So it passed in the negative.

A letter, of August 29th, from major-general Heath, was read, respecting supplies for count d'Estaing's fleet:

Ordered, That it be referred to the marine committee.

Mr. Duer laid before Congress an extract of a letter from Maryland : Ordered, That the same, together with the letter of the 4th, from col. Hollingsworth, and the memorial of August 31st, from E. Blaine, deputy commissary-general of purchases, be referred to a committee of four: the members chosen, Mr. R. Morris, Mr. Duer, Mr. R. H. Lee, and Mr. Marchant. Two letters, of the 5th, from Stephen Steward, to the committee of commerce, were read:

Ordered, That they be referred to the committee of commerce, and that the committee report thereon.

A letter, of the 8th, from John Peers, master of the Mermaid, was read: Ordered, That it be referred to the marine committee.

A letter, of the 4th, from gen. Washington, was read, with sundry papers enclosed:

Ordered, That so much of the said letters as relates to the laying up of magazines to the eastward of Hudson's river, be referred to the committee on the letter from col. Hollingsworth, and memorial of col. Blaine.

A motion being made to empower the general, if he finds it necessary, to give an additional bounty of 10 dollars to recruits inlisting for three years, or during the war :

It was moved to add, and that such additional bounty be at the expense and charged to such of the states as have been deficient in procuring the quotas, according to such deficiency.

On which amendment the previous question being called for, and the yeas and nays being required by Mr. Chase,

So it was resolved in the affirmative, and the amendment was set aside. Resolved, That gen. Washington be authorized, if he shall judge it for the interest of the United States, to augment the continental bounty to recruits, inlisting for three years or during the war, to a sum not exceeding 10 dollars, and that he use his discretion in keeping the matter secret as long as he shall deem necessary, and in applying the augmentation of bounty, as circumstances may require.

Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of Joseph Nourse, pay-master to the board of war and ordnance, for 80,000 dollars, to be by

him transmitted to W. Palfrey, esq. pay-master general, for the purpose of inlisting recruits for the continental service.

Resolved, That so much of the general's letter as relates to clothing, be referred to the board of war, and that the board be directed to make use of the most vigorous exertions for transporting to camp the ready made clothing stored in the eastern states, and in procuring and forwarding to the army such a number of blankets as in their opinion will be necessary to make up the deficiency of blankets already imported or purchased on account of the United States:

That the states of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, Rhode-Island, Connecticut, and New-York, be desired, when applied to by the board of war, to afford every assistance in their power, in causing to be made up the linen and other clothing imported into the eastern states for the continental

army.

Ordered, That the memorial of the Rev. John Peter Tetard, enclosed in the general's letter, be referred to a committee of three: the members chosen, Mr. Duer, Mr. Harvie, and Mr. Lovell.

A letter, of this day, from S. Deane, esq. was read :
Ordered, To lie on the table till to-morrow.

THREE O'CLOCK, P. M.

Resolved, That those members of the board of treasury, whose state may be represented in Congress without their personal attendance, be requested to attend at the treasury board every forenoon, until the further order of Congress.

Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee on the arrangement of the treasury; Whereupon,

It was moved, that the report of the board of treasury of the 15th of April last, be substituted in lieu of the report of the committee: question put, passed in the negative.

Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow.

WEDNESDAY, September 9, 1778.

A letter, of August 26th, from count d'Estaing, was read:

Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of four, and that they be directed to prepare an answer: the members chosen, Mr. R. H. Lee, Mr. S. Adams, Mr. G. Morris, and Mr. Lovell.

A letter, of this day, from John and Alexander Wilcox, was read: Whereupon,

Ordered, That the report of the committee appointed, in conjunction with a committee of the council of Pennsylvania, to ascertain the property of goods, wares, and merchandise, in possession of the inhabitants of the city of Philadelphia, at the time it was evacuated by the enemy, be taken into consideration on Tuesday next.

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, for 7000 dollars, and another warrant on the treasurer for 23,000 dollars, in favor of William Henry, esq. employed in the business of the armory, and to purchase leather, accoutrements, and shoes; to enable him to carry on his purchases; which sums are advanced on a certificate of the board of war, and to be charged to the account of the said William Henry :

That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favor of the marine committee, for 20,000 dollars, to be by them transmitted to Messrs. Maxwell and Loyal, agents for building of frigates in Virginia, to enable them to go on with the building of one of the frigates, and pay off debts already contracted on account of the said frigates: the said committee to be accountable:

That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favor of Mr. J. Bartlett, one of the delegates from the state of New-Hampshire, for 1500 dollars, advanced on his application; for which the said state is to be accountable.

The board of treasury, to whom was referred the letter of the 29th of August, from the board of war, enclosing a letter and sundry papers from lieut. col. Mullen, relative to the settlement of his accounts, report,

That, upon revising col. Mullen's account, they find it was settled upon just principles; that he can have no claim of right to receive, in a bill of exchange on France, the sum there reported to be paid by a warrant on the treasurer; and that he apply for the payment of a horse shot under him, agreeably to the resolution of Congress of the 12th day of August last : Resolved, That Congress agree to the said report.

In consequence of an adjustment by the commissioners of claims, the auditor-general reports,

That there is due to William Kinnon, for printing bills of exchange and loan-office certificates, his pay and boarding, from the 9th of March to the 31st of August, 1778, inclusive, the sum of 628 58-90 dollars:

That there is due to Henry Miller, for printing in German 6100 copies of proposals intended to be conveyed to foreign officers and soldiers in the British service in 1776, 20 dollars :

That there is due to Belcher P. Smith, his pay as clerk in the secretary's office, from the 6th of February to the 5th of September, 1778, 595 dollars, and for blank books and other contingencies of the office, 63 50-90 dollars, making in the whole, 658 30-90 dollars:

Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

On motion, Resolved, That the retreat made by major-gen. Sullivan, with the troops under his command, from Rhode-Island, was prudent, timely, and well conducted, and that Congress highly approve the same.

Resolved, That the thanks of Congress be given to major-gen. Sullivan, and to the officers and troops under his command, for their fortitude and bravery, displayed in the action of August 29th, in which they repulsed the British forces and maintained the field.

Resolved, That Congress have a high sense of the patriotic exertions made by the four eastern states, on the late expedition against Rhode-Island.

Resolved, That Mr. President be requested to inform the marquis de la Fayette, that Congress have a due sense of the sacrifice he made of his personal feelings in undertaking a journey to Boston, with a view of promoting the interest of these states, at a time when an occasion was daily expected of his acquiring glory in the field, and that his gallantry in going on RhodeIsland when the greatest part of the army had retreated, and his good conduct in bringing off the pickets and out-sentries, deserves their particular approbation.

Resolved, That major Morris, aid-de-camp to major-gen. Sullivan, who brought forward to Congress the account of the repulse of the British forces on Rhode-Island, on the 29th of August, and who, on the late expedition as well as on several other occasions, behaved with great spirit and good conduct, be promoted to the rank of a lieutenant-colonel by brevet.

A motion was made to reconsider the resolution, approving the retreat from Rhode-Island: question put, and the yeas and nays being required by Mr. Duer,

So it passed in the negative.

It was then moved, that an enquiry be made into the causes of the failure of the late expedition against Rhode-Island, agreeably to the resolution of Congress of November 28th, 1777, and that gen. Washington be directed to cause this inquiry to be made as soon as it can be conveniently done, and transmit the proceedings of the court to Congress :

The previous question was moved, and the yeas and nays being required by Mr. Duer,

So it was carried, and the main question set aside.
Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow.

THURSDAY, September 10, 1778.

A letter, of the 8th, from George Cottnam, captain-lieutenant in the first Pennsylvania regiment of artillery, was read, requesting leave, on account of his impaired constitution, to resign his commission :

Resolved, That his resignation be accepted.

A letter, of the 7th, from general Washington, was read:

Ordered, That it be referred to the board of war.

A letter, of the 7th, from the committee of arrangement, was read; Whereupon,

Congress proceeded to the election of a commander of the horse, and the ballots being taken, John Cadwallader, esq. was unanimously elected.

Resolved, That a commission be granted to John Cadwallader, esq. appointing him brigadier and commander of the cavalry in the service of the United States.

A letter, of the 27th and 31st of August, from gov. Trumbull, was read: Ordered, That it be referred to the board of war.

On motion, Ordered, That the paper signed Adam Ferguson, dated August 26th, and the papers transmitted with it, and also the resolution of Congress of the 4th instant, respecting the convention of Saratoga, be published. Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to confer with the hon. the minister plenipotentiary of France, respecting the future operations of the French fleet under the command of count d'Estaing, and report to Congress: the members chosen, Mr. R. H. Lee, Mr. Drayton, Mr. S. Adams, Mr. Duer, and Mr. R. Morris.

The committee to whom was referred the letter, of August 26th, from count d'Estaing, brought in the draught of an answer, which was read and agreed to:

Ordered, That it be signed and forwarded by the president to count d'Estaing. Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee on the arrangement of the board of treasury, and, after some time spent thereon, the further consideration thereof was postponed to the afternoon.

THREE O'CLOCK, P. M.

A letter, of this day, from the chevalier de Fayolle, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the board of war.

Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee on the arrangement of the treasury, and after some time spent thereon, Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed.

A letter, of the 2d, from major general Sullivan, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the board of war.

The committee on the letter from col. Hollingsworth, and the memorial from E. Blaine, brought in a partial report, and desired leave to sit again. Ordered, That the report be taken into consideration to-morrow, and that the committee have leave to continue to sit on the business.

Ordered, That Mr. Hosmer have leave of absence.
Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow.

FRIDAY, September 11, 1778.

A letter of this day, from J. M'Kinley, esq. and an extract from the minutes of the privy-council of the state of Delaware, were read.

In consequence of an adjustment by the commissioners of claims, the auditor-general reports,

That there is due to the officers and privates of col. Nicola's regiment of invalids, their pay from the month of July last, and subsistence in lieu of rations for the officers for the same time, 940 80-90 dollars:

That there is due to Thomas Fitzsimons, his pay as commissioner of claims, from April 12th to August 27th, 1777, 548 dollars:

That there is due to William Dodd, for his services as express-rider, from October 3d, 1776, to October 31st 1777, as more fully appears by a particular state, filed with his account, a balance of 370 30-90 dollars:

That there is due to the Rev. Mons. Lotbinier, his pay and subsistence as chaplain to col. Livingston's regiment, from the 11th of August to the 10th of September, inclusive, 60 dollars:

Ordered, That the said accounts 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, for 20,000 dollars, and another on William Armistead, esq. commissioner of the continental loanoffice in the state of Virginia, for 30,000 dollars, in favour of col. Baylor, being for the purchase of arms, horses and accoutrements for the use of the armies of the United States: for which sums, amounting to 50,000 dollars, the said col. Baylor is to be accountable:

That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favor of col. John Cox, assistant quarter-master general, for 3,500,000 dollars, for the use of the quartermaster general's department, and for which major-general Green, quartermaster general, is to be accountable:

That a warrant issue on the treasurer for 3,000,000 dollars, in favour, of Jeremiah Wadsworth, esq. commissary-general of purchases, for the use of his department, and for which he is to be accountable:

That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favor of Joseph Hewes, for 1000 dollars, in discharge of a bill drawn by John Ashe, esq. treasurer of the state of North-Carolina, in favor of John Easton, dated May 9, 1777, for that sum, being in part of the 500,000 dollars heretofore granted by Congress for the use of that state, and for which the said state is to be accountable: