Friday, November 17, 1775.

A Letter from General Washington, with a Letter and Journal from Colonel Arnold, and sundry papers, were read; and the General’s Letter being taken into consideration,

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed, to take into consideration so much of said Letter as relates to the disposal of such Vessels and Cargoes, belonging to the enemy, as shall fall into the hands, or be taken by the inhabitants of the United Colonies.

That the Committee consist of seven.

The members chosen: Mr. Wythe, Mr. E. Rutledge, Mr. J. Adams, Mr. W. Livingston, Dr. Franklin, Mr. Wilson, and Mr. Johnson.

Resolved, That the Prisoners taken at Chambly and St. John’s be sent to and kept in the Towns of Reading, Lancaster, and York, in the Colony of Pennsylvania.

That the Committee appointed the 11th instant, to contract for supplying the Battalion raised in Pennsylvania, be empowered to distribute the above Prisoners in the Towns aforesaid, and contract for their support or subsistence.

That the Rations of the Privates be the same as are allowed the Privates in the Continental Army.

That Orders issue to the Officer who has the charge of conducting the Prisoners, to march them by the nearest road to Reading, in the Colony of Pennsylvania, and that the Deputy Commissary-General be directed to supply them with Provisions for their march, agreeable to the Rations supplied the Continental Army.

That the said Commissary be directed, if the Prisoners agree to it, to send the women, children, and baggage, by water to Amboy, from thence to be sent across to Borden-town, and from thence by water to Philadelphia, from which last place they will be sent to join the garrison in the Towns allotted them, this being judged the safest, cheapest, and most commodious way of conveying them.

Whereas it is become necessary to appoint another Colonel of the Regiment of Artillery, in the room of Colonel Gridley, on account of his advanced age,

Resolved, That this Congress will indemnify Colonel Gridley for any loss of half-pay which he may sustain in consequence of his having been in the service of the United Colonies.

The Congress then proceeded to the choice of a Colonel of the Regiment of Artillery, and Henry Knot, Esq., was unanimously elected.

On motion made, Resolved, That the Commissioned Officers taken in the Forts of Chambly and St. John’s be put upon their parole of honour, that they will not go into or near any sea-port Town, nor farther than six miles distant from the respective places of their residence, without leave of the Continental Congress; and that they will carry on no political correspondence whatever, on the subject of the dispute between Great Britain and these Colonies, so long as they remain Prisoners.

Whereas the Officers taken at Fort Chambly have been permitted by General Schuyler to make choice of and to reside in Trenton, in New-Jersey, and the disposition of the Prisoners by him made has been approved by Congress,

Ordered, That a copy of the foregoing Resolution be sent to the Committee of Trenton, and that the said Committee be desired to get the same signed by the Officers there.

Resolved, That the Officers taken at St. John’s be sent to Windham and Lebanon, in the Colony of Connecticut, provided General Schuyler has not given his word for another disposition of them.

Resolved, That there be a call of the House on Monday next, at ten o’clock.

The several matters to this day referred postponed to Monday next, to which time the Congress adjourned, to ten o’clock.

Monday, November 20, 1775.

Sundry Letters from General Washington and Governour Trumbull, with papers enclosed, among which sundry intercepted Letters from Cork, were read.

Two Petitions, one from Godfreed Fehr, the other from Melchior Neff, were presented to Congress and read.

Captain John Hulbert, who was sent by Gen. Schuyler to conduct the Officers who were taken prisoners at Fort Chambly to Trenton, attended and made report of his proceedings, and the disposal of the Prisoners.

On motion made, Resolved, That the sum of 16,669 1-3 Dollars be put into the hands of Mr. Thomas Lowry, of New-Jersey, for the purpose of furnishing the two Battalions raised in New-Jersey with the articles allowed them in lieu of bounty, and for one month’s pay of said Battalions; he to give security for the disposal of said Money, and to render account to Congress.

Ordered, That Mr. R. Morris confer with Mr. Lowry, and receive his proposals with regard to the recompense he will expect for his service.

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to advertise and receive proposals and contract for supplying said Battalions with the Rations allowed them. That this be referred to the Committee appointed to contract for supplying the Battalion raised in Pennsylvania.

The Congress then proceeded to the election of an Adjutant for the Battalion under the command of Colonel Lord Stirling, raised in the eastern division of New-Jersey, when Mr. Alexander Clough was unanimously elected.

On motion made, Resolved, That General Schuyler be directed to make further search in the places where the Lead was found at Crown Point and Ticonderoga, and that as much Lead as can be spared be sent immediately to the Camp at Cambridge.

Resolved, That the Secret Committee be empowered to contract for the importation of one hundred tons of Lead.

Resolved, That the intercepted Letters be referred to the Committee of seven, appointed the 17th instant, in order to select such parts of them as it may be proper to publish, and lay the same before Congress.

The several matters to this day referred postponed till to-morrow.

Adjourned to ten o’clock, to-morrow.

Tuesday, November 21, 1775.

Mr. Morris, who was appointed to confer with Mr. Lowry, having made his Report, and the same being considered,

Resolved, That Mr. Lowry be allowed one and a quarter per cent., in full of all charges, for the Money passing through his hands.

The Congress then resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole, to take into their further consideration the Trade of the United Colonies; and after some time spent therein, the President resumed the chair, and Mr. Ward reported, that the Committee had taken into consideration the matters to them referred, and had come to certain Resolutions, which he was ready to report when the Congress will receive them.

Ordered, hat the Report of the Committee be now read.

The same being read, was ordered to lie on the table.

The Orders of the Day being renewed,
Adjourned to ten o’clock, to-morrow morning.

Wednesday, November 22, 1775.

The Congress resumed the consideration of the Report from the Committee of the Whole; which was agreed to, as follows:

The Committee of the Whole House to whom were referred the several Petitions from the Island of Bermuda, representing the distress to which they are exposed by the Non-Exportation Agreement, and praying to be relieved in such manner as the Congress may deem consistent with the safety of America, report that they have considered the same, and thereupon came to the following Resolutions:

That the Inhabitants of the Island of Bermuda appear friendly to the cause of America, and ought to be supplied with such and so great a quantity of the produce of these Colonies as may be necessary for their subsistence and home consumption; that, in the opinion of this Committee, they will annually require, for the purposes aforesaid,