the former Letters from the General were committed, viz: Mr. Wythe, Mr. Harrison, and Mr. S. Adams.

Resolved, That General Washington be directed to send an account of the Troops in his Camp, who are deficient in Arms, to the several Assemblies or Conventions of the Colonies to which those men belong; and request them to send a sufficient number of Arms for the men coming from the respective Colonies, and that if Arms cannot be procured, such as have not Arms be dismissed the service.

Resolved, That the Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania be requested to employ some trusty persons in each County, to purchase as many good Muskets as will be sufficient to arm the Battalions raised in said Colony; and that they exert their utmost diligence in procuring the said Arms speedily, and on the most reasonable terms; that an order for 12,000 Dollars be drawn on the Treasurers, in favour of said Committee, to pay for the Arms, the said Committee to be accountable.

Resolved, That the sum of 600 Dollars be sent to Colonel Charles Stewart, and that he be desired to muster Captain Woolverton’s Company, and when he finds them properly armed, accoutred, and ready to march, to furnish them with necessaries, and to expedite their march to New-York, agreeable to the orders of Congress; Mr. Stewart to be accountable for the money put into his hands.

Resolved, That Monsieur le Chevalier de St. Aulaire be permitted to raise an Independent Company of Rangers in Canada, with the pay of a Captain; or, in case he shall not be able to raise such a Company, that he be recommended to the commanding officer in Canada, to be employed in such service there as may be thought suitable to his genius and ability.

Resolved, That it be recommended to the several Assemblies, Conventions, and Councils or Committees of Safety, and Committees of Correspondence and Inspection, that they exert their utmost endeavours to promote the culture of Hemp, Flax, and Cotton, and the growth of Wool, in these United Colonies.

Resolved, That it be recommended to the said Assemblies, Conventions, and Councils or Committees of Safety, that they take the earliest measures for erecting and establishing, in each and every Colony, a Society for the improvement of Agriculture, Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce, and to maintain a Correspondence between such Societies, that the rich and numerous natural advantages of this country, for supporting its inhabitants, may not be neglected.

That it be recommended to the said Assemblies, Conventions, and Councils or Committees of Safety, that they forthwith consider of ways and means of introducing the manufactures of Duck and Sail Cloth, and Steel, into such Colonies where they are not now understood, and of encouraging, increasing and improving them where they are.

Ordered, That the last three Resolutions be published.

Resolved, That a Committee of three be appointed to superintend the Printing the Journals of Congress; and that, if the present Printer cannot execute the work with sufficient expedition, they be empowered to employ another Printer.

The Members chosen, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Harrison, and Mr. Allen.

Colonel Magaw, agreeable to the Order of yesterday, sent to Congress two samples of Spears.

The matters to this day referred being postponed,

Adjourned to ten o’clock, to-morrow.

Friday, March 22, 1776.

A Letter of the 13th, from General Washington, enclosing the Proceedings of a Council of War; also, a Letter from Lord Stirling, of the 19th, were laid before Congress, and read.

A Petition from Thorowgood Smith, and others, was presented to Congress, and read, setting forth, that they have procured a Vessel, and raised money to fit her out as a Privateer, in order to cruise and guard the Coast of Virginia, and praying that a Commission be granted to William Shippen, to whom they propose to give the command of said Vessel; and further, that the Congress will grant them a small quantity of Powder, upon their making satisfaction for the same:

Resolved, That a Commission be granted to William Shippen, as Captain of the above-mentioned Vessel, for the purposes aforesaid.

Resolved, That the Secret Committee be directed to sell Captain William Shippen three hundred pounds of Powder, for the use of his Vessel.

The Committee appointed to prepare a Declaration pursuant to certain Resolutions, brought in a draft; which was read.

Resolved, That the Petition of John Secord be referred to a Committee of three.

The Members chosen, Mr. Penn, Mr. E. Rutledge, and Mr. Jay.

The Committee of Claims reported, that there is due,

On account of expenses in convoying Powder, the sum of 8.3 Dollars, and that the same ought to be paid to John Morton, Esquire;

To Matthias Slough, for Provisions furnished the Prisoners in Lancaster, the sum of 226.8 Dollars;

To Ephraim Blaine, for sundry articles omitted in the account of expenses at the Treaty held with the Indians at Fort-Pitt, the sum of 90.5 Dollars;

To sundries, on certificates for necessaries furnished to Captain Stevenson’s Company in Virginia, the sum of 58.3 Dollars, and that the same ought to be paid to Timothy Matlack, of which 14.7 Dollars, being for a Rifle, to be charged to Captain Stevenson.

Ordered, That the said Accounts be paid.

Resolved, That the sum of 750 Dollars be advanced to the Baron De Woedtke, he to be accountable out of his pay.

Resolved, That the rank of all such Officers in the Continental Army as held similar Commissions in that service before the term of their late appointment expired, be settled by the dates of their former, and not their present Commissions.

The Assembly of the Counties on Delaware, having recommended a gentleman to be Major of the Battalion ordered to be raised in that Colony, in the room of John Macpherson, Jun., Esquire, who fell before Qucbeck, and never received his Commission, the Congress proceeded to the election; and the ballots being taken and examined,

Thomas McDonough was elected.

Resolved, That an Order for 12,000 Dollars be drawn on the Treasurers in favour of the Committee of Safety of Delaware Government, for the use of the Battalion raised in that Colony, the said Committee to be accountable.

The Congress took into consideration the Declaration brought in by the Committee; and, after debate, the further consideration thereof, at the request of a Colony, was postponed till to-morrow.

Ordered, That the Secretary publish the substance of the Letters received from the Camp at Cambridge.

Resolved, That the Marine Committee be empowered to dispose of the Coal on board of the Blue-Mountain Valley, in such manner as they shall judge most for the benefit of the United Colonies.

The matters to this day referred being postponed,

Adjourned to ten o’clock, to-morrow.

Saturday, March 23, 1776.

A Letter from James Young was laid before Congress, and read, requesting that his son John, who eloped from him last January, and got on board the Phenix ship-of-war, but is now fortunately a Prisoner in New-York, may be permitted, on his parole, to reside at the estate of his late grandfather, Doctor Grame:

Resolved, That Mr. Young’s request be granted.

A Letter from Lord Stirling, of the 18th, enclosing a Letter from William De Hart, and a Letter from the Captains and Subalterns of the First New-Jersey Battalion; also, a Memorial from Thomas Scott, of Hunterdon, desiring that he may be appointed a Captain of a Company of Rangers; and a Letter from S. Badlam, were laid before Congress, and read:

Resolved, That the said Letters be referred to the Committee On Qualifications.