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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, OCTOBER 18, 1781
A letter, of 15 June, from Jonn. Williams, was read, with a copy of his accounts as settled with the honble. Doct Franklin May 31, 1781.
A letter, of this day, from James Milligan, was read, accepting the office of comptroller.
A letter, of this day, from John Wereat was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the comptroller.
A letter, of 11, from Lieutenant Colonel Cambray was read:11
[Note 1: 1 Milligan's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XVI, folio 257; Cambray's is in No. 78, VI, folio 67.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
A report from the Board of War, on the memorial of Mens. O'Neil, late a captain in the army of the United States, was read; Whereupon,
War Office Oct. 18. 1781.
The Board having considered the memorial of Monsr. Oneil late a Captain in the Army of the United States, and beg leave to report,
That by a resolve of the 21st February last Captain Oneil was considered as a supernumerary officer and in consequence of an order of Congress of the 5th March following he received a year's pay, it therefore appears to the Board proper for Congress to resolve
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Resolved, That Mr. O'Neil, late a captain in Pulaski's legion, be informed that the request contained in his memorial of the 13 instant cannot be granted.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 148, II, folio 401.]
The report of the committee to whom was referred a report of the Board of Treasury, of the 27 November last respecting the payment of interest on loan office certificates &c; and another, of the 20 of August last, respecting the continental bills of credit in the loan offices was taken into consideration:
Ordered, That it be referred to the superintendant of finance.
The committee, ∥consisting of Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Partridge,∥ to whom was referred the letter of the 16, from the Board of War, on the case of Mr. Dedevans, delivered in a report; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the resolution of the 10th of August, 1776, empowering General Schuyler to enquire into the service and character of Canadian volunteers, and to grant them rewards and wages as shall appear to have been merited, be and hereby is repealed; and that all persons, of what character soever, who now draw pay or rations in consequence of the said resolution, be not entitled to draw pay or rations after the 1st day of December next.
Ordered, That Mr. Dedevans settle with the comptroller for money and rations due to him in consequence of the resolution aforesaid and that the Board of War grant him a warrant on the Treasurer for the sum due.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Joseph Montgomery, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 33.]
On motion of Mr. [Joseph] Montgomery, seconded by Mr. [Isaac] Motte:
Resolved, That the order of the day for electing a deputy purveyor of the military hospital be and hereby is repealed.
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Resolved, That Dr. Johnson, a hospital physician and surgeon, be, and he is hereby, authorised to do the duty of deputy purveyor for the military hospital in the southern department, until the farther order of Congress.
On motion of Mr. [George] Clymer, one of the committee to whom was referred the accounts of Mr. Holker:
Resolved, That the said committee be discharged and that the said accounts be referred to the comptroller for settlement.
The committee, ∥consisting of Mr. Duane, Mr. Randolph, Mr. Mathews, Mr. Boudinot, Mr. Sherman,∥ appointed to confer with the hon. the Minister Plenipotentiary of France, having reported the draught of a letter to his Most Christian Majesty; the same was taken into consideration and agreed to.
The committee, appointed to confer with the minister of France, report the following resolution and draft:
Resolved, That a letter be written to his Most Christian Majesty in the following words:
The United States in Congress assembled--To their great, faithful and beloved Friend and Ally, Lewis the sixteenth, King of France and Navarre.
GREAT, FAITHFUL AND BELOVED FRIEND AND ALLY,
We feel an additional obligation to your Majesty for your friendly reception of our late envoy, Mr. [special minister, Lieutenant Colonel] John Laurens. By him we received your Majesty's letter, bearing date at Versailles on the 11th day of May n the year of our lord 1781, and containing new assurances of what the United States have been long convinced, your Majesty's affectionate patronage of American independence and attachment and gratitude to your Majesty having been firm and warm even before his arrival. His
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report, while it proves that our attachment has not been misplaced, will increase the vigour of our gratitude. We shall charge [have charged] our minister plenipotentiary at your court to render to your Majesty [more] particular acknowledgments in the name of the United States, for the many efforts already made by your Majesty in the true spirit of the alliance, for your Majesty's zeal for the re-establishment of peace, upon principles coinciding with the liberty and sovereignty of the United States, and for the important succours lately administered to our necessities. We shall also instruct him to inform your Majesty of the arrangements which shall have taken place for calling forth the resources of the United States with decision and effect against the common enemy.
We pray God that he will keep your Majesty, our great, faithful and beloved friend and ally, in his holy protection.
Done at Philadelphia, the eighteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-one, and in the sixth year of our independence. By the United States in Congress assembled. Your faithful friends and allies.
Thos. McKean, President.1
Attest
Chas. Thomson, Sec'y.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
[Note 1: 1 This letter was entered only in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs, and in Secret Journal, No. 4. A copy is in Secret Journal, No. 6, Vol. III. The draft, in the writing of Edmund Randolph, except the words in brackets, which are in Thomas McKean's writing, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, I, folio 275.]
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