A Memorial from the Captains and Subalterns of the First Pennsylvania Battalion, complaining of the conduct of Colonel Bull, was presented to Congress, and read.

Resolved, That the same be referred to the Committee on the qualifications of Officers, and that they be directed to hear the parties, and report to Congress.

A Letter from Messrs. P. Livingston, Alsop, and Lewis, dated 15th of January, informing that only four hundred and sixty-two quarter-casks of Powder were imported, being laid before Congress, was read.

Agreeable to the Order of the Day, the Congress resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole, to take into consideration the propriety of opening the Ports after the 1st of March next; and, after some time, the President resumed the chair, and Mr. Ward reported, that the Committee had taken into consideration the matter to them referred, and had come to a Resolution, which he read in his place, and delivered in.

The Report of the Committee being read,

Ordered, That the same lie on the table.

Resolved, That a Committee of Five be appointed to consider under what regulations and restrictions the Trade of these Colonies ought to be carried on, after the 1st of March next.

The Members chosen, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Morris, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Adams, and Mr. Sherman.

Resolved, That a Member be added to the Committee appointed to confer with Mr. Romans.

The Member chosen, Mr. Wolcott.

The Committee appointed to prepare instructions for the Officers in the Recruiting Service, brought in their Report, which was read, and the same being taken into consideration, the Congress thereupon came to the following Resolutions:

Resolved, That the Colonels of the several Battalions ordered to be raised, do immediately order their Officers on Recruiting Service to such pans where they are best known, and have the greatest probability of success.

That the Recruiting Officers ought to be careful to inlist none but healthy, sound, and able-bodied men, and not under sixteen years of age.

That the Colonels of the several Battalions aforesaid, appoint some place, or places, of rendezvous, to which the Recruits may be sent, and where the Battalions may be quartered.

That the greatest attention ought to be paid to the behaviour of the Troops in Quarters, that they may give no reasonable cause of complaint.

That the Quarters of the Troops be duly discharged once every week.

That an allowance of one Dollar and-a-third of a Dollar, per man, be made to the Recruiting Officers, in lieu of their expenses in recruiting, exclusive of the Subsistence Money allowed thenm; and that, in case any men be inlisted contrary to the foregoing regulations, the pay they may have received, and the Subsistence-Money that may be paid for them, shall be stopped from the pay of such Recruiting Officers.

That the Colonels of the several Battalions to be raised in Pennsylvania be supplied with Money for the Recruiting Service by the Committee of Safety of said Colony, and disburse the same to the several Recruiting Officers; the Colonels and other Officers to be accountable for what they shall receive, and all arrears they may fall into to be stopped from their pay.

Resolved, That the sum of one Dollar and one-third of a Dollar, per man, be allowed to the Officers of the First Pennsylvania Battalion for each man by them inlisted, who shall have passed muster.

Resolved, That the Treasurers be empowered to advance to Mr. Regonville a sum not exceeding four hundred Dollars, taking his draft or bill on his agent for the same.

A Lettergram General Schuyler, dated January 13th, enclosing copies of Letters from General Wooster, Colonel Arnold, and others, was laid before Congress, and read, containing an account of an unsuccessful attempt made to gain possession of Quebeck, by storm, on the 31st of December, and of the death of General Montgomery.

The Committee to whome the matter of South- Carolina,

respecting the engaging of Seamen, was referred, brought in their Report, which was read.

Adjourned till ten o'clock, to-morrow.

Thursday, January 18, 1776.

The Committee on the Petition of Doctor Church, brought in their Report, which being taken into consideration,

Resolved, That Governour Trumbull be desired to give order for the removal of Doctor Church to some more comfortable place of confinement than that where he now is, if such can be found in that Colony; and that, for the advancement of his health, the said Doctor Church be permitted to ride out, at proper seasons, under a trusty guard, who will be careful to prevent his carrying on any correspondence, or doing any act prejudicial to the safety and welfare of the United Colonies.

A Letter from the Committee of Frederick, enclosing sundry intercepted Letters of Connolly, taken on Doctor John Smith, one of Connolly's associates, and brought by the guard who had the charge of bringing down said Smith, was laid before Congress and read.

Resolved, That it be recommended to the Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania, to take the examination of Doctor Smith, and then commit him to safe and close confinement.

Resolved, That a Committee of Five be appointed to take into consideration the Letter from General Schuyler, of the 13th of January, with the enclosures, and report thereon to Congress.

The Members chosen, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Wythe, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Ward, and Mr. Samuel Adams.

Adjourned to ten o'clock, to-morrow.

Friday, January 19, 1776.

Resolved, That five new Members be added to the Committee of Claims, in the room of so many absent.

The Members chosen, Mr. Wolcott, for Connecticut, in the room of Mr. Dean; Mr. Floyd, for New-York, in the room of Mr. Lewis; Mr. McKean, for the three lower Counties on the Delaware, in the room of Mr. Rodney; Mr. Rogers, for Maryland, in the room of Mr. Johnson; Mr. E. Rutledge, for South-Carolina, in the room of Mr. Gadsden.

The Committee to whom the Letters from Lancaster were referred, brought in an answer, which being read, was approved.

Ordered, That the same be transcribed and forwarded.

The Congress took into consideration the Report of the Committee on the matter of South-Carolina, respecting Seamen; whereupon,

Resolved, That it be recommended to Captain Cochran, who is arrived here for the purpose of recruiting Seamen, to pursue the following plan in the Inlisting Service in which he is employed by the Province of South- Carolina:

That he offer to each able-bodied Seamen the wages of eight Dollars per month, and that he pay to them, upon inlisting, nine Dollars bounty, and, upon Their arrival in, South-Carolina, the further bounty of five Dollars.

That Captain Cochran repair immediately to the campat Cambridge, and take the advice and direction of General Washington on this affair, and proceed to inlist his Seamenin such parts of the country as will be the least prejudicialto the Continental service.

That the President write to General Washington, acquainting him with the situation of South-Carolina, the necessity that Colony is in for Seamen, and desiring that he will please to forward this service.

The Committee of Claims reported, that there is due,

To the Committee of Berks County, for Provisions, Ammunition, &c, furnished to Rifle Companies, £11 14s. 10d., and for necessaries furnished the Prisoners from St. John's, the sum of £8 13s. 11d., amounting, in the whole, to £20 8s. 9d., (equal to 54.5 Dollars,) which ought to be paid to Doctor Jonathan Potts.

Ordered, That the same be paid.

Resolved, That an Order be drawn on the Treasurer in favour of the Delegates of South- Carolina, for the sum