That 400,000 Dollars be sent to the Paymaster-General for the use of the Army in New-York and the Massachusetts-Bay;

That the Commanding Officers in the different Departments and Posts, shall make Monthly Returns to the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, of the number and state of the Troops, and the Military Stores in their respective Departments;

That this Congress has hitherto exercised, and ought to retain, the power of promoting the Officers in the Continental service according to their merit; and that no promotion or succession shall take place upon any vacancy, without the authority of a Continental Commission.

Congress then resumed the consideration of the Resolution reported from the Committee of the Whole; which being read, was agreed to, as follows:

Resolved, That it be recommended to the respective Assemblies and Conventions of the United Colonies, where no Government sufficient to the exigencies of their affairs hath been hitherto established, to adopt such Government as shall, in the opinion of the Representatives of the people, best conduce to the happiness and safety of their constituents in particular, and America in general.

Resolved, That a Committee of three be appointed to prepare a Preamble to the foregoing Resolution.

The Members chosen, Mr. J. Adams, Mr. Rutledge, and Mr. R. H. Lee.

Resolved, That the Secret Committee be directed to sell to Colonel David Potter and Captain Daniel Maskell two hundred pounds of Powder and one thousand pounds of Lead, for the use of the inhabitants of Bridgetown, Cumberland County, in New-Jersey.

The Committee to whom were referred the Letter from General Washington, of the 25th and 26th of April; the case of Alexander Ross, and the Letter from General Lee; brought in their Report; which was read.*

*The Committee to whom was referred General Washington’s Letter of the 25th and 26th of April, and the Letter from General Lee, in the case of Mr. Ross, have had the same under consideration, and beg leave to report as their opinion:

Resolved, That all Vessels which sailed from the port or harbour of Boston, whilst the Town of Boston was in possession of the enemy, having on board effects belonging to the enemies of American liberty, be liable, together with the said effects, to seizure and confiscation; and that if any of the said Vessels have been already taken, they, together with their said cargo, be decreed forfeited, and be confiscated in the same manner and in the same proportions as have been heretofore resolved by Congress.

That it is essential to the interest of these Colonies that the Continental Agent, in the respective Provinces where no Courts have been established for the trial of captures, have power, and be directed, to dispose at publick sale of such articles, being of a perishable nature, as shall be taken from the enemies of America; and that the money to arise from such sale be liable to the decree of the Court, when the said Court shall be established.

That the inventory of the Ordnance Stores taken by Captain Manly, be sent down to General Washington, and that he be requested to appoint a person on the part of the Colonies, to join one on the part of Captain Manly and his crew, who shall, having first taken an oath for that purpose, proceed to value the said stores so taken; and if they cannot agree as to the value, they call in a third person to determine the case. That the report of such persons be made to Congress so soon as may be; and that the value of the shares that shall appear to belong to Captain Manly and his crew, be transmitted them.

That the pay of such of the Soldiers at New-York as have been inlisted at five Dollars per month, be raised to six and two-thirds Dollars.

That such of the Troops from the New-England Colonies as shall reinlist during the war, or for the term of three years, be furnished at the Continental expense with the following articles, viz:

That it is highly inexpedient to order any more Troops from the Colony of New-York. That the difficulty and uncertainty of procuring Fire-Arms render it improper to raise any more Regiments at present. That the Commander-in-Chief, for the time being, in the New-York Department, have permission and be directed to call to the assistance of that Colony, when necessity shall require it, such of the Militia of that and the neighbouring Colonies of Connecticut and New-Jersey, as shall be sufficient for the purpose intended.

That letters be written to the Conventions of New-Jersey, New-York, and the Assembly of Connecticut, to afford such assistance to the commanding officer in the New-York Department as he shall apply for.

That two of the Companies, of the forces now in this Colony, be ordered to Cape-May.

That Dr. Potts be taken into the pay of the Continent, and be employed in the Canada Department, or at Lake-George, as the General shall think fit; but that this recommendation be not considered so as to supersede Dr. Stringer. That the pay of Dr. Potts be—Dollars per month.

Agreed, That they have examined Mr. Alexander Ross, and not having found anything in his conduct which will warrant his confinement, recommend that he be discharged.

The Committee appointed to take into consideration the state of the Eastern Colonies, brought in their Report; which was read.*

The Congress then resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole, to take into their further consideration the state of the United Colonies; and, after some time spent thereon, the President resumed the chair, and Mr. Harrison reported: That the Committee have had under their further consideration the matter referred to them; but not having had time to finish their inquiries, desired him to move for leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this Congress will, on Monday next, resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole, to take into their further consideration the state of the United Colonies.

Resolved, That the Committee of Secret Correspondence be directed to lay their proceedings before Congress on Monday next, withholding the names of the persons they have employed, or with whom they have corresponded.

The Committee appointed to consider the propriety of exchanging Seamen, brought in their Report, which was taken into consideration; whereupon,

Resolved, That Lieutenant Ball, of the Roebuck, and the three Seamen that were taken with him, and are now prisoners in the lower Counties on Delaware, be exchanged for Captain Budden and his son, Seth Davis, and Samuel Conyers.

That six of the Seamen, now prisoners in Philadelphia, to be named by the Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania, may be given in exchange for the following persons, viz: Mr. Lightbody, James Hage,—Fortescue, (a pilot-boy,) William Martin, Jacob Wilson, and John Durry.

That the said exchange of prisoners be conducted by, such proper persons as the Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania may appoint for that purpose.

The Committee to whom was referred the Letter from Abraham Livingston, offering to cancel the contract he had made with a Committee of the Convention of New- York, for supplying the forces in that Colony with Provisions, brought in their Report, which was taken into consideration; whereupon,

Resolved, That Mr. Abraham Livingston, in voluntarily resigning a contract which might have been so profitable to him, has exhibited an example of publick spirit, and Congress accept the resignation of his Contract.

Resolved, That the Committee appointed to devise ways and means for retaking Moses Kirkland, be empowered to send an express to the southward, and desire the Committees or Councils of Safety of the Southern Colonies to use their utmost endeavours to have him apprehended; and that they offer a reward of one hundred Dollars, in addition to the hundred already offered, for apprehending and securing the said Moses Kirkland.

Resolved, That it be recommended to the Council of Safety of Pennsylvania, to examine into the conduct of the Jailer who had the charge and custody of Moses Kirkland; and if they find him culpable, that they have him removed.

Resolved, That George Morgan, Esq., Agent under the

*Report of the Committee appointed to take into consideration the state of the Colonies in the Eastern Department, brought in 10th of MAY, 1776:

The Committee appointed to take into consideration the state of the Eastern Department, beg leave to report, as their opinion: That it is necessary, for the general service, that the two Battalions directed by the Assembly of Rhode-Island to be raised, be taken into Continental pay; the Battalion ordered to be raised in November last, from the time they were armed, clothed, and fit for duty; and the one since ordered to be raised, from the present time, provided they be armed, clothed, and fit for service; and that if it be not so armed and appointed, they be taken into Continental pay as soon as they shall be mustered.

That a recommendation be immediately sent to the Colony of Massachusetts, to assist the officers of the five Continental Regiments now in that Colony, in completing their establishment; that they endeavour to prevail on the people to inlist, and those already inlisted to reinlist for three years, unless sooner discharged, and then to receive—pay; and as an inducement thereto, they allow to the Soldiers who shall agree to serve for that term, the following articles: One felt hat, one pair of yarn stockings, and one pair of shoes.

That General Washington be desired to send such General Officer as he can spare from the Army at New-York, to command in the Colony of Massachusetts-Bay.

That General Washington be desired to continue Mr. Burbeck, the Engineer, at Boston, for the purpose of fortifying that Fort and Harbour.

*