necessary; and that he be desired to avail himself of the shipwrights and other artifices now in the flying-camp:

That general Mercer be allowed a secretary while he has a separate command:

That a number of 4 and 6 pounders, not exceeding ten of each, be immediately sent to general Mercer, to be mounted on the works he is now erecting; and that the council of safety of Pennsylvania be requested to forward them to Amboy, in New-Jersey:

That Congress approve of general Schuyler's intention to publish such parts of the treaty with the Six Nations, as may have a tendency to dispel the apprehensions of the frontier inhabitants:

That the commissioners for Indian affairs, in the middle department, be instructed to thank Cayashuta, in the name of the great conncil-fire, for his friendly conduct at Niagara, communicated by Peter Richman (whose Indian name is Queda) and to inform him, that it would be very agreeable to Congress

to receive a visit from him.

A letter of the 29th, from general Washington, and one from the council of Massachusetts-Bay; also a letter of the 23d from governor Cooke, with sundry papers enclosed, being received, were read:

Resolved, That the two first be referred to the board of war.

The board of war laid before Congress a letter received from general Washington:

Ordered, That they return an answer.

Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the articles of confederation; and, after some time, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. Morton reported, that the committee, not having yet finished, desired leave to sit again."

Resolved, That this Congress will, to-morrow, resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the articles of confederation. Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow.

WEDNESDAY, July S1, 1776.

Resolved, That 20,000 dollars be advanced to Mr. Mease; he to be accountable:

That Mr. J. Mease be directed to pay John Pollock 2666 dollars and twothirds, and that the same be charged to the account of the committee of inspection of Cumberland, who are to be accountable.

Resolved, That the medical committee be directed to provide, and send forward, such a quantity of medicines as may be necessary for the hospital in the northern army:

That the said committee be directed to procure and forward such a quantity of medicines as may be necessary for the hospital in the southern department. The board of war brought in a report, which was taken into consideration : Whereupon,

Resolved, That five tons of musket-powder be sent immediately to general Washington at New-York:

That the commissary-general be directed to furnish with rations, and the deputy pay-master general, in the state of Massachusetts-Bay, be ordered to pay, any militia, which the general assembly of that state shall think proper to call in, to replace the continental troops ordered from thence.

The committee appointed to enquire into the causes of the miscarriages in Canada, brought in a farther report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon,

Resolved, That the conduct of colonel Nicholson, who commanded the post at Point-Levi, and who, after the determination of the council of war to retire from Quebec, is said to have deserted his said command, and left the party to shift for themselves, be submitted to a court of enquiry:

That the committee be discharged from so much of colonel Easton's petition, as prays a settlement of his accounts, and that the same be referred to the board of treasury.

The committee appointed to take into consideration the state of North-Carolina, brought in their report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon, Resolved, That four tons of gun-powder and six four pounders, or such others as can be procured, of the weight proper for field-pieces, be immediately sent to North-Carolina:

That the delegates of that state employ some proper person, as a commissary, to purchase, in this city, or the neighborhood thereof, clothing for the troops raised in that state for the continental service:

That the three independent companies of rangers, in that state, be taken upon the continental pay and establishment, and that their pay and appointment be as already resolved by the convention of that state, and that they rank as the rangers raised in South-Carolina and Georgia.

Resolved, That an order for 266 2-3 dollars be drawn on the treasurers, in favor of colonel James Easton; to be accounted for by him on the final settlement of his accounts:

That two months' pay be advanced to Monsieur St. Martin; he to be accountable.

Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the articles of confederation; and, after some time, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. Morton reported, that the committee, not having come to a conclusion, desired leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this Congress will, to-morrow, resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the articles of confederation. Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow.

THURSDAY, August 1, 1776.

A letter of the 30th of July from brigadier general Mercer, and one of the same date, from brigadier-general Roberdeau, and sundry others, were laid before Congress, and read:

Resolved, That the two first be referred to the board of war.

Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the articles of confederation; and, after some time, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. Morton reported, that the committee have made farther progress, but, not having come to a conclusion, desired leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this Congress will, to-morrow, resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the articles of confederation.

A letter of the 50th of July, from general Washington, with sundry papers enclosed; also, one from general Schuyler, of the 20th, and one from colonel Dubois, of the 17th, were laid before Congress, and read:

Resolved, That they be referred to the board of war.

The board of war reported the draught of a letter to general Washington, in answer to his directed to them; and the same being agreed to,

Ordered, That it be transcribed, signed by the president, and forwarded. The said board brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

Resolved, That colonel John Brown be allowed the rank and pay of lieute nant-colonel in the continental army, from the 20th day of November last to

this time:

That James Easton is entitled to the rank of a colonel in the continental army, from the first day of July, 1775, and to the pay of a colonel from that day until he shall be discharged, which ought to be done as soon as a court of enquiry shall report in his favor, or a court-martial shall determine upon his con

duct, and their sentence is carried into execution; there being no vacancy to which he can be appointed. But, should he be honorably acquitted, his past services will recommend him to the confidence of Congress for future employ

ment.

Resolved, That an order for 2,666 2-3 dollars be drawn on the treasurers in favor of Ludwick Karcher, for victualling the militia passing through Philadelphia to the flying-camp; he to be accountable.

Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow.

FRIDAY, August 2, 1776.

Resolved, That two months' pay be advanced to Monsieur Pellisier; he to be accountable.

Resolved, That the secret committee and marine committee be discharged from fitting out vessels with cargoes to Bermudas.

The board of war brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

Resolved, That 200,000 dollars be sent to Jonathan Trumbull, esq. deputy pay-master general in the northern department:

That gen. Washington be instructed to employ in the service of the states, as many of the Stockbridge Indians as he shall judge proper :

That one hundred old arms, belonging to Congress, be delivered to the council of safety of Pennsylvania, to be repaired at the continental expense, and put into the hands of the soldiers destined for the flying-camp; the said council to be accountable:

That the pay-master general, and the several deputy pay-masters general, be directed to make weekly returns to Congress of the state of the military chests under their direction:

That Jonathan Trumbull, esq. deputy pay-master general in the northern army, be directed to transmit to Congress, as soon as possible, an account of all the moneys which have passed through his hands since his appointment to that office :

That the commissary-general, and deputy commissaries in the several departments, be directed to transmit to Congress, weekly, an account of the sums of money they may respectively receive from the pay-masters:

That the quarter-master general, and deputy quarter-masters general, in the several departments, be directed to transmit, weekly, to Congress, an account of the moneys they respectively receive from the pay-master general, or deputy pay-master general:

That the commissary-general, quarter-master general, deputy commissaries, and deputy quarter-masters general, be directed to make monthly returns, at least, of the stores under their direction, and the distribution of them:

That the commanding officer in each department be directed to make returns, once a month, to Congress, of the draughts made by him upon the pay-master, in his department.

Resolved, That Mr. Walton be appointed a member of the marine committee, in the room of Mr. Gwinnett, who is absent.

Resolved, That 100 dollars be advanced to Thaddeus Sturges, to be accounted for by him, and deducted out of his pay on the settlement of his accounts; that the board of treasury be discharged from proceeding on his accounts, and that they be referred for settlement to the commissioners appointed to settle the accounts in the northern department.

The marine committee, to whom it was referred to enquire into the conduct of commodore Hopkins, brought in their report, which was read:

Ordered, To lie on the table, to be taken into consideration on Monday next. Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the articles of confederation; and, after some time, the president resum

ed the chair, and Mr. Morton reported, that the committee, not having finished. desired leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this Congress will, to-morrow, resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the articles of confederation.

The committee of treasury reported, that there is due,

To Benjamin Thompson, for 131 days service, viz. from the 1st of December to the last of May inclusive, as clerk of the hospital at Montreal, at the rate of 2-3ds of a dollar per day, 122 dollars:

Ordered, That the same be paid.
Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow.

SATURDAY, August 3, 1776.

The committee of treasury reported, that there is due,

To Thomas Whitbeck, for carrying money from Philadelphia to Ticonde roga, in October last, the sum of 75 1-4 dollars:

To Samuel Johnson, for 209 meals of victuals, 20 dollars and 81-90ths. To George Hoffnagle, 1 dollar and 45-90ths.

To Michael Staddleman, for 708 meals of victuals, 70 dollars and 72-90ths. To Richard Chiney, for 540 meals furnished the militia on their march to New-Jersey, 54 dollars:

Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

The committee on the miscarriages in Canada, brought in a farther report, which was read:

Ordered, To lie on the table, to be taken into consideration on Monday next.
A letter from Neil M'Clean was laid before Congress, and read:
Resolved, That it be referred to the board of war.

The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to ten o'clock on Monday.

MONDAY, August 5, 1776.

Two letters from general Washington, of the 31st of July and 2d of August; one from the council of Virginia, of the 27th of July, with copies of sundry letters from North-Carolina and South-Carolina, enclosed; one from E. Anderson, of the 31st of July; and sundry resolutions, passed by the convention of Pennsylvania, were laid before Congress, and read:

Resolved, That they be referred to the board of war.

The board of war brought in a report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon,

Resolved, That the commanders of all ships of war and armed vessels in the service of these states, or any of them, and all letters of marque and pri vateers, be permitted to inlist into service on board the said ships and vessels, any seamen who may be taken on board any of the ships or vessels of our enemies, and that no such seamen be entitled to receive the wages due to them out of the said prizes, but such as will so inlist, and that all other seamen, so taken, be held as prisoners of war, and exchanged for others taken by the enemy, whether on board of vessels of war or merchantmen, as there may be opportunity:

That lieutenant-colonel Rufus Putnam be appointed an engineer, with the rank of colonel, and pay of 60 dollars a month.

A petition from Esek Hopkins, commander in chief of the continental fleet, was presented to Congress, and read; setting forth, that "he has been informed that certain complaints, interrogatories and report, charging him with sundry crimes and misdemeanors, had been exhibited to the honorable Congress; the purport of which complaints, &c. he is ignorant of; and praying that he may be furnished with copies thereof, and of all other proceedings against him, which are now before this honorable body; and that time may be allowed him

to prepare for, and a day assigned for, his being heard before Congress in his own defence."

Resolved, That the prayer of the petition be granted, and that Friday next be appointed for hearing commodore Hopkins.

Resolved, That the marine committee be directed to order the ships and armed vessels, belonging to the continent, out on such cruizes as they shall think proper.

Resolved, That Monday next be assigned for hearing and determining the appeal against the verdict and sentence passed on the schooner Thistle.

Resolved, That the secret committee be directed to deliver to the Delaware battalion, as many of the arms, lately imported, as will be necessary to arm them completely:

That they deliver to the council of safety of Delaware government, 193 of the said arms, in lieu of so many had from them;

That the remainder of the said arms be delivered to the council of safety of Pennsylvania, who are to be accountable.

Resolved, That the Delaware battalion, when armed, be ordered to NewJersey, subject to the farther orders and directions of the general.

The committee of treasury reported, that there is due,

To J. Symes, a prisoner of the royal Highland emigrants, 28 dollars, for 14 weeks' allowance, from the 24th of April to the 30th of July.

Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

Ordered, That the board of war furnish the committee of treasury with the names of the British officers and other prisoners, who are entitled to the allowance made by Congress of two dollars a week, with the times of their captivity, and the places where they are quartered.

Resolved, That the pay of an assistant clerk to the board of war, be 266 2-3 dollars a year.

Resolved, That an order for 1000 dollars be drawn on the treasurers, in favor of Francis Lewis, esq. and that the same be charged to the account of the paymaster general; it being for so much received by him, by the order of Mr. Lewis.

Congress took into consideration the report on Messrs. Price and Haywood's accounts; and, after some debate,

Resolved, That the said accounts be re-committed, and that the commissioners to Canada be desired to attend the board of treasury at the examination of the said accounts.

Resolved, That an order for 53 dollars and 1-3d, be drawn on the treasurers, in favor of Monsieur Artur Vermonit, it being two months' advance, for which he is to be accountable.

A petition from Lewis De Linkensdorff, was presented to Congress, and read: Resolved, That it be referred to the board of war.

Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the causes of the miscarriages in Canada; and, after debate,

Resolved, That it be re-committed.

The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

TUESDAY, August 6, 1776.

A letter, of the 5th, from general Washington, enclosing copies of letters between him and general Howe, respecting the exchange of prisoners, and sundry other letters and papers; also, one from brigadier-general Mercer, of the 4th, were laid before Congress, and read:

Resolved, That they be referred to the board of war.

Resolved, That the medical committee be directed to supply the directorgeneral of the hospital with such medicines as he may want.