Judge of the Police at Montreal, and take such orders concerning them as you shall judge most proper.

In reforming any abuses you may observe in Canada, establishing and enforcing regulations for preservation of peace and good order there, and composing differences between the Troops of the United Colonies and the Canadians, all officers and soldiers are required to yield obedience to you; and, to enforce the decisions that you or any two of you may make, you are empowered to suspend any military officer from the exercise of his commission, till the pleasure of the Congress shall be known, if you, or any two of you shall think it expedient.

You are also empowered to sit and vote as members of Councils of War, in directing fortifications and defences to be made, or to be demolished, by land or by water; and to draw orders on the President for any sums of money, not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars in the whole, to defray the expense of the works.

Lastly, you are, by all the means you can use, to promote the execution of the resolutions now made, or hereafter to be made, in Congress.

On motion made, Resolved, That the following additional Instructions be given to the Commissioners aforesaid:

You are empowered and directed to promote and encourage the trade of Canada with the Indian nations, and to grant passports for the carrying it on as far as it may consist with the safety of the troops, and the publick good.

You are also directed and authorized to assure the inhabitants of Canada, that their commerce with foreign nations shall, in all respects, be put upon an equal footing with, and encouraged and protected in the same manner, as the trade of the United Colonies.

You are also directed to use every wise and prudent measure to introduce and give credit and circulation to the Continental money in Canada.

In case the former resolution of Congress respecting the English American Troops in Canada has not been carried into effect, you are directed to use your best endeavours for forming a battalion of the New-York Troops in that country, and to appoint the Field and other officers out of the gentlemen who have continued there during the campaign, according to their respective ranks and merit; and, if it should be found impracticable, you are to direct such of them as are provided for in the four battalions now raising in New-York, to repair to their respective corps. To enable you to carry this resolution into effect, you are furnished with blank commissions, signed by the President.

Resolved, That the Memorial from the Indian Traders, residing at Montreal, be delivered to the Commissioners going to Canada.

The draft of the Commission being taken into consideration, and debated by paragraphs, was agreed to, as follows:

The Delegates of the United Colonies of New-Hampshire, &c., to Benjamin Franklin, LL. D., Member of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris, F. F. S. &c., &c., &c, one of the Delegates of the Colony of Pennsylvania; Samuel Chase, Esq., one of the Delegates of the Colony of Maryland, and Charles Carroll of Carrollton, of the said Colony of Maryland, Esq., greeting:

Know ye, That we, reposing special trust and confidence in your zeal, fidelity, abilities, and assiduity, do, by these presents, constitute and appoint you, or any two of you, Commissioners for and on behalf of us, and all the people of the United Colonies, whom we represent, to promote, or to form a union between the said Colonies and the people of Canada, according to the instructions herewith delivered you, and such as you may hereafter receive; and to execute all such matters and things as you are or shall be directed by your said instructions; and we do require all officers, soldiers, and others, who may facilitate your negotiation, or promote the success thereof, to aid and assist you therein; and you are from time to time to transmit and report your proceedings to Congress. This Commission to continue in force till revoked by this or a future Congress.

Dated at Philadelphia, this . . . . . day of . . . . . .

By order of the Congress.

Resolved, That Mr. Franklin, Mr. Adams, and Mr. Chase, be appointed to confer with Mr. Wrixon, to examine into his military abilities, and inquire whether he is willing to engage in the service of the United Colonies, and report to Congress.

Colonel St. Clair having informed Congress that Michael Hufnagel, appointed a First Lieutenant, and James O’Hara and Abel Morris, appointed Ensigns in his Battalion, have declined to accept their Commissions, the Committee on Qualifications recommended Thomas Butler in the room of M. Hufnagel, George McCulloch in the room of James O’Hara, and George Ross in the room of Abel Morris.

Resolved, That Commissions be granted accordingly.

Resolved, That the Committee; of Safety of the Colony of New-Jersey be desired to remove the Prisoners from Trenton, to such place or places in that Colony as may be thought convenient, at a proper distance from the sea and post-roads, subject to the regulations formerly made respecting Prison ere.

Resolved, That all Officers, prisoners, who shall refuse to subscribe the Parole ordered by Congress, be committed to Prison.

The Committee appointed to promote the making of Muskets, &c., to whom part of Colonel Dayton’s Letter respecting the quality of the Arms taken by Colonel Heard, on Long-Island, was referred, brought in their Report, which was read; whereupon, the Congress came to the following Resolution:

Whereas in the execution of the resolve of Congress of the 14th of March, respecting the disarming of disaffected persons, many Fire-Arms may be taken which may not be fit to arm any of the Troops mentioned therein:

Therefore, Resolved, That all the Fire-Arms so taken, being appraised according to said resolve, none of them shall be paid for but those that are fit for the use of such Troops, or that may conveniently be so made, and the remainder shall be safely kept by the said Assemblies, Conventions, Councils or Committees of Safety, for the owners, to be delivered to them when the Congress shall direct.

Ordered, That the foregoing Resolution be published.

The Committee appointed to consider the best ways and means of supplying the Army in Canada with Provisions and necessaries, brought in their Report, which was read.

Resolved, That the same be referred for consideration till to-morrow.

A Petition of John Secord was presented to Congress and read, and the consideration thereof, at the request of a Colony, was deferred till to-morrow.

The Committee of Claims reported that there is due,

To Abraham Hunt, for Provisions, Fire-wood, &c., to the Prisoners at Trenton, and for Horse-hire for the publick service, the sum of 607.6 Dollars;

To Ephraim Blaine, Esq., for necessaries furnished the Rifle Companies, the sum of 129.7 Dollars, of which sum, 44.3 Dollars are to be charged to Captain Hendricks, and 65 dollars to Captain Chambers;

To sundries, on certificates for necessaries furnished to one of the Rifle Companies, the sum of 122.5 Dollars, of which sum 101.4 Dollars, being for Rifles, &c., furnished to Captain Cluggage’s Company, to be charged to said Company; the amount of the certificates to be paid to Bernard Dougherty, Esq.;

To William Bauseman, for Provisions, &c., furnished the Prisoners in Lancaster, the sum of 1528.8 Dollars;

To the Committee of Frederick, the sum of 52.7 Dollars, to be paid to Thomas Johnson, Esq.;

To Francis Lee, for four hundred and eighty-three Meals dieting of General Lee’s Guard, the sum of 48.3 Dollars;

To Conrad Ulster, for one hundred and eighty-five Meals dieting the said men, 19 Dollars;

To Mary Bryant, for two hundred and eighty-eight Meals dieting the said men, 28 Dollars;

To Ann Todd, for one hundred and fifty-eight Meals dieting the said men, the sum of 15.8 Dollars.

Ordered, That the above Accounts be paid.

Adjourned to ten o’clock, to-morrow.

Thursday, March 21, 1776.

A Letter of the 7th, from General Schuyler, with a Return of the Forces before Quebeck, was presented to Congress, and read.

Resolved, That it be referred to the Committee to whom