A petition from Patrick Colvin, at Trenton-ferry, was read: WhereuponResolved, That the quarter-master general be directed, if he has any boats or flats belonging to the public at any of the ferries on the river Delaware unemployed, to lend two of them to Patrick Colvin, to be by him employeḍ at Trenton-ferry for the accommodation of the public. A petition from William Allison, guardian of John Blakely, in behalf of the said John Blakely, was read: Whereupon, It was moved that it be committed: question put, passed in the negative. The commissioners of claims, with the approbation of the auditor-general, report, That there is due to Thomas Edison, his pay as clerk in the secretary's office, from the 12th of June to the 12th of August, 1778, inclusive, 160 dol lars, and for his expenses from York-town to Philadelphia, 16 dollars, making in the whole, 176 dollars: That there is due to the Rev. Mr. Lotbinier, as chaplain, his pay and subsistence from the 11th of July to the 10th of August, 1778, both days inclusive, 60 dollars: That there is due to col. John Greene for the expenses of keeping two horses in the fall of 1776, when he was wounded in the state of New-York, and which were necessary to carry him to his place of residence in Virginia, 200 dollars: Ordered, That the said accounts be paid. The committee on the treasury brought in a report; Whereupon, Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favor of Mr. Penn, one of the delegates of the state of North-Carolina, for 2000 dollars, advanced upon his application; the said state to be accountable. Congress proceeded to the election of an additional number of signers of the continental bills of credit, and the ballots being taken, the following gentlemen were chosen, viz. John Shee, Francis Lewis, jun. William Marshall, Joseph Wilson, James Royson, James Little, James Rowan, and Isaac All. The board of war, to whom was referred the memorial of the hon. sieur Gerard, relative to Mr. William Straker, having made report thereon, and the same being read, Ordered, That the said report and papers referred to, relative to Mr. Straker, be referred to the government of the state of Pennsylvania, to determine whether they will consider Mr. William Straker, lately made prisoner by the count d'Estaing's squadron, as a citizen of the state of Pennsylvania; and if the said government shall determine to consider and receive the said Mr. William Straker as a citizen of their state, that they be desired to transmit a certificate of their determination to the sieur Gerard, minister plenipotentiary of his most Christian majesty. The committee to whom were referred the papers relative to Cornelius Sweers and colonel B. Flower, brought in a report, which was read: after debate, Ordered, That it be re-committed. Ordered, That three members be added to the committee: the members chosen, Mr. Marchant, Mr. Harvie, and Mr. T. Adams, The committee on foreign affairs laid before Congress sundry letters and papers which they have received from the commissioners, agents and other persons who have transacted public business in Europe. Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow. SATURDAY, August 15, 1778. A motion was made to resolve, that the members of this house keep secret from all but the members of this house, under like obligations of secrecy, such information as may be derived from an inspection of the papers of the committee of secret correspondence, or from hearing the same read: After debate, the previous question was moved, and the yeas and nays re quired by Mr. Duer, Masid'ste-Bay, Mr. S. Adams, ay ay Say ay Lovell, ay ay Banister, Connecticut, Mr. Sherman, ay Harvie, no ay A. Adams, ay Williams, ay ay So it was resolved in the affirmative, and the main question set aside. It was then moved to resolve, that no matter contained in the letters laid before Congress by the committee for foreign affairs, be communicated to any persons out of Congress without permission of the house: After debate, the previous question was moved, and the yeas and nays being required by Mr. Drayton, N-Hampshire, Mr. Bartlett, Mana'tte-Bay, Mr. S. Adams, Georgia, Mr. Telfair, Matthews, ay ay, } au ay ay Forbes, ay no Holten, Banister, no Connecticut, Rhode Island, Mr. Marchant, Mr. Sherman, A. Adams, no >no T. Adams, ay no no no N.-Carolina, So it was resolved in the affirmative, and the main question was set aside. Mr. McKean, a delegate from Delaware, attended, and resumed his seat in Congress. A motion was then made, that the contents of the letters laid upon the table by the committee of foreign affairs, be kept secret till the enquiry into the state of our foreign affairs, and the conduct of our commissioners be finished: An amendment was moved, to add as follows, excepting such parts thereof, as having been already communicated to the house without an injunction of secrecy, or having been read by private members or others, may have been divulged. Question being put, and the yeas and nays required by Mr. Drayton, So it passed in the negative. Matthews, no Telfair, no The main question was then put; and the yeas and nays required by Mr. Chase, Georgia, So it was resolved in the affirmative. A letter, of this day, from major-general Arnold, was read, which letter was accompanied with the proceedings and sentence of a general court-martial on Frederick Verner, charged with acting as a spy and guide to the British army; and sets forth, that as the evidences do not appear sufficiently full and clear to touch the life of a citizen, he has suspended the sentence until the pleasure of Congress is known:" the letter also was accompanied with the proceedings and sentences of a general court-martial on adjutant Wallace, Patrick McMullen, and Henry Love, together with sundry certificates, &c. relative to the matter; and states, that "as the evidence against the two former is in his opinion, insufficient to touch their lives, and as there are several circumstances in favor of the latter, he begs leave to recommend them to Congress as proper objects of mercy; Whereupon, Ordered, That so much of the said letter as relates to Frederick Verner, together with the proceedings and sentence of the general court-martial, and the papers relative to the matter, be referred to the supreme executive council of Pennsylvania, and that they be requested to report their opinion thereon to Congress. That so much of the said letter as relates to adjutant Wallace, Patrick M'Mullen, and Henry Love, with the proceedings and sentence of the general court-martial on them, and the certificates, &c. relative to the matter, be referred to a committee of three: the members chosen, Mr. Marchant, Mr. James Smith, and Mr. Harvie. In consequence of an adjustment by the commissioners of claims, the auditor-general reports, That there is due, to Bryan Lefferty, for his subsistence as a prisoner (agreeable to the articles of capitulation with major-general Schuyler, January 18, 1776,) from the 2d of August, 1777, to the 29th of July, 1778, both days inclusive, 51 weeks and four days, at 28 shillings per week, the sum allowed by Congress, 192 40-90 dollars: Ordered, That the said account be paid. The committee on the treasury brought in a report; Whereupon, Ordered, That a warrant issue on Thomas Smith, esq. commissioner of the continental loan-office in the state of Pennsylvania, in favour of the committee of commerce, for 10,646 60-90 dollars, to enable them to pay Samtel and Isaac Penrose, on account of a balance due to them by the secret committee for freight of a cargo by the ship Sally, delivered at Cadiz, and for demurrage of the said ship; the committee of commerce to be accountable. Ordered, That the farther consideration of the report be postponed. Ordered, That Mr. Deane be introduced, and that a seat be prepared for him at the end of the lower table, on the president's right hand. Mr. Deane was accordingly introduced, and delivered two letters, one from Dr. Franklin, dated Passy, March 31st, 1778, and one from Mons. de Beaumarchais, dated Paris, March 24th, 1778; which were read. Mr. Deane was then proceeding to give the information required; whereupon a motion was made, that the information be given in writing: Ordered, That Mr. Deane withdraw. Accordingly he withdrew; and on motion made, that the narrative Mr. Deane shall give to this house, of his transactions in France, be in writing. After debate the previous question was moved, and the yeas and nays being required by Mr. S. Adams, Delaware, no no So it passed in the negative. The main question was then put, the yeas and nays being required by New-Hampshire, Mr. Bartlett, Mr. Laurens, no No no ay Georgia, Mr. Telfair, no по Mr. Chase, no no Delaware, Maza ette-Bay, Mr. S. Adams, Gerry, ay Holten, Jay ay T. Adams, A. Adams, ay S.-Carolina, ay ay Georgia, Mr. Telfair, Pennsylvania, Mr. R. Morris, no Langworthy, no Resolved, That Mr. Deane be called in, and informed that Congress desire his attendance again on Monday morning, at ten o'clock, to give, from his memory, a general account of his whole transactions in France, from the time of his first arrival, as well as a particular state of the funds of Congress, and the commercial transactions in Europe, especially with Mr. Beaumarchais, and to answer such questions as may be asked. Mr. Deane being called in, and informed of the desire of Congress, withdrew. A letter, of the 13th, from gen. Washington, at White-Plains, and one, of the 10th, from major-general Sullivan, at Portsmouth, Rhode-Island, and one, of the 12th, from W. Palfrey, esq. were read: Ordered, That the last be referred to the board of war. MONDAY, August 17, 1778. Applications from Mrs. Wilson, Fanny Radden, and Maria Barrel, for leave to go to New-York, were laid before Congress and read: Ordered, To lie on the table. Mr. Deane attending according to order, was introduced, and proceeded to give the information required, and, having made some progress therein, he had leave to withdraw, and accordingly withdrew. Ordered, That Mr. Deane attend on Wednesday morning, at ten o'clock, to proceed in his information. A letter, of the 11th, from gen. Washington, enclosing one, of the same date, to him from W. Palfrey, pay-master general; also a letter, of the 11th, from the said W. Palfrey to Congress, were read: Ordered, That the letters from W. Palfrey be referred to the board of treasury. A letter, of this day, from major-general Mifflin, was read, enclosing his commission, which, for reasons set forth in the said letter, he begs leave to resign: Ordered, That the said letter, together with his letters of the 10th and 11th, be referred to a committee of three: the members chosen, Mr. G. Morris, Mr. Reed, and Mr. Witherspoon. The committee to whom was referred a letter from gen. Washington, of the 28th of July, respecting major-gen. Putnam, and the report of the court of enquiry on the subject of the posts on the Highlands, on Hudson's river, taken last year, which was transmitted to Congress, report, That, upon a careful examination of the facts stated by the court of enquiry, and consideration of the evidence taken and transmitted, it appears that those posts were lost, not from any fault, misconduct, or negligence, of the commanding officers, but solely through the want of adequate force under their command to maintain and defend them. Resolved, That Congress agree to the said report. In consequence of an adjustment by the commissioners of claims, the assistant auditor-general reports, That there is due to Charles Cist, for his services in attending the making of paper, by order of the treasury board, the sum of 418 dollars, including his expenses while on that service: That there is due to Timothy Barret, for polishing and planishing two copper plates for engraving, by order of the board of treasury, the sum of 21 30-90 dollars: That there is due to the following persons, for boarding and funeral expenses of gen. du Coudray, deceased, the sum of 695 60-90 dollars, viz. To Mary House, for boarding and lodging him and his family, the sum of 400 dollars, and for sundries furnished for the funeral, the sum of 137 dollars, making together the sum of 537 dollars: To Amelia Taylor, for crape for the funeral, the sum of 74 60-90 dollars: |