And after some time, the President resumed the chair, and Mr. Harrison reported, that the Committee have had under consideration the matters to them referred; but not having come to a conclusion, desired him to move for leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this Congress will, on Monday next, resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole, to take into their further consideration the matters referred to them.

Adjourned to ten o’clock, on Monday.

Monday, March 18, 1776.

Resolved, That the Treasurers be directed to lay on the table an account of the Silver and Gold Coin in the Treasury.

Resolved, That Monsieur Arundel be directed to repair to the Southern Department, and put himself under the command of General Lee; and that General Lee, if he find him capable, be directed to employ him in the Artillery service.

Resolved, That an Order be drawn on the Treasurers in favour of James Mease, Commissary, for the sum of 20,000 Dollars, to be applied to the procuring necessaries, and to the payment of the subsistence of the Pennsylvania Battalions; and that the Colonels be directed to account with Mr. Mease for the several sums advanced to them.

Agreeable to the Order of the Day, the Congress resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole, to take into their further consideration the Memorial from the Merchants, Traders, and others, inhabitants of the City of Philadelphia; the Memorial of Edmund Custis; the Letters from the Committees of Accomack and Northampton; and the Petition of Joseph Blewer and Daniel Robinson; and after some time spent thereon, the President resumed the chair, and Mr. Harrison reported that the Committee had taken into consideration the matters to them referred, and have come to sundry Resolutions; but that, not having concluded, they desired him to move for leave to sit again.

Mr. Henry not having accepted the commission of Colonel, the Congress proceeded to the election of a Colonel for the First Virginia Battalion; and the ballots being taken,

William Christian, Esq., formerly Lieutenant-Colonel in said Battalion, was elected Colonel; and

Francis Eppes, Esq., formerly Major, was elected Lieutenant-Colonel; and

John Green, Esq., was elected Major.

Resolved, That this Congress will, to-morrow, again resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole, to take into their further consideration the Memorials of the Merchants, Traders, and others, inhabitants of Philadelphia; the Memorial of Edmund Custis, &c.

Adjourned to ten o’clock, to-morrow.

Tuesday, March 19, 1776.

Resolved, That Monsieur Dohicky Arundel be appointed a Captain of Artillery in the Continental service.

That General Lee be directed to set on foot the raising a Company of Artillery, and that it be recommended to the Convention or Committee of Safety of Virginia to appoint the other officers of the said Company of Artillery.

A Letter from Colonel Dayton, of the 15th, was laid before Congress, and read.

Resolved, That it be referred to the Committee for procuring Muskets.

A Letter of the 17th, from the Convention of New-Jersey, was laid before Congress, and read. Whereupon,

Resolved, That Captain Woolverton, with his Company, be taken into the service of the United Colonies; and that he be directed to repair, with his Company, as soon as properly armed and accoutred, to New-York, and put himself under the commanding officer there; and that the pay of Captain Woolverton’s Company commence from the time they are provided with arms and accoutrements.

A Letter from Colonel Belestre, of the 16th, a Canadian Prisoner, and sundry Letters from Cameron and Smith, were read.

Resolved, That they be referred to the Committee on Prisoners.

Resolved, That the Secret Committee be directed to supply Captain Barry, of the Brig Lexington, with one ton of Powder.

Ordered, That the Committee to whom was referred the state and situation of the Prisoners at Trenton, report thereon as soon as possible.

Resolved, That the sum of 250,000 Dollars be sent to the Paymaster-General, for the use of the Army under the immediate command of General Washington.

Resolved, That the sum of 50,000 Dollars be sent to General Schuyler, for the use of the Army under his command.

The Committee appointed to prepare Instructions, &c, to the Commissioners going to Canada, brought in a draft of further Instructions, and of a Commission, which were read.

Agreeable to the Order of the Day, the Congress resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole, to take into their further consideration the Memorial from the Merchants, Traders, and others, inhabitants of Philadelphia, the Memorial from Edmund Custis; the Letters from the Committees of Accomack and Northampton; and the Petition of Joseph Blewer and Daniel Robinson; and, after some time spent thereon, the President resumed the chair, and Mr. Harrison reported that the Committee have had under consideration the matters referred to them, and had come to sundry Resolutions; which he delivered in.

The Report of the Committee being read, was agreed to, and is as follows:

Resolved, That the inhabitants of these Colonies be permitted to fit out Armed Vessels to cruise on the enemies of these United Colonies.

That all Ships, and other Vessels, their tackle, apparel, and furniture, and all goods, wares, and merchandises, belonging to any inhabitant or inhabitants of Great Britain, taken on the high seas, or between high and low water mark, by any Armed Vessel fitted out by any private person or persons, and to whom commissions shall be granted, and being libelled and prosecuted in any court erected for the trial of maritime affairs, in any of these Colonies, shall be deemed and adjudged to be lawful prize, and condemned to and for the use of the owner or owners, and the officers, marines, and mariners, of such vessel, according to such rules and proportions as they shall agree on.

Provided always, That this resolution shall not extend, or be construed to extend, to any vessel bringing settlers, arms, ammunition, or warlike stores, to and for the use of these Colonies, or any of the inhabitants thereof, who are friends to the American cause, or to such warlike stores, or to the effects of such settlers.

That all Ships or Vessels, with their tackle, apparel, and furniture, goods, wares, and merchandise, belonging to any inhabitant of Great Britain as aforesaid, which shall be taken by any of the Vessels of War of these United Colonies, shall be deemed forfeited, one-third to the officers and men on board, and two-thirds to the use of the United Colonies.

That all Ships or Vessels, with their tackle, apparel, and furniture, goods, wares, and merchandises, belonging to any inhabitant of Great Britain, as aforesaid, which shall be taken by any Vessel of War, fitted out by and at the expense of any of the United Colonies, shall be deemed forfeited, and divided in such manner and proportions as the Assembly or Convention of such Colony shall direct.

Upon motion made,

Resolved, That all Vessels, with their tackle, apparel and furniture, and cargoes, belonging to inhabitants of Great Britain, as aforesaid, and all Vessels which may be employed in carrying supplies to the Ministerial armies, which shall happen to be taken near the shores of any of these Colonies, by the people of the country or detachments from the Army, shall be deemed lawful prize; and the Court of Admiralty within the said Colony is required, on condemnation thereof, to adjudge that all charges and expenses which may attend the capture and trial, be first paid out of the moneys arising from the sales of the prize, and the remainder equally divided among all those who shall have been actually engaged and employed in taking the said prize: Provided, That where any detachment of the Army shall have been employed as aforesaid, their part of the prize-money shall be distributed among them in proportion to the pay of the officers and soldiers so employed.