to superintend and direct the execution of all resolutions of Congress respecting naval preparations; to make out, seal and countersign all marine commissions, keep registers thereof, and publish annually a list of all appointments; to report to Congress the officers and agents necessary to assist him in the business of his department; and in general to execute all the duties and powers specified in the act of Congress constituting the Board of Admiralty.1 A letter, of the 6th, from B. Stoddert, secretary of the Board of War, was read:2 Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.3 Present Mr Peters Gen! Cornell AT A BOARd of War Feb 5th 1781. The Board have considered the Memorial of Lt Col Diriks and beg leave to remind Congress, that he was made a Lt Colonel by Brevet in the Army of the United States on the fifth day of Nov. 1778 and permitted to return to the Netherlands-where it appears from the journals of that day that he was to be employed in negociating a loan-the Board know nothing of him from that time only by reportwhich said that he went to Holland and transacted the Business he was employed in to the satisfaction of those who sent him-till the 29th December, 1779 when Congress resolved "That in consideration of the peculiar circumstances attending the Case of Colonel Diriks that gentleman receive the pay and subsistance of a Lt Colonel in the Army of the United States from the date of his Brevet untill the further order of Congress." It would seem from this resolution that the Brevet commission given to Colonel Diriks was intended in the first instance as a mere honorary matter. He continued to draw his pay and rations in Philadelphia, frequently applying to the Board to be employed in active service till the 12th of July last, when Congress Resolved "That Lt Colonel Diriks have leave of absence agreeable to his request untill the further order of Congress." 1 This report, in the writing of James Duane, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 28, folio 315. 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XXI, folio 17. Here Charles Thomson resumes the entries in the Journal. "That Bills of Exchange for four hundred and fifty dollars be granted him on the honble M: Laurens (afterwards altered for Bills on M: Jay) on account of his pay." Colonel Diriks did not return to Europe as he intended when these resolutions passed but on the 7th of August informed Congress that he would serve one more campaign in America and defer his departure till the end of it which he has done accordingly. Upon this State of facts Congress will be pleased to Judge whether it should be resolved That Lt Colonel Diriks be informed that it is impracticable to employ him in the Service of these States consistent with the arrangement of the Army. That he receive his pay to this day and be no longer considered in Service. Or if Congress should be of opinion that Lt Col. Diriks should be considered as an Officer entitled to retire under the Regulations of the 3d and 21st Oct last, they will please to resolve, That Lt Col. Diriks have leave to retire from the Army of the United States agreable to the regulations of Congress of the 3d and 21st October last-1 Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1781 A letter, of 24th January, from Major General Greene, with sundry papers enclosed, giving an account of a signal and complete victory gained by Brigadier General Morgan, on the 17th January, over a detachment of the British army under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Tarleton; Also, another letter from Major General Greene, of 23 January, and a letter of January 9th, from the same, with sundry papers enclosed, were read: 2 Ordered, That the same be referred to a committee of three: the members, Mr. [Thomas] Burke, Mr. [James Mitchell] Varnum, Mr. [Thomas] Bee. 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, VI, folio 107. I7 is indorsed: "Read Feby. 7, 1781." 2 The letter of 9th is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 155, I, folio 505; that of 23d is on folio 513; that of 24th is on folio 533. 86382°-VOL 19-12-9 An authentic copy of a letter from Brigadier General Moultrie to Lieutenant Colonel Balfour, dated Christ Church Parish, October 16th, 1780, and Balfour's answer, [were read:] Ordered, That copies thereof be transmitted to the ministers of these United States at the courts of Europe; and that the letter be referred to the committee aforesaid. A letter, from Alexander Skinner, an officer of Lieutenant Colonel Lee's legionary corps, was read:1 Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War. A letter, of 7, from B. Otto, physician and surgeon, was read; Whereupon, Ordered, That the letter of Doctor Otto be referred to the Board of War to take measures for preventing any interruption being given to the hospital at the yellow springs, the same being provided solely for the reception of proper hospital subjects. A petition, of Paul Bentalon, was read: Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War. A letter, of 20 January, from Brigadier General Morgan, was read: 2 Ordered, That it be referred to the committee on Major General Greene's letters. On motion of the Committee of Commerce, Ordered, That a warrant issue on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pensylvania, for twelve hundred and fifty dollars new emission, in favour of John Henderson, to be charged to the account of Oliver Pollock, agent of the United States at New Orleans. A letter, of this day, from Cha Morse, was read: Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury. 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XX, folio 549. 2 Bentalon's petition is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, I, folio 234; Morgan's letter is in No. 78, XVI, folio 131. A letter, of 7th, from R. Bache, postmaster general, was read: Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on the Post Office. A letter, of Oct. 1, 1780, from G. Turner, was read.1 Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War. A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon, TREASURY OFFICE, February 8th, 1781. Upon the the letter of Mr. Lotbinier, read in Congress the 30th of January last, and referred to this Board; the following resolution is submitted: Ordered, That a warrant issue on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pensylvania, in favor of Michael Hillegas, treasurer, for ten thousand dollars old emissions, to enable him to pay that sum to Mr. Lotbinier, in part of a warrant which the said Mr. Lotbinier has upon the treasurer aforesaid for money of the new emission, and for which sum the said treasurer is to be accountable; Upon the letter from Joseph Scudder, read in Congress and referred to this Board; the following resolution is submitted: That a warrant issue on Thomas Smith, commissioner aforesaid, in favour of Joseph Scudder, for six thousand dollars in bills of the old emissions, on account of his salary 1 Morse's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 59, III, folio 41; Turner's is in No. 78, XXII, folio 429. 2 This representation is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 37, folio 355. 3 This memorial is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, IX, folio 153. as clerk in the war office, and for which sum the said Joseph Scudder is to be accountable;1 TREASURY OFFICE Feb! 2nd 1781 The Board of Treasury beg leave to Report, accepted. That in pursuance of an Act of Congress of the 12th of Jan' last the Commissioners of the Chambers of accounts have liquidated the account of John Biddle, Isaac Howell, Peter Thomson, Information Isaac Snowden and Nathaniel Falconer, Inspectors of the Press, agreeable to the principles of the Act of the 15th of November last, and reported a balance due to the said Superintendants to the 4th of Dec: last, of 2805 dollars and 8th specie. The mode of payment the Board beg leave to submit to Congress; but observe from the pressing solicitations of such of them as are continued in employ, the payment of this balance is necessary to enable them to proceed in the discharge of their duty. The Board on reconsidering their report of the 19th of January last, respecting the drawing of the fourth Class of the United States Lottery, see no reason to alter their opinion then given, and therefore, beg leave to offer again the resolution then proposed-changing the time for drawing to the 1st of March next. The Board beg leave further to Report, That on the application of William Kinnan, copper plate printer, a warrant issue in his favour on Thomas Smith, commissioner aforesaid, for ten thousand dollars old emissions, part of the salary due to him, and for which he is to be accountable.2 Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1781 A letter, of this day, from the Board of War, was read. sundry papers enclosed: " This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, V, folio 89. 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, V, folio 83. 3 The Board of War letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 148, I, folio 311. Washington's is in No. 152, IX, folio 541; it is printed in The Writings of Washington (Ford), IX, 126. |