the press, computing their services from the day of the last adjustment, crediting them the original salary allowed by Congress, and charging them respectively the partial payments made to them on account, agreeably to the act of Congress passed the 15 day of November last.1

Ordered, That a member be added to the committee on the letter, of 25 of November, from Mr. Sullivan, in the room of Mr. [Willie] Jones, who is absent.

The member, Mr. [Samuel] Johnston.

Ordered, That two members be added to the committee on the petition of O. Bowen, in the room of Mr. [Ezekiel] Cornell and Mr. [Willie] Jones.

The members, Mr. [James Mitchell] Varnum, Mr. [James] Madison.

The report of the committee on the affairs of the treasury was called for, and the same being read, was accepted. Ordered, That it be entered on the journal.

The report is as follows:

"That they met upon the business to them referred, and received the complaint of Ezekiel Forman and John Gibson, two of the commissioners of the Board of Treasury, against the commissioners of the Chambers of Accounts, in writing, which contains the five following charges, or articles: to wit; 1, neglect of duty; 2, indolence; 3, inattention to the public interest; 4, incapacity; and 5, partiality:

That the committee furnished the commissioners of the Chambers of Accounts with the said complaint, and afterwards heard the testimony, proofs, allegations and observations of the several parties; and after mature deliberation thereupon, find that the commissioners of the Chambers have settled above two hundred accounts between the 1st December, 1779, and the 1st December, 1780, several of

1 This report, in the writing of James Duane, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 23. folio 62.

which required the examination of many thousand vouchers and papers; and that all the accounts which have been referred to them are reported to the auditor general's office, four or five excepted, for the delay of which satisfactory reasons were given to the committee:

That the committee cannot ascertain with any precision the time that might be necessarily employed in the transacting this business, but conceive it might have been done with more facility if the present system established by Congress did not necessarily create great delays, and therefore they are, upon the whole, of opinion that the said commissioners cannot justly be censured on account of any of the three first articles or charges:

That the committee had no evidence of incapacity in the said commissioners, or either of them, save from Mr. John Nicholson, one of their clerks, whose conduct had been complained of by them, and who had recriminated the said commissioners previous to the giving his evidence; and besides, the committee are not satisfied that he is a competent judge of this matter:

That they have carefully attended to every suggestion of partiality, and, having fully investigated every particular relating to this charge, do not find any trace of the sort:

The committee, therefore, are of opinion, that the commissioners of the Chambers of Accounts, and every of them, should be acquitted of each of the charges exhibited against them." 1

Whereupon,

Resolved, That Congress are satisfied with the said report.

The Board of Treasury, to whom was referred the report of the Board of War relative to the contract for shot and shells, delivered in a report:

This report, in the writing of Thomas McKean, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 26, folio 245.

Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three. The members, Mr. [James Mitchell] Varnum, Mr. [George] Clymer, Mr. [Jesse] Root.

Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, 1781

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

TREASURY OFFICE Jan 18th 1781

The Board of Treasury represent to Congress

That John Pierce D' Pay Master General by his letter of the 9th instant informed the Board that his Excellency Gen1 Washington has drawn on him for the pay of the German Regiment up to the 1st of Jan inst to the amount of 65,319 dollars old emissions and 10,534 dollars in the new. That the regiment aforesaid Officers and Soldiers are now in this city, and as the Board are informed cannot leave it before payment is made them, the following resolutions is therefore submitted:

Resolved, That a warrant issue on Thomas Smith Com of the Continental Loan Office for the State of Pennsylvania in favor of John Pierce Dy Pay Master Gen1 for 65,319 dollars old emissions and 10,534 dollars in the bills of credit emitted pursuant to the Act of Congress of the 18 of March last (part of the bills aforesaid subject to the orders of Congress) for the purpose of paying the German regt agreeably to the orders of His Excellency Gen' Washington, for both of which sums the said Dy Pay Mr Gen1 is to be accountable, and that preference of payment be given to this warrant.

Ordered, That a warrant issue on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pensylvania, in favour of John Pierce, deputy paymaster general, for thirty-two thousand, six hundred and sixty dollars old emissions, and five thousand two hundred and sixty-seven dollars in the bills of credit emitted pursuant to the act of Congress of the 18 of March last, part of the bills subject to the orders of Congress, and that preference in payment be given to this warrant for the purpose of paying in part the

arrears of pay due to the German battalion, for which sums the said deputy paymaster is to be accountable.

Ordered, That the said deputy paymaster give certificates to the individuals of the regiment aforesaid for the balance that may still remain due to them after the payment aforesaid.

Ordered, That on the application of George Bond, deputy secretary to Congress, a warrant issue on Thomas Smith aforesaid, in his favour, for eight thousand dollars old emissions, to defray the incidental expenses of the secretary's office of Congress, and for which sum he is to be accountable.1 Doctor J. Morgan was nominated by Mr. [George] Walton, for the office of director of the hospitals.

A memorial of Alexander McNutt was read.2

The committee to whom was referred the letter of December 7, from Major General Greene, delivered in a report; Whereupon,

Congress taking into consideration the eminent services rendered to the United States by Brigadier General Sumpter, of South Carolina, at the head of a number of volunteer militia, from that and the neighboring states, particularly in the victory obtained over the enemy at the Hanging Rock, on the 6th of August; in the defeat of Major Wemys and the corps of British infantry and dragoons under his command, at Broad river, on the 9th day of November, in which the said Major Wemys was made prisoner; and in the repulse of Lieutenant Colonel Tarleton, and the British cavalry and infantry under his command, at Black Storks, on Tyger river, on the 20th day of November last; in each of which actions the gallantry and military conduct of General Sumpter, and the courage and perseverance of his troops, were highly conspicuous;

1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, V, folio 29. * This memorial is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, VI, folios 211–223.

Resolved, therefore, That the thanks of Congress be presented to Brigadier General Sumpter, and the militia aforesaid, for such reiterated proofs of their patriotism, bravery, and military conduct, which entitle them to the highest esteem and confidence of their country; and that the commanding officer of the southern department do forthwith cause the same to be issued in general orders, and transmitted to General Sumpter.1

The committee appointed to report a plan for the arrangement of the civil executive departments of the United States delivered in a report, which was read. Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Monday.

MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 1781

A letter, of 6, from General Washington, was read.

A letter, of this day, from the honble the Minister of France, was read: 2

Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three. The members, Mr. [Thomas] McKean, Mr. [James] Duane, Mr. [Thomas] Burke.

A petition from Thomas Bates was read:

Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War to take order, the resolution of 4th notwithstanding.

A memorial from Morgan Lewis was read:

Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three. Mr. [Thomas] McKean, Mr. [James] Lovell, Mr. [Joseph] Montgomery.

The committee to whom was referred the letter from E. Blaine, and the report of the Board of Treasury on the letter

1 This report, in the writing of Thomas Bee, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, V, folio 467.

2 The Washington letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, IX, folio 431; it is printed in the Writings of Washington (Ford), IX, 93. A translation of the French letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 37, folio 341; another translation is printed in the Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, (Wharton) IV, 232.

3 This petition is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, I, folio 230.