unavoidable accident, and not thro' their misconduct or want of attention. That in cases of injuries or deficiencies happening in the transportation of Clothing, the Clothier stationed at the Magazine or place of Deposit shall represent the matter to the nearest commanding Officer of the Troops of the United States, that the Waggon Master or Conductor having had charge of the clothing so damaged or deficient may be arrested and tried by a Court Martial, and if found guilty compelled to restore the goods lost, or their value, or make satisfaction for Damages accrued through his negligence or mismanagement, or be punished according to the nature of the offence, by judgment of the Court Martial. That if at any time it shall be necessary to make purchases of Arms, Ammunition or other Articles in the Ordnance Department, the same shall be made under the direction of the Board of War and Ordnance, by the persons appointed Agent Clothiers without any additional expence to the United States, for their trouble in making such Purchases.1 Ordered, That the report of the committee on the cloathing department be re-committed, and that the report of the Board of War now read be referred to the said committee. The committee sent to camp delivered in their accounts; Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of Treasury. Ordered, That the petition of P. January be referred to a committee of three. The members, Mr. [Joseph] Montgomery, Mr. [John] Witherspoon and Mr. [William] Sharpe. The committee to whom was referred the memorial of Lee and Jones delivered in their report. The Committee to whom was referred the letter from Arthur Lee, Esq, of the 7th of December, report further: That they have had under consideration the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth Paragraphs of the said letter relating to the Conduct and Connections of the Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, IV, folio 757. A copy is on folio 781. A "Plan for regulating the clothing department" is on folio 777. Versailles, and of the officers and agents of the United States acting under his orders in France; That they have endeavored to obtain the most impartial Testimony relative to the causes of detention of the Cloathing and Supplies obtained from that Court, and the Proceedings of the agents and officers abroad, of which the following is an authentic state of facts in the opinion of your Committee: Vide the letter from the Marquis de la Fayette on that subject addressed to the Committee, No. 1. Vide Mr. Brown's Evidence, No. 2. Whereupon, your Committee report it as their opinion that a day be appointed to take the sense of Congress whether D: Franklin, Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of Versailles, shall be recalled.1 WAR OFFICE Dec. 29th 1780 SIR, The detachment of the Artillery Artificers who were stationed in Philadelphia have marched to Carlisle agreeable to the direction of Congress, but whether there is a sufficient stock of provisions at that post yet remains a doubt, particularly as to the article of meat. The Board have done every thing in their power to have supplies at the post, and if any disappointments happen, they hope they shall not be deemed responsible. If money and provisions can be furnished these men will be usefully employed, if not they will be a burthen to the public, and what is most alarming, the Army will want their Ordnance supplies. The affairs at Springfield remain in the most deranged situation. A Mr Hiller who is strongly recommended to the Board as a capable person, is appointed Commissary of Military Stores, and is intended to take charge of the business at Springfield; but his instructions are delayed on account of the report of the Board respecting the pay of the department not being acted on by Congress. The season is far advanced and the preparations so essentially necessary for the next Campaign are still delayed. Every day lost at this period will be regretted at the opening of the Campaign and therefore it is hoped Congress will excuse the Board for pressing a 1 See Ante Vol. XVIII, p. 1114. This report, in the writing of Theodorick Bland, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, III, folio 513. The indorsement says: "Read Jany. 2, 1781. August 24, 1781, not to be acted upon." determination on the report before mentioned, and also repeating their request, that a sum of money agreeable to estimate, may be furnished the Commissary General of Military Stores, to enable him to proceed on the duties of his department. The estimate made by the Commissary General amounts to £51,230 in Specie, but if half that sum could be speedily furnished, and so much of the remainder as the Board shall deem absolutely essential be supplied in the course of a few months, the business would emerge from its present languid state, and the Department rendered useful to the public.1 Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 1781 A letter, of this day, from Doctor William Shippen, director general of the hospital, was read, requesting leave to resign: 2 Ordered, That his resignation be accepted. Two papers, signed Patrick Garvey, were laid before Congress and read: Ordered, That the same be referred to the Medical Committee. A letter, of this day, from the hon ble J. Laurens, was read. A letter, of 2, from A. Lee, was read: 3 Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury. The delegates of Virginia laid before Congress a memorial to them from Major C. Holmer: 4 Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury to take order. A letter from James McComb was read: Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of five. 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, VI, folio 13. It was read on this day, as the indorsement indicates. 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XXI, folio 1. 3 Laurens' letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 165, folio 37; it is printed in the Diplomatic Correspondence of the Revolution (Wharton) IV, 225. Lee's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XIV, folio 401. This memorial is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, IV, folio 153. "This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XVI, folio 117. The members, Mr. [Samuel] Adams, Mr. [Jesse] Root, Mr. [John] Witherspoon, Mr. [Thomas] McKean, Mr. [George] Clymer. Ordered, That the committee on the letter, of October 30, from the Board of War, be discharged, and that the said letter, with the papers enclosed, be referred to the Board of War. Ordered, That a member be added to the committee on the letter, of November 19, from Major General Greene, in the room of Mr. [Ezekiel] Cornell. The member, Mr. [Artemas] Ward. A letter and memorial, from John Ross, were read, with a copy of his account against the United States:1 Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of Treasury to liquidate the account and devise ways and means for paying the balance due to him. A report from the Board of Treasury was read: Ordered, That on the application of Mr. [William] Few, a delegate 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 fifteen thousand dollars old emissions, for which the said State of Georgia is to be accountable. The Board having taken into consideration the Memorial of Henry Geiger of the 20th of December 1780 (referred to them by Congress) beg leave to report: That the Memorialist appears to be in the same situation with numbers of others, who furnished supplies to General Lincoln for the Southern Army, in payment of which they received his draughts on the President of Congress. That the State of the Treasury is such at present as not to admit of the payment of these drafts in money.2 1 This letter and memorial are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, VIII, folios 280 and 284. 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, V, folio 3. The Board of War, to whom was referred the letter of October 13 from Brigadier J. Reed, delivered in a report; Whereupon, Resolved, That for the future, Brigadier General James Reed receive the emoluments of officers retiring from service by virtue of the resolutions of Congress on that subject; and that it be recommended to the executive of the State of New Hampshire to make up to him the depreciation of his pay from the time of his appointment to this day; and to pay him in future, on account of the United States, the sum he is entitled to receive, from time to time, by virtue of the said resolutions.1 Congress took into consideration the draft of the letter of credence for the honble J. Adams, which was agreed to. The committee appointed to prepare letters of credence to the honourable J. Adams reported drafts which were agreed to as follows: 2 To their High Mightinesses the States General of the HIGH AND MIGHTY LORDS, The United States of North America in Congress assembled, impressed with a high sense of the wisdom and magnanimity of your High Mightinesses, and of your inviolable attachments to the rights and liberties of mankind, and being desirous of cultivating the friendship of a nation eminent for its wisdom, justice and moderation, have appointed the honourable John Adams, late a delegate in Congress from the State of Massachusetts, and a member of the council of that State, to be their minister plenipotentiary to reside 1 A copy of this resolve is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XXI, folio 125. The Board of War's report, dated January 2, is in No. 147, VI, folio 29. 2 This report is entered only in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs. A copy of the first letter in Thomson's hand, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 17, and of the one to the Prince of Orange in No. 25, I, folio 267. The letter to the Prince of Orange is printed in the Diplomatic Correspondence of the Revolution (Wharton) IV, 225. 86382°-VOL 19-12-2 |