Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three: The members, Mr. [John] Sullivan, Mr. [Samuel] Adams, Mr. [Joseph] Montgomery. A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon, Ordered, That, on the application of Theophilus Gardner, assistant in the auditor general's office, a warrant issue on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the Continental loan office for the State of Pensylvania, in his favour for one hundred dollars new emission, part of the balance of salary due to him and for which he is to be accountable.1 The committee, to whom was referred the letter of 31 December, from E. Blaine, delivered in a report; Whereupon, Ordered, That a letter be written by the President to the executive of the State of Delaware, representing the necessity of forming magazines of flour contiguous to the army, and urging that State to send forward their quota to Trenton by water, without delay.2 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. [Theodorick] Bland reported that the Committee have considered farther the reports referred to them, but, not having yet come to a conclusion desire leave to sit again. Ordered, That on Monday next Congress be resolved into a Committee of the Whole to take into their farther consideration the reports on finance. Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Monday. 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, V, folios 35 and 41. ? This report, in the writing of James Duane, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 385. MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 1781 A letter, of 11, from Baron Steuben, was read.1 Present Mr Peters Gen! Cornell. AT A BOARD OF WAR Jan 20, 1781. Lt Col. Forrest, the Officer appointed by his Excellency the Commander in Chief, to the command of the post at Carlisle, represents to the Board that he has not received any pay for a long time past, and that it is impossible for him to proceed to Carlisle without having a sum of money advanced to him. The Board beg leave to report, That the Board of War grant a warrant on the Pay Master General in favor of Lt. Col. Forrest of Col Proctors Regiment of Artillery, for his pay and subsistence for three months, to commence the first day of August last.2 Ordered, That the same be referred back to the Board to take order, the resolution of the 4 notwithstanding. According to order, Congress was resolved into a Committee of the Whole, and after some time the President resumed the chair and Mr. [Theodorick] Bland reported that the Committee have had under their farther consideration the reports referred, but not having come to a conclusion desire leave to sit again. Ordered, That to Morrow, immediately after reading the Journal, Congress be resolved into a Committee of the Whole to consider farther the reports referred to them. On motion of Mr. [John] Witherspoon, seconded by Mr. [Samuel] Adams, Repealed Janu ary 23 Ordered, That for the convenience of commerce and trade the treasurer of the United States and the loan officer for the State of Pensylvania change as far as may be in their power bills emitted pursuant to the act of Congress of the 18 March last by one State for similar bills emitted by another State. Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow. 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 164, folio 210. 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, VI, folio 101. TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1781 A letter, of 15th, from General Washington; A letter, of 28th September, and one, of 9th October, from John de Neufville & Son, were read;1 A letter, of the 10th, from J. Bradford, was read, enclosing a schedule of the settlement with Captain Duarti, for the Nostra Senhora del Carmo and St. Antonio and cargo, and Captain Duarti's discharge; Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of Treasury. The delegates for the State of New York, laid before Congress a letter of 14, from John M'Kesson, which being read, it was thereupon,2 Resolved, That a procurator be appointed, during the pleasure of Congress, to prosecute in behalf of Congress for all debts due to, or frauds committed against these United States in the State of New York. Resolved, That Egbert Benson, esq. be appointed to the office of procurator as aforesaid. Ordered, That the letter aforesaid be referred to the Board of Treasury to take order. A report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon, AT A BOARD OF WAR January 19, 1781 Present Mr Peters Gen! Cornell. The Board beg leave to lay before Congress a letter from Col Armand on the subject of his legion in which he proposes, That a furlough be granted him for such time as Congress may think proper and leave granted him to go to France for the purpose 'The Washington letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, IX, folio 511; it is printed in part in The Writings of Washington (Ford) IX, 110. De Neufville's letter of September 28 is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 145, folio 41; that of October 9 is on folio 45. 2 Bradford's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, IV, folio 73; McKesson's is in No. 78, XVI, folio 127. of procuring on his own credit, clothing, arms, accoutrements and horse furniture for his legion, Congress agreeing to pay him the amount of the articles procured, in four years with interest at five p: cent per annum. He represents the impracticability of getting men under the former resolution of Congress on this subject and therefore request that monies for recruiting be given to the Officer left in command of the legion for the purpose of inlisting. That means may be taken to procure horses for the Dragoons. He represents that the Corps is in want of a Lieutenant Colonel and wishes that Lt Col Ternant may have this appointment, when exchanged, and that this may be done without additional expence to the United States, as this Gentleman is already in the service in the rank proposed. That the remains of the Corps may be stationed at some convenient place for the purpose of equipment and discipline. On those representations should Congress approve of them it may be proper to resolve: Resolved, That Congress approve of Colonel Armand's proposals as made in his letter of the 19th instant to the Board of War, respecting procuring cloathing and equipment of his legion on his own credit; the monies advanced for the purchase of the articles procured, to be repaid in four years, with interest, at five per cent per annum; the articles procured to be plain and useful, without unnecessary decorations or expence: That Colonel Armand have leave to go to France; and for this purpose a furlough be granted him for six months: That the Board of Treasury report a warrant in favour of the paymaster of the Board of War, for the sum deemed necessary by the Board to recruit the legion commanded by Colonel Armand to its complement: That Lieutenant Colonel Ternant be appointed lieutenant colonel of Colonel Armand's legion and take his rank and command therein when exchanged. That the quartermaster general be directed to procure a sufficient number of horses, to remount such of the cavalry as are destitute of horses agreeably to directions to be given by the Commander in Chief for the next campaign, and that Colonel Armand's legion be furnished with its proportion out of the number so procured by the quartermaster general:1 That the remainder of Colonel Armand's legion, now in service, be stationed, for the purpose of discipline and equipment, at such place as the Commander in Chief shall think proper: Should Congress not deem it expedient to adopt the before mentioned resolutions, they will be pleased to resolve. That a Committee be appointed to confer with Colonel Armand on the subject of his letter to the Board of War, relating to the arming, equipping and recruiting his partizan Corps. ' 2 That so much of the report as relates to the appointment of Lieutenant Colonel Ternant to be lieutenant colonel of the legion commanded by Colonel Armand, be referred to the Commander in Chief. According to the order of the day, Congress was resolved into a Committee of the Whole, to consider further the reports on finance, and after some time the President resumed the chair and Mr. [John] Mathews reported that the Committee have had under consideration the reports to them referred and have made some progress, but, not having come to a conclusion, desire leave to sit again. Ordered, That to Morrow, after reading the Journal, Congress be resolved into a Committee of the Whole to consider farther the reports on Finance.3 A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon, Ordered, That a warrant issue on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pensyl1 These resolutions as an extract from the minutes are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 164, folio 462. 'This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, VI, folio 97. From this point the entries are by George Bond. |