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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, JULY 23, 1783
Mr. [David] Howell, a delegate from Rhode Island, attended, and took his seat in Congress.
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Richard] Peters, Mr. [Abraham] Clark, and Mr. [Stephen] Higginson, to whom was referred a report of the Superintendant of finance, on a petition of Mrs. Grace Mercer:
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The Committee to whom was referred a memorial of Mrs. Grace Mercer, relict ofMercer, late Purveyor of the Hospital in South Carolina, Report,
That the time when the particular purpose for which the said money was received or the reason why the same was not applied to the use intended do not appear; and as a permission granted to public Officers to return paper money received at periods of depretiation would establish a Precedent which may be productive of many ill consequences Your Committee are of opinion,
Ordered, That the Superintendant of finance transmit to the commissioner for settling the accounts of the hospital department, a copy of the memorial of Mrs. Grace Mercer, and in the settlement of the accounts of the late Mr. Mercer, due enquiry be made by the said commissioner, into the causes of the detention of the money therein mentioned; and that the said commissioner report the result,of such enquiry to the Superintendant of finance, who is hereby authorised to take order therein as shall appear to him just, on such report being made.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Richard Peters, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, IV, folio 55. The indorsement states that it was passed on this day.]
On motion, Ordered, That the committee of five members, appointed last January, to enquire into the proceedings of the department of foreign affairs, be discharged; they having assigned satisfactory reasons for not reporting.
Ordered, That a Letter of the 23rd of April from the Superintendant of Finance on the regulation of a Mint, and one do of 12th December, 1782, from Ditto respecting the rate of foreign Coins be referred to Mr. [Thomas] Fitzsimmons, Mr. [Ralph] Izard, Mr. [Stephen] Higginson, Mr. [James] Duane and Mr. [James] Madison.
Ordered, That a Committee of five be appointed to enquire fully into the proceedings of the Agent of Marine and report the result of theft enquiry.
The Members, Mr. [Stephen] Higginson, Mr. [Benjamin] Hawkins, Mr. [William] Ellery, Mr. [Samuel] Holten and Mr. [James] Duane.
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Ordered, That so much of a Letter from the Superintendant of Finance as relates to his desire of being excused from executing the Office of Agent of Marine be referred to the above Committee.1
[Note 1: 1 These orders were entered only in the journal kept by the Secretary of Congress for the Superintendent of Finance: Morris Papers; Congressional Proceedings. See ante December 16, 1782, and April 23, 1783.
On this day, according to the indorsement, was read an act of the General Assembly of Virginia, June 20, 1783, for enlistment of guards and referred to the Secretary at War. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 75, folio 384. According to Committee Book, No. 186, he reported July 28.
Also, an act of the General Assembly of Virginia, 27 June, 1783, relative to the offer of cession of lands. It was ordered to lie on the table. It is in No. 75, folio 386.
Also, on this or an approximate date, a letter of July 22 from the Agent of Marine transmitting a letter of James Geagan, formerly surgeon of the Alliance, asking for the same sentence as other officers received. It is in No. 137, II, folio 681.
Also, the proceedings of the inhabitants of Williamsburg relative to their submitting to the jurisdiction of Congress. It is in No. 46, folio 89. It was referred to Mr. Hamilton, Mr. [James] Duane, Mr. [James] Wilson, Mr. [Jacob] Read, Mr. [James McHenry and Mr. [James] Madison. According to the entries in Committee Book No. 186 and No. 191, this was the committee appointed July 18 "to report what jurisdiction may be necessary for Congress in the place where they shall fix their permanent residence." On September 3 the committee was renewed, Mr. S[amuel] Huntington and Mr. [Richard] Peters being added. A report was delivered September 5, and "Thursday, September 18 assigned." See post September 22.
According to the indorsement a resolution of the General Assembly of Virginia, of June 26, 1783, was read and "referred so far as relates to the offer of the Ship Cormorant, to the Agent of Marine to report." The copy of the Virginia resolution is in No. 137, II, folio 729. According to the record in Committee Books No. 186 and No. 191, the report of the Agent of Marine was delivered and passed August 5.
Also, on this day, according to the entry in Committee Book No. 186, an address of the Citizens of Philadelphia and the Liberties thereof was referred to Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [James] Duane, Mr. [Stephen] Higginson, Mr. [Arthur] Lee, and Mr. [Ralph] Izard, who delivered a report July 28. The address is in No. 43, folios 312--331.]
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