then on hand, was too short; whereby many zealous friends to the American cause, who had imported large quantities of that commodity, with design not merely to advance their fortunes, but to counteract the plan then pursued by the Ministry and India Company to introduce and sell in these Colonies Tea subject to duty, are likely to become great sufferers—the greater part of the estates of many of them being vested in that article, and they, by that means, rendered incapable not only of paying their debts and maintaining their families, but also of vigorously exerting themselves in the service of their country: And whereas it was originally the design of Congress that all India Tea, which had been imported agreeable to the tenour of the said Association, might be sold and consumed; but the time limited for that purpose proving too short:

Resolved, That all India Tea, imported as aforesaid, expressly excepting all Teas imported by or on account of the East-India Company, now remaining on hand in these Colonies, be sold and used.

And whereas, from the future importation of Tea being prohibited, some Tea-holders may be tempted to avail themselves of the scarcity which will be occasioned by it, and exact exorbitant prices for an article of little real value in itself, and which owes its worth to a habit, in many respects, pernicious to the inhabitants of these Colonies:

Resolved, therefore, That Bohea Tea ought not to be sold by retail in the smallest quantities, at a higher price, in any Colony, than at the rate of three-fourth parts of a Dollar per pound; and other Teas at such a price as shall be regulated by the Committees of the Town or County where the Tea is sold; and that all persons who shall either give or take a greater price for it ought to be considered as enemies to the American cause, and treated accordingly. And it is earnestly recommended to all Committees of Inspection and Observation, as well to be vigilant in carrying this Resolve into execution as those which prohibit the importation of India Tea from any part of the world, it being the desire of Congress to exclude all Teas, except such as make part of the cargoes of prizes taken by ships of war or privateers belonging to these Colonies.

Ordered, That the above be published.

Resolved, That the Secret Committee be directed to deliver to Lieutenant-Colonel Hartley one quarter-cask of Powder, to repay so much by him borrowed for the use of the Continent.

The Committee appointed to prepare a Letter to the Committee of Safety of New-Jersey, brought in a draft, which, being read, was agreed to.

Ordered, That the same be transcribed, signed by the President, and transmitted.

The Committee appointed to consider the Representation and Queries of James Mease, respecting the Sixth Battalion of Troops commanded by Colonel Irvine, brought in their Report, which was read.

Whereupon Resolved, That the Certificates of Magistrates, or other respectable inhabitants of the County of Cumberland, who have inspected and examined the Companies of the said Battalion, shall, in this instance, justify the Paymaster in paying such Companies, agreeable to the said Certificates, the Mustermaster being absent.

That the supernumerary Privates that have been inlisted, and are armed and clothed, be continued and paid.

That the Officers in the said Battalion be paid for their subsistence since the recruiting service has been over, at the rates used in other Battalions.

That the claim of the Ensign, in Captain Wilson’s Company, to pay and subsistence from the time of entering into actual service, be allowed.

Resolved, That the Marine Committee be empowered to build two Galleys, capable of carrying, each, two thirty-six or forty-two-pounders, to oppose the enemy’s Vessels in Bays and Harbours.

Resolved, That the Committee for casting Cannon be directed to contract for the casting forty Howitzers, with a sufficient quantity of Shells.

The Committee appointed to take into consideration the application of James Hughes, late Town-Major of Montreal, and now one of the prisoners of the thirteen United Colonies, brought in their Report, wherein they represent,

“That it appears to them that Mrs. Hughes, the wife of the said James Hughes, on or about the 5th of February last, bargained with a certain Jabez West, for divers goods and merchandise, in her possession, at Montreal, for which the said West, as the said James Hughes alleges, agreed to pay £905 11 9¾, sterling money of Great Britain, and £151 1 9, Halifax currency, in gold and silver, to said Hughes, within eighteen days from that time; upon which payment being made, the goods were to be delivered at Albany, to the said West, by a certain John Stevenson, at Albany, to whom they were to be sent at the expense df said West; that the said West paid to said Hughes 240 dollars, in part; but it was, as the said Hughes alleges, agreed, that if the residue of the money was not paid within the time limited, then the 240 dollars were to be forfeited, and the goods not to be delivered; that the goods arrived at Albany, and were in the possession of Mr. Stevenson, who, on the 11th of March last, by some means or other, was induced to deliver the goods to West, though he paid no money; that the said West gave a bond to the said Stevenson, payable to the said Hughes, for £1609 18 8, Continental currency, on the 9th of April instant, without any authority from the said Hughes, as he alleges; that the said West proceeded with the goods, immediately on the receipt of them, to some of the Eastern Colonies, and, it is apprehended, to Connecticut. Upon the whole, the Committee are of opinion, that the said Hughes may probably lose his debt from West, without the interposition of Congress, or their permission to him to go in pursuit of the said West.”

Whereupon Resolved, That Governour Trumbull, of the Colony of Connecticut, be desired to direct the most effectual method, according to law, to be taken, for securing the person of Jabez West, or his effects, to the value of the debt clue to James Hughes, if either can be found in his Government; and to see that justice be done in the premises.

Adjourned to ten o’clock, on Monday next.

Monday, April 15, 1776.

A Letter, of the 4th, from General Washington, enclosing a Letter from Governour Cooke, and an account of the Powder supplied the Army at Cambridge by the Colony of Massachusetts-Bay, from the 10th of June last; also, a Letter, of the 2d, from General Schuyler, with eight papers enclosed, being laid before Congress, and read,

Resolved, That the said Letters, with the papers enclosed, be referred to Mr. Wythe, Mr. Harrison, and Mr. S. Adams.

Resolved, That the intelligence received respecting the Indians be kept secret.

The Committee to whom the Petition from the Committees of Walpack, &c., was referred, brought in their Report, which was agreed to.

Whereupon, Resolved, That an Order be drawn, by the Chairman of the Secret Committee, upon Henry Wisner, Esq., in favour of the Petitioners, for two hundred pounds of Powder, they paying for the same.

That one thousand Flints be delivered to the Petitioners.

That the Petitioners be desired to send Garret Broadhead, Esq., to the nearest Indian Settlement, in order to discover whether any uneasiness subsists among the Indians in that part of the country; and, if it subsists, from what cause it arises.

That a Letter be written by the President of the Congress to General Schuyler, to inform him of the apprehension of the inhabitants on the Western boundaries of New-Jersey from the Indians, and to request him to direct proper inquiries to be made, whether there be any foundation for such apprehensions.

The Congress, taking into consideration the Report of the Committee on the Petition of John Secord,

Resolved, That a certified copy of said Petition be transmitted to the Governour of Connecticut; that he be requested to cause inquiry to be made into the truth of the facts therein stated; and, if found true, that it be recommended to him to cause restitution to be made to the Petitioner.

Resolved, That it be again recommended to the Settlers at Wyoming and the Susquehannah River, as well those under Pennsylvania as those under Connecticut, to cultivate harmony, to consider themselves as jointly interested in the event of the American cause, and not, by mutual acts of