Ordered, That it lie on the table for the consideration of the members; and that it be taken up on Thursday next.

Resolved, That on Thursday next, Congress be resolved into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the foregoing report.

FEBRUARY 27, 1779.

Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to consider the report of the committee on the letters from A. Lee, and the communications of the minister of France; and after some time the President resumed the chair; and Mr. F. L. Lee reported that the committee have had under consideration the report referred to them, and have made some progress, but not having come to a conclusion, desire leave to sit again.

Leave granted.

On Monday Congress was resolved into a committee of the whole on the above report; and, on Thursday, resumed the same subject in committee. On the 10th, 11th, 15th, and 16th of March, the same.

MARCH 17, 1779.

Congress was resolved into a committee of the whole; and after some time the President resumed the chair, and Mr. F. L. Lee reported, that the committee have had under their farther consideration the report of the committee on the communications from the

minister of France, and have come to sundry resolutions thereon, which he was ready to report.

The resolutions agreed to in the committee of the whole being read,

Ordered, That the consideration thereof be post poned till to-morrow.

MARCH 19, 1779.

Congress took into consideration the report of the committee of the whole, and agreed the following ultimata :

1. That the thirteen United States are bounded, north, by a line to be drawn from the north-west angle of Nova Scotia, along the high lands which divide those rivers which empty themselves into the river St. Lawrence from those which fall into the Atlantic ocean to the north-westernmost head of Connecticut river; thence down along the middle of that river to the forty-fifth degree of north latitude; thence due west in the latitude forty-five degrees north from the equator, to the north-westernmost side of the river St. Lawrence, or Cadaraqui; thence strait to the south end of lake Nepissing; and thence strait to the source of the river Mississippi: west, by a line to be drawn along the middle of the river Mississippi from its source to where the said line shall intersect the latitude of thirty-one degrees north: south, by a line to be drawn due east from the termination of the line last mentioned in the latitude thirty-one degrees north from the equator to the middle of the river Apalachicola, or Catahouchie; thence along the middle thereof to its

junction with the Flint river; thence strait to the head of St. Mary's river; thence down along the middle of St. Mary's river to the Atlantic ocean: and east, by a line to be drawn along the middle of St. John's from its source to its mouth in the bay of Fundy, or by a line to be settled and adjusted between that part of the state of Massachusetts Bay, formerly called the province of Maine, and the colony of Nova Scotia, agreeably to their respective rights, comprehending all islands within twenty leagues of any part of the shores of the United States, and lying between lines to be drawn due east from the points where the aforesaid boundaries between Nova Scotia on the one part, and East Florida on the other part, shall respectively touch the bay of Fundy and the Atlantic ocean. Provided, that if the line to be drawn from the mouth of lake Nepissing to the head of the Mississippi cannot be obtained without continuing the war for that purpose, then, that a line or lines may be drawn more southerly, so as not to be southward of a line in latitude forty-five degrees north.

2. That every post and place within the United States, and every island, harbour, and road to them, or any of them belonging, be absolutely evacuated by the land and sea forces of his Britannick majesty, and yielded to the powers of the states to which they respectively belong.

MARCH 22, 1779.

Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee of the whole; and the third resolution

reported by the committee as one of the ultimata being under debate, and being in the words following:

3. That a common right in these states to fish on the coasts, bays and banks of Newfoundland and gulf of St. Lawrence, coast of Labrador and straits of Belleisle, be acknowledged; and in case of refusal, that the war be continued, unless the circumstances of our allies shall be such as to render them utterly unable to assist in the prosecution of the war; in which case, as ample privileges in the fishery be insisted on, as can possibly be obtained:

That in case Great Britain should not be prevailed on either to cede, or declare Nova Scotia independent, the privilege of curing fish on the shores and in the harbours of Nova Scotia be required—

In lieu thereof a substitute was moved by Mr. Morris, in the words following, viz.

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"That an acknowledgment be made by Great Bri"tain of a common right in these states to fish on the "coasts, bays and banks of Nova Scotia, the banks of "Newfoundland and gulf of St. Lawrence, the coasts "of Labrador and straits of Belleisle, and a stipulation 'for the right of curing fish on the shores of Nova Sco"tia. Provided always, that the allies of these states "shall be in circumstances to support them in carry"ing on the war for such acknowledgment and stipu "lation; but that in no case, by any treaty of peace, "the common right of fishing as above described be "given up."

The substitute being adopted, and under debate.

A motion was made by Mr. M. Smith, seconded by Mr. Burke, to strike out the words, "and a stipulation

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'for the right of curing fish on the shores of Nova "Scotia," and also the words, " and stipulation," after the word "acknowledgment."

And on the question, Shall those words stand, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. M. Smith