and Liberties of Philadelphia, to unload and sell his present cargo, and to purchase a cargo of Fuel and Provisions, provided he shall first make oath or affirmation, before a Magistrate, and give bond that the same is, bona fide, intended for the internal consumption of the said inhabitants, and that he will use his utmost endeavours that it shall not fall into the hands of the enemies of the United Colonies.

The Committee to whom the Petition of Jonathan Hudson was referred reported their opinion in certain Resolutions, which being read, were agreed to, as follows:

Resolved, That so much of the said Petition as prays for permission to export the said cargo to any place other than the Islands of Great Britain, Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, Sark, Alderney, or Man, or the West-Indian Islands, is reasonable.

Resolved, That so much of the said Petition as prays for further permission is unreasonable.

Resolved, That the said Petitioner give bond, with sufficient security, to the Chairman of the Committee of the Town of Baltimore, under a penalty of double the value of the said cargo, to export the said cargo to some place other than the Islands of Great Britain, Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, Sark, Alderney, Man, and the Islands of the West-Indies; and within six months after the said exportation, to produce to the said Chairman a certificate of the port to which the said cargo shall have been shipped, authenticated under the hands of two merchants of known character and reputation, residing in the same port; and that, on executing such bond, the said Chairman sign a permit to the said Petitioner, allowing him to export the said cargo.

The Congress resumed the consideration of a Resolution of Congress respecting the numbering of the Bills ordered to be emitted.

Resolved, That the numbers commence from No. 1, and that the said numbers be in different ink from the former.

Resolved, That the following gentlemen be appointed to sign and number the Bills ordered to be emitted, viz: Samuel Morris, Frederick Kuhl, Stephen Collins, Nicholas Garrison, Matthew Clarkson, Samuel C. Morris, Thomas Barclay, Anthony Morris, Jun., James Wharton, Benjamin Fuller, Joel Evans, Andrew Bunner, John Mease, Thomas Coombe, John Bayard, Robert Tuckniss, Isaac Hazlehurst, Thomas Morris, Samuel Caldwell, John Purviance, Mordecai Lewis, George Campbell, Joseph Parker, Daniel Clymer, Joseph Watkins, Jun., John Shee, Phineas Bond, James Read, Robert Roberts, John Ord, Isaac Howell, William Webb, Jonathan B. Smith, Cornelius Barnes, Thomas Smith, and William Crispin

Resolved, That each Bill be signed and numbered by two of the foregoing gentlemen.

A Petition from Mr. Phelps was presented and read.

Ordered, To be taken into consideration to-morrow.

The Committee appointed to received the applications and examine the qualifications of persons applying for offices, &c., reported Dr. Boyd as proper to be Surgeon to the Regiment raised in Pennsylvania, and Mr. Patterson to be Adjutant to said Regiment.

The Congress concurred in the choice of Dr. Boyd.

A Petition from David Beveridge was laid before Congress and read.

Resolved, That the same be referred to a Committee of three.

The members chosen: Mr. Jay, Mr. Read, and Mr. Jefferson.

Resolved, That an Order be drawn on the Treasurers, in favour of the Committee of Correspondence, for the sum of 3,000 Dollars.

Resolved, That to-morrow morning be assigned to take into consideration that part of the Report of the Committee of Conference respecting Boston.

A Letter from the Commissioners for Indian Affairs in the Southern District, with sundry enclosures, being received, were read.

The Committee on the credit of the Paper Currency brought in their Report.

The several matters to this day referred being postponed,

Adjourned to ten o’clock, to-morrow.

Tuesday, December 12, 1775.

On motion, Resolved, That the intercepted Letters of Brook Watson, and the Invoice of the Cargo of the Brig Nancy, transport, taken by the Schooner Lee, Captain Manly, be published.

A Letter from Christopher Leffingwell, with sundry enclosures, respecting a cargo of Molasses, taken out of the Brig Nancy; also, a Letter from the Committee of Trenton, with the Parole of the Officers there, were laid before Congress and read.

The Committee appointed to prepare Letters of Thanks to the three General Officers in the Northern Army brought in draughts, which being read and approved,

Ordered, That they be signed by the President, and transmitted.

The Committee on General Schuyler’s Letters brought in their Report, which was read.

On motion, Resolved, That the allowance for a table, made to the Commander for the time being in Canada, be granted to General Montgomery, from the time he entered Canada.

On motion, Resolved, That this Congress will make a present of a Sword, of the value of one hundred Dollars, to Captain Henry B. Livingston, as a testimony of their sense of his services to this Country, and that they will embrace the first opportunity of promoting him in the Army.

Resolved, That the sum of 120,000 Dollars be advanced to the Colony of Rhode-Island, in part of their Accounts against the United Colonies, to be paid out of the emission last ordered; the said Colony to be accountable for the same.

The Congress, agreeable to order, took into consideration the Report of the Committee of Conference, respecting Boston; and, after debate,

Resolved, That the Congress will, to-morrow, resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole, to take this matter into further consideration.

The several matters to this day referred being postponed,

Adjourned to ten o’clock, to-morrow.

Wednesday, December 13, 1775.

A Letter from General Washington, dated the 4th of December, with sundry enclosures, being received, were read.

The Committee appointed to devise ways and means for fitting out a Naval Armament brought in their Report, which, being taken into consideration was agreed to, as follows:

That five Ships of 32 guns, five of 28 guns, and three of 24 guns, making in the whole thirteen, can be fitted for the sea probably by the last of March next, viz: in New-Hampshire one, in Massachusetts-Bay two, in Rhode-Island two, in Connecticut one, in New-York two, in Pennsylvania four, and in Maryland one.

That the cost of these Ships, so fitted, will not be more than 66,666 2-3 Dollars each, on an average, allowing two complete suits of sails for each Ship, equal in the whole to 866, 666 2-3 Dollars.

That the materials for fitting them may be all furnished in these Colonies, except the articles of canvass and gunpowder; and that, therefore, it will be proper the Congress direct the most speedy and effectual means of importing the said articles of canvass and powder; that of the former, 7,500 pieces will be wanted, and that of the latter one hundred tons.

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed, with full powers to carry the above Report into execution, with all possible expedition, (except what relates to canvass and powder,) at the expense of the United Colonies.

Resolved, That the appointment of the Committee be postponed till to-morrow.

Resolved, That it be an instruction to the Secret Committee, to embrace the best and earliest opportunities to procure the quantity of Duck and Powder in the above Report.

Mr. Willing, a member of the Secret Committee, desiring to be excused, on account of his living out of Town, which