Battalion, and likewise to furnish the said Battalion with Drums, Colours, and Fifes.

Dr. James Holmes was chosen Surgeon to Colonel Maxwell’s Regiment.

Matthias Halsted was elected Quartermaster to Lord Stirling’s Regiment.

Resolved, That the Committee on the qualifications of Officers, &c., be directed to procure proper Medicine-Chests for the Battalions raised in Pennsylvania and New-Jersey.

The Congress then resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole, to take into consideration that part of the Report of the Committee of Conference relative to an attack on Boston; and after some time spent thereon, the President resumed the chair, and Mr. Ward reported, that the Committee had taken into consideration the matter referred to them, but not having come to any resolution, desired leave to sit again.

Resolved, That the Congress will to-morrow morning, unless publick despatches prevent, resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole, to take into their further consideration the Report of the Committee of Conference relative to the attack on Boston.

Resolved, That Mr. McKean, Mr. Lee, and Mr. S. Adams, the Committee appointed to confer with Maj. Preston, be a Committee to consider what allowance should be made to the Officers who are prisoners, for their support.

Resolved, That Mons. Reçonville, a Canadian prisoner at Trenton, be permitted to come to Philadelphia, and there wait the orders of Congress.

The Order of the Day being renewed,

Adjourned to ten o’clock, to-morrow.

Friday, December 22, 1775.

A Letter from General Schuyler, of December 14, 1775; a Letter from Lord Stirling, dated Trenton, December 14; also a Letter from Capt. Livingston, being received, were read.

The Committee appointed to fit out Armed Vessels laid before Congress a list of the Officers by them appointed, agreeable to the Resolution of Congress, viz:

Ezek Hopkins, Esq., Commander-in-Chief of the Fleet.

Captains: Dudley Saltonstall, of the Alfred; Abraham Whipple, of the Columbus; Nicholas Biddle, of the Andrew Doria; John Burrows Hopkins, of the Cabot.

First Lieutenants: John Paul Jones, Rhodes Arnold,

——Stansbury, Hoysted Hacker, Jonathan Pitcher.

Second Lieutenants: Benjamin Seabury, Joseph Olney, Elisha Warner, Thomas Weaver,——McDougall.

Third Lieutenants: John Fanning, Ezekiel Burroughs, Daniel Vaughan.

Resolved, That the pay of the Commander-in-Chief of the Fleet be one hundred and twenty-five Dollars per calendar month.

Resolved, That Commissions be granted to the above Officers, agreeable to their rank in the above appointment.

Resolved, That the Committee for fitting out Armed Vessels issue Warrants to all Officers employed in the Fleet under the rank of Third Lieutenants.

Resolved, That the Committee for fitting out Armed Vessels be directed (as a Secret Committee) to give such Instructions to the Commander of the Fleet, touching the operations of the Ships under his command, as shall appear to the said Committee most conducive to the defence of the United Colonies, and to the distress of the enemy’s naval forces and vessels bringing supplies to their fleets and armies, and lay such Instructions before the Congress when called for.

Resolved, That the said Committee be directed to consider how the shares of the Prizes allotted to the captors ought to be divided between the officers and men, and report to Congress.

Resolved, That a Committee of three be appointed to confer with the Indians lately arrived, and report to Congress.

The members chosen: Mr. Wythe, Mr. Lynch, and Mr. S. Adams.

Agreeable to the Order of the Day, the Congress resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole, to take into their further consideration the Report of the Committee of Conference relative to an attack on Boston; and after debate, the President resumed the chair, and Mr. Ward reported, that the Committee had taken into their further consideration the matter referred to them, and had come to a resolution thereon, which he was ready to report. The Report of the Committee being read, the same was agreed to, and is as follows:

Resolved, That if General Washington and his Council of War should be of opinion that a successful attack may be made on the Troops in Boston, he do it in any manner he may think expedient, notwithstanding the Town and property in it may thereby be destroyed.

Resolved, That the Quartermaster-General have the rank of a Colonel in the Army of the United Colonies.

The Committee of Claims reported that there is due to Benjamin Harrison, Esq., for his expenses to Maryland, the sum of 72.4 Dollars.

Ordered, That the above be paid.

Ordered, That the Papers found with J. Connolly, and the examination of said Connolly, and the others taken with him, be printed.

Resolved, That Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Hooper, Dr. Franklin, Mr. Jay, and Mr. Deane, be a Committee to examine the Journals, and lay before Congress a list of the matters therein that are unfinished, and which are proper to be acted upon.

The Orders of the Day being renewed,

Adjourned to ten o’clock, to-morrow.

Saturday, December 23, 1775.

A Letter from Lord Stirling, of the 19th of December, being received, was read.

A Petition from Seth Paddock, Master of the Sloop Mayflower, and Sylvanus Coffin, Master of the Schooner Dolly, of the Island of Nantucket, being laid before Congress, was read.

Resolved, That the said Petition be referred to a Committee of three, and that it be an instruction to said Committee to inquire what quantity of Provisions and Fuel is necessary for the annual internal consumption of the inhabitants of said Island of Nantucket, and what quantity has been exported to said Island from the different Ports of the United Colonies, during the present month of December.

The members chosen: Mr. McKean, Mr. Harrison, and Mr. Sherman.

Mr. Langdon, one of the Committee appointed to repair to Ticonderoga, and confer with General Schuyler, being returned, laid before Congress a report of their proceedings, which was read.

The Committee of Claims reported that there is due to Ephraim Blaine, for expenses incurred by the Treaty with the Western Indians, and paid by him, the sum of £533 19s. 4½d.; and that there is due to Ephraim Steel, for sundries furnished two Rifle Companies, the sum of £14 8s., which ought to be paid to the said Blaine; and also 4s. 8d., due to John McKee, of which two last sums there ought to be charged to the Continent the sum of £5, ($13.3,) for the two hundred weight of Lead, and the remainder to the Companies, respectively—the whole being equal to 1,462.9 Dollars.

Ordered, That the above be paid.

The Committee to whom the application from the Convention of the Colony of New-York, for the loan of £45,000, was referred, brought in their Report; which being read, was agreed to, as follows:

That notwithstanding it appears to this Committee that the credit of the Colony of New-York is unquestionable, and their application for the loan of £45,000 was suggested by disinterested principles, yet that it would not be advisable, in the opinion of this Committee, for the Congress to make the loan proposed.

The Committee appointed to confer with the Indians made report of their proceedings, which was read.

Whereas the Colony of Connecticut has, by a certain Act of their Assembly, resolved that no further settlements

*