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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 --WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1782
Mr. [Thomas] Mifflin, a delegate for Pensylvania, attended, and took his seat.
On motion of Mr. [Richard] Peters, seconded by Mr. [Abraham] Clark,
Resolved, That commissions issue, on promotions properly certified, for all regimental officers entitled to fill vacancies happening before the first day of January next, excepting
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vacancies occasioned by senior officers retiring, agreeably to the resolve of the 19 instant, any resolution of Congress to the contrary hereof notwithstanding.
On the question to agree to this resolution, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [David] Howell,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
Ordered, That the Paymaster General furnish the Secretary at War, from time to time, as they may be called for by him, with the accounts of all pay and advances received by or chargeable to the officers and men of the several regiments in the service of the United States.
The report of the committee, consisting of Mr. [Arthur] Lee, Mr. [Ralph] Izard, and Mr. [Samuel] Wharton, to whom were referred a letter of 24 May last from the Superintendant of finance, and the orders given to Captain Harding, being taken into consideration, and after debate postponed:
The Committee to whom the letter of the 24th. of May from the Superintendant of Finance, with the papers enclosed, and the instructions to Capt Harding were referred, beg leave to Report--
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That they do not find any thing in the letters of the Count de Vergennes or of Dr Franklin to warrant the estimate of 500,000 Livres for negociating 10,000,000 Livres being the Loan in Holland--
With regard to the expences and salaries of the Ministers of the United States abroad, your Committee find, that by the resolves of Congress there is allowed, in full for salary and expences to the Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of Versailles £2500 Sterling or 57140 Livres per annum--to the Minister Plenipy. for the Court of Spain £2500 Stg. or 57140 Livres per annum, to the Secretary of that embassy £1000 Stg. per annum or 22,286 Livres--to the Minister Plenipotentiary for Negociating a peace, £2500 Sterling or 57140 Livres--to the Minister for Negociating a Loan in Holland £1500 Stg. per annum or 34284 Livres--
Upon examining the accounts of M. Grand, Banker for the U. States in Paris, the Committee find that the Minister at the Court of Versailles, has paid himself out of the public Money 41188 Livres, which sum appears to be 8333 Livres less than his salary as Commissioner, computed from the 4th. of Octr 1775, the time of his leaving Philadelphia to the 11th. of Feby. 1779, when he received his Commission as Minister Plenipotentiary.
That he has received quarterly for his salary as Minister Plenipotentiary 15000 Livres making in the year 60,000 Livres that there have been further paid on his account for postage of letters, messengers, and other contingencies 4284 Livres--
That Mr W. T. Franklin has received by the order of the Minister Plenipotentiary, at the Court of Versailles as his private secretary 18229 Livres 19 Sols. for salaries to Jany. 4th. 1781, but it does not appear at what time the salary commenced, and that from this period he has received quarterly 1800 livres, which amounts to 300 Louis d'ors instead of three hundred Pounds a year which have been allowed by Congress.
That Mr Adams has received in full for his salary, for two years to Novr 1781, 120000 Livres which is 5729 Livres more than is allowed for his salary and expences. That Mr Dana has received his salary rated in Louis d'ors instead of pounds Sterling.
It appears therefore that the salaries and expences of the foreign Delegation should not exceed 263,072 per annum tho' 400,000 Livres are allowed for this purpose in the estimate.
Your Committee received information from the Supt. of Finance, that the supplies mentioned in the Count de Vergennes' letter as sent in May and June 1781 were delivered at Boston to the order of
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the Secretary at War, except those in one transport which having lost a Mast put into La Corogne and has not since been heard of, and that the Goods intended to be Shipped in March 1782 were not yet arrived.
Your Committee observe on examining the Banker's accounts, that very large sums of the public Money in France amounting to many hundred thousand livres have been appropriated since the completion of the Confederation by the Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of Versailles to persons and purposes, for which they find no authority on the Journals of Congress. Considering the check i public necessary to appropriate at money, the number of expense and difficulty in settling accounts so raise in Europe the allowing a minister for political affairs in Europe to appropriate without control the moneys borrowed or obtained for the U. S. is subverting every principle and provision of the Confederation on this administration of the public finances would wish to avoid.
It appears further by the Sketch from Count de Vergennes in his letter to Dr Franklin of Feby. 6th. 1782 that the United States are debited with the sum of 1,430,000 Livres, as money sent to Holland and remitted to Dr Franklin, whereas there were received of that sum according to the Banker's Account, only 1,410,460 Livres: So that the loss to the United States on the recall of that money was 19,540 Livres.
Upon examining into the fulfilment of that Article of the instructions given to Capt. Harding of the Frigate Confederacy, by which he is directed to bring the Naval Stores supposed to have been lodged in the hands of M. Carabasse at Cape François for the use of the United States by order of Roderique Hertales & Co it appeared from a letter signed B. Lavand Acting Agent for these States at the Cape dated March 14th 1781, (See paper No 1) that the Naval Stores had been applied to the use of Count D'Estaing's fleet and paid for to M. Carabasse, who said he had accounted for the proceeds with the said Roderique, Hertales & Co.
The said Agent states his having paid to M. Carabasse, out of Monies in his hands belonging to the U. S. 31958L. 2s. 6d. being the balance of an account of which a copy accompanies this report No 1, of which balance 11370L. 15s. was for three years storage of goods, which had been deposited there for the U. States the remainder for
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Salt shipped three years before the date of M. Lavand's letter, by the said Carabasse, to the order of M. Dorieux one of the Agents of Congress.
Your Committee find upon the Journals of the 7th. of April 1778 that Roderique Hertales & Co had shipped considerable quantities of Stores for the use of the United States and that some cargoes of American produce, had been shipped to the said firm on account of the United States in part payment. It appears further from the Journals June 5th. 1779 that M. de Beaumarchais's Agent states the whole of the demand of the above House against the U. S. at 4,547,593 Livres--that he acknowledges having received on Account 300,000 Livres and 115½ hhds of Tobacco, and that bills on the Commissioners in France were then ordered to be given him to the amount of 2,400,000 Livres together with all the merchantable tobacco belonging to the public in Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina.
Dr Franklin in his letter to the President of Congress dated Octr 4th. 1779, No 2, acknowledges the receipt of those bills, and it appears by the estimate from the Superintendant of Finance that 2,540,000 livres have been reserved in Dr Franklin's hands for the payment of them, notwithstanding the Doctor writes in the same letter, "that neither the Commissioners when they were all together, nor himself, have ever been able to obtain a sight of M. de Beaumarchais's accounts tho' repeatedly promised; and that he begins to give over all expectation of it."
It appears farther that when a demand was made on M. Carabasse Agent for Beaumarchais at the Cape, for a part of the supplies which make up the charge of Roderique Hertales & Co against the United States and which were said to have been deposited with the said Carabasse for their use; his answer was, in a letter of the 20th. Novr. 1780, No 3, that he could not deliver any thing without the express order of M. De Beaumarchais being bound, by an agreement with the said Beaumarchais, to that effect.
Upon the whole, therefore, it seems that part of the Articles charged to the U. S. have been sold for the benefit of Roderique Hertales & Co or M. de Beaumarchais and part are withheld from them by his order; and that he has not accounted for the property of the United States shipped to him, nor made any settlement by which his true demand on the U. S. may be liquidated.
Your Committee therefore submit the following resolution:
That the Superintendant of Finance be directed to take effectual measures for preventing any further payments being made to
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M. de Beaumarchais or Roderique, Hottales & Co 'til he shall have made a full and fair settlement of his Account with the Commissioner or Commissioners which shall be appointed by Congress for the final settlement of their Accounts in Europe.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Arthur Lee, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, IV, folio 371.]
On motion of Mr. [James] Duane, seconded by Mr. [James] Madison,
Resolved, That the Superintendent of finance be directed to instruct the commissioner for settling the public accounts in Europe, to take proper measures for adjusting, without delay, the accounts of Mr. de Beaumarchais or Roderique Hortales & Co. and to report such settlement to Congress, that order may be taken for payment of the balance, if any shall be justly due; [and that in the mean time no farther remittance or payments be made to Mr. de Beaumarchais or Roderique Hortales and Co. by virtue of any former resolution of Congress.]2
[Note 2: 2 This resolution, in the writing of James Duane, except the portion in brackets, which is in the writing of Ralph Izard, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, I, folios 439 and 445.
It was also entered in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs.]
The Committee consisting [of Mr Richard Peters, Mr James Duane and Mr Samuel Osgood], to whom was referred the letter of the Secretary at War of the 31st of October, beg leave to report,
That in the opinion of your committee sufficient provision is made on the subject of the Secretary at War's letter relating to the Legionary Corps of Pennsylvania by Act of Congress of the 23rd. day of August last.3
[Note 3: 3 This report, in the writing of Richard Peters, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 27, folio 205. The indorsement states that it was passed this day. The Secretary at War's letter is in No. 149, II, folio 117; it was read November 1, and committed November 18.]
War Office, Oct. 7th, 1782.
Sir,
The case of John Hall whose petition to Congress has been referred to me, is one of the many which have not had any settlement of their depreciation, all of which will probably sooner or later be applied for. I beg leave to suggest the propriety of taking up the matter at large and that provision be at once made for all under like circumstances.
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That Congress may be more fully impressed with the necessity of this measure, I have stated the claims of Mr Hall. I cannot find that any establishment was made for him by Congress. He was part of the time while in service allowed forty dollars per month and three rations per day and another part of the time fifty dollars per month and four rations per day. I do not know what the Gentlemen who employed Mr Hall could suppose would justify an allowance of this kind (for though a good man, yet his business of overseeing the armourers was neither hazardous or of high trust) unless it was because our money was really depreciated and that it was meant to make up in some sort the value of the money by quantity.
In paper number one his account is stated and the depreciation cast on the sums he was to receive per month and which was paid him by which there appears to be due to him to balance his account eleven hundred and thirty one dollars and 39/90 specie.
In number two he is charged with the whole money received and credited for his services, a sum which is at this day given for a like trust; by this statement there appears to be due to balance his account five hundred dollars and 53/90.
Resolved, That the State of Pennsylvania pay unto John Halldollars which is due to him for the depreciation of his pay as an overseer of the Armourers, and charge the same to the United States.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 149, I, folio 713. According to the indorsement it was delivered October 7 and on November 20 referred to Mr. [James] Duane, Mr [James] Madison, Mr. [Abraham] Clark.]
Ordered, That the Superintendent of Finance report what progress has been made in the settlement of the public accounts, pursuant to the Resolutions of 20th and 27 of February last, and what causes impede the Execution of the plan.
That so much of the letter of 30th October from the Secretary at War as relates to the pay of the army be referred to the Superintendent of Finance to report thereon.2
[Note 2: 2 These two orders were entered only in the journal kept by the Secretary of Congress for the Superintendent of Finance: Morris Papers, Congressional Proceedings.
On this day, according to Committee Book No. 186, the "report of Committee on the Memorials of the Assembly of Pennsylvania, relative to the liquidation of public accounts and payment of interest for debts due to the citizens of the state," was referred to Mr. [Daniel] Carroll, Mr. [David] Howell, Mr. [Thomas] Fitzsimmons, Mr. [James] Duane and Mr. [David] Ramsay. Later, Howell was replaced on the committee by Mr. [Nathaniel] Gorham, and Duane by Mr. [Alexander] Hamilton, and a report was delivered and passed January 30, 1783.]
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