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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 --SATURDAY, APRIL 28, 1781
A letter, of March 19th, from Brigadier General Moultrie; and
A memorial from sundry officers, prisoners at Charlestown, were read:2
[Note 2: 2 Moultrie's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 158, folio 481; the memorial from the officers, signed by Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, is on folio 485.]
Ordered, That they be referred to a committee of three:
The Members, Mr. [John] Mathews, Mr. [Samuel John] Atlee, Mr. [George] Walton.
A letter, of 24, from E. Forman, one of the commissioners of the Board of Treasury, was read, requesting a decision on the report of the committee on the charges brought by the treasurer of loans against the commissioners of the Board of Treasury, and communicating his desire to leave the Board, and that Congress will be pleased to signify their acceptance of this his resignation:3
[Note 3: 3 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, IX, folio 473.]
Ordered, That Wednesday next be assigned for the consideration of the report above mentioned.
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
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Treasury Office, April 28th 1781.
Upon the recommitment of the report of the 26th inst. on the application of the Hon'ble Wm Few, a Delegate for the State of Georgia, the Board of Treasury beg leave to report,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pensylvania, in favour of Mr. [William] Few, a delegate for the State of Georgia, for two hundred and sixty-six dollars new emissions, for which the said 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 259.]
The committee appointed to confer with the executive of the State of Pensylvania, relative to expediting the march of the Pensylvania line, delivered in a report; Whereupon,
The Committee appointed to confer with the Executive of the State of Pennsylvania relative to expediting the march of the Pennsylvania line, report, That there is wanting eleven thousand six hundred and forty dollars of the new Emission, to enable the Paymaster Gen! to pay up the said line as promised, and to enable them to march immediately, which sum the Executive of the said State has agreed to furnish the Pay Master Genl. with, to be credited to the said State of Pennsylvania by Congress.
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the president and supreme executive council of the Commonwealth of Pensylvania, in favour of John Pierce, paymaster general, for thirteen thousand seven hundred and forty dollars new emission, for expediting a detachment of the Pensylvania line to the southward, for which sum the said paymaster general is to be accountable, and that the same be placed to the credit of the said Commonwealth.2
[Note 2: 2 The first paragraph of this report is in the writing of Theodorick Bland; the second is in Charles Thomson's hand, the amount having been increased by 2,100 dollars. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, II, folio 127.]
A report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon,
At a Board of War April 26, 1781
Present Mr. Peters
Col. Grayson
The Board taking into consideration a letter from Major Aquilla Giles herewith transmitted,
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Agreed to report to Congress,
That the Board of War be empowered and directed to grant a warrant on the Paymaster General for three months Pay on account.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, V, folio 23.]
War Office April 27, 1781
Sir
The Board do themselves the honor to submit to Congress the application of Lt. Col. Jameson of Colonel Sheldon's regiment of dragoons requesting to be reimbursed his expences while on command in this city.
The Board beg leave to inform Congress that Col. Jameson was sent here in November last by order of Col. Sheldon to procure arms accoutrements and cloaths for that regiment and has been ever since on that business.
Should Congress be of opinion that Colonel Jameson should be reimbursed his expences to the first of March last at which time the allowance of three dollars a day for expences on command was taken away--they will be pleased to resolve--
That the Board of War draw a Warrant on the Paymaster General for three hundred and thirty nine dollars of the new emission in favour of Lt. Col. Jameson to reimburse him his expences from the tenth day of November last till the first day of March.
That the said Board draw a Warrant on the Paymaster General in favour of Lt Col. Jameson for three months pay and subsistance the resolve of the 4t'h January last notwithstanding.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, V, folio 37.]
At a Board of War April 28, 1781
Present Mr Peters
Colo. Grayson
The Board having taken into consideration a letter of the 26th instant from Lieutenant Colonel Barber of the Artillery, herewith transmitted,
Beg leave to report,
That a Warrant issue on the Paymaster General in favour of Lt. Colonel Barber of the 1st Jersey Regiment for two hundred and forty Dollars in bills of the new emissions, equal to three months pay and subsistance, the resolution of the 4th January last notwithstanding.3
[Note 3: 3 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, V, folio 49.]
Ordered, That the Board of War take order for the payment of three months' pay to Major A. Giles, and also for
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the payment of three months' pay and subsistance to Lieutenant Colonel Barber, and also to Lieutenant Colonel Jameson, the resolution of 4 January last notwithstanding;
That the Board of War draw a warrant on the paymaster general for three hundred and thirty-nine dollars of the new emission, in favour of Lieutenant Colonel Jameson, to reimburse him his expences from the tenth day of November last till the first day of March last.
A report of the Board of War, respecting the resolution of the 16 instant, was read:
War Office April 24. 1781
Sir,
It is insisted upon by some of the Officers that the resolution of the 16th instant directing the Warrants issued by the Board on Officers accounts settled by Mr Howell to be recalled, only relates to those parts of the accounts which contain the pay which being thrown upon the States renders any continental settlement unnecessary. But as for other accounts the resolution of the 27 of March still remains in force and they therefore demand their Warrants for back rations &c. There seems on examination to be a want of precision in the resolution and therefore we beg to know the sense of Congress on the subject and that they will be pleased to direct us whether we shall or shall not grant warrants on the Paymaster General for the amount of the Officers demands exclusive of pay.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, V, folio 5.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members, Mr. [James Mitchell] Varnum, Mr. [John] Sullivan, Mr. [Artemas] Ward.
A report of the Board of War on the petition of Elijah Weed, was read:
At a Board of War April 26, 1781
Present Mr Peters
Col Grayson
The Board have been honored with a reference from Congress of the Memorial of Elijah Weed Keeper of the State Prison, on which they beg leave to report,
That the pay of the Keeper of the State Prison in Philadelphia be fixed at one hundred dollars per month in bills of the new emission.
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That the pay of an Assistant be fifty dollars p month in bills of the new emission and the pay of a Turnkey be forty dollars p month in the same bills.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, V, folio 53.]
Ordered, That it be re-committed.
A report of the Board of War on the memorial of the officers of Colonel Baldwin's regiment of artificers, was read; Whereupon,
At a Board of War April 28, 1781
Present Mr Peters
Colo Grayson
The Board have been honored with a reference from Congress on the memorial of the Officers of Colonel Baldwin's regt of artificers Beg leave to report,
Resolved, That it be recommended to the states to which they respectively belong to make up the depreciation of their pay according to the real value of their wages at the time of their establishment to the Officers and men now or late of the regiment of artificers commanded by Colonel Baldwin.
That the Officers of that regiment be informed in answer to their memorial of the 20th instant, that the circumstances of the public will admit of no farther measures, than that specified in the foregoing resolution, with respect to that regiment.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, V, folio 45.]
A report from the Board of Treasury, on the accounts of Alexander McCasky, and another on the accounts of William Paulding, were read:
Question to agree thereto passed in the negative.
A report of the Board of Treasury, on the account of Doctor F. Allison, was read:
Ordered, That it be re-committed.
A letter, of 29 January, from O. Pollock, was read:
On motion of Mr. [George] Walton,
Ordered, That the Board of Treasury take order for the payment of the balances reported to be due to the auditor general and to the inspectors of the press.
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War Office, April 27, 1781
Sir,
By resolve of Congress of the 29th ulto. certain monies to be produced by the sale of a number of cannon contracted to be sold by the Admiralty Board to Blair McClenachan and others were ordered to be applied to enable the Board of War to comply with their contracts for shot and shells. We had the honor to request the Board of Admiralty for information how the money was to be obtained, and received for answer that Thomas Irwin John Bayard and Matthew Irvin had given their note for the money payable to Francis Lewis Esq! for the use of the Board of Admiralty. As the resolution does not go so far as to point out the means of obtaining the monies from the Admiralty we beg leave to report.
That the Admiralty Board be directed to pay the monies produced by the sale of the cannon mentioned in the resolve of the 29th ulto. to the Commissary General of Military Stores, for which he is to be accountable, and that the Board of War direct the appropriation of the said monies to the Iron Masters who have cast shot and shells in proportions to their respective contracts. Probably as good a method of obtaining the monies would be by directing
That the Notes given for payment of the purchase monies of a number of cannon sold by the Admiralty Board as mentioned in the resolution of the 29th March on that subject be assigned to the Commissary General of Military Stores--the monies when received to be applied under the directions of the Board of War towards the discharge of contracts for shot and shells.
We submit both the foregoing resolutions to Congress, taking the liberty of requesting a determination upon one of them, as the Parties are ready to pay the money to those properly authorized to receive it, and the Iron Masters are very importunate.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, V, folio 33. It was passed this day, according to the indorsement.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Monday.
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