Wednesday, May 15, 1776.

Resolved, That the Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania be desired to write to the Committee of Safety of Delaware Government, to suspend the execution of the Resolve of Congress for exchanging Lieutenant Ball for Captain Budden, till further orders.

The Congress took into consideration the draft of the Preamble brought in by the Committee, which was agreed to, as follows:

Whereas his Britannick Majesty, in conjunction with the Lords and Commons of Great Britain, has, by a late Act of Parliament, excluded the inhabitants of these United Colonies from the protection of his Crown; and whereas no answer whatever to the humble Petition of the Colonies for redress of grievances and reconciliation with Great Britain, has been or is likely to be given, but the whole force of that Kingdom, aided by foreign mercenaries, is to be exerted for the destruction of the good people of these Colonies; and whereas it appears absolutely irreconcilable to reason and good conscience for the people of these Colonies now to take the oaths and affirmations necessary for the support of any Government under the Crown of Great Britain, and it is necessary that the exercise of every kind of authority under the said Crown should be totally suppressed, and all the powers of government exerted under the authority of the people of the Colonies, for the preservation of internal peace, virtue, and good order, as well as for the defence of their lives, liberties, and properties, against the hostile invasions and cruel depredations of their enemies: Therefore, resolved, &c.

Ordered, That the said Preamble, with the Resolution passed the 10th instant, be published.

Resolved, That the Secret Committee be directed to sell to Edward Keasby one hundred pounds of Powder, for the use of the inhabitants of Salem County, in New-Jersey.

The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,

Adjourned to ten o’clock, to-morrow.

Thursday, May 16, 1776.

The following Letters were laid before Congress, and read:

One of the 1st, from the Commissioners of Congress in Canada;

One of the 10th, from Major-General Schuyler, and one, without date, from General Washington, enclosing a Letter to him from Dr. Stringer.

Resolved, That the Letter from Dr. Stringer to General Washington be referred to the Committee appointed to prepare Medicine-Chests.

That the other Letters be referred to Mr. W. Livingston, Mr. Jefferson, and Mr. J. Adams.

Resolved, That the President write to General Washington, requesting him to repair to Philadelphia as soon as he can conveniently, in order to consult with Congress upon such measures as may be necessary for the carrying on the ensuing campaign.

Resolved, That George Morgan, Esq., be empowered to draw for a sum not exceeding six thousand Dollars, to pay for the goods he is ordered to purchase, and for defraying incidental charges; the same to be paid out of the ten thousand Dollars voted for the Commissioners of Indian Affairs in the Middle Department.

Whereas Captain Richard Butler, by accepting the office of Agent in the Middle Department of Indians, has lost the opportunity of being appointed a Captain in the Continental service;

Resolved, That the Congress will, as soon as possible, compensate for that disappointment to him, by some promotion in their service.

The Congress then proceeded to the election of a Major-General and Brigadier-General in the Continental Army; and, the ballots being taken and examined,

Horatio Gates, Esq., was elected Major-General;

Thomas Mifflin, Esq., Brigadier-General.

Resolved, That Mr. Duane be added to the Standing Committee for Indian Affairs.

A Petition from Joseph Carson and Joseph Donaldson, was presented to Congress, and read. Whereupon,

Resolved, That the Secret Committee be directed to sell to the Petitioners fifty pounds of Powder.

Resolved, That two of the additional Battalions, ordered on the 14th to be raised in the Eastern Department, be raised, one in Massachusetts-Bay, and the other in Connecticut.

That it be recommended to the General Assemblies of Massachusetts-Bay and Connecticut, to endeavour to have the Battalions inlisted for two years, unless sooner discharged by Congress; in which case the men to be allowed one month’s pay on their discharge; but if the men cannot be prevailed on to inlist for two years, that they be inlisted for one; and that they be ordered, as soon as raised and armed, to march immediately to Boston.

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

The Committee to whom the Letter from General Washington, of the 1lth, and the Letter from General Schuyler, of the 3d, and that from Captain Robertson, of the 9th, with other papers, were referred, brought in their Report, which was read.*

The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,

Adjourned to ten o’clock, on Saturday.

Saturday, May 18, 1776.

A Letter of the 17th, from General Washington, and three from the Commissioners in Canada, of the 6th, 8th, and 10th, were laid before Congress, and read.

Resolved, That the Committee to whom the former Letter from the Commissioners was referred, be augmented to the number of eight, and that these Letters be referred to them.

The additional Members chosen: Mr. R. Morris, Mr. Duane, Mr. R. H. Lee, Mr. Rutledge, and Mr. R. R. Livingston.

The Committee to whom was referred the consideration of General Lee’s Letters of the 19th of April and 7th of May, brought in their Report, which was agreed to. Whereupon,

Resolved, That General Lee’s scheme of sending through the Colony of Virginia to purchase Rifles be, and is, approved.

That, as the Colony of Virginia is intersected with many navigable Rivers, six Galleys be built for the protection of the Troops in their transportaton across the said Rivers, at the Continental expense, on as cheap terms as the business for which they are intended will admit of; that such other defence of the Rivers and Bays as shall be requisite for the Colony, be at the particular charge of the inhabitants thereof; and that General Lee, or the Commanding Officer in Virginia, transmit to Congress, as early as possible, an account of the expense which shall be incurred in consequence of this Resolution.

That General Lee, or the Commanding Officer in Virginia,

* Report of the Committee on a Letter from General WASHINGTON, of the 11th MAY, a Letter from General SCHUYLER, of the 3d MAY, and one from Captain ROBERTSON, of the 9th MAY, with other papers referred to.

The Committee to whom were referred a Letter from General Washington, of the 11th of May instant, a Letter from General Schuyler, of the 3d of May, and one from Captain Daniel Robertson, of the Royal Highland Emigrant Regiment, of the 9th of May, beg leave to report, that having considered the said Letters, with their enclosures and other papers therein referred to, they came to the following Resolutions, viz:

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee that General Washington be authorized to fill up vacancies in the Army by issuing commissions to such officers, under the rank of the Field-Officers, as he shall think proper persons to supply the vacancy, he informing the Congress once every month of such appointments, which shall be deemed good and valid, unless disapproved of by Congress, on such information; and that blank Commissions be sent to the General for that purpose.

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee that Lieutenant-Colonel Burbeck be dismissed from the Continental service.

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee that it would be a great saving to the United Colonies, and prevent many inconveniences resulting from the present manner of keeping and providing for Prisoners, to have a Commissary for Prisoners appointed for each of three Departments to superintend and take the direction and supplying of such Prisoners as have already fallen, or may hereafter fall, into our hands during the course of the war, as nearly conformable as the circumstances of this country will admit of, to the custom of all other civilized nations.

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee that there be raised for the service of the United Colonies one Battalion of Germans.

That Prisoners made from the enemy by Continental Arms, be not exchanged by any authority but the Continental Congress.