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there is nothing contained in his last letter and memorial that should induce Congress to order payment in loan office certificates of the date he mentions.1

On a farther report from the Board of Treasury on a letter from Messrs. Burrall and McCall, extra commissioners of accounts, dated Hartford, March 8, 1781:

Ordered, That a warrant issue on John Lawrence, treasurer for the State of Connecticut, in their favour for thirty thousand dollars each in bills of the old emissions, on account of their salary, and for which they are respectively to be accountable.

A petition of Henry Armistead was read: 2

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

A memorial of George Tudor, late of the 5th Pensylvania regiment; and

A letter from B. Bankson, one of the clerks in the office of the commissary of issues, were read, with sundry papers enclosed:

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

A petition of Frederick Bicking; and

A memorial of Jacob Geiger, were read.3

The Board of War, to whom was referred the letter, of 21, from the governor of Virginia; and

The delegates of Pensylvania, to whom were referred the letter from S. Miles and report of the Board of War thereon, delivered in their several reports; Whereupon,

SIR,

WAR OFFICE March 28th 1781

The Board have in consequence of that part of Governor Jefferson's letter ordered off as many Musket Cartridges from the small

1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, V, folio 195. The last paragraph was postponed, as the indorsement shows, and on October 27 Lloyd's memorial was referred to the comptroller.

2 This petition is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, I, folio 401. 3 Tudor's memorial, dated March 26, 1781, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, X, olio 121; the Bankson letter, signed by Geo. Bensell and B. Bankson, Jun., is in No. 78, IV, folio 157; Bicking's petition, dated March 27, 1781, is in No. 42, I, folio 246; Geiger's memorial, dated March 28, 1781, is in No. 41, III, folio 479.

stock the Commissary General has on hand as can possibly be spared. The distress evidenced by this letter is but the beginning of the misfortunes which must inevitably fall both on the Main and Southern Armies for the want of Ordnance Stores of almost every description which are in the whole deficient tho' we have most of the Article of powder. Of Lead Flints and Cartridge paper there is an absolute want, and even the smallest supply would be of service to keep our affairs in this way from total stagnation. If four thousand dollars in Specie or the value of it in current money could be furnished immediately in part of the general estimate, we should be enabled to buy about ten Tons of Lead and a small supply of Flints, Cartridge paper and thread. If Congress should think proper to be informed of the quantities of those articles or any others in the Ordnance Department on hand the Board will be happy to give the information at a moment's notice. We cannot add to the repeated representations we have made on the necessity of enabling the Commissary General of Military Stores to prepare the stores necessary for the Army and without which no operation can be undertaken. The estimates already before Congress sufficiently shew the nature and necessity of the articles wanted and the danger of their not being supplied and prepared.

If the sum now asked for is more than [can] be furnished, any sum that can be given shall be expended so as to produce as many of the articles as possible.

Ordered, That a warrant issue on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pensylvania, for four thousand dollars of the new emission, in favour of the commissary general of military stores for the purchase of articles mentioned in the said report; and that this warrant be paid in preference to any others heretofore issued: 1

The Delegates of Pennsylvania to whom was referred the Report of the Board of War with a letter of Samuel Miles D'. Qr Mr Gen' for Pennsylvania Report as follows,

That they have conferred with the executive council of Pennsylvania and found in them a ready disposition to advance the sum required in Colo. Miles's estimate, to enable the first division of the Pennsylvania line to begin their march, but that having already 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, VI, folio 347.

advanced to Colo. Miles the sum of Three thousand five hundred pounds for the service of the United States, on his personal obligation, they thought it but reasonable on the new advance consented to that a warrant comprehending both sums should be issued by Congress in their favor, in which sentiment the Delegates concur with the Council and therefore submit the following Resolution,

Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer of the United States for twelve thousand nine hundred and thirtythree dollars thirteen thousand four hundred and sixty-six dollars and two-thirds of a dollar new emission, in favour of the supreme executive council of Pensylvania, being the amount of monies advanced at sundry times to Colonel S. Miles, deputy quartermaster general for Pensylvania by the said council for the service of his department, for which sum the quartermaster general is to be accountable.'

The committee to whom was referred the letter, of 22, from B. McClenachan and others, respecting the purchase of cannon, report that the Board of Admiralty, who were empowered to take order respecting that matter, have finished the business, and that the said B. McClenachan and others have obtained an order from the Board for the delivery of ten pair of cannon.

A letter, of 29, from J. Patton and Robert Coleman, was read; Whereupon,

Ordered, That the money arising from the sale of the cannon mentioned in the foregoing report be applied to enable the Board of War to comply with their contract for shot and shells.

A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,

Ordered, That a warrant issue on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pensylvania, in favour of Mr. S[amuel] Johnston, one of the dele

1 This report, in the writing of George Clymer, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, II, folio 119.

2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XVIII, folio 365.

gates of North Carolina, on his application, for twenty thousand dollars old emissions, for which the said State of North Carolina is to be accountable.1

The committee to whom was referred the letter, of the 19, from the governor of New York;

The committee on the letter, of 9th, from Alexander McDougall;

The committee on the letter, of 13, from R. Morris; delivered in their several reports:

The Committee to whom was referred the letter of the 13 inst from Robert Morris, Esq' on the subject of the office and duties of the Superintendant of Finance, report.

That they have attentively considered the said letter, and have called upon Mr Morris for such further and particular explanations as appeared necessary. His letter to the Committee they have annexed to their report for the satisfaction and information of Congress.

On the whole matter committed to them they submit the following Resolutions:

Negatived.

That the Superintendant of Finance be, and he hereby is, authorised to remove from office or employment for incapacity, negligence, dishonesty or other misbehaviour all persons entrusted with and immediately employed in the expenditure of the public money, and also all such as are, or shall be, in his judgment unnecessary: provided that such power of removal from office shall be limited to the duration of the present war.

That he be authorised to exercise a like power with respect to those who are immediately entrusted with the issues or expenditure of public supplies, stores, or other property.

That he be authorised to exercise a like power with respect to those who are employed in stating, examining and passing the public Accounts; and all receivers of the Continental Revenues of the United States.

That the said Superintendant of Finance shall exercise the aforesaid powers so far forth only as any of the persons who may be affected by them, act in a civil capacity: and such Powers shall not extend to interfere with the rank or Commission of any Officer in the line of the Army.

This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, V, folio 211.

That when any person is removed, as aforesaid, the Superintendant of Finance shall transmit to such authority, Board, Minister or Officer to whom it may belong to supply the vacancy, the name of any person so removed, and report to Congress the reasons for such removal.

That the Superintendant of Finance be authorised and directed, whenever he shall deem it expedient, to put in Arrest by order in Writing any of the persons herein before described as employed or entrusted with the expenditure or issues of public money or stores, who are, or shall be amenable to the law martial and who shall appear to him to have committed any waste, embezzlement or misapplication of the public money, stores or other property, and to give immediate notice of such arrest to the officer whose duty it may be to order a Court of Enquiry or Court-martial as the nature of the case may require: and such Officer is hereby directed to order proceedings on the said arrest in like manner as if the same had been ordered by a military Officer duly authorised.

That the foregoing powers shall not extend to those who are, or shall be, duly entrusted with money for secret services, they being accountable to Congress only, the Commander in Chief or such person or persons as they may respectively appoint for that purpose.1

Ordered, That the report on the letter from Major General A. McDougall be taken into consideration to Morrow, and that on the letter from Mr. Morris on Saturday next.

The report of the Board of War on the representation of Captain John Lucas was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

Present Mr Peters

Gen'. Cornell.

AT A BOARD OF WAR March 20th 1781.

The Board have considered the reference with which they were honored by Congress on the memorial of Captain Lucas, and beg leave to observe, that it appears by the enclosed certificate (to which we beg the particular attention of Congress) that Captain Lucas has pay due him for a considerable time in the Continental bills, which is at this time of but little value, and no mode as yet settled for making good the depreciation to Officers, except by the States to which they belong; at the same time they must further observe,

1 This report, in the writing of William Churchill Houston, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, IV, folios 309–311.

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