rendered it impracticable for him to attend the Committee, which usually meets in the evening:

Resolved, That he be excused, and that another be elected in his room.

The member chosen: Mr. R. Morris.

On motion, Resolved, That when this Congress shall adjourn, it will be necessary to appoint a Committee to sit during the adjournment, for the purpose of superintending the Treasury, carrying on necessary correspondence, and such other services as shall be directed by Congress.

Resolved, That a Committee of five be appointed, to consider and prepare Instructions for the Committee above mentioned.

The members chosen: Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Hooper, Dr. Franklin, Mr. Jay, and Mr. Deane.

Resolved, That the Committee appointed to fit out Armed Vessels be authorized to give able-bodied Seamen, that may be willing to enter on board the Ships of War of the United Colonies, eight Dollars per calendar month.

Information being given that sundry persons in this City have lately sold Tea,

Resolved, That the consideration of this matter be referred to Friday next.

The several matters to this day referred being postponed,

Adjourned to ten o’clock, to-morrow.

Thursday, December 14, 1775.

On motion, Resolved, That on the meeting of Congress, half an hour every morning be employed in reading the corrected copy of the Journal, till the whole is gone through.

Resolved, That every morning the Minutes of the preceding day be read, before the Congress enter upon new business.

Ordered, That the Journal, as corrected, after being read, be transcribed, in order to be sent to the press.

The Congress, agreeable to the Order of the Day, proceeded to the appointment of the Committee for carrying into execution the Resolutions of Congress for fitting out Armed Vessels.

Resolved, That the said Committee consist of a member from each Colony.

Resolved, That the choice be by ballot.

The members chosen: Mr. Bartlett, Mr. Hancock, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Deane, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Crane, Mr. R. Morris, Mr. Read, Mr. Chase, Mr. R. H. Lee, Mr. Hewes, Mr. Gadsden, and Mr. Houston.

Congress took into consideration the Letter received yesterday from General Washington.

Resolved, That the second Resolution in the Report of the Committee on General Washington’s Letter, relative to Transports, be recommitted.

On motion, Resolved, That Lieutenant Hay, of the Seventh Regiment, who is now a prisoner, have liberty to return to Great Britain, on his parole not to take up arms against America during the present dispute between Great Britain and these Colonies.

A Petition from Peter Berlon was laid before Congress and read.

Resolved, That the said Petition, with the papers accompanying it, be referred to a Committee of three.

The members chosen: Mr. E. Rutledge, Mr. Lynch, and Mr. Smith.

Resolved, That the further consideration of the General’s Letter be referred till to-morrow.

The several matters to this day referred being postponed,

Adjourned to ten o’clock, to-morrow.

Friday, December 15, 1775.

Information being given to Congress that Captain Motte, who was intrusted with conducting the Prisoners to Reading and other Towns in Pennsylvania, having performed that service, was returned to this City,

Resolved, That the Committee appointed to distribute the Prisoners confer with Captain Motte, and report to Congress.

Resolved, That the Committee of Safety for the Colony of Pennsylvania be requested to recommend proper persons for Field-Officers of the four Battalions to be raised in the said Colony.

Resolved, That the said Committee appoint proper persons for Officers in the said Battalions, under the rank of Majors.

Resolved, That similar orders be given to the Committee of Safety of the lower Counties on Delaware, for recommending Field-Officers and appointing inferior Officers for the Battalion to be raised in that Colony.

Resolved, That Messrs. George Meade &Co., Merchants, of the City of Philadelphia, be permitted to export from the Colony of Virginia so much of the produce of that country as shall be equal in value to any quantity of Salt, not exceeding six thousand bushels, which they shall carry and safely deliver there to the Committee of Safety or their order, who are empowered to regulate the prices of the said produce and Salt; and that the said George Meade &Co., having given to the Delegates of the said Colony, in this City, bond with sufficient security, under a penalty of double the value of the said Salt, that they will not carry any produce of the said Colony, which they may receive in return for their Salt, to the Islands of Great Britain, Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, Sark, Alderney, or Man, or to the West-Indian Islands, and producing to the Committee of Safety of the said Colony a certificate thereof, signed by the said Delegates here, shall have a permit, under the hand of the Chairman of the said Committee of Safety, to export the said produce, the said permit being to be endorsed on or annexed to a manifest of the cargo exported.

The Committee appointed to prepare Instructions for the Committee who are to sit during the recess of Congress, brought in their Report, which was read.*

The Committee of Claims reported that there is due:

* The Committee appointed to consider and prepare Instructions for a Committee who are to sit during the recess of Congress have agreed to the following resolutions:

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that the said Committee, during the recess of Congress, should be authorized and instructed—

To receive and open all letters directed to the Congress.

To correspond with the several Conventions, Assemblies, or Committee a of Safety, with the Committee of Congress sent to Canada, the Commissioners for Indian Affairs, and the Commanding Officers of the Continental forces in the several Departments.

To give counsel to the said Commanding Officers, whenever applied to by them.

To supply the Continental forces, by sea and land, with all necessaries, from time to time.

To expedite the striking moneys ordered by the Congress to be struck.

To transmit to the several Commanding Officers, Paymasters, and Commissaries, from time to time, such sums of money as may be necessary for the pay and subsistence of the Continental forces; and to order payment, by the Treasurers, for such contracts as the said Committee may make, in pursuance of the authorities and instructions given them.

To take charge of all military stores belonging to the United Colonies, to procure such further quantities as may probably be wanted, or to order any part thereof where so ever it may be most requisite for the common service.

To direct the safe keeping and comfortable accommodation of all prisoners of war.

To contribute their counsel and authority towards raising recruits ordered by Congress.

To procure intelligence of the condition and designs of the enemy.

To direct military operations by sea and land, not changing any objects or expeditions determined on by Congress.

To attend to the defence and preservation of forts and strong posts, and to prevent the enemy from acquiring new holds.

To apply to such officers, in the several Colonies, as are intrusted with the executive powers of Government, for the occasional aid of Minute-Men and Militia, whenever and wherever necessary.

In case of the death of any officer within the appointment of Congress, to employ a person to fulfil his duties until the meeting of Congress, unless the office be of such a nature as to admit a delay of appointment until such meeting.

To examine publick claims and accounts, and report the same to the next Congress.

To publish and disperse authentic accounts of military operations.

To expedite the printing of the Journals of Congress, as by them directed to be published.

To summon a meeting of Congress at an earlier day than that to which it may stand adjourned, if any great and unexpected emergence shall render it necessary for the safety or good of the United Colonies; and to lay before Congress, at their meeting, all letters received by them, with a report of their proceedings.

Resolved, That the said Committee be authorized to appoint their own Cleric, who shall take an oath of secrecy before he enters on the exercise of his office.

Resolved, That in the case of death of any member of the said Committee, they immediately apply to his surviving colleagues to appoint some one of themselves to be a member of the said Committee.

Resolved, That the Treasurers be directed to pay, out of the Continental moneys in their hands, all drafts made on them by the said Committee.