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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, OCTOBER 28, 1785.
Congress assembled. Present, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and South Carolina; and from the State of New Hampshire, Mr. [Pierse] Long, and from Georgia, Mr. [William] Houstoun.
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On motion of Mr. [Charles] Pinckney, seconded by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry,
Whereas it is expedient that consuls should be appointed in the different States with which the citizens of the United States are engaged in Commerce; therefore,
Resolved, That the ministers plenipotentiary of the United States, in Europe, and where there is no minister, the chargé des affaires shall exercise the powers of a consul general, for the kingdoms or states in which they respectively reside, provided that no additional salary be allowed for such service.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion was also entered in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs No. 5. It is in the writing of Charles Pinckney and is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 33, III, folio 189.]
The Board of Treasury, having in pursuance of the resolution of Congress of the 11th. October last taken into consideration the services of Lewis Nicola, and Talinage Hall late Agents for settling the accounts, and distributing the certificates of the late invalid corps, beg leave to submit to the consideration of Congress the following facts submitted to them by the Commissioners of Army Accounts.
That the pay and subsistence as a Colonel had been continued to Lewis Nicola, commanding the invalid Corps, to the 4th. of November, 1783, although his duty as agent had commenced previous to that date.
That from the 4th. of November, 1783, to the first day of June, 1784, the said Lewis Nicola was employed as an agent in adjusting, and settling the accounts of his Corps: and that from the extent, and intricacy of these accounts the said Talmage Hall, Pay Master of the said Corps was by general Orders fixed on as an Agent to assist in the settlement from his particular knowledge of the Regimental accounts.
That for the term above mentioned the said Lewis Nicola has drawn the sum of Thirty two Dollars per month and the said Talmage Hall Eight Dollars per month on account of subsistence.
That the said Lewis Nicola asserts that he was wholly employed in the distribution of the certificates of the said corps from the 1st. June to the 15th. October, 1784, and that he was partially employed after
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that period to the time of the settlement of his accounts; and that the like declaration is made by Talmage Hall, who was employed in the distribution of certificates for that part of the regiment which belonged to the Eastern States.
That, in the opinion of the Commissioners, by this arrangement the business of this Agency was compleated in half the time it otherwise would have been, and that the evidence of the Agents as to the time they were employed derives weight from this circumstance that they have actually delivered certificates to an amount exceeding one hundred and eighteen thousand dollars to individuals of every State in the Union.
That the said Lewis Nicola has been employed five weeks in coming to this place, and in the settlement of his accounts, which he has finally closed with the commissioner of Army accounts, by a faithful state of the manner in which the certificates belonging to the corps have been issued.
That the said Lewis Nicola, and Talmage Hall have asserted on their honor that they have derived no benefit from their agency excepting the sum of one hundred and thirty four dollars received by Lewis Nicola, being the amount of a commission of two and a half per cent charged to certain persons who made purchases for a trifling consideration of the officers and soldiers certificates which said sum the said Lewis Nicola declares he was induced to receive when every other resource for the maintenance of a numerous family fail'd.
From these circumstances the Board are of opinion--That the pay and subsistence allowed to Col. Nicola to the 4th. Novr. 1783, should be considered as a full compensation of his services as Agent to that period: but that he should be allowed for his services from the 4th. Novr. 1783, to the 4th. June, 1784 (being seven months), at the rate of forty dollars per month.
That the said Lewis Nicola should be allowed at the same rate for six months employed in distributing the certificates; deducting from the sums so allowed the sum of two hundred and thirty four dollars 72/90ths. of a dollar received by said Nicola, on account of subsistence.
That the allowances above mentioned should be made to the said Talmage Hall for the periods aforesaid, deducting therefrom the sum of fifty six dollars, received by him on account of subsistence.
On these principles the Board submit to the consideration of Congress the following Resolves.
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That there be allowed to Lewis Nicola the sum of two hundred and eighty six dollars eighteen ninetieths of a dollar in full for his services whilst employed in settling the accounts and distributing the certificates belonging to the late invalid corps.
That there be allowed to Talmage Hall late Pay Master of the Corps of Invalids the sum of four hundred and sixty four dollars in full for his services whilst employed in the Agency of said Corps.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, signed by Samuel Osgood and Walter Livingston, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 138, II, folio 193. According to the indorsement it was read this day and passed by nine States March 28, 1786.
Also on this day, according to indorsement, was read a letter from the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, dated August 27, 1785, forwarding two letters from John Adams, dated August 6 and 10 respectively and a letter from John Bondfield, of July 28. The Adams letters related to the temper of England regarding American trade and observations on the French arrêt of July 10. Bondfield's related to Soulanges' letter and the Algerine war. Jay's letter is in No. 80, I, folio 353; Adams' is in No. 84, V, folios 585 and 601.]
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