Resolved, That the part of Lord Stirling’s Letter which respects the arresting and imprisoning Soldiers for small sums be referred to a Committee of three.

The members chosen: Mr. Jay, Mr. Wilson, and Mr. W. Livingston.

On motion, Resolved, That Mr. G. Bedford, the Deputy Mustermaster-General, be directed to muster the Battalion raised in this Colony, and make return to Congress as soon as possible.

The Committee on Frauds report, that they have made some proficiency, but meet.

The Committee appointed to consider of ways and means for establishing Expresses brought in their Report; which was read.

On motion, Ordered, That the Letters from General Schuyler, General Montgomery, and Colonel Arnold, be published.

The several matters to this day referred being postponed,

Adjourned to ten o’clock, to-morrow.

Saturday, December 9, 1775.

On motion from the Committee appointed to fit out Armed Vessels,

Resolved, That the said Committee be empowered to employ the following Officers, and that their Pay be as follows:

Pilot, according to the visual rates; when absolutely necessary, the Commander to give such further gratuity as may be necessary for the good of the service.

On motion, Resolved, That an order issue for raising four Battalions more in the Colony of Pennsylvania, on the same terms as the one already raised.

Resolved, That a like order issue for raising one Battalion in the lower Counties on Delaware, on the same terms as those ordered to be raised in Pennsylvania.

The Congress took into consideration the Letters from General Schuyler, from the 11th of November, inclusive, and thereupon came to the following Resolutions:

Resolved, That the orders given to General Montgomery, to purchase Clothing at Montreal, for the Troops under his command, be and are approved.

Resolved, That the Officers who are prisoners be allowed to sell their Bills for their subsistence.

Resolved, That Major Preston, Captain Kinnear, Captain Goodwin, and Major Stopford, pay to the Continental Treasurers the sums advanced them by Gen. Schuyler, and that General Schuyler be informed of this Resolution, and desired to send their obligations to the Treasurers.

Resolved, That General Montgomery be appointed a Major-General in the Army of the United Colonies.

Resolved, That the sum of 166 Dollars per month be allowed to the Commander for the time being in the Province of Canada, and residing there, for the expense of his table, over and above the pay to which he may be entitled by his commission.

Resolved, That the several Letters from Gen. Schuyler, with the enclosures, except what refers to Mr. Phelps, be committed to a Committee of three, who are to take the same into consideration, and report thereon to Congress.

The members chosen: Mr. Dickinson, Mr. McKean, and Mr. Wythe.

On motion, Resolved, That the sum of three thousand Dollars be advanced to Mr. Carpenter Wharton, who has contracted to supply the Battalion raised in Pennsylvania, at seven Pence (7-90 of a Dollar) per Ration; and that the same be paid him, on his signing the contract, and giving proper security for the performance thereof.

The Committee of Claims reported, that there is due to William Chew, for riding express to the Saltpetre Rock, in Virginia, and bringing samples of the mineral, the sum of 84.3 Dollars.

Ordered, That the above be paid.

Resolved, That an Order be drawn on the Treasurers, for the sum of 1,956 Dollars, in favour of Colonel E. Dyer, for Medicines by him purchased, agreeable to the order of Congress, for the use of the Army.

The Commissioners for Indian Affairs in the Middle Department laid before Congress the Minutes of their Proceedings.

Ordered, That the same be considered on Wednesday next.

Resolved, That Monday next be assigned for taking into consideration the Instructions to the Delegates of Rhode-Island.

The several other matters to this day referred being postponed,

Adjourned to ten o’clock, on Monday.

Monday, December 11, 1775.

A Letter from General Washington, dated 30th of November, being received, was read, enclosing an Invoice of Stores on board the Nancy, transport, taken by the Schooner Lee, Captain Manly; also, a Letter from the Convention of New-York, dated 7th instant.

The Committee to whom that part of Lord Stirling’s Letter, respecting the arresting and imprisoning Soldiers for small sums, was referred, brought in their Report.

Agreeable to the Order of the Day, the Congress took into consideration the Instructions given to the Delegates of Rhode-Island, and after debate thereon came to the following Resolutions:

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed, to devise ways and means for furnishing these Colonies with a Naval Armament, and report with all convenient speed.

Resolved, That the Committee consist of a member from each Colony, viz: Mr. Bartlett, Mr. S. Adams, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Deane, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Crane, Mr. R. Morris, Mr. Read, Mr. Paca, Mr. R. H. Lee, Mr. Hcwes, and Mr. Gadsden.

The Congress then took into consideration the Report of the Committee on the Petition of Thomas Jenkins, of the Island of Nantucket, for license to sell his cargo of Oil in this City, and to purchase a cargo of Provisions and Fuel, for the necessary use of the inhabitants of said Island, and the same was agreed to, as follows:

Resolved, That the vigilance and zeal of the Committee of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia, in preventing the said Jenkins’s cargo from being sold, contrary to the Resolutions of Congress, is highly approved.

Resolved, That it appears to this Congress, that the inhabitants of said Island are at present in great distress, for want of the necessaries of life.

Resolved, That humanity requires that some speedy measures be taken by the Congress, to enable the said inhabitants to supply themselves with necessary Fuel and Provisions.

Resolved, That the Selectmen of the Town of Sherburne, in Nantucket, prepare an estimate of the quantity of Fuel and Provisions necessary for the use of said inhabitants, and lay it before three or more Justices of the Peace for the County of Barnstable, in the Colony of Massachusetts-Bay, attested by the oath or affirmation of the said Selectmen; and that the said Justices be empowered to grant licenses, under their hands, to any master or owner of vessels in the said Island, to import Fuel and Provisions from the Colonies of Massachusetts-Bay, Rhode-Island, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, lower Counties on Delaware, or Maryland, not exceeding the quantities specified in said estimate.

Resolved, Whereas it appears that the said inhabitants are in immediate danger of suffering for the want of the necessaries of life, that the said Captain Jenkins be permitted, under the inspection of the Committee of the City