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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 --MONDAY, JULY 30, 1781
A letter, of 28, from Captain J. P. Jones, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the superintendant of finance to take order.
A letter, of 20, from E. Blaine, commissary general of purchases, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to Mr. [Joseph] Montgomery, Mr. T[homas] Smith, Mr. [Isaac] Motte, the remaining members of the two committees on the mode of settling the quartermaster's and commissary's accounts.
The delegates of New Jersey laid before Congress a letter, of 23, from E. Dayton:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 30, from P.S. Du Ponceau, was read.2
[Note 2: 2 Dayton's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, VII, folio 399; Du Ponceau's is in No. 59, III, folio 45.]
The Board of War, to whom was referred the application of Lieutenant Marcellin, delivered in a report; Whereupon,
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At the Board of War July 28th. 1781.
Present Mr Peters
Col. Grayson
Genl. Cornell.
The Board have considered the application of Lieutenant Marcellin for permission to go to France on some family affairs also General St Clair's certificate importing that (from the particular situation of the Regiment to which he is attached) the service will not be injured by his absence.
The Board therefore Report,
Ordered, That Lieutenant Marcellin, of the 2d Pennsylvania regiment, have leave of absence till the 1st day of May, 1782, for the purpose of going to France on private business.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 148, II, folio 89.]
The committee of the week was appointed:
Mr. [Jonathan] Elmer, Mr. [Nicholas] Van Dyke, Mr. [Joseph] Montgomery.
The report of the committee, ∥consisting of Mr. Ellsworth, Mr. Clymer, Mr. Mathews, Mr. Sharpe, Mr. Madison,∥ appointed to confer with the superintendent of finance on the means of defraying the expence of the delegates of such of the states, as from the events of the war may be unable to provide for their support during their attendance in Congress: also on the means for paying the salaries of the civil officers and clerks of the boards and offices immediately under Congress, was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
The Committee appointed to confer with the superintendant of finance on the means proper to be adopted for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the Delegates of such of the States, as from the events of the war may be unable to provide for their support during their attendance in Congress; also on the means for paying the salaries due to the civil officers and the clerks of the boards or officers immediately under Congress.
Report the following resolutions:
Resolved, That until the said States shall be in condition to make provision for the support of their the Delegates during their attendance
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in Congress. The Superintendant of Finance be authorized and directed to supply the said Delegates on their application a sum of money monthly in the following proportions viz. to the Delegates of North Carolina a sum not exceeding 200 dollars per month to the delegates of South Carolina a sum not exceeding 300 dollars per month and to the delegates of Georgia a sum not exceeding 350 dollars per month South Carolina and Georgia [to such of them as have their families with them each] a sum not exceeding 200 dollars per month, [and such as have not their families with them a sum not exceeding 150 Dollars a month]: The said sums to be charged to the said States respectively.
Resolved, That for the discharging the debts already incurred by the Delegates aforesaid, or any of them, warrants be granted on their respective application on the Loan Officer of the State of Pennsylvania, for the amount of their respective debts, which sums shall be likewise charged to the said States respectively.
Your committee beg leave to sit again.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of John Mathews, except the words in brackets, which are in the writing of Thomas McKean, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 26, folio 301.]
Resolved, That until the delegates for the states of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, shall receive remittances from their respective states for their support during their attendance in Congress, the superintendant of finance be authorised and directed to supply such of them as have their families with them, a sum not exceeding two hundred dollars per month each, and to such as have not families with them one hundred and fifty dollars per month each, the said sums to be charged to the said states respectively; and [that the superintendant of finance be authorised and directed to make provision for discharging the arrears of pay due to the officers on the civil establishment of the United States, and for the future payment of their salaries as the same shall become due.]2
[Note 2: 2 The resolution as adopted is in the writing of Thomas McKean except the words in brackets which are in James Madison's writing. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 26, folios 305 and 307.]
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A report from the Board of War on the letter from Haryls and Richmond was read:
Ordered, That the same, together with the letter, be referred to the superintendant of finance to take order.
On motion of Mr. [Elias] Boudinot, seconded by Mr. [William] Sharpe:
Ordered, That a committee of three be appointed to take into consideration the state of the American prisoners in the power of the enemy, and report:
The members, Mr. [Elias] Boudinot, Mr. [William] Sharpe, Mr. [George] Clymer.
A letter, of this day, from J. Brown, secretary of the Admiralty, was read, enclosing a letter, of 18, from the eastern navy board:
Ordered, That so much thereof as relates to prisoners be referred to the Board of War;
That the remainder be referred to the superintendant of finance.
A report of the Board of War, on the arrangements made and orders given by E. Cornell, at Springfield, was read; Whereupon,
At a Board of War July 30th 1781.
Present, Mr. Peters
Colonel Grayson.
The Board having considered the arrangements made and orders given at Springfield by General Cornell when at that place, and fully approve of the same copies whereof they have the honor to enclose, and in order that the said arrangements may be made complete, the Board beg leave to suggest the following resolution:
Resolved, That John Bryan be continued a Captain in the laboratory and William Hawes a Captain of Artificers at Springfield, and that all and every other officer in the Laboratory or Corps of Artificers at that place be and they hereby are discharged from the service of the United States.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 148, II, folio 97.]
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Resolved, That the Board of War be, and they are hereby empowered to continue such of the officers in the laboratory and artificers at Springfield, as the good of the service may require, and to remove all and every other officer in the laboratory or corps of artificers at that place, and proceed to make such farther reforms in the department of the commissary of military stores at other posts as they judge may conduce to the public interest.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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