Cortlandt Skinner, which were intercepted, were laid before Congress, and read.

Resolved, That a Letter be written to Mr. Tilghman, informing him, that the Hornet and Wasp are under orders to sail to the Capes of Delaware, and that such Vessels, as are ready to sail, may take the benefit of that convoy.

That the Committee for fitting out Armed Vessels, be directed to give orders to the Captains of the Hornet and Wasp, to take under their convoy such Vessels as are ready to sail.

The Committee of Claims reported, that there is due:

To Michael Connolly, for expenses in conducting Captain John Livingston and Lieutenant Anstruther, from Kingston to Lancaster, the sum of 250 Dollars.

To Richard Butler, for necessaries furnished to five Indians, the sum of 49.3 Dollars.

To Joseph Cowperthwait, the sum of 419.6 Dollars, for expenses in conducting Cash to Cambridge.

Resolved, That a Committee of Three be appointed to inquire into the conduct of the Officers who are Prisoners, and the manner in which they are subsisted at present, and report thereon.

The Members chosen, Mr. W. Livingston, Mr. Dyer, and Mr. Floyd.

Ordered, That a certified copy of the intercepted Letter of Mr. Cortlandt Skinner, be sent to the Committee of Safety of the Colony of New-Jersey.

That an Order issue to Lord Stirling, to take with him a sufficient force, and immediately apprehend and keep in safe custody Cortlandt Skinner, of Amboy, till further orders, from this Congress.

That he carry said Cortlandt Skinner before the Committee of. Safety of the Colony of New-Jersey, for examination.

That the Committee of Safety be desired to transmit his examination to Congress.

Resolved, That the Militia raised in the Counties of Orange and Ulster, in the Colony of New-York, by order of this Congress, for the support of the Fort lately erected on Hudson's River, be discharged, except those stationed in the Fort, who shall also be discharged whenever other Troops arrive there to supply their places; and that it be recommended to the Committee of Safety of the Colony of New-York, to see that this Resolve be carried into execution.

Resolved, That five hundred thousand Dollars be sent to the Paymaster-General, for the use of the Army in Massachusetts-Bay.

Resolved, That the Delegates for Pennsylvania be directed to count and forward the same, with all convenient speed, under a guard of an Officer and two Men.

The Congress resuming the consideration of the Report of the Committee on General Schuyler's Letters, thereupon came to the following Resolutions:

Resolved, That Colonel Van Shaack, Lieutenant-Colonel Yates, and Major Gansevoort, be continued in the service of the United Colonies, and that they take the command of the Battalion to be levied in the Colony of New-York for the service in Canada.

Resolved, That Captain Lamb be appointed commander of the Artillery in the Northern Department, with the rank of Major, and that he be allowed fifty Dollars per month, from_the 1st Jay of the present month, as a reward for his activity and spirited conduct in the last campaign.

Resolved, That no Postage be paid for any Letters to or from private Soldiers, while engaged in actual service in the defence of the United Colonies; and that such Letters be franked by some person authorized for that purpose, by the Commanding Officer of the Department.

Resolved, That a Letter be written to General Schuyler by the President, informing him, that it is the opinion of Congress, he should proceed to have the conduct of Lieutenant Halsey inquired into by a Court-Martial, giving him previous notice to appear in his own defence, and that such sentence should be passed on him, as such Court-Martial shall think just; and if the said Lieutenant Halsey shall decline to submit his conduct to such examination and sentence, that then all arrears of pay due to him be stopped; to enable him to give discharges to such officers as have quitted the service; to assure him, that we have great confidence in his attention to the publick interest, and rely that he will give to the proper officers in his department such orders as will procure indemnification to the publick, for any embezzlement or waste of its Stores, or Moneys; to empower him to remit to such of the Troops, raised in the Province of New-York, as may reinlist, any right we may have to stop wages for underclothes delivered to them; to desire he will communicate to Mr. Price the sense this Congress have of his friendly offices to General Montgomery, in favour of the American cause; to return him our thanks for the same, and assure him, immediate measures shall be taken for replacing the Moneys he has advanced; to notify to Colonel Easton our approbation of his late services, and that we shall retain in our minds a just sense of them.

Resolved, That General Schuyler Be directed to appoint Mr. John Macpherson a Major in one of the Battalions ordered to be raised out of the Troops in Canada.

Resolved, That a Conductor of Artillery, a Superintendent of the Arms, a Barrackmaster, and a Storekeeper, be appointed to the Northern Army, and that General Schuyler be desired to recommend proper persons to Congress for those offices.

Resolved, That the Deputy Pay master-General have liberty to appoint under him, two assistant Paymasters, who shall each receive twenty-six and two-thirds Dollars per month, for their trouble and services.

Resolved, That all the Officers, and Soldiers in the Northern Department be paid in person by the Deputy Paymaster-General, or the Assistants to be appointed by him in consequence of the foregoing Resolve.

Resolved, That a Communication be forthwith opened between Skenesborough and Fort-Ann, and that Wood-Creek be cleared for that purpose.

Resolved, That it be recommended to the Committee of Safety of the Province of New-York, to appoint proper persons to inquire into the propriety and practicability of obstructing or lessening the depth of water in the Narrows, or in any other place at the entrance of New-York, or of any way of fortifying that pass, so as to prevent the entrance of the enemy; and also to inquire whether the depth of water in Hudson's River, below the Battery, may not easily be lessened, so as to prevent large ships passing up, and to make an estimate of the expense, and report their proceedings in the premises immediately to Congress.

Resolved, That to-morrow be assigned for, the choice of two Brigadier-Generals, viz: one for the Army in Massachusetts-Bay, and the other for the Army in the Northern Department.

Adjourned to ten o'clock, to-morrow.

Wednesday, January 10, 1776.

A Letter from Rachel Stelle, with an account of expenses for the Subsistence of Officers, was laid before Congress, and read.

Ordered, That the same be referred to the Committee appointed on the Subsistence of Officers, &c.

Resolved, That the Commissioners for Indian Affairs, in the Northern Department, be directed to pay to the Rev. Mr. Wheelock 500 Dollars, agreeable to a Resolution of Congress, passed the 12th day of July last.

The Committee appointed to devise ways and means for furnishing the Battalions destined for Canada, brought in their Report, which was agreed to, and is as follows:

That before the Battalion commanded by Colonel Bull can march for Canada, the following Officers ought to be appointed, to wit: Three First Lieutenants, eight Second Lieutenants, one Ensign; and one Quartermaster.

And the following articles provided, to wit: 688 Caps, 688 pair of Mittens, 688 pair of Stockings, 688 pair of Leggins, 688 pair of Shoes, 688 Haversacks, 688 Slings for Firelocks, 1200 Shirts, 688 Waistcoats, 500 pair of Breeches, 300 Blankets, 64 Pitching-Axes, and 9 Baggage Wagons.

That before Colonel Maxwell's Battalion will be fit to march to said Province, the following articles ought to be provided, to wit: 688 Haversacks, 688.Cartouch-Boxes