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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, MAY 8, 1781
The committee of the week reported that they have examined the public dispatches and considered the orders necessary to be made thereon; Whereupon,
The Committee on the Public Dispatches, Report.
Ordered, That he be informed Congress cannot comply with his request.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury to take order.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Admiralty. And that they report their opinion on the necessity of a further continuance of that board, and also the navy Board at Philadelphia.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury to take order.
[Note 1: 1 Rachael Farmer's memorial is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41 III, folio 244.]
Ordered, That it lay on the table.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Medical Comtee.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Medical Committee Board of War.
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Ordered, That the report of the Board of War on this subject be considered.
Ordered, That it be referred to a special Comtee.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War to take order, the resolution of ... notwithstanding.
Ordered, That it be referred to a special Comtee.
Ordered, That he be informed his request cannot be complied with.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Admiralty.
No order necessary.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of John Mathews, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 155.]
Ordered, That Messrs. Montluisant and de Rochefermoy be informed that their request to be employed in the service of the United States cannot be complied with;
That the letter from Mr. C. Griffin and Ann Roberts, executrix of R. Jewell, be referred to the Board of Treasury to take order;2
[Note 2: 2 De Montluisant's letter of May 2 is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XVI, folio 183, and his memorial on folio 187; de Rochefermoy's letter is in No. 78, XIX, 359; Ann Roberts' letter is in No. 78, XIX, folio 365.]
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That the memorial of William Storey, clerk to the navy board, eastern department, be referred to the Board of Admiralty to report their opinion on the necessity of a further continuance of the navy boards in the eastern and middle departments;
That the application of John Boreman be transmitted to the paymaster general;
That the letter and accounts of Joseph Eaker be referred to the Medical Committee;1
[Note 1: 1 This letter, dated April 24, 1781, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 193.]
That the petitions of P. Peres and Lieutenant Bar be referred to the Board of War;2
[Note 2: 2 Peres's petition, dated April 19, 1781, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, V, folio 129; Barr's petition is on folio 117.]
That the letter from Lieutenant Colonel Derricks and the letter from Gaml Painter be referred to a committee of three:3
[Note 3: 3 Dirik's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, VII, folio 391.]
The members, Mr. [Artemas] Ward, Mr. [Samuel John] Atlee, Mr. [Theodorick] Bland.
On motion of Mr. [John] Sullivan, seconded by Mr. [William] Sharpe:
Ordered, That a committee of five be appointed to devise further ways and means to defray the expences of the ensuing campaign and what farther measures may be adopted for the better regulation of the public finances:
The members, Mr. [John] Witherspoon, Mr. [John] Sullivan, Mr. M[eriwether] Smith, Mr. [George] Clymer, Mr. [Thomas] Rodney.4
[Note 4: 4 These paragraphs, beginning with the motion of Mr. Sullivan, are also entered in the manuscript Secret (Domestic) Journal.]
A report from the Board of War, on the memorial of the Rev. Mr. Rogers, was taken into consideration; and, Thereupon,
Resolved, That the Commander in Chief be, and he is hereby, authorised and directed to arrange the brigade chaplains of the several State lines serving with the army, and the
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commanding general of the southern army those of the line serving with that army; so as to retain in service no more chaplains of each line than are equal to the number of brigades:
That every chaplain deemed and certified to the Board of War to be supernumerary, be no longer continued in service, and be entitled to all the benefits enjoyed by officers quitting the service by virtue of the regulations of Congress on that subject to have their depreciation made good, and to the half-pay of captains for life.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, V, folio 95.]
A letter, of May 1st, from E. Blaine, commissary general, enclosing an estimate of money due to his assistants and deputies, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 165, folio 401.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members, Mr. T[homas] Smith, Mr. [Abraham] Clark, Mr. [Isaac] Motte.
A letter, of this day, from the Board of War, was read, respecting some Indians of the Catawba tribe, now in Philadelphia:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War to take order.
The report of the Board of War on the letter, of 1st, from the Commander in Chief, was read; Whereupon,
At a Board of War, May 8th. 1781.
Present, Mr Peters
Colo Grayson
The Board having taken into consideration that part of General Washington's letter of the 1st Instant Referred to them by Congress, which relates to the extra Expence to which the Commandant at West Point is subjected; beg leave to Report,
Resolved, That the commanding general at West point for the time being receive the extra allowance granted by
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Congress to an officer commanding a seperate department until the farther order of Congress.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, V, folio 103.]
Another report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon,
War Office May 4. 1781
Sir,
The Board have the honour to lay before Congress estimates for the pay of the western troops, and also for a sum necessary to enable Capt. Craig to take a number of artificers from Carlisle. We enclose letters from the Paymaster General and the Deputy Paymaster General for that department; which sufficiently shew the urgency of the business. We therefore request Congress will be pleased to direct measures for procuring the money without which the western troops will not only be extremely uneasy but those both of infantry and artillery going with General Clarke, will in our opinion absolutely refuse to march.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, V, folio 107.]
Ordered, That the Board of War take order by draughts on the paymaster general to the amount of nineteen thousand and twenty-four dollars new emissions for the pay of the western troops and to enable Captain Craig to take a number of artificers from Carlisle.
A report from the Board of Admiralty was read; Whereupon,
Admiralty Office, May 8th, 1781.
The Board beg leave to Report, that the case of the Brigantine Governor Johnston referred to in the memorial of Samuel and Robert Purviance, David Stewart and Daniel Bowley of Baltimore, was entirely a commercial transaction, and originated with the Commercial Committee, therefore submit the following order to the Honorable the United States in Congress assembled:
Ordered, That the memorial of S. and R. Purviance, David Stewart and D. Bowley, which was referred to the Board of Admiralty, be referred to the Committee of Commerce.3
[Note 3: 3 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 37, folio 459.]
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A report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon,
At a Board of War May 7. 1781
Present Mr. Peters
Col. Grayson
It appearing by the papers produced by Louis Daniel Martin Esqr late a Capt. in the 5th Regt. of South Carolina Continentals that he was dismissed the service as a supernumerary officer and entitled to one year's pay under the resolution of Congress made on that subject, and as the pay in the old money is now of so little value, it is presumed that Congress will be pleased to order,
Ordered, That the Board of War draw a warrant on the paymaster general for four hundred and eighty dollars in bills of the new emission for one year's pay, in favour of Louis Daniel Martin, late a captain in the 5 South Carolina regiment, who retired as a supernumerary, the 1st April, 1780.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, V, folio 97.]
On motion of Mr. [Theodorick] Bland, seconded by [Mr. John] Witherspoon:
Resolved, That the State of Connecticut be requested to use every possible exertion to remount Colonel Sheldon's regiment and to equip them with such accoutrements as they can furnish them with to enable them to take the field.
Resolved that the Board of War take order in furnishing Col. Sheldons Regt. with such cloathing as may be due to the said Regt. in order to equip them for the ensuing Campaign with all possible expedition.2
[Note 2: 2 This motion, in the writing of Theodorick Bland, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, I, folio 183.]
A letter, of 20 April, from Mons. Destouches, commander of the squadron of his Most Christian Majesty at Rhode Island, was read.3
[Note 3: 3 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, VII, folio 379.]
The President informed the house that he was under a necessity to return home and therefore desired leave of absence; Whereupon,
Ordered, That Thursday next be assigned for electing a President.
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The Committee of Commerce delivered in a report.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.1
[Note 1: 1 An undated motion, in the writing of John Mathews, appears to belong to this date It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, IV, folio 505, and is as follows:
Resolved, That the public dispatches (except such as the President shall determine will demand the immediate attention of Congress), the reports of the Board of War and Treasury, and all other reports be postponed until Congress shall have finally determined on the report of the Committee on Ways and Means.]
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