be elected for the Board of Treasury:
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The Members, Mr. [George] Walton, Mr. T[homas] Smith.
On motion of Mr. [Theodorick] Bland,
Resolved, That Thomas Bond, jun. purveyor to the general hospital, be, and hereby is, authorised to settle the accounts for salaries, and pay the officers of the hospital established in Virginia, under the direction of Dr. Gould, which have accrued since the new arrangement of the medical department; and that Dr. William Rickman, late deputy director, settle and return the accounts of salaries due the officers of the said hospital, prior to that date, to the present purveyor.
A memorial of J. Henderson, agent of O. Pollock, was read;1 Whereupon,
[Note 1: 1 This memorial is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, IV, folio 161.]
Congress took into consideration the report of the Committee of Commerce on the memorial of J. Henderson, respecting the accounts of O. Pollock; and, thereupon,
The Commercial Committee beg leave to report,
That they have had under their consideration the memorial of John Henderson, agent for Oliver Pollock, together with the Accounts of said Pollock against the United States therein referred to, which they find had undergone a previous examination and been passed by Mr. Fell one of the late Commercial Committee as appears by his certificate thereon.
That in attempting a reexamination of the said account they perceive some of the vouchers are missing which Mr. Pennel of the Navy Board who assisted Mr. Fell in the settlements and had frequent access to the papers of the Commercial Committee assures your Committee did once exist.
That as Mr. Henderson has remained in this city for many months past solely to prosecute this business of his principal, and as it would have the appearance of imposing a hardship on Mr. Pollock to require of him a new transmission of vouchers to ascertain a demand which from the circumstance of Mr. Fell's certificate seems to have been satisfactorily established in the opinion of the late Commercial Committee; if Congress should be of the like opinion, your Committee submit the following order to the Treasury Board:
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Ordered, That the Treasury Board pass thirty-seven thousand eight hundred and thirty-six dollars, specie, to the credit of Oliver Pollock, agent of the United States at New Orleans, as a debt due to him from the said states, on which an interest of six per cent. is to be allowed him until payment shall be made.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 31, folio 227.]
A report from the Board of War was read:
At a Board of War,February 5, 1781.
Present Mr Peters, Genl Cornell.
The Board have the honor to lay before Congress a letter of the 30th. Ulto from Charles Pettit, A. Q. M. G. inclosing one from Colo Carrington D. Q. M. for the Southern Army, containing information, as well as a request for a supply of money. As it will be impossible to procure an estimate from Colo Carrington in any reasonable time, and as it is evident that he must stand in need of a very considerable supply of money in the present deranged situation of affairs in that quarter, the Board have thought proper to make this application immediately to Congress, the more especially as it is not accompanied with an estimate, and they beg leave to report--
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury, to report a warrant in favour of C. Pettit, assistant quartermaster general, for the use of Colonel Carrington, deputy quartermaster for the southern army, for five hundred thousand dollars old emissions.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 148, I, folio 299.]
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Treasury Office,Jany. 30th, 1781.
The Board of Treasury having considered the letter from Col. Charles Pettit, Asst. Quarter Master General of the 29th inst. with sundry letters enclosed, and accompanied with a letter of the 30th inst. from the Board of War, approving of the same, beg leave to report,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on Thomas Harwood, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of
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Maryland, in favour of Charles Pettit, assistant quartermaster general, on account of Colonel T. Pickering, quartermaster general, for ten thousand dollars new emissions, for the quartermaster's department in the district of Delaware and Maryland, and for which sum the said Colonel T. Pickering is to be accountable;
That on the application of Mr. I[saac] Motte, one of the delegates for the State of South Carolina, a warrant issue in his favour on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pensylvania, for seventeen thousand dollars old emissions, for which the said State of South Carolina is to be accountable;1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, V, folio 79.]
Treasury Office,Jany. 30th. 1781.
The Board of Treasury have considered the Petition of Robert Jewell, keeper of the States Prison, read in Congress the 27th Inst. and referred to the Board of Treasury.
It appears by a return this day made by the Treasurer, that warrants drawn upon him in favor of the Petitioner to the amount twenty-nine thousand six hundred and seventy-five dollars remain undischarg'd and that there is no probability that the Treasurer will shortly be enabled to pay them,--wherefore the following resolution is submitted.
That a warrant issue on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pensylvania, in favour of Michael Hillegas, treasurer, for twenty-nine thousand six hundred and seventy-five dollars in the old emissions, to enable the said treasurer to discharge the several warrants due to Robert Jewell, keeper of the states prison, for which sum the said treasurer is to be accountable.
The Board have had under their consideration a letter from Charles Pettit assistant Quarter Master General of the 29th Instant inclosing an "Estimate of Cash wanted to answer the immediate demands of the Quarter Master's Department in the State of Pennsylvania"
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amounting to forty-eight thousand two hundred and sixty dollars 17½/90ths of a dollar, which estimate and letter accompanies this report.
Upon the letter and estimate aforesaid approved and signed by the Board of War, and taking into consideration the order of Congress of the 15th Decr last "That the Board of Treasury pay particular attention to the exigencies of the Quarter Master's Department." The following Resolution is submitted--
That upon the application of Chas. Pettit Assistant Quarter Master General upon an estimate approved by the Board of War, a warrant issue in his favor on Thos Smith Commissioner of the Continental Loan Office for the State of Pennsylvania for forty-eight thousand two hundred and sixty dollars and 17½/90ths of a dollar in the Bills emitted pursuant to the Act of Congress of the 18th March last, (part of the four tenths subject to the order of Congress) for which sum Timothy Pickering Quarter Master General is to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, V, folio 71.]
Ordered, That so much of the report as relates to the letter of 29 January last, from C. Pettit, assistant quartermaster general, together with the said letter, be referred to a committee of three:
The members, Mr. [Theodorick] Bland, Mr. [Alexander] McDougall,Mr. Sullivan, Mr. [Oliver] Wolcott.
Another report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Treasury OfficeJany. 27th. 1781
In compliance with an order of Congress of the 22nd instant and a letter from the Board of War of the 25 instant with an estimate of thirteen thousand dollars New Emission from the Honble. Board aforesaid to be necessary to recruit Col. Armands Legion--The Board of Treasury beg leave to report
That a warrant issue in favor of Joseph Carleton Pay Mast. to the Board of War and ordnance on Nathl. Appleton Commissioner for the Continental loan [office] for the State of MassachusettsPostponed Bay for thirteen thousand dollars New Emission for the purpose of recruiting Col. Armands Legion &c and for which sum the said Pay Master is to be accountable--
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In consequence of an account exhibited to Congress by the Directors of the Pennsylvania Bank shewing a balance due on the first Payment on the Loan subscription of £3891.2.4. specie which account was on the fourth instant referred to this Board "to devise ways and means of repaying the same to the Managers of the Bank" whereupon the following resolution is submitted:
Ordered, That George Clymer and John Nixon, directors of the Pensylvania bank, be authorized and empowered to sell so many of the bills of exchange deposited in their hands in consequence of the act of Congress of the 22d of June last, as shall enable them to make the first payment on the loan subscription to the amount of three thousand eight hundred and ninety-one pounds two shillings and four pence, and that they advise with and be governed by the loan officer of the State of Pensylvania with respect to the value of the bills.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, V, folio 65.]
Treasury Office,Feby 50th, 1781.
In compliance with an order of Congress of the 2d instant, the Board report the following Resolutions:
Ordered, That a warrant issue in favor of Colonel Benjamin Flower, commissary general of military stores, for thirty-four thousand four hundred dollars old emissions, on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pensylvania, for the purchase of sundry articles to be forwarded to the southern army, and for which sum the said commissary general of military stores is to be accountable;
That a warrant issue on Thomas Smith, commissioner aforesaid, for three hundred dollars of the new emissions, in favour of Captain Paschki, late of the army of the United States, for his services with the southern army since the resolution of the 16 day of May last;
That on the application of Richard Philips, steward to the President of Congress, a warrant issue in his favour on
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Thomas Smith aforesaid, for fifteen thousand dollars old emissions, for the use of the President's household, and for which the said steward is to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, V, folio 85.]
The Board of Treasury, to whom was re-committed their report, respecting the drawing of the fourth class of the United States' lottery, delivered in another report; Whereupon,
Treasury OfficeJanuary 19th. 1781.
The Board of Treasury beg leave to lay before Congress a letter of the 15th instant from the managers of the United States lottery, for direction in the premises. The Board, however, are of opinion that in the present depreciated state of the old currency it will be for the interest of the United States not to dispose of any of the tickets which remain unrenewed by adventurers in the third class; because the prizes to be funded in the fourth class will be on the disadvantageous terms of forty dollars of the old for one of the new, when the value of one of the latter is at least equal to seventy-five of the former. The following resolution is therefore submitted:
Resolved, That the managers of the United States' lottery, forthwith prepare for the drawing of the fourth class of the said lottery; that they draw the blanks and prizes, and begin the drawing on the firstday of March Monday in April next, under the direction of the Board of Treasury; and that the tickets then remaining unrenewed by the adventurers in the third class, conformable to the resolution of the 18th day of November, 1776, be on account of the United States and not disposed of.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, V, folio 37.]
A letter, of this day, from J. Scudder, was read:3
[Note 3: 3 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XXI, folio 9.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
Congress resumed the consideration of the report for a new arrangement of the executive boards, and after some time being spent thereon;
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Ordered, That so much as relates to the Marine Department be re-committed.1
[Note 1: 1 The part recommitted was as follows, being in the writing of James Duane; it is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 28, folio 313:
That the Secretary of Marine be empowered and required to execute and discharge all the duties committed by Congress to the Board of Admiralty; That the several Navy Boards be abolished and the duties heretofore exercised by them be committed to such agents not exceeding one in each Port as shall be recommended by the Secretary of Marine and appointed by Congress. That he also report to Congress the officers necessary for assisting him in the duties of his Department.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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