Mr. DYER was strenuous for getting rid of expense; considered the war at an end; that Great Britain might as well renew the war after the definitive treaty as now; that not a moment ought to be lost in disburdening the public of needless expense.

Mr. RUTLEDGE viewed the conduct of Great Britain in so serious a light, that he almost regretted having voted for a discharge of prisoners. He urged the expediency of caution, and of consulting the Commander-in-Chief. He accordingly moved that the Report be referred to him for his opinion and advice. The motion was seconded by Mr. IZARD.

Mr. CLARK asked whether any military operation was on foot, that the Commander-in-Chief was to be consulted. This was a national question, which the national council ought to decide. He was against furloughing the men, because they would carry their arms with them. He said we were at peace, and complained that some could not separate the idea of a Briton from that of cutting throats.

Mr. ELLSWORTH enlarged on the impropriety of submitting to the Commander-in-Chief a point on which he could not possess competent materials for deciding. We ought either to discharge the men engaged for the war, or to furlough them. He preferred the former.

Mr. MERCER descanted on the insidiousness of Great Britain, and warmly opposed the idea of laying ourselves at her mercy that we might save fifty thousand dollars, although Congress knew they were violating the treaty as to negroes.

Mr. WILLIAMSON proposed that the soldiers be furloughed. Mr. CARROLL seconded him, that the two

modes of furlough and discharge might both lie on the table.

By general consent this took place.

The Report as to confiscated property, on the instructions from Virginia and Pennsylvania, was taken up, and agreed to be recommitted, together with a motion of Mr. MADISON, to provide for the case of Canadian refugees, and for settlement of accounts with the British; and a motion of Mr. HAMILTON to insert, in a definitive treaty, a mutual stipulation not to keep a naval force on the lakes."

WEDNESDAY, MAY 21ST, THURSDAY, MAY 22ND. See the Secret Journal for these two days.

The passage relating to the armed neutrality was generally concurred in for the reasons which it expresses.

The disagreements on the questions relating to a treaty of commerce with Russia were occasioned chiefly by sympathies, particularly in the Massachusetts delegation, with Mr. Dana; and by an eye, in the navigating and ship-building States, to the Russian articles of iron and hemp. They were supported by South Carolina, who calculated on a Russian market for her rice.

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FRIDAY, MAY 23RD.

The Report from Messrs. HAMILTON, GORHAM, and PETERS, in favor of discharging the soldiers enlisted

for the war, was supported on the ground that it was called for by economy, and justified by the degree of certainty that the war would not be renewed. Those who voted for furloughing the soldiers wished to avoid expense, and at the same time to be not wholly unprepared for the contingent failure of a definitive treaty of peace. The views of the subject taken by those who were opposed both to discharging and furloughing, were explained in a motion by Mr. MERCER, Seconded by Mr. IZARD, to assign as reasons, first, that Sir Guy Carleton had not given satisfactory reasons for continuing at New York; second, that he had broken the Articles of the Provisional Treaty relative to the negroes, by sending them off.

This motion appeared exceptionable to several, particularly to Mr. HAMILTON; and rather than it should be entered on the Journal by yeas and nays, it was agreed that the whole subject should lie over.

The Report relative to the Department of Foreign Affairs being taken up, Mr. CARROLL, seconded by Mr. WILLIAMSON, moved that no public minister should be employed by the United States except on extraordinary occasions.

In support of the proposition it was observed, that it would not only be economical, but would withhold our distinguished citizens from the corrupting scenes at Foreign Courts, and, what was of more consequence, would prevent the residence of foreign ministers in the United States, whose intrigues and examples might be injurious both to the government and the people.

The considerations suggested on the other side

were, that diplomatic relations made part of the established policy of modern civilized nations; that they tended to prevent hostile collisions by mutual and friendly explanations; and that a young Republic ought not to incur the odium of so singular, and it might be thought disrespectful, an innovation. The discussion was closed by an adjournment till Monday.

MONDAY, MAY 26TH.

The Resolutions on the Journal instructing the Ministers in Europe to remonstrate against the carrying off the negroes-also those for furloughing the troops passed unanimously."

TUESDAY, MAY 27TH and WEDNESDAY, MAY 28TH.

No Congress.

THURSDAY, MAY 29TH.

The Report of the Committee concerning interest on British debts was committed, after some discussion.

FRIDAY, MAY 30TH.

The debates on the Report recommending to the States a compliance with the fourth, fifth, and sixth

of the Provisional Articles, were renewed; the Report being finally committed nem. con. See Secret Journal.

The Report, including the objections to interest on British debts, was also agreed to nem. con.; not very cordially by some who were indifferent to the object, and by others who doubted the mode of seeking it by a new stipulation.*

MONDAY and TUESDAY, JUNE 2ND and 3RD.

See Journal.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4TH.

The Report of the Committee for giving to the army certificates for land was taken up. After some discussion of the subject-some members being for, some against, making the certificates transferable-it was agreed that the Report should lie on the table.

For what passed in relation to the cession of vacant territory by Virginia, see the Journal.

Whilst Mr. HAMILTON'S motion relating to Mr. Livingston, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, was before the House, Mr. PETERS moved, in order to detain Mr. Livingston in office, that it be declared, by the seven States present, that the salary ought to be augmented. To this it was objected-first, that it would be an assumption of power in seven States to VOL. I.-29 *