Tuesday, January 16, 1776.

The Colony of Connecticut having appointed new Delegates, the same attending, produced the Credentials of their appointment, which were read, as follows:

"At a General Assembly of the Governour and Company of the English Colony of Connecticut, in New-England, in America, holden at New-Haven, in said Colony, on the second Thursday of October, Anno Domini 1775:

" Resolved, By this Assembly, that Roger Sherman, Oliver Wolcott, Samuel Huntington, Titus Hosmer, and William Williams, Esquires, be, and they are hereby appointed Delegates to represent this Colony at the General Congress of the United Colonies in America, for the year ensuing, and until new be chosen; that is to say, the said Roger Sherman, Oliver Wolcott, and Samuel Huntington, Esqs., do attend said Congress, and on the failure of either of the said gentlemen, by sickness, or otherwise, then the said Titus Hosmer, or William Williams, Esquires, are to supply the place, or places, of any or either of the said three gentlemen first named, in such manner that three of said Delegates, and three only, do attend said Congress at any One time; and the said three Delegates, or any or either of them, who shall be present in said Congress, are hereby fully authorized and empowered to represent this Colony in said Congress, to consult, advise, and resolve upon measures necessary to be taken and pursued for the defence, Security and preservation of the rights and liberties of the said United Colonies, and for their common safety; and of such their proceedings and resolves they do transmit authentick copies, from time to time, to the General Assembly of this Colony. That the said Delegates now appointed do repair to, and take their seats in said Congress, by the first day of January next, in case said Congress shall be then sitting, or as soon after as said Congress shall be convened; and that the said gentlemen, who are now attending said Congress in behalf of this Colony, do continue in their said office until the gentlemen now chosen, and directed to attend in manner aforesaid, shall arrive at said Congress.

"A true copy of Record, examined by

"GEORGE WILLYS, Secretary."

A Letter from Mr. Lewis, dated January 8th, 1776, was read, recommending a stranger to the notice of Congress,

Ordered, That the same be referred to the Committee on the qualifications of persons applying for Offices.

Resolved, That a Member be appointed on the Committee to draw up Instructions to the Officers in the Recruiting Service, in the room of Mr. Dyer.

The ballots taken, Mr. McKean chosen.

Resolved, That the several Petitions of gentlemen praying to be appointed Officers in the Pennsylvania Battalions, be referred to the Committee on the qualifications of Officers.

An application being made in behalf of Mr. Jugè, and the owner of a vessel lately arrived in Delaware, for leave to export Provisions to the amount of cargoes by them imported:

Resolved, That this be referred to the Secret Committee.

Some Members of the Secret Committee being absent,

Resolved, That two Members be added to that Committee.

The Members chosen, Mr. Hewes and Mr. Alexander.

The Committee on the state of these Colonies brought in a partial Report, which was read,

Whereupon, Resolved, That another Battalion be raised in the Colony of North-Carolina, in order to defeat any attempt which may be made in opposition to the measures recommended by the Continental Congress for the preservation of American liberty.

Resolved, That the further consideration of the Report be referred till to-morrow.

Resolved, That to-morrow be assigned for taking into consideration, in a Committee of the Whole, the propriety of opening the Ports after the 1st of March next.

Information being given to Congress by the Delegates of South- Carolina, that their Colony, being in want of Seamen, bad given orders to offer high wages to such as would engage in their service; but lest this should cause uneasiness among the Seamen employed in the service of the Colonies, they thought it proper to inform the Congress thereof, and take their opinion and direction thereon.

Resolved, That it be referred to a Committee of Five.

The Members chosen, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Huntington, Mr. Paine, Mr. Morris, and Mr. Floyd.

Resolved, That the Committee appointed to fit out Armed Vessels be empowered to purchase and fit out a small Vessel, as a Tender for the Fleet fitted out.

The Committee appointed to devise ways and means for procuring Powder from Providence, brought in a Report, with an account of a Cargo provided for that purpose by Messrs. Willing & Morris, amounting to 3,233.2 Dollars; whereupon,

Resolved, That the said Committee be authorized to give such Orders to the Captain of the Vessel fitted out for the service, as they may think proper.

That an Order be drawn on theTreasurers, in favour of Messrs. Willing & Morris, for the sum of 3,233.2 Dollars, in full for the Cargo shipped on board the Sloop LadyCatharine, for the use of the Continent.

The Committee on General Washington's Letters

brought in their Report, which being taken into consideration, the Congress thereupon came to the following Resolutions:

Resolved, That the Paymaster General of the Army, at Cambridge, be empowered to draw his Bills upon the President of the Congress, or, in their recess, upon the Committee of Congress for that purpose appointed, for any sums of Money which may be deposited in his hands, not exceeding, in any one month, the monthly expense of the Army; and that such Bills, countersigned by the General, or Commander-in-chief of the said Army, be accepted and paid.

That the free Negroes who have served faithfully in the Army at Cambridge, may be reinlisted therein, but no others.

That, if General Washington think proper, Colonel R. Gridley be continued Chief Engineer in the Army at Cambridge.

That the pay of the Assistant Engineers in the Armyat Cambridge be twenty-six Dollars and two-thirds permonth.

That there be but one Chaplain to every two Regiments of the Army at Cambridge, and that the pay of each Chaplain be thirty-three and one-third Dollars per month.

The Committee having desired leave to sit again, the same was granted.

Sundry Members of the Committee on the qualifications of persons applying for Offices, being absent,

Resolved, That four new Members be now chosen in the place of those who are absent.

The Members chosen, Mr. Wolcott, for Connecticut, in the room of Mr. Dyer; Mr. Duane, for New-York, in the room of Mr. Jay; Mr. McKean, for the three lower Counties on Delaware, in the room of Mr. Rodney; and Mr. Rogers, for Maryland.

Resolved, That Thursday next be assigned for taking into consideration the Report of the Committee on Indian Affairs.

Resolved, That a list of the Committees to whom matters are referred, and who have not reported, be made out, and laid upon the table.

Adjourned to ten o'clock, to-morrow.

Wednesday, January 17, 1776.

A Petition from Benjamin Church was presented to Congress, and read.

Ordered, That the same be referred to a Committee of Three.

The Members chosen, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Paca, and Mr. Hooper.

A Petition from Ibbetson Hamar, an Officer, prisoner at Trenton, praying for leave to reside with Mrs. Hamar, at Mr. Stainforth's, near Strawberry-Hill, near Princeton, was read.

Resolved. That the same be agreed to.