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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 --THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 1781
A report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon,
War Office June. 8. 1781
Sir,
Mr. Rogers was appointed a Brigade Chaplain to the third Pennsylvania brigade, which does not now exist, as the line of the State is formed into two brigades only. But by the resolve of the 8th. ulto., he cannot be considered as out of the army unless he is certified to be a retiring chaplain by the Commander of the Southern Army. He
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has eleven months pay due to him and before any warrant can be granted it will be necessary for Congress to direct
Ordered, That the Board of War draw a Warrant on the paymaster general for three months' pay, in favour of the revd Mr. William Rogers, as brigade chaplain.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, V, folio 287.]
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Treasury Office June 21. 1781
Whereas the Act of Congress of the 12 inst, directs, "that depreciation of Pay and subsistence be settled in behalf of the Officers and men of Col. Armand's Legion in the same manner and on the same principles as is provided for Col. Hazen's Regiment: The Board beg leave to represent that the officers for themselves and their men who formerly served in Count Pulaski's Legion, but now in Col. Armand's Legion, claim the Benefit of the Act afsd. not only since they have been part of Col. Armand's Corps; but for the time they served in Pulaski's Legion, whereupon the following resolution is submitted
Resolved, That the depreciation for pay and subsistance directed to be settled by the act of the 12th instant in favor of the officers and men of Colonel Armand's legion, be extended to the time those officers and men served in Count Pulaski's legion, who are now in Colonel Armand's.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, V, folio 389.]
Treasury Office June 19th 1781
The Board of Treasury have examined the Account exhibitted by the State of Connecticut for the Schooner Spy, Robert Niles masr. and also considered the Report of the Commissioners of Accounts and that of the Auditor General passing the same for 1863 dollars and 46/90 and 1/8 specie value. The Board differing in Opinion from the Commissioners and Auditors afsd submit the following state of Facts with the papers relative thereto.
Robert Niles afsd. charges the wages of his men up to the 25th of Decr. 1778--whereas it appears by this Letter to his Excellency Govr Trumbull, that he was captured on the 29 of August preceeding and no account of any of his men having returned to demand their Wages, nor any Proof that the State has actually made the Payment charged.
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Captain Niles Charge of 308 dollars and 61/90 Specie for his Expences while in Europe is also exceptionable having no Vouchers to support it nor are there any Vouchers to support his Charge of £180 Lawful Money for his Expences from Nantucket to his Place of Residence, except his Affidavit made at Lebanon in Connecticut the first of Sepr. 1779. By a Letter from the Honorable Mr. Lovell to the Commissioners of Accounts it appears there were Expences Paid in France on Capt Niles Vessel--this may be the whole or part of the monies he credits in his Accounts said to have been received from the Commissioners at Bourdeaux, Calais and Paris in November and December 1778 and Janry 1779 but as these Dates are long after his Sailing from France in the Schooner Spy, the Board are induced to believe that the money credited as afsd is what he acknowledges to have received in his Letter afsd. to Govr. Trumbull and not what has been advanced on his Vessel.
It doth also appear to the Board, that the account No 1 for the Outfit of the Schooner afsd. and her Stores are very exceptionable Charges amounting to £474:7:6: and that no part thereof ought to be allowed, except the Provisions and Stores for the voyage--a very principal Part of this account is for Wages to Labourers and Tradesmen and for Matterials for fitting the afsd shooner for her voyage on all which outfit, the Captain afsd. Charges a Commission of five per cent altho in publick Employ and on Wages; after which fitting it Clearly appears her Valuation took place, the letter from Govr. Trumbull of the 29th of August 1779 to Mesr. Perkins and McBreed clearly stew that her Appraisement was after she was fitted, his words, are, "as she was worth at the Time of her sailing for France." The Certificate of Appraisement also expresses, that her Value was ascertained "at the Time of her sailing for France" and it doth also appear, that sundry of the articles charged in the account afsd No 1 are actually in the Inventory and afterwards appraised--wherefore this Board conceive, that Captain Niles has charged the Public in the first Instance with all the repairs and outfit of the afsd Schooner, and then has her valued to the Public as she was ready for Sea by which management two Payments are made for the same thing. Whereupon the Board submit the following Resolution:
Ordered, That the accounts of the schooner Spy, Robert Niles, be referred to the commissioners of accounts at Hartford in Connecticut, for settlement, accompanied with the
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report of the Board of Treasury and other reports made thereon.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, V, folio 381.]
Ordered, That a report of the Board of Treasury for an advance of money to the postmaster general, together with a letter, of this day, from R. Bache, postmaster general, be referred to a committee of three:
The members, Mr. [Roger] Sherman, [Mr. James Mitchell] Varnum and Mr. [Thomas] Bee.
The report of the committee, ∥consisting of Mr. Atlee, Mr. Varnum, Mr. Bee,∥ on the petition of Captain Ysnardy was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
The Committee to whom the petition of Captain Don Miguel Lorenzo Ysnardy was Referred,
Report,
That having considered the said petition and examined Capt. Ysnardy they find the several facts there in to be as stated by him, and therefore recommend
Resolved, That Captain Ysnardy be allowed the value of the several articles made use of in the defence of Charlestown, for which he has produced vouchers, and that they be referred to the Board of Treasury to ascertain the value and take orders thereon:
That Captain Ysnardy and the crew of his ship who were employed during the siege in one of the bastions, be allowed the same pay and subsistance as is allowed to militia artillerists while on duty; and that the paymaster general be directed to settle and pay the same: and that the remaining part of the petition, respecting loan office certificates, be referred to the Board of Treasury to take order.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Samuel John Atlee, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, folio 605.]
On motion of Mr. [Joseph] Montgomery, seconded by Mr. [Roger] Sherman,
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Resolved, That a vice consul be appointed to reside in France, who shall exercise all the powers, and perform the services required of William Palfrey, during his absence from that kingdom, or during the pleasure of Congress; and be allowed a salary of one thousand dollars per annum, in lieu of all commissions for business done on account of the United States of America:
Ordered, That Monday next be assigned for electing a vice consul.1
[Note 1: 1 The resolution and order relating to the vice-consul were also entered in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs.]
On motion of the delegates of Virginia,
Resolved, That the commissary general of purchases be authorised to exchange with -- Nicholson, agent for the State of Virginia, now in Philadelphia, so much of the flour within the states of Pensylvania, Delaware, or Maryland, belonging to the United States, as Mr. R. Morris, with the advice and concurrence of the Commander in Chief, shall approve, for a like quantity to be delivered in the State of Virginia, by the aforesaid agent.
A report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon,
War Office June. 21. 1781
Sir,
Mr. Edward Branham a Conductor of Military Stores to the main army is on his way to Virginia with a considerable supply of arms and accoutrements from Head Quarters, but cannot proceed from hence unless assisted with a sum of money for his unavoidable expenses upon the road. The Board conceiving it of the highest importance that the Arms and Stores should be immediately sent forward for the use of the militia of that State
Beg leave to report
Ordered, That the Board of War draw a warrant on the paymaster general in favour of Mr. Edward Branham a conductor of military stores to the main army for three hundred
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dollars in bills of the new emissions on account of his pay, for which he is to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, V, folio 401.]
The ordinance reported was read a third time, and on the question, shall this ordinance pass, six states only being in the affirmative, the ordinance was thrown out.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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