Ordered, That the said Accounts be paid.

The Committee to whom the second Resolution in the Report on General Washington’s Letter relative to Transports was recommitted, brought in their Report, which was read.

The several matters to this day referred being further postponed,

Adjourned to ten o’clock, to-morrow.

Saturday, December 16, 1775.

A Letter from General Washington, dated 7th December, 1775, being received, was read.

A Letter from the Convention of New-York, dated 9th inst., being laid before Congress and read,

Ordered, That the same be referred to the Committee on the Continental Currency.

Resolved, That the Committee appointed to carry into execution the Resolutions of Congress relative to a Naval Armament be empowered to draw on the Treasurers, from time to time, for any sums not exceeding Five Hundred Thousand Dollars, for carrying into execution the Resolutions of Congress.

Resolved, That the Delegates of Maryland and Virginia be a Committee to prepare Instructions for Colonel Irvine.

The Committee appointed to confer with Captain Motte brought in a Report, which was read.

The Committee of Claims reported that there is due to Josiah Fessenden, for riding express three times to the Camp at Cambridge, and once to Rhode-Island, and for expenses and Horse hire, &c., a balance amounting to one hundred and twenty-six Dollars.

To Daniel King, for hire of a Sulky for said J. Fessenden, eighteen Dollars.

Ordered, That the same be paid.

Captain White Eyes, a Delaware Chief, who came down with the Commissioners for Indian Affairs in the Middle Department, being introduced to Congress, the President addressed him in the following manner:

Brother Captain WHITE EYES:

We are glad to see you, and we bid you welcome to this council-fire, kindled for all the United Colonies.

We have heard of your friendship for your brethren, the white people, and how useful you have been in preserving peace and harmony between your nation and us, and we thank you for those services.

We are pleased that the Delawares intend to embrace Christianity. We will send you, according to your desire, a minister and a schoolmaster, to instruct you in the principles of religion, and other parts of useful knowledge.

We shall be happy in improving every opportunity that shall offer for convincing your nation, and all the other nations of Indians, of our friendly disposition towards them.

Before you leave this City, we will give you some particular testimony of our regard for you.

The Congress taking into consideration the Report of the Committee who conferred with Captain Motte,

Resolved, That the Officers be distributed in such places as are most agreeable to themselves, observing always the former Resolutions of Congress on this subject, and that the Officers and Privates be not stationed in the same places, until the further orders of Congress.

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to confer with Major Preston, and, with him, fix on an Agent to negotiate his Bills, and, with the money arising from the sale of said Bills,” to supply the Prisoners taken at St. John’s with Clothing and other necessaries.

The members chosen: Mr. McKean, Mr. R. H. Lee, and Mr. S. Adams.

Resolved, That the Privates who are prisoners, and have been left by Captain Motte at Lancaster, be allowed to remain in that place till the further orders of Congress.

Resolved, That a sum not exceeding eighty Dollars be paid to Captain Motte, being so much advanced and paid by him for necessaries to his men in conducting the Prisoners.

Resolved, That the distribution of the Prisoners, made by Captain Motte, is approved.

Resolved, That it be a standing rule of Congress, that no person be allowed to make any motion after twelve o’clock, without special leave, until the Orders of the Day are either determined or put off to another day.

A Petition from sundry Merchants of Philadelphia was presented and read.

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

The members chosen: Mr. Morris, Mr. Jefferson, and Mr. Hooper.

The Committee to whom the Petition of Mr. D. Beveridge was referred brought in their Report, which was read.

Ordered to lie on the table.

The several matters to this day referred being postponed,

Adjourned to ten o’clock, on Monday.

Monday, December 18, 1775.

The Committee appointed to confer with Major Preston, made report of their proceedings, and that they had not yet come to a conclusion with Major Preston on the matter referred to them.

Resolved, That Major Preston have leave to go with Captain Motte to Lancaster, and there to remain ten days, if he choose to remain there so long.

Resolved, That a copy of the Resolutions of Congress relative to the disposal of the Prisoners, and of the parole to be signed by the Officers, be sent to the Committee of Inspection of Lancaster; and that an order issue to the said Committee, to take the parole of the Officers there, and transmit the same to Congress.

Resolved, That an Order be drawn on the Treasurers, in favour of Captain Edward Motte, for the further sum of eighty Dollars, he to be accountable for the same.

Sundry Affidavits from Wyoming, relative to disturbances there between the people of Connecticut and. Pennsylvania, being laid before the Congress and read, [See folio 1964.]

After debate, Resolved, That the consideration of this matter be referred till to-morrow.

Letters from General Schuyler, dated 19th, 20th, 24th November, and 8th December, with sundry enclosed papers, being received, were read.

Resolved, That they be referred to a Committee of three.

The members chosen: Mr. Hooper, Mr. McKean, and Mr. Jefferson.

The several matters to this day referred being postponed,

Adjourned to ten o’clock, to-morrow.

Tuesday, December 19, 1775.

Resolved, That the Committee of Safety for Pennsylvania be requested to supply the Armed Vessels, which are nearly ready for sailing, with four tons of Gunpowder, at the Continental expense.

That the said Committee be requested to procure and lend said Vessels as many stands of Small Arms as they can spare, not exceeding four hundred, to be repaid by the Congress either in kind or value, as the Committee may desire.

That if the Powder and Arms that may be supplied and lent to the Continent, for the use of the said Armed Vessels, shall not be replaced on or before the first day of February next, the Congress engages that their whole influence and authority shall then be exerted immediately to replace the same, by procuring Powder and Arms from some other part of the Continent.

Resolved, That if the Powder supplied and lent to the Continent by the City of New-York shall not be replaced on or before the first day of February next, the Congress engages that their whole influence and authority shall then be exerted immediately to replace the same, by providing Powder from some other part of the Continent.

Agreeable to the Order of the Day, the Congress resumed the consideration of the General’s Letters, and the Report of the Committee to whom the second article in the Report of the Committee on the General’s Letters was referred, and thereupon came to the following Resolution,