A remonstrance of Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Hay was read: Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury to take order. A letter, of April 2, from Tho Edison; One, of the third, from J. Nourse; and One, of the same date, from Pat. Ferral and Corn: Comegys were laid before Congress; Whereupon, The general account of salaries and arrearages due to the civil list, &c., to the 1 March, 1781, as settled by the commissioners of the chambers of accounts and passed by the auditor general, which was reported by the Board of Treasury, was taken into consideration; Whereupon, Resolved, That the United States in Congress assembled approve the principles upon which the said accounts have been liquidated and settled by the commissioners of the chambers of accounts and passed by the auditor general: Ordered, That the Board of Treasury report warrants on such of the commissioners of the loan offices as they judge most convenient, in favour of the treasurer of the United States, to enable him to discharge the warrants that may be drawn upon him for the balances due to the under-secretaries and clerks in the several offices and boards as specified in the general account above mentioned. A letter, of 2, from Peter R. Fell, one of the commissioners of the chambers of accounts, was read, desiring leave to resign: 2 Ordered, That his resignation be accepted. A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon, 1 Hazen's petition, dated April 2, 1781, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, III, folio 405; Hay's remonstrance is in No. 43, folio 131; Edison's letter is in No. 78, VIII, folio 365; Jones's letter is in No. 78, XIII, folio 225; Nourse's letter is in No. 78, XVII, folio 131; Ferrall and Comegys's letter is in No. 78, IX, folio 455. The general account of salaries, etc., is in No. 34, folio 267. 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, IX, folio 451. Ordered, That on the application of Mr. G[eorge] Walton, one of the delegates for the State of Georgia, a warrant issue in his favour on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pensylvania, for eight thousand four hundred dollars old emissions, for which the State of Georgia is to be accountable.1 SIR A report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon, WAR OFFICE April 2nd 1781 The Board are requested by the hon. the Delegates of the State of Virginia to forward the Arms and Stores to that State belonging to them, that are now at this place, agreeable to an act of Congress of the 2nd October 1780. Upon which, we beg leave to observe that it is out of our power, unless the money is advanced to Colonel Miles deputy Quarter Master, agreeable to the enclosed estimate. It may be objected that the waggoners ought to be paid by the said State, to which they answer, they shall be paid in Virginia Money, which will not pass at this place, therefore they cannot be engaged on these terms, it hath also been proposed that they take Tobacco in Virginia for payment, which they have likewise objected, as they say they cannot bring back more than one quarter of their pay in that Article. Should Congress be of opinion, that the Board should carry the said resolution of the 2nd of October 1780 into execution, it may be proper to resolve, Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of Colonel S. Miles, deputy quartermaster for the State of Pensylvania, for the sum of nine hundred and ninety-five dollars new emissions, to enable him to transport to Virginia the stores now in this city belonging to that State, for which the said State is to be accountable.2 And, to enable the treasurer to discharge the said warrant, that the Board of Treasury report a warrant in his favour on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pensylvania, for a like sum of nine hundred and ninety-five dollars new emission, this to be paid in preference of all other warrants not specially directed: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, V, folio 219. 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, VI, folio 377. SIR WAR OFFICE April 3, 1781. It gives us pain to find ourselves so often under the disagreeable necessity of troubling Congress on trifling matters but when it is considered that the four thousand dollars lately granted was to answer a purpose of the first importance to these United States, we flatter ourselves Congress will not think we trouble them without cause, more especially when they are informed the money cannot be obtained without allowing the interest which cannot be paid away on them terms. From the foregoing reasons it may appear proper to resolve, Ordered, That Thomas Smith, commissioner aforesaid, pay the money ordered to J. Carlton without accounting the interest, and that the Board of War take order for the application of the money.1 On application of the delegates for the State of Georgia: Ordered, That a warrant issue in their favour on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pensylvania, for five thousand dollars old emissions, to defray the expences of an express to them from the president and council of the said State, which is to be accountable. On motion of Mr. [Thomas] Bee, seconded by Mr. [Thomas] McKean: Resolved, That the Commander in Chief be and he is hereby directed to recall Lieutenant General Burgoyne and all other British and [German] officers, [prisoners of war] now absent on their parole from America, to return immediately, unless the Honorable Henry Laurens, Esqr., be also enlarged on his parole.2 A report of the Board of War was read, together with a copy of a letter from A. Stewart, commissary of issues: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, VI, folio 383. 2 This resolution was also entered in the manuscript Secret (Domestic) Journal, after April 19. It is in the writing of Thomas Bee, except the words in brackets which were inserted by Samuel Huntington, and is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, IV, folio 273. SIR, WAR OFFICE, March 31st 1781 As we deem it our duty on all occasions to give Congress all the information in our power respecting the state of Supplies of Provisions, we enclose a copy of a letter we have received from Col. Stewart and should be happy if we could accompany it with returns from the State agents, but none have been transmitted tho' repeatedly called for except the one enclosed from Pennsylvania. We are clearly convinced that unless this and the State of Jersey fully supply their quotas of flour much distress will ensue, and if no more supplies of this article are sent for the ensuing Campaign than those which appear to have been furnished for the last the Army cannot possibly be kept together. There seems every disposition in the executive to forward the business but they complain of a total want of funds to purchase. No dependance can be placed on large supplies from New York as that State has been so distressed by the Ravages of the enemy.1 Ordered, That copies thereof be transmitted to the executives of the State of New Jersey and Commonwealth of Pensylvania: Ordered, That the committee on the case of the Honble H. Laurens prepare and bring in a draught of a manifesto on that subject. SIR, WAR OFFICE April 2nd 1781 Having been honored with a reference from Congress of a letter from Brigadier Thompson relative to his rank we beg leave to transmit herewith a list of the General Officers whereby the times of their appointment relative Rank and State to which they belong will appear. According to this list if Congress should think an appointment of another Major General of the Pennsylvania line necessary, Brigadier Thompson is certainly entitled to the promotion. If also it should be deemed expedient as it seems to be just that he should have his rank in the line of General Officers in the same manner he would have had if he had not been captivated, he will take rank next to General Greene. But on neither of these heads do we presume to 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 148, I, folio 339. The letter enclosed was from Charles Stewart, commissary general of issues. give an opinion, conceiving that Congress are best able to determine and that it is only our duty to furnish the means of information.1 Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 1781 A letter, of 3, from J. Pierce, enclosing a letter, of 24 March, from General Washington; and A letter, of 2, from Captain Paschke, were read: A letter, of this day, from Captain Bedkin, was read;2 Whereupon, The report of the Board of War on the memorial of Captain Bedkin was taken into consideration; and, Thereupon, SIR WAR OFFICE March 22. 1781 The Board have considered the Memorial of Captain Bedkin, referred to them by Congress and beg leave to observe: that as early as the 26 January last the Board were apprised of Colonel Armands having given orders for enlisting Men on the same principles that Captain Bedkin has enlisted those mentioned in his Memorial, as will appear by the Board's letter to Colonel Armand, copy of which is enclosed; the letter was duly received, the spirit of which Colonel Armand transmitted to Captain Bedkin previous to his enlisting the men, as fully appears by the Colonel's letter shewed to us sometime last week by Captain Bedkin. The Board are at a loss to account for the Captains conduct in this affair: however when the aforegoing as well as the State of the finances and pressing demands for money are taken into consideration, also the additional expence of mounting the Men, and that they cannot be cloathed and accoutred until Colonel Armand's return from France, it appears to the Board the Men had better be discharged that are enlisted and have not received their bounties. Should Congress be of the same opinion it may be proper to Resolve 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, VI, folio 369. It was read on this day, as the indorsement indicates. It is further indorsed: "August 23, 1781, Postponed. Sept. 29, 1781, to be filed." 2 Pierce's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 165, folio 601; Paschke's letter is in No. 78, XVIII, folio 369; Bedken's is in No. 78, IV, folio 161. |