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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, JULY 3, 1781.
A letter, of 1st, from the honble the minister of France was read.2
[Note 2: 2 A translation of this letter is printed in the Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution (Wharton), IV, 528.]
A letter, of 2, from the superintendant of finance was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee appointed to prepare a draught of an ordinance for collecting the duty of five per cent. on imports and prizes.
A letter, of 22 June, from the President of Delaware;
One, of December 10, from J. Bonfield to the committee of foreign affairs; and
A letter, of this day, from Brigadier General Hazen, were read.3
[Note 3: 3 The Delaware letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 70, folio 769; Hazen's is in No. 78, XII, folio 155.]
The committee of the week made report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a letter of this day from Doctor James Tilton be referred to the Board of Treasury to take order thereon to settle depreciation and grant a certificate as prayed;
They also report on the petition of Elizabeth Burgin praying to be employed in cutting out linen for the use of the Army that the same be referred to the Board of War.
That a petition of Elizabeth Bergin be referred to the Board of Treasury War.4
[Note 4: 4 This report, in the writing of Samuel Livermore, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 185. Elizabeth Burgin's petition is in No. 42, I, folio 254.]
A report from the Board of War was read, soliciting warrant in favour of the paymaster general for nine thousand seven hundred and sixty dollars:
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War Office July 2nd. 1781.
Sir,
The Board think it advisable that the dismounted dragoons of Col. Moylan's Regiment should march to the Southward; they have expectations that horses may be furnished them in Virginia.
They therefore report
That a warrant issue in favor of the Paymaster General for nine thousand, seven hundred and Sixty dollars of the new emissions to be applied to the use of a detachment of the fourth Regiment of Dragoons, under marching orders to the Southward on account of pay due them.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 148, II, folio 9.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War to take order, the resolution of 4 January notwithstanding, by drawing on the paymaster general for a sum in favour of the detachment of the 4th regiment of Dragoons under marching orders to the southward, on account of pay due to them.
A report from the Committee of Commerce was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That Henry Gardner, esq. treasurer of the State of Massachusetts, be directed to advance to Isaac Smith, of Boston, in behalf of himself and the other owners of the schooner Hawke, so many dollars in bills of the new emission as will be sufficient to pay them the sum of seventy pounds sterling, being the amount of the freight and interest due thereon by the said schooner Hawke; and that the Board of Treasury issue a warrant accordingly.
Ordered, That Joseph Clarke, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Rhode Island, pay to Messrs. Nicholas and John Brown, such a sum in bills of the new emission, as will enable the said Nicholas and John Brown to take up and discharge a certain bill of exchange drawn on them by Messrs. Penet, D'Acosta Freres and Co. for three thousand seven hundred and thirty-eight livres, fourteen sous, and nine deniers tournois, dated Nantes, March 10, 1781, the said bill being for amount of a debt contracted
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by the said Nicholas and John Brown, as agents of the United States; and that the Board of Treasury issue a warrant accordingly.1
[Note 1: 1 This paragraph, in the writing of George Clymer, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 31, folio 221.]
A report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That the Board of War draw a warrant on the paymaster general in favour of Colonel Daniel Broadhead, for two hundred and eighty-five dollars in bills of the new emission on account of his pay;2 and
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 148, II, folio 13.]
War office, July 2nd. 1781.
Sir,
The board have the honor to inform Congress that Captain Sigogné at present commanding officer of Col. Armand's Legion is about setting off to the Southward with arms Clothing and accoutrements for that corps and is now in great distress for money.
The board therefore report
another on the said paymaster general in favour of Captain Sigogne of Colonel Armand's legion, for five hundred and forty dollars in like bills, on account of his pay.3
[Note 3: 3 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 148, II, folio 1.]
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Resolved, That for the greater despatch in destroying the several emissions of the old continental currency as they come into the treasury of the United States, another commissioner be added to those already appointed for that purpose; which commissioners, or any one of them, shall also examine, count and burn such of the emissions of May 20, 1777, and April 11, 1778, as are or may be deposited in the treasury aforesaid.4
[Note 4: 4 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, V, folio 407.]
The commissioner elected, Mr. Nathaniel Donnel.
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Another report from the Board of Treasury on the accounts of Colonel M. Hazen's regiment, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members, Mr. [Samuel] Johnston, Mr. [Isaac] Motte, Mr. [George] Clymer.
The committee appointed to confer with the superintendant of finance and take order for procuring a sum of specie, delivered in a report; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the superintendant of finance be and he is hereby empowered to pursue such measures as he may think proper for exporting and importing goods, money and other articles, at the risque and for the account of the United States, at such times and in such manner as he shall deem necessary and useful to the public service.1
[Note 1: 1 This resolution was also entered in the manuscript Secret (Domestic) Journal. A copy signed by Charles Thomson is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 137, II, folio 287.]
A report of the Board of War on the petitions of Lieutenants Loseau and Campbell, was read.
War Office. June. [July] 3. 1731
Sir,
The Board have considered the memorial of Captain Loiseau and Lt. Campbell, late of Colonel Livingston's regiment referred to them by Congress. With respect to the first Gentleman he was tried by a Court Martial and broke. He appealed to Congress who were pleased to direct a re-examination, but it was never made. He produces a certificate from the Colonel after these proceedings, setting forth that he was discharged as a Supernumerary the 12th. July 1779, under the resolves of Congress then existing with respect to the arrangement of the army.
Lieut: Campbell was discharged under the same resolves the 15th. June 1779.
The situation of these Gentlemen is exactly the sane with all the supernumerary Officers retiring under the arrangement for reforming
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the Army in 1779, except that they are Canadians and expatriated. The provision to be made for them will probably be considered as a precedent, and as we have reported fully upon this subject heretofore, we deem it unecessary to make any report on their particular case, leaving it to fall under any general regulation Congress may be pleased to adopt, unless they deem it proper to make particular provision for the Canadian Officers.
It appears that Captain Loiseau received the year's extra pay allowed to supernumerary officers, and Lt: Campbell as he alledges only half a year's pay on that account.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, V, folio 265.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Thursday; and from thence to 10 o'Clock on Friday.
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