ninety-two dollars of the new emissions, to enable him to make the necessary repairs to the arms lately belonging to the Pensylvania line, and for which sum the said Benjamin Flower, commissary, is to be accountable.1

According to the order of the day, Congress proceeded to the election of a Secretary of Marine, and, the ballots being taken, Major General Alexander McDougall was elected. Ordered, That the election of the other secretaries be postponed.

Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1781

A letter, of this day, from Doctor William Burnet, was read: 2

Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three. The members, Mr. [Alexander] McDougall, Mr. [Abraham] Clark, Mr. [Theodorick] Bland.

A memorial of Joseph Perkins was read:3

Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.

The committee, || consisting of Mr. Varnum, Mr. Bee and Mr. Atlee || to whom was re-committed the report on the motion of Mr. [Thomas] Bee, delivered in a report; Whereupon,

Ordered, That warrants issue in favor of John Pierce, paymaster general, upon the loan offices of the undermentioned states in the following proportions, in bills of the new emissions, arising from the four-tenths of the ten millions issued in pursuance of the act of the 18 March last, and that the same be applied to the paying the lines of the said states, viz.

On the commissioner of the continental loan office of

1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, V, folio 119.

2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, IV, folio 121.

3 This memorial, dated February 27, 1781, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, VIII, folio 142.

Of which, 15,100 to be paid immediately, in preference to any former warrants, for which several sums the said J. Pierce, paymaster general, is to be accountable.

SIR.

WAR OFFICE Feb 28th 1781

The Board have been applied to by the Marquis de la Fayette for one month's pay of a detachment he commands on their march on a secret Expedition. The reasons he urges for the advance to be made appear to the Board very strong, among them are, the Officers and Men being detached from any possible resource of a private nature from whence they can draw supplies, their going to a part of the Country in which they are in some degree Strangers—their coming from the Army on such short notice and without information of their destination and under all these circumstances, not having a dollar to purchase the most trifling article. The Board in consequence of the pressing wants of these troops and to encourage them in the cheerful and vigorous execution of the enterprize cannot but join with the Marquis in Opinion that the Money requested should be advanced. It will amount to about fifteen thousand sixty nine dollars in bills of the new emissions, and if Congress should think proper to order the Money to be paid they will please to resolve,

That a warrant be drawn on Thomas Smith Esq. Loan Officer of Pennsilvania for fifteen thousand one hundred dollars in bills of the new emissions in favor of John Pierce Esq Paymaster General, for which he is to be accountable.

That this Warrant be paid in preference to any former Warrants. That the Board of War draw warrants on the paymaster general for one month's pay of the detatchment under the command of Major General the Marquis de la Fayette, the resolution of the 4 January notwithstanding.'

The committee to whom was referred the representation of the iron masters brought in a report; Whereupon,

1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, VI, folio 217.

Resolved, That the Board of Treasury furnish the different iron masters with whom the Board of War have contracted pursuant to the resolution of the 25 July last, with bills of exchange upon the minister plenipotentiary at the Court of Versailles, to the full amount of the debts now due and payable to them agreeably to contract at the rate which such bills shall sell for in specie, and make report to Con-. gress, specifying the exchange so settled.1

A motion was made by Mr. [Thomas] Burke, seconded by Mr. [Richard] Howly;

That the election of a Secretary at War be postponed to: the first day of October next.

On the question to agree to this, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Thomas] Bee:

So it was resolved in the affirmative.

1 This report, in the writing of Samuel John Atlee, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 28, folio 191.

Bee,
Georgia,

no

}

no

Mr. Walton,
Howly,

no

ay

} div.

Resolved, That the commissioners of the Board of War proceed upon the duties of that department, with all the powers and authorities, expressed in the act of the 7th of the present month, ascertaining the duties of the Secretary at War, until the farther order of Congress; any former resolutions to the contrary notwithstanding.

A letter, of 24, from the president of the State of Delaware was read:

Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury. On motion of Mr. Thomas] Smith, seconded by Mr. [Thomas] McKean:

Ordered, That the committee to whom was referred the letter from the president of the senate and speaker of the house of assembly, of the State of New York, confer with a committee of the house of assembly of Pensylvania respecting certificates issued by quartermasters and commissaries within that State, and devise ways and means for payment of those which have been heretofore given, and to prevent the necessity of the continuance of such certificates.

On motion of Mr. [Alexander] McDougall, seconded by Mr. [Theodorick] Bland, Congress came to the following resolution: 1

[Whereas, It is the policy of all wise nations to discourage extravagance and promote economy in their public officers, and an attention to this policy is indispensibly necessary in republicks; and,

Whereas, It is improper for the officers of the army or navy of these states to manifest the least disposition to imitate the Enemy in any respect which will not promote the service of these states, especially to wear the uniform of the Enemy's army or navy;]

Resolved, That after the first day of February January next, no officer whatsoever in the service of the United States

1 The entries for the rest of this day up to the last paragraph are in George Bond's writing.

shall in any of them wear on his cloaths any gold or silver lace embroidery or vellum, on pain of being cashiered other than such as Congress or the Commander in Chief of the army or navy shall direct for the uniform of the corps and badges to distinguish officers.

Resolved, That after the said first day of February January next, no officer of any description in the army or navy of the United States, or any other officer in their service, shall without express permission in writing from Congress the Commander in Chief of the Army or Navy wear any uniform usually worn by the British army or navy on pain of being cashiered.'

2

A memorial from Major William McPherson was read: Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War to take order, the resolution of the 4th January notwithstanding.

A motion was made by Mr. [Theodorick] Bland, seconded by Mr. [Thomas] Bee:

Resolved, That a warrant issue in favor of the Paymaster General on the loan offices of the Southern States from Delaware to Georgia inclusive for the same proportion of the 4/10ths of the new emission subject to the orders of Congress (for the pay of the lines of the respective States from Delaware to Georgia inclusive) as has been granted to the Paymaster General for paying the lines of the Army in the Northern and Eastern States from Pennsylvania to New Hampshire inclusive.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury War.

Resolved, That the several matters now before Congress be referred over, and recommended to the attention of the

This preamble and the resolutions were also entered in the manuscript Secret (Domestic) Journal. The motion is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, I, folio 57, the portion in brackets being in the writing of Alexander McDougall. 2 This memorial is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, VI, folio 232. 3 This motion, in the writing of Theodorick Bland, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, VIII, folio 223.