|
For the Northern Department, comprehending Canada, the value of £13,333 6s. 8d. sterling; for the Middle Department, the like value, and the residue for the Southern Department.
That in order to pay for the said Goods, a quantity of produce of these Colonies be exported to some foreign European market, where it will sell to the best advantage.
That the Secret Committee be empowered to contract with proper persons for importing said Goods, and for exporting produce to pay the same.
That the said Goods, when imported, be delivered to the Commissioners of Indian Affairs for the respective Departments, or their order, in the proportions before mentioned.
That the respective Commissioners, or such of them as can conveniently assemble for that purpose, shall, as the Goods arrive, fix a price, adding to the first cost, interest, the charge of insurance, and all other charges; and, also, a commission, not exceeding two and-a-half per cent, on the first cost, for their own care and trouble in receiving, storing and selling them among the Indian traders; butsuch Commissioners as are at the same time members of Congress, shall not be burdend with this, part of the business, nor receive any part of the aforesaid commission.
That no person shall be permitted to trade with the Indians without license from one or more of the Commissioners of each respective Department.
That all traders shall dispose of their Goods at such stated reasonable prices, as shall be fixed and ascertained by the Commissioners, or a majority of such as can conveniently assemble for that purpose, in each respective Department, and shall allow the Indians a reasonable price for their skins and furs, and take no unjust advantage of their distress or intemperance; and, for this purpose they shall, respectively, upon receiving their licenses, enter into bond to the Commissioners, for the use of the United Colonies, in such penalty, as the acting Commissioners, or Commissioner, shall think proper, conditioned for the performance of the terms and regulations above prescribed.
That to such licensed traders only, the respective Commissioners shall deliver the Goods, so to be imported, in such proportions as they shall judge will best promote a fair trade, and relieve the necessities of the Indians.
That every trader, on receiving the Goods, shall pay to the Commissioners in hand, the price" at which they shall be estimated; and the Commissioners shall, from time to time, as the money shall come to their hands, transmit the same to the Continental Treasurers, deducting only the allowance for their trouble as aforesaid.
That the trade with the Indian nations shall be carried on at such posts, or places only, as the Commissioners for each Department shall, respectively, appoint.
That these Resolutions shall not be construed to prevent or debar any private person from importing goods for the Indian trade, under the restrictions expressed in the Association.
Adjourned to ten o'clock, on Monday.
Monday, January 29, 1776.
A Letter from Governor Trumbull, dated January the 20th, being received, was read.
Resolved, That an Order be drawn on the Treasurers, in favour of James Mease, Commissary, for the sum of five thousand Dollars, for the use of the Battalions ordered to be raised in Pennsylvania.
The Committee to whom were referred the Letter from General Washington, dated the 19th instant, with the Papers therein mentioned, and the Letter from Lord Stirling, dated the 24th of the same month, and the Letter from Mr. Tucker, Chairman of the Committee of Safety of New-Jersey, dated the day last mentioned, brought in their Report: Whereupon,
Resolved, That the applications made by General Washington to the Governments of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts-Buy, and Connecticut, in such an exigency, to raise a Regiment in each, of those Colonies for the service of Canada, were prudent, consistent with his duty, and a further manifestation of his commendable zeal for the good of his country that the ready attention of the said Governments to those: applications, and the alacrity with which they undertook, and the expedition with which they proceed in the business, are additional proofs of their meritorious attachment to the common cause, and may produce signal publick advantages; and that it be recommended to the General Assembly of Massachusetts-Bay, to raise the like number of Matrosses, and in the like manner, and that both these and the additional Regiment there, be inlisted on the same terms as those directed to be raised for this service in New-Hampshire, Connecticut, New-York, and Pennsylvania; and for this purpose, that twelve thousand five hundred Dollars be advanced to the Delegates of Massachusetts-Bay, and forwarded by them, with blank Military Commissions for the Field-Officers, Captains, and Subalterns, signed by the President, to the said General Assembly.
That the three Regiments to be raised in New-Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, and Connecticut, for the service in Canada, be exclusive of the thirteen intended to reinforce the Army at Cambridge.
That the loss of and damage to such Fire-Arms, belonging to the Soldiers in the service of the Continent, as shall happen not through carelessness or other misbehaviour, the value being ascertained in a proper manner, to be provided by the General Assemblies, Conventions, or Councils, or Committees of Safety of the United Colonies, respectively, be made good to the owners; and that their Arms, after their time of service is expired, be not detained from them.
That the alertness, activity and good conduct of Lord Stirling, and the forwardness and spirit of the gentlemen, and others, from Elizabethtown, who voluntarily assisted him in taking the Ship Blue-Mountain- Valley, were laudable and examplary; and that his Lordship be directed to secure the capture until the further order of the Congress; and that, in the mean time, he cause such part of the loading as would otherwise perish, to be disposed of by sale.
The Committee desired leave to sit again, which was granted.
A Petition from Doctor Wheelock, being laid before Congress, was read, and referred to the
ommittee on Indian Affairs in the Middle Department.
The Committee on the Inlistment of Apprentices, &c., brought in their Report, which, after debate, was recommitted.
The Committee of Claims reported, that there is due to Hugh McCleneghan, an Express from Pittsburgh, for expenses, &c., the sum of 46.2 Dollars.
Ordered, That the same be paid.
Resolved, That General Prescott be committed to, and kept in close confinement in the Jail of Philadelphia, till further-orders of Congress.
That Captain Chace be remanded to Trenton, and permitted to reside with the other Officers on his parole.
A Memorial and Proposal of Captain John Nelson, respecting a Company of Riflemen, was presented to Congress, and read.
Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to confer
with Captain Nelson.
The Members, Mr. Morton, Mr. Wisner, and Mr. Sherman.
Adjourned to ten o'clock, to-morrow.
Tuesday, January 30, 1776.
Resolved, That Doctor Cadwallader and Dr. W. Shipyen, Jun., be desired to inspect the room of the Jail where General Prescott is confined, and inquire into the state, of his health, and report to Congress.
The Committee appointed to confer with Captain Nelson brought in their Report, which was taken into consideration, and thereupon,
Resolved, That Captain Nelson's Company of Riflemen, now raised, consisting of one Captain, three Lieutenants, four Sergeants, four Corporals, and seventy Privates, be inlisted for the service of Canada, on the same terms as the other Troops ordered for that service, and that they march to Canada, and join a Regiment there as soon as possible: that they be allowed one-quarter of a Dollar per day, for their subsistence on their march to Albany.
That six Dollars and two-thirds of a Dollar bounty, be paid to each non-Coin missioned Officer and Soldier, who
|