The Committee then directed the Commissioners to proceed immediately to the settlement of the claims of the Soldiers in the different Regiments, one or two Regiments were settled with before the Committee left Trenton and by the Report of General Wayne, there appeared a very general disposition in those who were discharged to reinlist, to which nothing was wanting but money to pay the Bounty in advance. One circumstance ought not to be omitted, because it does the Insurgents much honor. When they delivered up the British Spies Gov: Reed offered them 100 Guineas, which they refused saying that what they did was only a duty they owed their Country, and they neither desired nor would receive any reward, but the approbation of that Country, for which they had so often fought and bled. From the whole of this affair thus happily terminated, your Committee humbly submit the following remarks.

1st That this disturbance however unhappy and threatening at first, has now afforded an undeniable and pleasing proof of the firm attachment of the Soldiery as well as the Country in general to the American cause. Notwithstanding the hardships which our army in general has suffered from the necessities of our affairs which have been many and great, and notwithstanding the peculiar complaints of many of the Pennsylvania line there was not the least appearance of any previous concert with the Enemy, nor any disposition to hearken to overtures when made by them. It ought not to be forgotten that the seizing of the Spies was previous to any steps being taken for accommodating the difference.

2. That all possible care should be taken to prevent for the future the enlisting of any British Deserters, perhaps also those who are now in the army should be discharged.

3. That Every State in the Union should be requested to pay the strictest attention to supplying the wants of the Army of every kind.

4. That the inferior officers of the army should be directed-in-their treatment of the soldiers never to separate severity from justice-and te temper severity with merey.1

Ordered, That the report of the committee last mentioned be referred to the committee on the letter, of 10th, from the said committee.

This report, in the writing of John Witherspoon, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, II, folio 101.

The committee, to whom was referred the memorial of the officers of the five Pensylvania companies of the late German regiment, delivered in a report; Whereupon,

The Committee to whom was referred the Memorial of the officers of the German Battalion beg leave to report.

That the officers were directed to march that battalion to join the Troops of Pennsylvania near Morristown by the first day of Jany. Instant.

That when they arrived with these troops on the first instant, the memorialists were dismissed the service agreeable to an act of Congress of the for new arranging the army, by which

of

the German Battalion was reduced.

That for the purpose of settling some regimental accounts they came to this City, on the way to their respective places of abode and not having received their pay for a number of months past are destitute of money to defray their expences in this City, or to support them on their way home. Your Committee therefore submit the following Resolution viz.

Resolved, That the Board of War draw a warrant on the Board of Treasury in favor of the paymaster Gen! for three months pay for each of the Memorialists to be paid in bills issued in pursuance of the act of the 18th of March last in part of the wages due to them.1

Ordered, That the Board of War take order for causing payment to be made to each of the said memorialists three months' pay in part of the arrears due to them, the resolution of the 4th notwithstanding, and that the same be paid in bills emitted in pursuance of the act of the 18 March last. The Board of Admiralty, to whom was referred the report of the committee on the communications of the honble the minister of France, delivered in a report.

ADMIRALTY OFFICE Jan! 23d 1781. The Board of Admiralty to whom the Communication of the Honble the Minister of France, and the report of the Committee thereon have been referred, beg leave to request, that as the said communication and report of the Committee relate to captures by

This report, in the writing of John Sullivan, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 21, folio 251.

sea and the mode of their trial and adjudication in the ports of his Most Christian Majesty, and do not touch the regulations of the Navy, the Board of Admiralty may be discharged from giving any opinion thereon, and that the same be committed to the Committee appointed to form a system of regulations for captures by sea. But if the Honorable Congress should not think proper to grant their request the Board of Admiralty then submit the following amendments to their wisdom, to wit, that between the words "taken" and "armed" in the first line, and between the words "by" and "armed" in the fourth line, the words "Privateers and other" should be inserted and that the words "and navigated" should be inserted between the words "out" and "by" in the first line of the said Report.

The reason for their first proposed amendment is that altho' Privateers are armed Vessels, yet Privateers are defined to be "Vessels of War armed and equipped by particular merchants and furnished with a military Commission to cruise against the Enemy" &c, and the transportation of merchandize may be the chief business of an armed Vessel. The reason for the last proposed amendment is that "fitting out" is "the act of providing a Ship with a sufficient number of men to navigate and arm her for attack or defence, also to furnish her with proper masts &c together with sufficient provisions for the Ships Company:" and this Board conceive that his Most Christian Majesty will not permit Privateers and armed Vessels belonging to these States to be manned in his Ports with Seamen (his Subjects) and further that if it should be permitted that Privateers and armed Vessels belonging to the Subjects of his Most Christian Majesty should be manned with Seamen (Citizens) of these States, the manning of the Navy and the Commerce, as well as Privateering of these States might be obstructed, and perhaps the recruiting of its armies impeded.1

According to order, Congress was resolved into a Committee of the Whole, to consider farther the reports on finance, and after some time the President resumed the chair, and Mr. [John] Mathews reported, the Committee have had under consideration the reports referred to them, but not having come to a conclusion desire leave to sit again:

1This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 37, folio 339.

Ordered, That to Morrow Congress be resolved into a Committee of the Whole, to consider farther the reports on finance.

Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 1781

A letter, of 23, from Mr. S. Attle, was read;1 Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three: The members, Mr. [Alexander] McDougall, Mr. [Abraham] Clark, Mr. [John] Sullivan.

A letter, from Doctor Gould, was read;

Ordered, That it be referred to the Medical Committee.

A letter, of Captain Paske, was read;'

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

Two reports from the Board of War one on a letter, of 24, and the other on a letter, of 13, from Colonel Armand, were read;

SIR

Present Mr Peters

Gen! Cornell.

AT A BOARD OF WAR, Jan 24, 1781.

The enclosed letter from Col Armand is agreeable to his request therein laid before Congress. The Board presumed that as Col Armand is going to Europe and will not otherwise have an opportunity of partaking in the Provision made or to be made by Congress for the payment of the Army it should seem that there can be no cause of jealousy if Congress are pleased to direct,

That the Treasury Board report a warrant in favor of Col Armand for seven hundred and twelve dollars and an half, the same being the amount of his pay and subsistence for six months.3

1 This letter, from Samuel J. Atlee, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, I, folio 395.

2 Captain Paschke's letter, dated January 22, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XVIII, folio 345.

3 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, VI, folio 103.

Ordered, That the same be referred back to the Board of War to take order, the resolution of the 4th notwithstanding. A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,

Ordered, That upon the application of the honble Cyrus Griffin, one of the judges of the Court of Appeals in Cases of Capture, a warrant issue in his favour on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pensylvania, for one thousand dollars new emissions, on account of salary due to him and for which he is to be accountable.1

On the application of Mr. [William] Sharpe, a delegate for the State of North Carolina:

Ordered, That a warrant issue in his favour on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pensylvania for twenty thousand dollars old emissions, and for which the said State of North Carolina is to be accountable.

According to the order of the day, Congress was resolved into a Committee of the Whole, and after some time the President resumed the chair and Mr. [John] Mathews reported, that the committee have had under consideration the reports referred to them, but not having come to a conclusion desire leave to sit again:

Ordered, That to Morrow Congress be resolved into a Committee of the Whole to consider farther the reports referred to them.

A report from the Board of Treasury was read, respecting the owners of rum taken for the use of the army:

TREASURY OFFICE, January 22 1781. The Board of Treasury finding themselves greatly embarrassed by endeavouring to carry into Execution the Resolution of Congress of the 4th instant, relative to certain Quantities of Rum taken for the 1 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, V, folio 57.