due to those citizens of America whom the fortune of war has thrown into the power of our enemy; Whereupon,

Resolved, That copies of the letter of Mr. A. Skinner, and the other papers referred, be transmitted to the Commander in Chief, and that he be directed to enquire into the manner in which our people who are prisoners, are treated by the enemy, and that he give immediate orders to the commanding officers at the different posts to take particular care that the British prisoners receive the same allowance and treatment, in every respect, as our people, who are prisoners, receive from the enemy.

Resolved, That it be recommended to the several and respective executives to confine all British sea officers and seamen in prison-ships er in common goals and order them the same allowance of provisions and the same treatment in every respect as our sea officers and seamen receive from the British.

Resolved, That it be recommended to the respective executives to take effectual measures for carrying into execution the act of Congress of the 13th of January, 1780, respecting prisoners taken by the subjects citizens, troops or ships of particular states:

That the Board of Admiralty issue orders not to exchange Repealed any British sea officer or seaman, until the enemy January 29th. shall have returned to some of their garrisons in America, such seamen as they have taken upon the American coast, and sent to Great Britain, or other parts beyond sea and that the Board of War and Board of Admiralty give orders for continuing the treatment of prisoners as herein directed, until they receive orders to the contrary from Congress or the Commander in Chief." 1

Ordered, That two members be added to the committee appointed to report a proper compensation to the staff of

1 This report, in the writing of John Sullivan, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, V, folios 337 and 339.

the army in consequence of the depreciation of the currency, in the room of Mr. [Samuel] Holten and Mr. [Nathaniel] Peabody, who are absent.

The members chosen, Mr. [James] Duane and Mr. [Jesse] Root.

The delegates for Massachusetts laid before Congress instructions from their constituents: 1

Ordered, That the same be referred to the foregoing committee.

A memorial of Captain John Williamson was read:2 Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War to take order.

The Commercial Committee to whom was referred the letter of Baron d'Arendt to Congress, report as follows,

That they have had the same under consideration, and that from Baron d'Arendt's assurances, as well as from authentic testimonials, they have every reason to conclude he is relied upon by the Court of Berlin for informations, respecting the trade and productions of these United States; with a view to discover how far the subjects of the king of Prussia might derive benefit from a commercial intercourse with us.

That altho' the points he hath submitted to your Committee may be considered rather as questions respecting the ordinary channels and modes of commerce, or matter connected therewith, capable of answer by private enquiry than as propositions for the judgment and determination of Congress. Yet they are of opinion it will appear, from the nature of Baron d'Arendt's agency, that the king of Prussia has evidenced an attention to the affairs and circumstances of America which as it may lead to important consequences, should not be suffered to pass by unnoticed. They therefore submit the following resolutions.

Resolved, That Congress approve of Baron d'Arendt's collecting the best information possible respecting the trade of America, and the best mode of opening and carrying on commerce between the citizens of these United States and the subjects of his Prussian Majesty. Resolved, That Congress do in the name of these United

1 These instructions are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 65, I, folio 468. 2 This memorial is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, X, folio 534.

States, publish and declare that it is their sincere desire to cultivate universal peace and friendship, and to promote a mutual exchange of the blessings of Commerce with all nations upon principles of justice, equality and reciprocal advantage.1

Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 1781

A letter, of 4, from Major General St. Clair, and

A letter, of 5th, from his excellency, J. Reed, were read.2 A letter from the Board of War was read; Whereupon,

Present Mr Peters.

Gen! Cornell

AT A BOARD OF WAR Jan! 5th 1781

The Board having considered the last paragraph of the enclosed letter from Gen! Washington, beg leave to report:

Resolved, That Ignatius Penet be appointed a lieutenant in Colonel Armand's partizan corps.3

A letter, of this day, from the Board of War, was read, which being referred to a committee, the said committee brought in a report; Whereupon,

Ordered, That a warrant issue on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pensylvania, in favour of the commissary general of military stores, for fifty thousand dollars of the old emissions, to be applied as the Board of War shall direct, for which the said commissary general is to be accountable.*

The committee to whom was referred the letter of December 11th, from J. Pearce, delivered in a report, which was read, and, after debate,

1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 11. The indorsement says, "Read Jany 5, 1781. Postponed; it being judged improper for Congress to give any answer on the subject to Baron d'Arendt."

2 St. Clair's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, IX, folio 439; Reed's is in No. 69, II, folio 323.

3 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, VI, folio 43. This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 29, folio 195. The Board of War's letter is in No. 147, VI, folio 47.

The Committee to whom was referred the letter from Mr J. Pierce, Deputy Pay Master Gen! report it as their opinion, that the said Letter be referred to the Board of Treasury.1

Ordered, That the farther consideration thereof be postponed, to be taken up on Monday next.

Ordered, That four members be added to the committee appointed to report a plan for the revision and new arrangement of the civil executive departments of the United States under Congress.

The members, Mr. [James] Duane, Mr. [Thomas] Burke, Mr. [Thomas] McKean, Mr. [James Mitchell] Varnum. Resolved

That it be recommended to the Commander in Chief to appoint and send in to New York a Commissary of Prisoners as soon as possible, and that the Quarter Master General take the proper measures for notifying the several States of such appointment by having the same inserted in the Publick Prints;

Resolved That it be recommended to the Executives of the States respectively who have officers prisoners with the enemy at New York or on Long Island to send in to the care of our Commissary of Prisoners there, a sufficient sum in specie to defray the expence of their Officers' maintenance while in captivity and charge the same to account of the United States. And that where any State cannot conveniently procure specie, they be permitted to send in the following articles viz:

Lumber, Boards, Scantling, Iron, Hemp, Pitch and Tar-to be consigned to our Commissary of Prisoners or agent at the place.2

Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Monday.

1 This report, in the writing of James Duane, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, V, folio 179.

2 This report, in the writing of John Sullivan, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, folio 335. It was a report on letters of General Washington, Brigadier Irvine, and Colonels Mathews and Ely; it was read January 6, and was referred, the indorsement says, to Madison, Montgomery and Root. See ante, December 18, 1780, and post January 8.

A letter of this day from the Board of War, giving an account of the bills of exchange that have passed through their paymaster's hands, was read, as the indorsement indicates. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, VI, folio 51.

MONDAY, JANUARY 8, 1781

A memorial from John Macpherson was read.

A memorial from John Henderson, in behalf of O. Pollock, was read:1

Ordered, That the consideration of the report of the committee on Mr. Henderson's former memorial be taken into consideration to Morrow.

A letter, of 7th, from the committee appointed to confer with the supreme executive of Pensylvania was read.2

A report of the Board of Treasury on the letter, of 2, from A. Lee, esq', was read:

Ordered, That the same, together with the report of the chamber of accounts on Mr. Lee's account, be referred to a committee of three.

The members, Mr. [Abraham] Clark, Mr. [Thomas] Burke, Mr. [Isaac] Motte.

On motion of Mr. [Abraham] Clark,

Ordered, That the resolution on the report of the com. mittee on the memorial of Mr. McConnel, passed the 4th instant, be reconsidered, and the words, "to be calculated in both cases by the rules established for that purpose", contained in the said resolution, be cancelled.

Ordered, That the warrant drawn, the 2a December last, on the treasurer, in favour of Captain Joseph Traversie, for one thousand six hundred and twelve dollars and nine ninetieths and of a ninetieth, in bills of credit emitted pursuant to the act of the 18th March last, be cancelled and in lieu thereof a warrant drawn on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office in the State of Pensylvania, for a like sum in favour of Captain Joseph Traversie, for the purpose mentioned in the warrant aforesaid.

1 Macpherson's memorial is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, VI, folio 207; Henderson's is in No. 41, IV, folio 165.

"This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, IX, folio 447.