Resolved, That the same be recommitted, and that it be an instruction to the Committee to hear evidence on the possession and jurisdiction of the lands in dispute, and reduce to writing such parts of the evidence adduced to them as they shall think proper, and lay the same before Congress.

As three of the Committee are absent, viz: Mr. J. Rutledge, Mr. Chase, and Mr. Kinsey,

Resolved, That three members be elected in their stead.

The members chosen: Mr. Wythe, Mr. Jay, and Mr. Hooper.

The Committee on the state of North-Carolina brought in their Report, which was read.

The several matters to this day referred being postponed,

Adjourned to ten o’clock, to-morrow.

Tuesday, November 28, 1775.

On motion made, Ordered, That Mr. R. Morris call on the several persons appointed to sign the Continental Bills, and desire them, with all possible expedition, to finish the numbering and signing said Bills, as the money is much wanted.

The Congress resumed the consideration of the Rules for the regulation of the Navy of the United Colonies; and the same being debated by paragraphs, were agreed to, as follows:

Rules for the Regulation of the Navy of the UNITED COLONIES.

The commanders of all ships and vessels, belonging to the thirteen United Colonies, are strictly required to show in themselves a good example of honour and virtue to their officers and men, and to be very vigilant in inspecting the behaviour of all such as are under them, and to discountenance and suppress all dissolute, immoral, and disorderly practices, and also such as are contrary to the rules of discipline and obedience, and to correct those who are guilty of the same, according to the usage of the sea.

The commanders of the ships of the thirteen United Colonies are to take care that divine service be performed twice a day on board, and a sermon preached on Sundays, unless bad weather or other extraordinary accidents prevent it.

If any shall be heard to swear, curse, or blaspheme the name of God, the commander is strictly enjoined to punish them for every offence, by causing them to wear a wooden collar, or some other shameful badge of distinction, for so long time as he shall judge proper. If he be a commissioned officer, he shall forfeit one shilling for each offence, and a warrant or inferior officer, six pence. He who is guilty of drunkenness, if a seaman, shall be put in irons until he is sober; but if an officer, he shall forfeit two days’ pay.

No commander shall inflict any punishment upon a seaman beyond twelve lashes upon his bare back, with a cat-o’-nine-tails; if the fault shall deserve a greater punishment, he is to apply to the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, in order to the trying of him by a court-martial; and, in the mean time, be may put him under confinement.

The commander is never, by his own authority, to discharge a commission or warrant officer, nor to punish or strike him, but he may suspend or confine them; and when he comes in the way of a Commander-in-Chief, apply to him for holding a court-martial.

The officer who commands by accident of the Captain’s absence, (unless he be absent for a time by leave,) shall not order any correction but confinement, and, upon the Captain’s return on board, he shall then give an account of his reasons for so doing.

The Captain is to cause the articles of war to be hung up in some publick place of the ship, and read to the ship’s company once a month.

Whenever the Captain shall enlist a seaman, he shall take care to enter on his books the time and terms of his entering, in order to his being justly paid.

The Captain shall, before he sails, make return to and leave with the Congress, or such person or persons as the Congress shall appoint for that purpose, a complete list of all his officers and men, with the time and terms of their entering, and, during his cruise, shall keep a true account of the desertion or death of any of them, and of the entering of others; and after his cruise, and before any of them are paid off, he shall make return of a complete list of the same, including those who shall remain on board his ship.

The men shall, at their request, be furnished with slops that are necessary, by the Captain or Purser, who shall keep an account of the same; and the Captain, in his return, in the last mentioned article directed to be made, shall mention the amount delivered to each man, in order to its being stopped out of his pay.

As to the term “inferior officer,” the Captain is to take notice that the same does not include any commission nor any warrant officer, except the second master, surgeon’s mate, cook, armourer, gunsmith, master-at-arms, and sail-maker.

The Captain is to take care, when any inferior officers or volunteer seamen are turned over into the ship under his command, from any other ship, not to rate them on the ship’s books in a worse quality, or lower degree or station, than they served in the ship they were removed from; and, for his guidance, he is to demand from the commander of the ship, from which they are turned over, a list, under his hand, of their names and qualities.

Any officer, seaman, or others, entitled to wages or prize money, may have the same paid to his assignee, provided the assignment be attested by the Captain or commander, the master or purser of the ship, or a chief magistrate of some County or Corporation.

The Captain is to discourage the seamen of his ship from selling any part of their wages or shares, and never to attest the letter of attorney of any seaman, until he is fully satisfied that the same is not granted in consideration of money given for the purchase of his wages or shares.

When any inferior officer or seaman dies, the Captain is forthwith to make out a ticket for the time of his service, and to send the same, by the first safe conveyance, to the Congress, or agents by them for that purpose appointed, in order to the wages being forthwith paid to the executors or administrators of the deceased.

A convenient place shall be set apart for sick or hurt men, to which they are to be removed, with their hammocks and bedding, when the surgeon shall advise the same to be necessary, and some of the crew shall be appointed to attend and serve them, and to keep the place clean.

The cooper shall make buckets, with covers and cradles, if necessary, for their use.

All ships furnished with fishing tackle, being in such places where fish is to be had, the Captain is to employ some of the company in fishing; the fish to be distributed daily to such persons as are sick or upon recovery, (provided the surgeon recommend it,) and the surplus, by turns, amongst the messes of the officers and seamen, without favour or partiality, and gratis, without any deduction of their allowance of provisions on that account.

It is left to the discretion of commanders of squadrons to shorten the allowance of provisions according to the exigence of the service, taking care that the men be punctually paid for the same.

The like power is given to Captains of single ships, in cases of absolute necessity.

If there should be a want of pork, the Captain is to order three pounds of beef to be issued to the men, in lieu of two pounds of pork.

One day in every week shall be issued out a proportion of flour and suet, in lieu of beef, for the seamen, but this is not to extend beyond four months’ victualling at one time, nor shall the Purser receive any allowance for flour or suet kept longer on board than that time; and there shall be supplied, once a year, a proportion of canvass for pudding-bags, after the rate of one ell for every sixteen men.

If any ships of the thirteen United Colonies shall happen to come into port in want of provisions, the warrant of a Commander-in-Chief shall be sufficient to the agent, or other instrument of the victualling, to supply the quantity wanted; and in urgent cases, where delay may be hurtful, the warrant of the Captain of the ship shall be of equal effect.

The Captain is frequently to order the proper officers to inspect the condition of the provisions, and if the bread