he be recommended to the executive of the State of New York as a meritorious officer, who, from the impracticability of employing him in the army, is to be deemed a supernumerary under the resolution of Congress of the 24 day of November, 1778.

And whereas Colonel Malcolm has been employed, after his leaving his regiment, on sundry occasional services:

Resolved, That it be referred to the executive of the State of New York to settle and adjust his pay during the time of such services, and charge the same to the United States.1

The committee, to whom was referred the report of a committee on letters from General Washington, &c of December 8, delivered in a report; Whereupon,

Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to the states, from New Hampshire to North Carolina, inclusive, to procure and forward to the treasurer of the United States, or to their commissary of prisoners, appointed to reside at New York, by the 1st day of March next, for the use of the officers in captivity at that place, and on Long Island, and to be charged to the United States, the following sums respectively, in specie, or bills of exchange on New York, viz.

Resolved that it be permitted to such of the said States as cannot provide their respective proportions within the limited time in specie er bills as aforesaid, to export to New York lumber, boards, seantling, iron, hemp, tar or pitch to be consigned to the American commissary of prisoners sending them in sufficient quantity to procure the same.

1 A copy of these resolutions, as an extract from the minutes, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XVI, folio 387. The report is in No. 147, VI, folio 69.

That to prevent a repetition of the distresses to which the want of specie has exposed the officers of the United States in Postponed] captivity it be further recommended to the States above named to procure and transmit to the Treasurer of the United States half yearly during the war reckoning from the first day of March next, the sum of dollars in specie in the proportions above

assigned; the same to be eredited to the said states-respectively.'

Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the memorial of W. Peck, and, after debate, the same was set aside by the previous question.

Congress proceeded to the election of an adjutant general, and, the ballots being taken, Brigadier General Hand was elected.

Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1781

A letter, of December 14, 1780, from Governor Nash, was read.

A letter, of 8th, from Captain A. McLane, was read; Whereupon,

Ordered, That a warrant issue in favour of Captain A. McLane, on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pensylvania, for the sum of ten thousand dollars, to be charged to the State of Maryland, and for which the said State of Maryland is to be accountable.

A letter, of this day, from the Board of War, was read: 2 Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three. The members, Mr. [Thomas] Bee, Mr. [Samuel] Adams, Mr. [Joseph] Montgomery.

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

1 This report, in the writing of James Madison, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, folio 329.

2 Nash's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 72, folio 115; McLane's is in No. 78, XVI, folio 121; that of the Board of War is in No. 148, I, folio 269.

Ordered, That on the application of Mr. [James] Duane, a delegate for the State of New York, a warrant issue on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pensylvania, in his favour, for fifteen thousand dollars old emissions, for which the said State of New York is to be accountable:

That on the application of William Kinnan, copper plate printer to the United States, a warrant issue in his favour on Thomas Smith, commissioner aforesaid, for eight thousand dollars old emissions, part of the salary due to him and for which he is to be accountable.1

Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the letter of 6 December last, from the president and supreme executive of Pensylvania; Whereupon,

Resolved, That the president and supreme executive council of the State of Pensylvania be informed, that Congress have paid due attention to their letter of the 6 December last, stating "a high abuse of office, committed by James Mease, late clothier-general, and William West, jun., his deputy or appointee: who, in conjunction with Major General Arnold, did, under colour of office, in the year 1778, take from sundry inhabitants of this city, great quantities of merchandise, not necessary for the army, which were converted to their private emolument:"

That Congress highly disapprove such conduct, and consider it as a flagrant abuse of office and of the public confidence reposed in them, and meriting exemplary punishment; and,

That it be recommended to the said president and supreme executive of the State of Pensylvania, to direct the attorney general of the said State to prosecute the said James Mease and William West, jun., in the name of the United States, 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, V, folio 23.

in the ordinary course of law, for the abuse of office and breach of trust complained of.1

Congress resumed the consideration of the report on the letter from J. Pierce; Whereupon,

Ordered, That the said letter be referred to the Board of Treasury.

Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the memorial of J. Henderson, and, after debate: Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Com

merce.

Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1781

A letter, of 7th, and one, of 8th, from the committee appointed to confer with the supreme executive of Pensylvania;

And a letter, of 8th, from Brigadier General Wayne and Colonels Butler and Stewart, were read, with sundry papers enclosed.2

A letter, of this day, from Baron d'Arendt, was read.3 The committee to whom was referred the correspondence between his excellency, Count de Vergennes, and the honble J. Adams, delivered in a report; Whereupon,

Congress agreed to the draught of a letter to Mr. Adams.

The committee, to whom was referred the correspondence between his Excellency the Count de Vergennes and the honble John Adams, relative to the communication of the plenipotentiary powers of the

'This report, in the writing of Jesse Root, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, II, folio 137. It was delivered Dec. 18, 1780.

2 The committee letter of the 8th is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, IX, folio 455; one of the 9th was also read; it is on folio 461. Wayne, Butler, and Stewart's letter is in No. 152, IX, folio 473.

3 A translation of this letter, in the writing of Charles Thomson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 43, folio 9. The letter is in No. 78, VII, folio 331.

latter, reported the draught of a letter, which was agreed to in the words following:

SIR,

Congress consider your correspondence with the Count de Vergennes on the subject of communicating your plenipotentiary powers to the ministry of Great Britain, as flowing from your zeal and assiduity in the service of your country; but I am directed to inform you, that the opinion given to you by that minister relative to the time and circumstances proper for communicating your powers, and entering upon the execution of them, is well founded. Congress have no expectations from the influence which the people of England may have on the British councils, whatever may be the dispositions of that nation or their magistrates towards these United States; nor are they of opinion that a change of ministers would produce a change of measures: they therefore hope that you will be very cautious of admitting your measures to be influenced by presumptions of such events, or their probable consequences.

I am, Sir,

Honble J. ADAMS.

Your humble Serv

S. HUNTINGTON, President.

Congress took into consideration the report of the committee appointed to consider and report a plan for the Department of Foreign Affairs, wherein they state,

"That the extent and the rising power of these United States entitle them to a place among the great potentates of Europe, while our political and commercial interests point

1 This letter was entered only in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, I, folio 409, in the writing of Charles Thomson.

From this point to the end of the day the proceedings were entered also in the Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs.