and good intentions of Congress for and towards them, and to cultivate harmony and friendship between them and the white people; and to give Congress the most early intelligence of any interruption thereof, or of any disturbance which shall arise, and which you cannot quiet.

Acquaint the Indians that Congress have formed the best plan they could devise to import foreign goods for their use, and have neglected no probable means to procure them in time; and if they should not be supplied so soon as they may be wanted, the misfortune is to be ascribed to the common enemies of them and us, who, by obstructing our trade, as well as in numberless other instances, are daily injuring and distressing both; but that we have well-grounded hopes of speedy relief, in expectation of which, and of greater advantages in prospect, the present inconveniences are borne more patiently.

All differences and disputes that shall happen between the Indians and white people, you will have adjusted and determined in the mode prescribed by a resolve of Congress, of which you have a copy; and you are directed, in a particular manner, to prevent, as much as you are able, any impositions upon the former by those who deal with them. Treat all those people with whom you may meet kindly and hospitably. Inspire them with sentiments of justice and humanity, and dispose them to introduce the arts of civil and social life, and to encourage the residence of husbandmen and handicraftmen among them. Advise the Congress, from time to time, of all occurrences that may, in your opinion, deserve their attention.

The Committee to whom General Washington’s Letter, of the 15th instant, as well as other Letters, were referred, brought in their Report; which, being taken into consideration, was agreed to.

Whereupon, Resolved, That General Washington may order as many of the Cannon and Military Stores as are not necessary for the Continental Fleet, and which were lately brought into New-London, by the Commander thereof, to any other place he may think proper; having regard only to the permission of Congress relative to the defence of the Harbour of New-London, a copy of which ought to be sent to General Washington, and also a list of the Cannon and Stores as transmitted to Congress.

Resolved, That the Resignation of James Warren, as Paymaster-General of the Army, be accepted and entered accordingly; and that he be informed there are Superintendents of the Treasury appointed, to whom he is to render his Accounts and Vouchers.

Resolved, That another Paymaster-General be appointed, and that the General be informed thereof.

As it appears from the Certificates of four Colonels of Regiments at Cambridge, that the Rev. Dr. Samuel Langdon did not only perform the duty of a Chaplain to their several Regiments, for the space of six months, for which no other Chaplain had been appointed, but also to the Army at large:

Therefore, Resolved, That the said Dr. Langdon, having received no compensation for those services, be paid the sum of 300 Dollars.

Resolved, That three tons of Powder be immediately forwarded to Virginia, for the use of the Army in the Southern Department.

Resolved, That General Washington be made acquainted with General Lee’s request of a Company of Artillery, and be desired to furnish him with such a Company, if it may be done consistent with the general good of the service.

Resolved, That an immediate supply of Arms, Shoes, and Blankets, be furnished for the Troops in Virginia, and that some proper persons be appointed to procure them, subject to the orders of Congress already entered into.

Resolved, That Mr. Ephraim Blaine be appointed to purchase a quantity of Blankets, not exceeding five thousand, and also that he be directed to purchase five thousand pair of Shoes, to be sent to Virginia, to the Commanding Officer at Williamsburgh.

Resolved, That Monday next be assigned for the election of a Paymaster-General.

Resolved, That Mr. Thomas Lowry, Commissary, be directed to purchase and forward to General Schuyler, with all convenient despatch, two thousand barrels of Pork, for the use of the Army in Canada, and that he be supplied with a sum not exceeding 20,000 Dollars for that purpose, he to be accountable.

Resolved, That the Committee appointed to confer with Mr. Price be directed to bring in a resolution to enable Messrs. Price and Haywood to draw for the balance of the money ordered to be paid them by the resolutions of the 3d and 16th of this month.

Resolved, That Messrs. Du Montesson, Hevieux, La Marque, Du Massaux, Shemit, Giasson, and Gamelin, Canadian Prisoners, at Bristol, be permitted to come to Philadelphia, in order to purchase Clothes and other necessaries, and to remain there ten days, and then return to Bristol.

The Committee to whom were referred the Letter from General Washington, of the 4th, and the Letter from General Schuyler, of the 2d of this month, brought in their Report.*

The Committee on Prisoners, having collected from the Journals the several resolutions respecting Prisoners, and having made some amendments therein, submitted the same to Congress.

Adjourned to ten o’clock, on Monday.

Monday, April 22, 1776.

Sundry Letters, received since the adjournment, were laid before Congress, and read, namely:

One from the Committee of Safety of Maryland, dated the 18th;

One from Dr. Boyd, of the 19th;

One from the Committee of Inspection of Lancaster, of the 11th;

One from the Canada Commissioners, dated Saratoga, the 13th;

*April 19, 1776. Report of the Committee on General SCHUYLER’S Letter of the 2d April, 1776.

The Committee, to whom the Letter from Major-General Schuyler, dated the 2d day of this instant, April, was referred, having examined the matter thereof, report, that a letter be written and sent to him, acquainting him that Congress approve the measures he hath pursued for the easy, expeditious, and cheap transportation of the troops ordered to march to Canada, with their baggage and the artillery stores and provisions, down the Sorel and St. Lawrence; and are well pleased with his behaviour towards the Indians, and with his message to them, and doubt not that his vigilance, circumspection and influence, will frustrate the attempts of our enemies to disturb us from that quarter: and, also, informing him of the provision made for supplying the Army in Canada with pork.

April 25th, 1776. Farther Report on General SCHUYLER’S Letter, &c., of 2d April, 1776.

The Committee appointed to consider the Letters from General Schuyler, &c., relating to the Northern Army, beg leave to report the following Resolutions, viz:

Resolved, That General Schuyler, or the Commanding Officer of the Northern Army, be directed to cause a Laboratory to be erected at such place as he shall judge most convenient, to fix all the necessary Ammunition for the ensuing campaign.

Resolved, That fifteen Companies, consisting of a Captain or an Overseer, and thirty men each, be engaged for the Batteau service, and be occasionally employed on the highways, and other works in the Quartermaster General’s Department. And that four Companies of Carpenters, to consist of an Overseer and twenty-five men each, be engaged in like manner.

For the better regulating Wagons in the Northern Army,

Resolved, That two Wagons be allowed to every Company on a inarch, and one Wagon to the Colonel, one to the Lieutenant-Colonel and Major, one to the Staff of a Regiment, and one for the particular use of the Director of the Hospital; each Wagon to be drawn by two horses, (except to the Colonel’s, which is to be allowed four horses,) and subject to such orders as shall from time to time be issued by the General or Commanding Officer.

Resolved, That if any Commissioned or Non-Commissioned Officer shall employ more carriages than are mentioned in the foregoing resolution, he shall not be allowed to make a publick charge of it, but shall pay the customary price himself. And on his refusal or neglect of so doing, he shall be subject to be fined by a Court-Martial in treble the sum, opethird part of such fine to he for the use of the owner of the Wagon or other carriage so employed, and the other two-thirds to the Paymaster, for the publick use. The part adjudged to the owner of the carriage shall be paid to him by a Quartermaster, on the certificate of the President of the Court-Martial, who shall transmit the whole fine to the Paymaster, in order that the same may be deducted from the pay of the delinquent.

Resolved, That the Board of War be directed to order sixty tons of Cannon Powder and thirty-four tons of Musket Powder, to be immediately sent to General Schuyler, for the use of the Northern Army, provided those quantities can be spared consistent with the safety of the several States.