of America, be announced to the public; and that the Board of War and Board of Admiralty take order accordingly: That this important event be communicated to the executives of the several states: That the several ministers of these states in Europe be informed of the complete and final ratification of the said Confederation; and that they be ordered to notify the same to the respective courts at which they reside: That it be also notified to the honorable the Minister Plenipotentiary of France: That information of the completion of the said Confederation be transmitted to the Commander in Chief, and that he be directed to announce the same to the army under his command. Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee appointed to confer with Colonel B. Harrison, and thereupon, Resolved, That the Convention prisoners, now in Virginia, be removed into some State more northerly, and that the Board of War have them immediately put in motion for that purpose, and continue their march by the way [of] Knowland's ferry, until the farther order of Congress. Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Monday. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1781 Mr. [Thomas] McKean, a delegate for the State of Delaware, attended and produced the credentials of the delegates of that State, which were read, as follows: IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE DELAWARE STATE, at Newcastle, Saturday, A. M. February 10, 1781. The Council and House of Assembly, having met in the StateHouse, agreeable to the order of the Day, proceeded, by joint Ballot, to the election of Delegates to represent this State in the Congress 86382°-VOL 19-12-13 of the United States of America, for the ensuing year, and the Box containing the Ballots being examined, The Honorable Thomas Rodney, Thomas McKean and Nicholas Vandyke, Esquires, are declared duly elected. Extract from the Minutes, JAS. BOOTH, 1 A letter, of 17, from General Washington, was read, enclosing an estimate from Brigadier General Knox: 2 Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War. A letter, of 17, from the governor of Virginia was read, with sundry papers enclosed: "3 Ordered, That the same be referred to a committee of three. The members, Mr. [William] Sharpe, Mr. M[eriwether] Smith and Mr. [Joseph] Jones. A letter, of 10, from Major General Greene, was read.1 A letter, of 21, from J. Lawrence, judge advocate general, was read: Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War. A letter, of 10, from the president of the State of New Hampshire, was read." A letter, of 21 December, 1780, from Faucher & Skerrett, of Cape François, was read: Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Com merce. A petition of Mathew McConnell; and A letter, of 24 February, from E. Forman, were read:" 1 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Delaware, Credentials of Delegates. 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, IX, folio 567; it is printed in The Writings of Washington (Ford), IX, 145. 3 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 71, II, folio 35. This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 155, I, folio 561. "This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 64, folio 180. 6 McConnel's petition, dated February 26, 1781, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, V, folio 243; Forman's letter is in No. 78, IX, folio 439. Ordered, That they be referred to the committee on the letter from J. Patton and others. A report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon, WAR OFFICE Feb SIR. 1781 At the instance of the Commander in Chief, the Board have taken measures for supplying Lieutenant Colonel Stevens with a number of cannon and stores for an enterprize to be immediately undertaken, the execution whereof depends in a great degree on the secrecy and promptitude of the preparations. We have been able to procure the greater part of the articles and with the sum of forty four thousand two hundred and fifty dollars of the old emissions, for the department of Commissary General of Military Stores, and two hundred and fifty dollars of the new emissions for Lieutenant Colonel Stevens, the whole will be in a situation to move by the time expected. We therefore beg the favor of Congress to resolve, Ordered, That warrants be drawn on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pensylvania, in favour of the paymaster of the Board of War and Ordnance, for forty-four thousand two hundred and fifty dollars of the old emissions, to be applied under the order of the said Board, for the purchase of military stores immediately wanted for a special occasion, and also for two hundred and forty dollars of the new emission, to be delivered by the said Board to Lieutenant Colonel Stevens, for which he is to be accountable.1 A report from the Board of War, of this day, was read, respecting the removal of the Convention prisoners: SIR. WAR OFFICE, Feb 26, 1781. The Board have been honored with an order from Congress to remove the Convention Prisoners in Virginia into some State more northerly. We should as we are on all occasions be happy in executing the orders of Congress, but in this as well as too many other matters we find ourselves embarrassed for want of means. This 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, VI, folio 201. being the case we are with submission to the better judgment of Congress of opinion that the business had better be recommended to the executives of Virginia and Maryland to take order for the removal and temporary supply of these Prisoners. The care of the Convention Prisoners has always been ultimately vested in the executive of Virginia, but when they are out of that State it will be necessary that the Government of Maryland be requested to take the superintendancy of their supplies and safe keeping so far as to furnish the means to Colonel Wood who has the command of all matters relative to the Convention Troops in the Military line. Under present circumstances if they are crowded together without Magazines the whole must suffer for Want of Provisions or disperse thro' the Country. Our accounts from those of the Convention Troops now in Maryland are very disagreeable. They are so precariously supplied that the soldiers are sent thro' the Country to collect provisions and being unguarded great numbers daily desert. These evils will be encreased by a junction of the whole and therefore we submit to Congress the propriety of fixing on some stationary place for these prisoners where they can be supplied and proper Magazines and guards provided that this business may at once be put in a proper train and the embarrassments of temporary measures be thereby prevented.1 Ordered, That the same, together with the postscript of Governor Jefferson's letter, of 17th, relative to the prisoners taken at the Cowpens, be referred to a committee of three. The members, Mr. [Joseph] Jones, Mr. [Daniel] Carroll, Mr. [Henry] Wynkoop. The committee to whom was referred the report of the Board of War, of 22, delivered in a report; Whereupon, Resolved, That the committee appointed to confer with the directors of the bank be and they are hereby empowered to agree with the said directors upon the terms which the bills of exchange in their hands shall be taken or sold for the purpose of making good the engagements of the bank.2 That three members be added to the said committee. 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, VI, folio 205. 2 This report, in the writing of George Walton, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 27, folio 121. The members added, Mr. [John] Hanson, Mr. M[eriwether] Smith, Mr. [Thomas] Burke. Congress took into consideration a report from the Board of War, on the memorial of Colonel R. Gridley; and thereupon, Resolved, That it be recommended to the State of Massachusetts to make up to Richard Gridley the depreciation of his pay as engineer at sixty dollars per month, from the time of his appointment to the 1st day of January, 1781, in like manner with other officers in continental service, and charge the same to the United States: That from and after the said first day of January, 1781, Colonel Gridley be considered as a retiring officer, and be entitled to receive from the United States four hundred and forty-four dollars and two-fifths of a dollar per annum, in bills of the new emissions, in virtue of the resolutions of Congress of the 17 November, 1775, on the subject of his indemnification for any losses he might sustain by entering into the service of the United States.1 The Board of War, to whom was referred the several applications for the place of keeper of the state prison, delivered in a report; Whereupon, Present Mr Peters Mr. Mathews AT A BOARD OF WAR Feb 21st 1781 The Board having considered the several applications for the place of Keeper of the State prison in Philadelphia, and it appearing to them, that Elijah Weed is recommended as a capable and active person, and is the first applier for that employment, Agreed to report to Congress, Resolved, That Elijah Weed be and he is hereby appointed keeper of the state prison in Philadelphia, in the room of Robert Jewell, deceased.2 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, VI, folio 189. 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, VI, folio 197. |