Resolved therefore, That a Treasury Office of Accounts shall be instituted and established, and that such office shall be kept in the city or place where Congress shall, from time to time, be assembled and hold their sessions.

That the said Office of Accounts be under the direction and superintendence of the Standing Committee for the Treasury.

That an Auditor-General, and a competent number of Assistants and Clerks, be appointed by Congress, and employed for stating, arranging, and keeping the publick Accounts.

That all accounts and claims against the United Colonies for services or supplies, where the rates or prices have not been ascertained by Congress, shall be presented to the Committee of Claims, liquidated by them, and reported to and allowed by Congress, previous to their being passed and entered at the Treasury Office; that all other accounts and claims, consisting of articles the price or value of which shall have previously been fixed by contract, or otherwise ascertained by Congress, shall be liquidated and settled at the Treasury Office, and reported for the allowance of Congress, by the Committee for superintending the Treasury, and then passed and entered at the Treasury Office.

That all contracts, securities, and obligations, for the use and benefit of the United Colonies, shall be lodged and kept in the Treasury Office of Accounts; and that all persons to whom publick moneys have been or shall be advanced or paid, shall be charged with the same in the books of the said office; for which purpose every warrant on the Treasury, which shall issue after the said office shall be opened, shall, previous to its being paid, be entered at the Treasury Office, and the entry certified on the warrant, by one of the Committee on the Treasury, the Auditor-General, or one of his Assistants or Clerks: Provided, however, That all orders or warrants issued by Committees appointed and authorized by Congress to draw on the Treasurers for particular purposes, shall be paid and charged to the account of the said Committee respectively, until they shall settle and have their accounts passed by Congress, when the debits against them shall be discharged in the Treasury Office, by such credits as Congress shall agree to and allow.

That all Assemblies, Conventions, Councils or Committees of Safety, Commissaries, Paymasters, and others, entrusted with publick moneys, shall, within a reasonable time after being called upon for that purpose by the Committee of the Treasury, produce their accounts and vouchers at the Treasury Office, in order to their being settled and adjusted in the manner before directed.

That the Committee for superintending the Treasury shall be authorized to apply to the Commanding Officers and others, in the Continental service, for such materials and information as the Committee may judge to be useful, for stating, explaining, or checking the publick accounts, in order to their being fairly and justly settled.

That the Auditor-General and his Assistants or Clerks, before entering upon their offices, shall, respectively, take an oath, to be administered by one or more of the Committee of the Treasury Office, (a certificate whereof shall be filed in the Treasury Office,) well and faithfully to execute the trust reposed in them, as Auditor, Assistant, or Clerk, (as the case may be,) of the Office of Accounts, established by Congress, according to the best of their skill and judgment, and to disclose no matter, the knowledge of which shall be acquired in consequence of such their office, which they shall be directed to keep secret.

That the Committee for superintending the Treasury shall be authorized to hire suitable places, and procure books of accounts and other necessaries at the publick expense, for the establishing and doing the business of the said office.

Resolved, That Major James Hewes, a prisoner at Elizabethtown, be allowed and ordered to come to Philadelphia for the benefit of his health, and there to wait on the Committee for Prisoners, and take their directions with respect to the place of his future residence.

Resolved, That Mr. McKean and Mr. Paine be directed to examine the Jail of Philadelphia, and particularly the apartments where Kirkland, Connolly, Smith, and Cameron, are confined, and report what is necessary to be done to have them safely and securely kept.

Resolved, That a Committee of three be appointed to confer with James McKnight, and examine his Account, and the nature of his claim, and report thereon to Congress.

The Members chosen, Mr. R. Morris, Mr. McKean, and Mr. Be Hart.

The Committee on Qualifications having recommended Jacob Kemper, Jun., to be appointed an Ensign in Captain Howell’s Company, in the First New-Jersey Battalion, in the room of Cyprus De Hart, who has resigned,

Resolved, That he be appointed, and that a Commission be granted to him accordingly.

Resolved, That the President, in his next Letter to General Schuyler, desire him to send an account of the Lead at Ticonderoga.

A Letter from Alexander McDonald, George Gillespie, and J. W. Sounders, of the 12th of March, was presented to Congress, and read:

Resolved, That it be referred to Mr. R. Morris, Mr. McKean, and Mr. De Hart.

The several matters to this day referred being postponed, Adjourned to ten o’clock, to-morrow.

Tuesday, April 2, 1776.

A Petition from Daniel Duchemin, praying for a Lieutenancy in the Company of Captain D. Arundel, being presented to Congress, and referred to the Delegates of Virginia, the said Delegates brought in their Report; which was read.

Resolved, That the same be recommitted.

That Daniel Duchemin be appointed a Lieutenant of the Artillery Company to be raised in Virginia, in consideration of the scarcity of Artillery Officers in that Colony; and that two months’ pay be advanced to him to carry him to Virginia.

A Letter from General Washington, of the 24th of March, with five papers enclosed, was laid before Congress, and read.

The Committee appointed to prepare the form of a Commission and Instructions to Commanders of private Ships-of-War, brought in the same; which were read.

The Commission, being agreed to, is as follows:

Commission.

“The Delegates of the United Colonies of NEW-HAMPSHIRE, &c., to all to whom these presents shall come, greeting:

“Know ye, That we have granted, and by these presents do grant, license, and authority, to . . . . . mariner, commander of the . . . . . called . . . . . . of the burden of . . . . tons, or thereabouts, belonging to . . ., of . . . , in the Colony of . . . ., mounting . . . . carriage-guns, and navigated by . . . . . men, to fit out and set forth the said . . . . in a warlike manner, and by and with the said . . . . . and the crew thereof, by force of arms, to attack, seize, and take the ships and other vessels belonging to the inhabitants of Great Britain, or any of them, with their tackle, apparel, furniture, and lading, on the high seas, or between high and low water marks, and to bring the same to some convenient ports in the said Colonies, in order that the Courts which are or shall be there appointed to hear and determine causes, civil and maritime, may proceed, in due form, to condemn the said captures, if they be adjudged lawful prize; the said . . . . having given bond, with sufficient sureties, that nothing be done by the said . . . ., or any of the officers, mariners, or company thereof, contrary to, or inconsistent with the usages and customs of nations, and the instructions, a copy of which is herewith delivered to him. And we will and require all our officers whatsoever to give succor and assistance to the said . . . . in the premises. This commission shall continue in force until the Congress shall issue orders to the contrary.

“By order of Congress:

The Congress then took into consideration the draft of Instructions; and, after some time spent thereon,

Resolved, That it be recommitted, and that it be an instruction to the Committee to fill up the blanks in said draft as they shall think best.

The Committee appointed to prepare a Letter of Thanks to General Washington, and the Officers and Soldiers under his command, brought in a draft; which was read and agreed to.