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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 --FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1781
A letter, of 10 February, from William Lee;
One, of March 5, from Mr. Dumas;
One of 24, one of 28 and one of 31 March, also one of 2 and one of 4 April, from the honble F. Dana, were read:
Ordered, That the letters from Mr. Dana be referred to the committee on the memorial from the minister of France.2
[Note 2: 2 This order is also entered in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs.
The letter from William Lee is printed in the Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution (Wharton) IV, 253: the one from Dumas, on page 273; Dana's, of March 24, on page 325; March 28, on page 333; March 31, on page 344; April 2 and April 4, on page 349.]
A letter, of 21, from Mr. R. Morris, was read:3
[Note 3: 3 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 137, I, folio 39.]
Two letters, of 22, from Mr. R. Morris, were read:4
[Note 4: 4 These letters are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 137, I, folios 47 and 51.]
Ordered, That they be referred to a committee of three:
The members, Mr. [George] Clymer, Mr. [John] Sullivan, Mr. [John] Mathews.
Another letter, of 21, from Mr. R. Morris, was read; Whereupon,5
[Note 5: 5 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 137, I, folio 43.]
Resolved, That Mr. R. Morris be, and he is hereby empowered and directed to take order for discharging the debt due from the United States to the Pensylvania bank, and that the bills of exchange drawn on the ministers of these United States at the Courts of Madrid and The Hague, and lodged
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with the Pensylvania bank, be put under the direction of the said Robert Morris, to be by him disposed of in such manner as he shall think proper, for the use and benefit of the United States of America.
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Treasury Office June 22nd. 1781
The Board of Treasury beg leave to Report,
That they have it not in their power to comply with the reference from Congress on the 18th. inst. of the Report of the Committee of Congress for an "advance of sixteen hundred and ninety three specie dollars or bills of exchange to Col. Moses Hazen, in part of the balance due to him from the U. States" because there is no specie in the Treasury: and the residue of the bills of Exchange drawn on the Ministers in Europe was disposed of by the order of Congress of the 20th. instant.
The Board further report,
Ordered, That on the application of Mr. I[saac] Motte, one of the delegates for the State of South Carolina, a warrant issue on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pensylvania for one thousand dollars of the new emission, for which the State of South Carolina is to be accountable; and
That on the application of Mr. [William] Few, one of the delegates for the State of Georgia, a warrant issue in his favour on Thomas Smith, commissioner aforesaid, for eight hundred dollars of the new emission, for which the State of Georgia is to be accountable;1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, V, folio 391.]
Ordered, That a warrant issue on Thomas Smith, commissioner aforesaid, in favour of Colonel M. Hazen, for four thousand dollars of bills of the new emission in part of the balance due to him, for which he is to be accountable. This to be paid in preference of all other warrants not specially directed.
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On motion of Mr. [John] Mathews:
Ordered, That a committee of three be appointed to prepare the draught of an ordinance touching captures by land:
The members, Mr. [John] Mathews, Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth, Mr. [James Mitchell] Varnum.
The committee of the week reported; Whereupon,
The Committee of the Week report,
That the memorial of G. Glentworth, Wm. Smith and James Fallon, supernumerary senior physicians and surgeons of the general hospital for themselves and in behalf of other supernumeraries praying "That Congress will please to grant them, in common with supernumerary judges advocate, regimental surgeons and chaplains, their depreciation and half pay" ought to be referred to a special Committee.
That the petition of Joseph Hardy captain of marines in the American Navy, and late Captain of marines in the confederacy and now a prisoner praying, "That his amounts of pay &c. may be liquidated, and the ballance due him paid into the hands of his father Mr Wm. Hardy" ought with his accounts there with sent, to be referred to the Treasury Officers Board of Admiralty.
That a letter from Ferdd. I. S. do Brahm and his account therewith sent ought to be referred to the Treasury Office.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Thomas Rodney, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 177.]
Ordered, That a petition of Joseph Hardy, captain of marines, be referred to the Board of Admiralty;
That a letter from Fred. I. S. de Brahm be referred to the treasury office.2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, IV, folio 179. The memorial of Glentworth, Smith and Fallon, dated June, 1781, is in No. 42, VII, folio 99.]
The committee, ∥consisting of Mr. T. Smith, Mr. Motte, Mr. McKean, Mr. Sherman,∥ appointed to ascertain the allowance to be made for burning the bills of credit of the old emissions, delivered in a report; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the gentlemen commissioners appointed to examine and burn the bills of credit of the old emissions, be allowed for that service, each the sum of twenty shillings per day two dollars and two thirds of a dollar specie, for
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every day they shall be respectively employed therein; and that the said commissioners report weekly to the Board of Treasury, the number and amount of the bills by them examined and burned.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Thomas McKean, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 26, folio 295.]
A letter, of 22, from Mr. Morris, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 137, I, folio 55.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee on his two former letters of the same date.
A report from the Board of War, of May 9th, and one of this day, were read:
War Office June. 22. 1781
Sir,
The Board have the honor to enclose to Congress, an estimate from the Deputy Quarter Master of Pennsylvania amounting to nine hundred and forty nine pounds specie for the purchase of four wagons, and a suitable number of horses, for his Excellency Governor Rutledge; the Board beg leave to observe, that it is not in the power of Col. Miles to furnish these Teams from his department, but if money is procured, they can be immediately obtained and the cloathing sent forward without delay.3
[Note 3: 3 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, V, folio 405.]
Ordered, That they be re-committed to the Board of War to confer with Mr. R. Morris to take order.
A report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon,
War Office June 21, 1781
Sir
The Board have been honored with a reference of the letter from Baron D'Uhtrick relative to payment of the balance due him. As there are so many persons under his predicament, a compliance with his request, and the refusal to others (which the public necessities must render necessary) will introduce endless applications, disappointments, and consequent jealousies, we therefore beg leave to report,
[Resolved, That the Baron D'Uhtrick be informed that for the present it is inexpedient to comply with his request
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for payment of the balance due him on settlement of hisaccounts.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, V, folio 399. The paragraph in brackets is entered in the Journal by George Bond.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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