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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, SEPTEMBER 1, 1785.
Congress assembled. Present, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, South Carolina and Georgia; and from the State of Rhode Island, Mr. [David] Howell; from New Jersey, Mr. [Lambert] Cadwallader, and from North Carolina, Mr. [William] Cumming.
On report of the Committee, consisting of Mr. [David] Howell, Mr. [David] Ramsay and Mr. [John] Habersham, to whom was referred a memorial from Edward Phelon, late a Captain in the service of the United States,
Resolved, That the board of Treasury take order for advancing to Edward Phelon, late a Captain in the army of the United States, and disabled, by several wounds, from procuring a livelihood for himself, the sum of one thousand dollars, for which sum he is to account, in case he shall hereafter take the benefit of the resolution of the seventh
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day of June, 1785, in favor of Invalids, or of the resolution of the twenty second of March, 1783, granting commutation in lieu of half pay for life.
The order of the day being taken up, to elect two Commissioners to negotiate with the western Indians,
Ordered, That the election of said Commissioners be postponed until Monday next.1
[Note 1: 1 On this day, according to Committee Book No. 190, the "motion of Mr. [James] McHenry for raising a revenue to the U. S. from the Post Office" was referred to Mr. [James] McHenry, Mr. [Jacob] Read and Mr. [Charles] Pettit, who reported September 26.
Also the papers of John Fitch were ordered to be returned to him.]
Office For Foreign Affairs,
1st. Septemr., 1785.
Sir: On reading over the Letter of Mr Shaw in which he gives an Account of his Voyage in the Ship Empress of China to Canton; I observe some Paragraphs which in my Opinion merit the further Attention of Congress. They are the following:
"We came to an Anchor in the Streights of Sunda on the 18th. July. It was no small Addition to our Happiness on this Occasion to meet there two Ships belonging to our good Allies the French. The Commodore Monsr. D'Ordelin, and his Officers welcomed us in the most affectionate manner, and as his own Ship was immediately bound to Canton, gave us an Invitation to go in Company with him, This friendly offer we most chearfully accepted, and the Commodore furnished us with his Signals by Day and Night, and added such Instructions for our Passage through the Chinese Seas as would have been exceedingly beneficial, had any unfortunate Accident occasioned our Separation."
"On our Arrival at the Island of Macao, the french consul for China, Monsr Vieillard, with some other Gentlemen of his Nation came on Board to congratulate and welcome us to that part of the World, and kindly undertook the Introduction of the Americans to the Portugese Governor."
"Three Days afterwards we finished our outward bound Voyage." "When the French sent their Officers to congratulate us, they added to the Obligations we were already under to them, by furnishing Men, Boats and Anchors, to assist us in coming to safe and convenient
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Moorings. Nor did their good Offices stop here--they furnished us with part of their own Bank Sail, and insisted further that until we were Settled, we should take up our Quarters with them at Canton."
"Notwithstanding the Treatment we received from all Parties was perfectly civil and respectful, yet it was with peculiar Satisfaction, that we experienced on every Occasion from our good Allies the French, the most flattering and substantial Proofs of their Friendship--if said they, we have in any Instance been serviceable to you we are happy--and we desire nothing more ardently than further Opportunities to convince you of our Affection."
As the Purpose for which that Letter was committed did not probably extend to these Paragraphs I take the Liberty of suggesting whether it would not be proper to send a Copy of that Letter to Mr Jefferson and instruct him to express to the french Minister the Sense which Congress entertain of the friendly Offices and Civilities shewn by the french Officers in question to that american Ship; to request the Favor of him to signify the same to them and to assure his most Christian Majesty that the People of the United States will on their part be happy in Opportunities of acknowledging these pleasing Acts of Kindness, and of cultivating and continuing the same spirit of Friendship, which has hitherto so happily subsisted between the two Nations.
I have the Honor to be, etc.
John Jay.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 80, I, folio 361. According to indorsement it was read this day and referred back to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs to take order. Jay's letter and Congress' order thereon are entered in Resolve Book No. 123.]
His Excellency
The President of Congress.
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