Resolved, That the Marine Committee be instructed to recommend to the Congress proper persons for Commission Officers for the Frigates now building, and that the Warrant Officers be appointed by the said Committee; and that they fit said Frigates for sea with all expedition.

That the Marine Committee recommend to Congress proper persons to be Agents for prizes in the several Colonies.

That a bounty of eight Dollars be allowed by the publick to the owner of every American vessel for every able seaman that he shall import into the United Colonies, over and above the number the said vessel carried out; and that foreigners importing able seamen, over and above the ship’s company, and discharging them in the American Ports, shall be entitled to the same bounty.

Resolved, That the nomination or appointment of Captains or Commanders of Continental vessels shall not establish rank, which is to be settled by Congress before Commissions are granted.

The Congress having proceeded to the election of Captains for the two Frigates building in Massachmetts-Bay,

William Manly and Isaac Cozneau, were elected.

Resolved, That the Secret Committee be empowered to give orders for the arming and manning abroad any of the ships or vessels employed in the importation of cargoes for the Continental account; the expenses and charges of such armaments to be paid by the said Committee; they receiving for the publick service, on the arrival of every vessel, all the arms, ammunition, and stores.

Resolved, That the Secret Committee be empowered to import cargoes of Salt on the Continental account, in such ships or vessels as they employ to carry outward cargoes, and are obliged to insure on their return.

Resolved, That the Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania be requested to permit John Young, Jun., and Johnson Smith, to carry to Virginia all such Arms as they have already purchased, or shall purchase in Pennsylvania, for the use of the Continental Army in the said Colony of Virginia, before the 1st day of May next; not to exceed one thousand stand in the whole.

Resolved, That the Secret Committee be directed to supply Mr. Thomas Leaming with two hundred pounds of Powder for the Militia of Cape-May, he paying for the same.

Resolved, That the Commanding Officer at New-York be directed to order two Companies of Colonel Dayton’s Battalion to march to Cape-May, and there to remain till further orders.

Resolved, That the Petition of Dr. Jackson be referred to the Committee of Claims.

Adjourned to ten o’clock, to-morrow.

Thursday, April 18, 1776.

A Letter of the 15th, from General Washington; and

A Letter of the 7th of November, from the Rev. Samuel Langdon, accompanied with a Letter from General Putnam, and Colonels Glover, Bridge, Frye, and Prescott; also,

A Letter from James Warren, Esquire, Paymaster-General, desiring leave to resign, were laid before Congress, and read.

Resolved, That the said Letters be referred to a Committee of three.

The Members chosen, Mr. Read, Mr. Clinton, and Mr. Braxton.

A Letter from Elizabeth Seymour, widow of the late Master of the Cabot, was laid before Congress, and read.

Resolved, That it be referred to the Marine Committee.

Resolved, That the Committee on Indian Affairs be directed to prepare and report a draft of Instructions to George Morgan, Esq., Agent under the Commissioners for Indian Affairs in the Middle Department.

A Letter of the 6th, from Brigadier-General Lewis, and a Letter of the same date from Major-General Lee, being received, were read, and referred to Mr. Read, Mr. Clinton, and Mr. Braxton.

The Committee of Claims reported, that there is due,

To Dr. Samuel Treat, for Medicine, and for attending the Troops at Burlington, the sum of 273.7 Dollars;

To John Bull, Esq., for expenses in conducting money to the Camp at Cambridge, the sum of 155 Dollars;

To Jacob Ming, for Wagonage, the sum of 107.5 Dollars;

To Robert Kennedy, for necessaries furnished Captain Morgan’s Company, the sum of 544 Dollars, of which sum 189.2 Dollars, being for Rifles, Shirts, &c., to be charged to the said Company;

To Thaddeus Burr, for money paid by him for Horsehire, &c., the sum of 37.2 Dollars, which ought to be charged to Jacob Hiltzheimer, Express-master;

To sundries, on certificates produced by Thomas Johnson, Esq., for Provisions, &c., for General Lee’s Guard, the sum of 10.7 Dollars; and for a Rifle delivered to Captain Cresap’s Company, to be charged to the said Company, the sum of 10.6 Dollars;

To Jane Allen, for necessaries to several Companies of Continental Troops, the sum of 52.9 Dollars, of which sum 40 Dollars ought to be charged to the First Pennsylvania Battalion, and deducted from the Commissary’s Account;

To Dr. Hall Jackson, for his services as Surgeon, the sum of 130 Dollars, and that the same ought to be paid to Elbridge Gerry, Esq.;

To William Smith, for Medicines, Instruments, &c., for the Delaware Battalion, the sum of 257.4 Dollars.

To Timothy Shalor, for expenses in bringing Prisoners from Egg-Harbour, the sum of 37.5 Dollars;

Ordered, That the said Accounts be paid.

The Marine Committee having recommended gentlemen for Captains of the Hornet and Wasp, the Congress proceeded to an election, and the ballots being taken and examined,

William Hallock was elected Captain of the Hornet, and—Alexander Captain of the Wasp.

The Committee appointed to consider the propriety of establishing a War Office, brought in their Report; which was read.

Adjourned to ten o’clock, to-morrow.

Friday, April 19, 1776.

A Letter of the 2d, from Governour Trumbull, with a Petition from Noah Phelps, being laid before Congress and read,

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

Resolved, That a Committee of seven be appointed to examine and ascertain the value of the several species of Gold and Silver Coins current in these Colonies, and the proportions they ought to bear to Spanish milled Dollars.

The Members chosen, Mr. Duane, Mr. Wythe, Mr. J. Adams, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Hewes, Mr. Johnson, and Mr. Whipple.

The Committee, of Claims reported, that there is due,

To Peter Brunner, for necessaries furnished to Captain Nelson’s Company by himself and Abraham Vanhorn, the sum of 25.2 Dollars, which ought to be charged to Captain Nelson;

To Mary Miller, for Provisions, &c., furnished to General Lee’s Guard, the sum of 16.5 Dollars;

To Jacob Frantz, for Horse-hire, in carrying Brigadier-General Woedtke’s baggage to New-York, the sum of 47.5 Dollars.

Ordered, That the said Accounts be paid.

Resolved, That Letters which are directed for any General in the Continental service, commanding in a separate department, be carried free of postage by the Constitutional Post.

The Committee appointed to prepare Instructions to George Morgan, Esq., brought in a draft, which, being read, was agreed to, as follows:

To GEORGE MORGAN, Esq., Agent under the Commissioners for INDIAN Affairs in the Middle Department.