whenever they have silver or gold in their hands for the redemption of Continental Bills, shall advertise the same, signifying that they are ready to give gold or silver for such bills, to all persons requiring it in exchange.

The Reports of the Committees on General Schuyler’s Letters, and the Report of the Committee sent to Ticonderoga, being read,

Resolved, That the same be recommitted to Mr. Dickinson, Mr. McKean, Mr. Wythe, Mr. Hooper, Mr. Jefferson, and Mr. Langdon.

The Report of the Committee to whom was referred a paragraph of Lord Stirling’s Letter to the Congress complaining that several of his recruits had been arrested and imprisoned for trifling debts being taken into consideration, was agreed to, as follows:

The Committee have reason to believe that divers persons, either from inattention to the publick good, or with design to retard the recruiting service, have arrested and imprisoned, for very trifling debts, many soldiers who had engaged to risk their lives in defence of the rights and liberties of America; and as it has always been found necessary, in time of war, to regulate and restrain a practice of such pernicious tendency, and in such cases to abate the rigour of the law;

Resolved, therefore, That it be recommended to the several Legislatures in these Colonies, whether Assemblies or Conventions, to pass acts or ordinances prohibiting the arrests of Continental Soldiers for small debts; and, in order that the same rule may pervade all the Colonies, that no such soldier be arrested at the suit of any of his creditors, unless the said creditor make oath, that the said soldier is justly indebted to him in the sum of thirty-five Dollars over and above all discounts; and that the estate of no such soldier be liable to attachment at the suit of, or for the benefit of all his creditors, unless their debts in the whole, on being ascertained by their oaths, shall amount to more than one hundred and fifty Dollars.

Resolved, That the several Letters received from Lord Stirling, be referred to a Committee of three, who are directed to report an answer.

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

Resolved, That the Battalion raised in Pennsylvania be supplied with Gun-Brushes, Prickers, Double-Worms, Screw-drivers, and Oil; and that it be recommended to the Committee of Safety of the said Colony to provide the same.

Whereas this Congress, by a Resolution passed the 15th day of July last, did direct that every Vessel importing into these Colonies, Gunpowder, Saltpetre, Sulphur, and other Military Stores therein specified, within nine months from the date thereof, should be permitted to load and export the produce of these Colonies, to the value of such Powder and Stores aforesaid, the Non-Exportation Agreement notwithstanding, by permits from the Committees of the several Colonies: to the end, therefore, that this Congress may be the better informed of the quantity of Military Stores, which are or shall be so imported, and of the produce exported in consequence of the Resolution aforesaid,

Resolved, That it be recommended to all Committees by whom any permits, under the said Resolution, have been or may be granted, to transmit to this Congress, from time to time, a true account of the Military Stores, &c., imported, and of the produce exported, with the price and value of both.

Ordered, That the foregoing Resolution be published.

The Committee appointed to prepare Instructions to Colonel Irvine brought in a draught, which, being read, was agreed to.

Adjourned to ten o’clock, to-morrow.

Wednesday, December 27, 1775.

A Letter from the Committee of Inspection of the Town of Lancaster, dated 21st of December, 1775, enclosing the Paroles of the Officers there, being received, was read.

Resolved, That a Committee of three be appointed to confer with Captain Motte, and consult with him on the best method of providing the guard under his command with Provisions, on their return home.

The members chosen: Mr. Cushing, Mr. Deane, and Mr. Lynch.

The Congress then took into consideration the Report of the Committee on the state of Virginia, and after debate, at the request of a Colony, the further consideration thereof, was postponed till to-morrow.

The Committee appointed to confer with Captain Motte brought in their Report, which being read, was agreed to, as follows:

That they find some of said guard have upwards of two hundred and forty miles to march; that they will be content with eight Dollars each, and bear their own expenses to their respective homes, or to be supplied by a Commissary, or other ways, as the Congress shall judge best.

It is therefore the opinion of the Committee, that the said guard receive a sum not exceeding eight Dollars each, in lieu of all other provision for their return.

Resolved, That Captain Motte be empowered to pay to his guard for the purpose aforesaid, a sum not exceeding eight Dollars to any one, according to the respective distances they have to go, and that he return to the Committee of Claims a list of his men, and an account of the payments to them made.

Adjourned to ten o’clock, to-morrow.

Thursday, December 28, 1775.

The Committee of Claims reported, that there is due to Sacheveral Wood, the sum of 91.9 Dollars, for the support of seventeen men to the 21st December, who are confined in the Jail of Philadelphia, by order of Congress.

Ordered, That the same be paid.

Resolved, That an Order be drawn on the Treasurers in favour of G. Wythe, Esq., one of the Committee appointed to confer with the Indians, for the sum of 13 1-3 Dollars, as a present to said Indians.

Resolved, That an Order be drawn on the Treasurers, for the sum of 8,000 Dollars, in favour of the Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania, for the use of the Battalion raised in said Colony, the said Committee to be accountable.

The Congress resumed the consideration of the Report of the Committee on the state of Virginia; and after debate came to the following Resolution:

Resolved, That six Battalions are necessary to be immediately raised in Virginia, and that they be raised accordingly, upon the same terms, and paid as the Continental Forces in the Camp at Cambridge, unless the Convention of that Colony can raise them on better terms.

The Congress took into consideration the Report of the Secret Committee, and, after debate, the further consideration thereof was postponed till to-morrow.

Resolved, That a Committee of five be appointed to take into consideration the state of New-York, and report thereon to Congress.

The members chosen: Mr. Lynch, Mr. Deane, Mr. Wythe, Mr. W. Livingston, and Mr. Jay.

The Committee to whom the Petition of Captain Paddock and Captain Coffin was referred, brought in their Report, which was read.

Adjourned to ten o’clock, to-morrow.

Friday, December 29, 1775.

A Petition of Captain Sellick being 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. Smith, Mr. Floyd, and Mr. F, Lee.

A Petition from a number of the Inhabitants of Pennsylvania being read,

Ordered, To lie on the table.

Information being given to Congress of a quantity of Arms and Ammunition which may be procured,

Resolved, That a Committee of three be appointed to inquire further into this matter.

The members chosen; Mr. McKean, Mr. Jay, and Mr. Lynch.

Agreeable to the Order of the Day, the Congress resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole, to take into consideration the Trade of the United Colonies, and after