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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, AUGUST 9, 1781
The committee of the week made report; Whereupon,
The Committee of the week beg leave to report,
That the Memorial of William Massey for a year's pay as Deputy Comr. General of Musters; and the petition of Capt. Lieut Adam
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Hoops respecting his exchange and leave of absence; be respectively referred to the Board of War.
9th. August 17811
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of James Duane, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 215.]
Ordered, That a letter, of 8th, from William Massay; and
A memorial of Captain Lieutenant Adam Hoops be referred to the Board of War.2
[Note 2: 2 This memorial, dated August 9, 1781, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, IV, folio 185.]
The committee, ∥consisting of Mr. Randolph, Mr. Van Dyke, Mr. Ellsworth,∥ to whom was referred the memorial of the hon. the minister plenipotentiary of France, together with "the plan of a convention between the Most Christian King and the United States, for the purpose of determining and fixing the functions and prerogatives of their respective consuls, vice consuls, and agents," delivered in a report; which being read,
Ordered, That it be re-committed, and that the committee be instructed to confer with the minister of France upon the plan of a convention for determining and fixing the functions and prerogatives of consuls, &c. and report to Congress the precise explanation which shall be given to them, as well as a plan of convention, adapted to the subject and the circumstances of America.3
[Note 3: 3 These two paragraphs were also entered in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs. They are printed in the Secret Journal, under date of August 19.]
The committee to whom was referred the letter, of 2, from General Washington, delivered in a report.
The Committee to whom the letter from the Commander in Chief dated Aug. 2. 1781 with the inclosures, were referred, beg leave to report that the warmest applications to the several States eastward of Pennsylvania inclusive, should be repeated, urging them to complete their several quotas of men and provisions for the main army, at this important and critical juncture, and therefore the committee recommend the following letter to be wrote to the Executive of each of said States by the President:
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Sir,
Altho' Congress have addressed your State very lately on the important subject of forwarding their Quota of Troops and provisions to the several departments, to which they have been assigned, yet the recent complaints they have received from the Commander in Chief, of a very partial compliance in some of the States, with their requisitions on that subject, induces Congress once more (as a matter of the last consequence at this interesting moment) earnestly to request the utmost expedition in completing and sending forward the Troops, provisions &c demanded under their authority by the Commander in Chief, not doubting, that as on the vigorous exertions to comply with those requisitions, depends the success of the present campaign, and the reputation of the American Arms, you will use your utmost endeavour to comply fully with the spirit of them. Without this a disgraceful retreat and abandoning of our offensive operations must take place, and a very heavy expense already incurred, must recoil on ourselves, and be, in all probability the cause of prolonging a destructive war and preventing an advantageous peace. Under such an event, we must be held up to our ally, and to all Europe, as a People sacrificing our own dearest interests to a list less inactivity, who otherwise by improving the present favourable opportunity, might be put beyond the power of our Enemy.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Elias Boudinot, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, folio 357. On September 29 it was ordered to be filed.]
The report of the committee on the communications of the honble. the Minister of France was taken into consideration, and after debate:
The Committee to whom was referred the Communication made by the Minister of France on two despatches of the 9th of Jany. and the 19th of Feby. Submit the following Report:
2. That the Minister Plenipotentiary of these United States at the Court of Versailles, be directed to inform his Most Christian Majesty, that Congress consider his Majesty's desire to Unite the Interests of these States and the United Provinces of the Netherlands, as a fresh proof of his friendship and regard and accept with pleasure the offer of his Majesty's Interposition for that purpose communicated to them by his Minister and that Congress being fully sensible of the benefit which may arise from the weight and influence
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of his Majesty's interposition, have directed Mr Adams to confer on all occasions in the most confidential manner with his Majesty's Minister at The Hague.
1. That the Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of Vers. be directed to inform his Most Christian Majesty, that the probability of a rupture, between Great Britain and the Dutch had engaged the attention of Congress previous to this communication, and that sensible of the great importance it would be of to the Common Cause if their High Mightinesses would join in the war, they had taken measures for uniting the Interests of the two Republics, and had made advances to the States General by directing Mr J. Adams to repair to The Hague with full powers to propose to them a Treaty of Amity and Commerce, founded on the principles of equality and consistent with the Treaty subsisting between his Majesty and these States.
That Mr. J. Adams be instructed and empowered to enter into a treaty of Alliance during the present war with the United Provinces of the Netherlands provided that it shall apppaer to him necessary or proper for the interests of the United States.
And provided that the object of such Treaty be consistent in all respects with that subsisting between his Most Christian Majesty and these United States and not inconsistent with the same in other respects.
Resolved, That the President Communicate to Mr Adams the above resolutions, and desire him to improve the interposition of his Most Chrn. Majesty to the best advantage, through the Minister of France at the Court of Holland, and by corresponding with the Minister of the United States at the Court of Versailles.
That the President communicate the above resolutions to Doctor Franklin, and desire him to give Mr Adams every information and assistance in his power which may tend to render the interposition of his Most Christian Majesty successful.
That the above resolutions be communicated to the Minister of France.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Daniel Carroll, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, I, folio 455. Paragraphs 2 and 1 are so numbered by Thomson. On folio 231 is a fair copy by Thomson of the substance of these paragraphs which were adopted August 15, as the indorsement shows, and incorporated in the resolutions agreed to on the 16th.]
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Ordered, That it be re-committed, and that the committee report instructions to the honble. J. Adams respecting a treaty of alliance with the United Provinces of the Netherlands.1
[Note 1: 1 This order was also entered in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs.]
The committee to whom was referred the report of the Board of War on the letter from the quartermaster general respecting forage in Westchester in the State of New York, delivered in a report.2
[Note 2: 2 See post, August 23.]
A motion was made by Mr. Jones seconded by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Madison the delegates of Virginia:
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members, Mr. [Elias] Boudinot, Mr. [James] Duane, Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth.
Adjourned to 10 o'clock to Morrow.
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