power to adjourn to such times and places as shall appear most conducive to the publick safety and advantage.

"Read and accepted. Sent down for concurrence.

"JOHN LOWELI, Dep'y Sec'y, pro tem.

"In the House of Representatives, January 18, 1776,

"Read, and concurred. And the Secretary is hereby directed, as soon as may be, to signify to each of those gentlemen their appointnent, with an attested copy of this Order. Sent up for concurrence.

JAMES WARREN, Speaker.

"In Council, January 18, 1776: Read, and concurred. "JOHN LOWELL, Dep'y Sec'y, protem.

"A true Copy Attest:

"PEREZ MORTON, Deputy Secretary."

A number of Letters being received, were laid before Congress, and read:

From General Washington, 24th and 30th January, with a copy of one to General Schuyler, 27th January, and a number of intercepted Letters.

From General Schuyler, 29th and 31st January, and 1st of February, 1776, enclosing two Letters from Colonel Arnold, 1lth and 12th January, and sundry other Papers.

From Governour Trumbull, 3d February, with sundry enclosed Papers.

Resolved, That the above Letters be referred to a Committee of Five,

The Members chosen, Mr. Chase, Mr. J. Adams, Mr. Penn, Mr. Wythe, and Mr. Rutledge.

Two Letters from the Convention of New-Jersey, dated 6th February, 1776, were read; the one, respecting Tea, was referred for consideration to Monday next; the other, recommending proper persons for Field-Officers of the Third Battalion, ordered to be raised in that Colony: Whereupon the Congress proceeded to an election, and

Elias Dayton was elected Colonel; Anthony walter White, Lieutenant-Colonel; Francis Barber, Major.

A Memorial from Mr. Kirkland was presented to Congress, and read.

Ordered, To lie on the table.

The Congress took into consideration the Report of the Committee on the second Memorial of Sausom, Murray & Co., &c.; whereupon,

Resolved, That the Memorialists be permitted to make sale of their cargo of Wheat in Connecticut, or else to proceed on their original voyage to Falmouth, in England, and a market, under the office, papers, and clearances, which the said vessel sailed with from New-York in September last; and, also, subject to the former' restrictions of Congress, respecting the appointment of a commander.

Information being given to Congress, that a quantity of Powder, Arms, and Saltpetre, was arrived:

Resolved, That the Committee appointed on the 13th of last month, to purchase the Saltpetre then arrived, and have it manufactured, be further directed and empowered to take every necessary measure to have the Saltpetre, now arrived, manufactured into Gunpowder with all possible expedition.

Resolved, That a copy of the Paper relating to Signals, found among the intercepted Letters, be sent lo the Commander of the Fleet, and that the Delegates of the several Colonies be permitted to send to their respective Conventions, or Committee of Safety, a copy of the said Paper, under a strong injunction to keep it secret.

Resolved, That two tons of the Powder now arrived, be returned to the Committee of Safety for Pennsylvania, in part of that borrowed of them.

That the former Order of Congress, to grant one ton of Gunpowder to the Colony of North-Carolina, be answered out of the Powder belonging to the Continent, now arrived.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to manufacture the Saltpetre into Gunpowder, be directed to inquire and report to Congress, a state of the Powder, Arms, and Saltpetre now arrived.

A Memorial from Stacey Hepburn was presented to Congress and read.

Referred to a Committee of Three: Mr. McKean, Mr. Nelson, and Mr. Penn.

Adjourned to ten o'clock, on Monday next.

Monday, February 12, 1776.

A Letter from Major-General Lee, dated the 9th of February, was presented to Congress and read, wherein he informs that a Transport with Troops was arrived at New- York, that more might be expected, and, therefore, that a further reinforcement was necessary to secure and defend that place: Whereupon,

Resolved, That it be recommended to the Convention or Committee of Safety of New-Jersey, immediately to send Detachments of their Minute-Men, equal to a Battalion, under proper Officers, to New- York, there lo put themselves under the command of Major-General Lee.

That it be also recommended to the Commitee of Safety for Pennsylvania, immediately to send Detachments of the four Battalions of Associators in this City, equal to a Battalion, to New-York, there to put themselves under the command of Major-General Lee.

Resolved, That the Colonels of the Pennsylvania Battalions be ordered to make an immediate return to Congress of the number and condition of the men inlisted, the places where they now are, and the manner in which they are appointed.

That a copy of the above be forwarded to the Commanding Officers of each of the Battalions.

Resolved, That the Secret Committee be directed to send to New-York, one ton of the Powder belonging to the United Colonies, and that the same be delivered to the order of General Lee.

Resolved, That said Committee be empowered to purchase what Powder and Arms arrive belonging to private persons, on the best terms they can, for the use of the United Colonies, and that they furnish with the Fire-Arms they purchase, such of three remaining Companies of the First Pennsylvania Battalion, ordered to Canada, as may want them, in order that they may immediately proceed on their march.

Resolved, That fifty tons of Saltpetre be delivered by the Secret Committee to the Committee of Safely for the Province of Pennsylvania, who are requested to have the same manufactured into Gunpowder, in the cheapest and most expeditious manner; and that this Congress will confirm any contracts made for the above purpose.

That ten tons of Saltpetre be by them sent to the late Judge Livingston's Powder-Mil], in the Colony of New-York, and that the owner of said Mill be desired to manufacture it into Gunpowder, as soon as possible, and to enlarge his Works, if it can conveniently be done.

That ten tons be sent to the Council of Massachusetts Bay, and that they be desired to have it manufactured into Gunpowder, with all possible expedition, and sent to General Washington, for the use of the Army under his command.

Resolved, That it be recommended to the Committee of Inspection for the County of Chester, to aid Colonel Wayne in procuring Blankets for his Battalion.

The Congress being informed that a gentleman was arrived from Canada, who had matters of consequence to communicate,

Ordered, That the Committee of Correspondence do confer with him, and report to Congress.

Adjourned to ten o'clock, to-morrow morning.

Tuesday, February 13, 1776.

Resolved, That an Order be drawn on the Treasurers, for the sum of eight hundred Dollars, in favour at John Chapman, to discharge a Draft of the Paymaster-General, dated the 28th of December, in favour of William Thomson, Esq., the said sum to be charged to the account of the Paymaster-General.

Sundry Letters were presented and read, viz:

From the Convention of New-Jersey, 10th February; from Messrs. Dayton & Barber, 12th February; from John Nevil, dated Pittsburgh, 1st February, enclosing a Letter from John Gibson, of January 20th.

Resolved, That the two last be referred to the Committee appointed to take into consideration the Indian affairs in the Middle Department.

That the two former be committed to a Committee of Three.