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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 --FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 1783

Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789
FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 1783

On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [John] Rutledge, Mr. Osgood [Oliver] Wolcott and Mr. [James Madison, to whom was referred a memorial from John Hannum, Persifer Frazer and Joseph Gardner:

Whereas complaint hath been made to Congress by Persifer Frazer, John Hannum and Joseph Gardner, in behalf of themselves and others, that there are good grounds, not only from former transactions, but for other reasons, to believe that great abuse has been attempted of a passport granted by the Commander in Chief, for the protection of cloathing and other necessaries sent from New York in the ship Amazon, for the use of British and German prisoners of war; and that private and unwarrantable advantages are

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intended, by introducing for sale, under cover of the said passport, a considerable quantity of British goods and merchandise:

Resolved, That the assistant secretary at war be directed to cause the goods imported in the ship Amazon, and not delivered to the British or German prisoners of war in this state, to be forthwith examined and compared with the passport under which they have been imported, by proper persons; and that his Excellency the president and the supreme executive council of the State of Pensylvania, be requested to appoint nominate one of the said persons. to assist in examining and comparing the said goods.

Resolved, That the assistant secretary at war be directed to report to Congress the result of the said enquiry, together with the number of the said prisoners, and of the cloathing and other necessaries imported in the said vessel, which have been delivered for their use.¹

[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of John Rutledge, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, III, folio 33.]

The Committee [Mr. James Madison, Mr. Hugh Williamson and Mr. Thomas Mifflin] instructed on the motion of Col. [Theodorick] Bland to report a list of books proper for the use of Congress, recommend that the Superintendt. of Finance and the Secy. of Congress be empowered to take order for procuring the books enumerated below: the same when procured to be under the care of the said Secy.

Encyclopedie Méthodique.

Dictionaire de l'homme d'État.

Law of Nature and Nations
• Cudworth's Intellectual System.
• Cumberland's Law of Nature.
• Wolfius's Law of Nature.
• Hutchinson's Moral Philosophy.
• Beller's delineation of universal Law.
• Ferguson's analysis of Mor: Philosophy.
• Rutherforth's institutes of Natural Law.

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• Grotius's Law of Nature and Nations.
• Puffendorf's Law of Nature and Nations with notes by Barbeyrac.
• Puffendorf de officio hominis et civis.
• Vattell's Law of Nature and Nations.
• Vattell's Questions in Natural Law.
• Burlamaque's Law of Nature and Nations.
• Grotius's Mare Liberum.
• Selden's Mare clausum.
• Molloy de jure maritimo.
• Beaux lex mercatoria.
• Jacob's lex mercatoria.
• Lee on captures.
• Ordinances of Marine of France.
• Admiralty Laws of G. Britain.
• do. of the several others of Europe.
• Wiquefort's Ambassador.
• El Embaxador, par Antoine de Vera.
• L'Ambasciatore Politice Christiano, par le prince Charles Marie Carafe.
• De la charge et dignité de l'ambassadeur, par Jean Hotman.
• Le Ministre public dans les cours etrangeres &c. par J. de la Sarras du Franquesnay.
• De foro legatorum par Bynkershock traduit en Francois par Barbeyrac, sous le titre de traite du Juge competent des Ambassadeurs &c. with all his other works.
• De legationibus par Alberie Gentilis.
• Legatus par Charles Paschal.
• Legatus par Frederick Marsalaer.

Treaties and Negociations
• Corps diplomatique.
• Rymer's foedera.
• A complete collection of Treaties.
• Abbe Mably's public law of Europe--principles of Negociation--other political works.
• De la manierre de negocier avec les souverains &c. par Callier.
• Discours sur l'art de negocier par Pequet.
• Histoire du traité de Westphalie par le P. Bougeant.
• Burche's view of negociations between F. & Engld.

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• Negociations du P. Jeannin,

  du Cardinal D'ossat.

  du Maral. d'Estrades.

  de la paix de Westphalie.

  du Maral. de Noailles.

  de la paix d'Utrecht.

  des autres paix de ce siecle.

• Lamborty's Memoirs & negociations.
• Cardl. Mazarine's letters.
• De Witt's letters.

General History
• Universal History.
• Modern History.
• Raleigh's History of the World.
• Voltaire's Historical works.
• Abbé Millot Histoire generale.
• Dictionaire of Bayle.
• Burnett's History of his own times.
• Mosheim's Ecclesiastical History.
• Warher's Eccles: History of England.

Chronology
• Lenglet du frenoy tablettes chronologiques de l'Histoire universelle.
• Blair's chronological tables.

Geography
• Bushing's Universal Geography.
• Smith's System of Geography.
• Guthrie's Geographical Grammar.
• La Martinier Dictionaire Geographique.
• Salmon's Gazetteer.
• Priestly's Historical Chart.

  Biographical Chart.

• Jeffery's Historical & Chronological Chart
• Collection of best maps.

Particular History
• GRAECIAN.
• Goldsmith's History of Greece.
• Stanyan's History of Greece.
• Potter's Grecian Antiquities.

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• ROMAN.
• Coussin Histoire Romaine.

  Histoire de Constantinople.

• Goldsmith's Roman History.
• Hooke's Roman History.
• Vertot's Revolutions of Rome.
• Gibbon's on the decline of the Rom: Empire.
• Kennet's Roman Antiquities.
• Plutarch's Lived.
• ITALIAN.
• Guicciardini's History.
• Giannini History of Naples.
• Nani History of Venice.
• Padre Paolo on the Venetian Republic.
• GERMAN & HOLLAND.
• Histoire d'Allemagne par Barre.
• PfeffeL Abregé chronolo: do l'hist: d'Allema:
• Puffendorf de origine imperii german: notis Titii.
• Robinson's History of Charles V:
• Bentivoglio History of war in Flanders.
• Le Clerk's History of the United Provinces.
• Strada.
• Grotius de rebus Belgicis:
• Do Witt's State of Holland.
• Watson's History of Philip II.
• FRENCH.
• Histoire de France de l'abbé Veli Villaret, Garnier et continueteurs.
• D'avila History of Civil Wars of France.
• Philip de Comines.
• Sully's memoirs.
• Prefixe Henry IV.
• Cardinal de Retz Memoirs.
• Voltaire's Louis XIV.
• BRITISH.
• Matthew Paris by Watts.
• William of Malmbury.
• Polydore Virgil.
• Rappin's History of England.
• Hume's History of England.

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• Kennett's English History.
• Clarendon's History.
• Ludlow's Memoirs.
• Littleton's History of Henry II.
• Parliamentary History.
• Parliamentary debates.
• Annual Register.
• History of the Reign of Geo: III.
• Cabàla.
• Rushworth's Collection.
• Thurloe's State papers.
• Parliamentary Register.
• SCOTCH.
• Robinson's History of Scotland.
• IRISH.
• Lelaud's History of Ireland.
• SPANISH & PORTUGUESE.
• Mariana's History of Spain.
• Miniana.
• Revolutions d'Espagne du P. D'Orleans du Vertot.
• Revolutions of Portugal by Vertot.
• PRUSSIAN.
• Memoirs of the House of Brandenburg.
• RUSSIAN.
• History of Peter the Great by Voltaire.
• DANISH.
• Molesworth's account of Denmark.
• History of Denmark by Mallet.
• SWEEDISH.
• Dallin's History of Sweeden.
• Mallet's form of govt. in Sweeden.
• Vertot's Revolutions of Sweeden.
• Sheridan's do. of do.
• POLISH.
• Abbe Coyer's History of J. Sobiesky.
• Williams History of the Nortn. Govts.

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• SWISS.
• Stanyan's History of Switzerland.
• GENEVAN.
• Keate's History of Geneva.
• TURKES.
• Mignot's History of the Ottoman Empire. P. Recaut's do.
• CHINESE.
• Duhaldes History of China.

Politics.
• Plato's Republic by Spend.
• Aristotles do.
• More's Utopia.
• Filmer on Government.
• Hooker's Ecclesiastical polity.
• Hobbe's works.
• Harrington's works.
• Sidney on Government.
• Locke on Government.
• Macchiavelli's works.
• Father Paul on the Venetian Republic.
• Montagu's rise & fall of antient republics.
• Montesquieu's works.
• Beccaria's works.
• Ferguson's History of Civil Society.
• Miller on distinction of Ranks in Society.
• Steuart's principles of Political economy.
• Smith on the wealth of Nations.
• Baron Biefield's political Institutions.
• Histoire politique du siecle par Maubert.
• Richlieu's Political Testament.
• de Witt's Maxims.
• Petty's political Arithmetic.
• Wallace on the numbers of mankind.
• Davenant's Works.
• Temple's works.
• Hume's political essays.
• Postlethwayt's works.

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• Anderson's Dictionary of Commerce.
• Burgh's political disquisitions.
• Price's Political works.
• Gee on trade.
• Child on trade.
• Tucker on trade.
• Law on money & trade.
• Arbuthnot on weights & measures.
• Locke on money.
• Lowndes on do.
• Necker on Finance.

Law.
• Justinian's Institutes by Harris.
• Codex juris civilis.
• Taylor's elements of Civil Law.
• Domat's Civil Law.
• Coke's Institutes.
• Blackstone's Commentaries.
• Cunningham's Law Dictionary.
• Statutes at large by Rufhead.
• Lex Parliamentaria.
• Cunningham's law of Exchange.
• Collection of Laws to prevent frauds in the Customs.
• Book of rates.
• Clarke's practice of Courts of Admiralty.
• Fredencian Code.

War.
• Vauban's Works.
• Bellidore's Works.
• Fouquier's Memoirs.

Marine.
• Falconer's Universal Dictionary of Marine.
• Burchett's Naval History.
• History of the Several Voyages round the Globe.
• Murray's Ship Building and Navigation.
• Collection of best Charts.
• Naval architecture. By Marmaduke Stalkartt. Fol. £6.6.

Languages.
• Best latin Dictionary with best grammar & dictionary of each of the modem languages.

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America.
• Les nouvelles descouverts dans l'Amerique Septentrionale. Paris 1697.
• Forti's account of la Sale's voiage to N. America.
• Histoire de l'Amerique Septentrionale par Baquiville de la Poterie. Rouen 1722.
• Discription geographique et historique des cotes de l'Amerique Septenle. par le Sieur Denys.
• Oldmixon's Brit: Empire in America.
• Kalm's travels through N. America.
• Carver's travels through N. America.
• Ogilvie's America.
• Novus orbis, autore Joanne de Laet: fol: Basiliae 1555.
• Novæ novi orbis historiæ, i.e. rerum ab Hispanis in India occidental gestarum calvetonis Geneva 1578.
• Wafer's Voyages.
• Dampier's Voyages.
• Chancellor's.
• Borough's.
• Forbisher's.
• Hudson's.
• Davis's.
• Baffin's.
• James's.
• Wood's.
• Ellis's voyage to Hudson's Bay.
• Voyage au pays des Hurons par Gabl. Sabard Theodat. Paris 1632.
• Moeurs des Sauvages de l'Amerique par Lafitau.
• Adair's History of the American Savages.
• Hennepin's Voyages.
• La Hontan's do.
• Jone's Journal to the Indian nations.
• Voyage de la nouvelle France par le Sieur Champlain.
• Histoire de la Nouvelle France par l'Escarbot. Paris.
• Histoire de la Nle. France avec les fastes chronologiques du nouveau monde par le pere Charlevoix.
• Memoirs des rois de France & de l'Angleterre sur les possessions, &c. en Amerique 1755. 4 Vol: 4o
• Relation d'un voyage en Acadie par Dierville. Rouen 1708.
• Josselyn's account of New England.
• Thomas's account of Pennsylva. & N. Jersey.

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• Purchases Pilgrimage. 5 Vol: fol:
• Hackluyt's Voyages.
• Abbe Reynal's Hist: Pol: & Philos: of East & W. Indies.
• Robinson's History of America.
• Russell's Hist: of ... do.
• Colden's History of the 5 Nations.
• Burke's account of the Europ: Settlemts. in America.
• Douglas's Summary.
• Collection of Charters.
• Neal's History of New England.
• Prince's Chronological History of N. England.
• Tracts relating to N. England by Cotton Mather.
• Mather's ecclesiastical History of N. England
• Hubbard's History of N. England.
• Morton's New England's Memorial.
• Hutchinson's History of Massachusetts bay.
• Collection of papers relating to the History of do.
• Smith's History of N. York.
• Smith's History of N. Jersey.
• Historical review of Pennsa. byFranklyn.
• Franklin's other works.
• Smith's History of Virga.
• Beverley's do. of do.
• Keith's do. of do.
• Stith's do. of do.
• De incolis Virginiæ ab Anglico Thoma Heriot.
• Discourses of Virginia.
• Virginia by E. W.
• Jones's present State of Virginia.
• A discourse & view of Virga. by Sr. Wm. Berkeley Govr. 1663.
• An account of the life & death of Nat: Bacon. 1677.
• History of the present State of Virginia.
• A Short collection of the most remarkable passages from the original to the dissolution of the Virga. Company. 1651.
• Lederer's discoveries in Virginia and Carolina in 1669 & 1670, by Sr. Wm. Talbot. 1672.
• Brickell's History of North Carolina.
• Lawson's do. of do.
• Description of South Carolina with its civil Natural and commercial History. 1762.
• Huet's History S. Carolina.
• Collection of papers relative to Georgia.

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• Laws of each of the United States.
• All Treaties entered into with the natives of N. America.
• All the political tracts which have been or may be published & may be judged of sufficient importance.
• Brown's History of Jamaica.
• History of Barbadoes.
• Garcilasso de la Vega's History of Florida.
• Cox's Account of Florida. Romans's History of Florida.
• Memoirs sur la Louisiane par du Pratz.
• Description de la Louisiane par Hennepin.
• Bossu's travels through Louisiane.
• Venegas's History of California.
• Muratori il christianissimo felice.
• Voyages et descouverts des Espagnols dans les Indes occidentales par Don Bernardo de las casas.
• Herrera's History of the Spanish colonies in America.
• de Solis's History of the Conquest of Mexico by F. Cortez.
• Voyages de Gage. Houston's Memoirs.
• Bouguer voyage au Perou.
• Garcilasso de la Vega's History of the Incas of Perou.
• Histoires des Guerres civiles des Espagnols dans des Indes, de Garcilasso de la Vega.
• Histoire de l'Orenoque par Gumilia.
• Bancroft's Natural History of Guiana. Les voyages de Cereal. 1722.
• Falkner's description of Patagonia.
• Nouveau voyage aux isles de l'Amerique.
• Histoire de S(t). Domingue par Charlevoix.
• Chanvalon's Voyage it la Martinique
• Acuogna's relation of the river of Amazons.
• Tecko's History of Paraguay.¹

  [Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of James Madison, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress; Miscellany. It is indorsed by Thomson: "Report of Comee. List of Books to be imported for the use of Congress Read Jany. 24, 1783. Question taken to empower Superint: finance & Secy. to import them. Passed in the negative." According to the record in Committee Book No. 186, the motion was referred to the committee November 21, 1782.
  On this day, as the indorsement states, was read a letter of the 24th from the Superintendent of Finance stating that he intends to leave the office of Finance at the end of May next. It is in No. 137, II, folio 115.]

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