be directed to set on foot the raising of two Companies of Carpenters, to consist of House and Ship builders.

That General Lee be permitted to order Rations and Forage for such Volunteers of Horse, not exceeding five hundred, as shall think proper to attend the service of their country in the Continental Army, agreeable to General Lee’s request and proposal.

That Captain Dohicky Arundel’s journey to Virginia be at his own, not Continental, expense.

That the pay of the Deputy Engineers be raised to 30 Dollars a month, and that they be allowed rations for themselves, and forage for their horses, when in camp, or necessarily absent upon Continental duty.

That a Continental Hospital be established in Virginia, and a Director to the same immediately appointed by Congress.

That the scheme of adding two Subalterns and forty Privates to the Company of Artillery, be adopted.

That the circumstances of affairs in the Middle and Eastern Department will not admit of Mr. Smith being sent to General Lee.

That Thomas Bullitt, Esq., the Deputy Adjutant-General in Virginia, be advanced to the rank of Colonel.

That from the uncertainty of the enemy’s design, and the number of Regiments already sent into Canada, it will be inexpedient, at present, to order any of the Troops raised in Pennsylvania, or the Colonies to the eastward thereof, to the Southern Department; nor can Congress, at present, supply such Troops as are raised in Virginia with Fire-Arms; but that General Lee’s application on this subject be attended to so soon as an importation, sufficiently considerable, will admit of his being supplied; and that he be assured the Congress will co-operate and aid him with their power, to render effectual his laudable endeavours to establish the rights and liberties of the good people of this Continent.

The Congress then proceeded to the election of a Director of the Hospital in Virginia; and the ballots being taken,

William Rickman was elected.

Resolved, That the Hospital in Virginia be on the same establishment, and the pay of the Officers thereof the same, as the Hospital established in the Eastern Department.

That two Surgeons, one Apothecary, six Mates, one Clerk, one Storekeeper, and a Nurse to every ten sick, with Labourers occasionally, when necessary, be allowed to the Hospital in Virginia.

That the Director be empowered to nominate the Surgeons and Apothecary.

That the Mates be appointed by the Surgeons, and that the number of the Mates be diminished as circumstances will admit; for which reason the pay is fixed by the day, that they may only receive pay for actual service.

Resolved, That it be recommended to the Convention of Virginia to raise a Battalion of Riflemen on the same terms as the other Battalions raised in that Colony; to be taken into the pay of the Continent, when armed and mustered.

Resolved, That General Washington be directed, if the service will permit, to station a Battalion at Amboy.

A Petition from Joseph Trumbull, Commissary-General, was presented to Congress, and read.*

Resolved, That it be referred to the Committee for superintending the Treasury.

A motion being made and seconded for regulating the price of Salt,

Resolved, That it be referred to a Committee of four.

The Members chosen: Mr. Morris, Mr. R. Livingston, Mr. Gerry, and Mr. D’Hart.

The Secret Committee having informed Congress of the arrival of one of the Vessels fitted out at the expense of the Continent, and that she has brought her returns in Cash,

Resolved, That the Secret Committee be directed to give orders for sending the said Cash, with all convenient despatch, to the Commissioners in Canada.

That the hard Money in the Treasury be immediately forwarded to General Schuyler.

The Secret Committee laid before Congress a Letter from Mr. Langdon; and, the same being read,

Resolved, That it be referred to the Committee of Secret Correspondence, and that the said Committee be directed to apply to the Marine Committee for the use of one or more of the Continental Fleet; and that they send the same to the French West-India Islands, in order to procure, if possible, a number of Muskets, not exceeding ten thousand; and, further, that said Committee be directed to endeavour to discover the designs of the French in assembling so large a Fleet with so great a number of Troops in the West-Indies, and whether they mean to act for or against America.

A Petition from Ignace Labat was presented to Congress, and read.

Resolved, That it be referred to the Commissioners for Indian Affairs in the Middle Department, who are directed to examine his claim, and pay him out of the money put into their hands, what they shall judge justly due to him.

Resolved, That Mrs. Connolly be directed not to leave Philadelphia till further orders of Congress.

The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,

Adjourned to ten o’clock, on Monday.

Monday, May 20,1776.

Lyman Hall and Button Gwinnett, Esquires, two of the Delegates from Georgia, attended, and produced the Credentials of their appointment; which were read, as follows:

“In Congress, Savannah, February 2, 1776.

“Resolved, That five persons be elected to represent this Province in the Continental Congress, for the term of nine months.

“Resolved, That it be recommended that three of the Delegates do proceed, with all possible despatch, to Philadelphia, and that they be a quorum: Provided, nevertheless, That in case three shall not attend, by sickness or otherwise, one or more of the Delegates being present shall be competent to represent this Province, notwithstanding.

“The Congress proceeded to ballot for the election of Delegates, when, on closing the poll, it appeared that Archibald Bullock, John Houston, Lyman Hall, Button Gwinnett, and George Walton, Esquires, were duly elected, and were accordingly declared as fit persons to represent this Province in the Grand Continental Congress.

“Instructions to ARCHIBALD BULLOCK, JOHN HOUSTON, LYMAN HALL, BUTTON GWINNWTT, and GEORGE WALTON, Esquires, and to such of them who shall repair to, and join the Congress at, PHILADELPHIA:

“GENTLEMEN: Our remote situation from both the seat of power and arms, keeps us so very ignorant of the counsels and ultimate designs of the Congress, and of the transactions in the field, that we shall decline giving any particular instructions, other than strongly to recommend it to you that you never lose sight of the peculiar situation of the Province you are appointed to represent: The Indians, both south and northwestwardly, upon our backs; the fortified town of St. Augustine made a continual rendezvous for soldiers in our very neighbourhood, together with our blacks and Tories with us. Let these weighty truths be the powerful arguments for support. At the same time we also recommend it to you always to keep in view the general utility, remembering that the great and righteous cause in which we

*Petition of JOSEPH TRUMBULL. Read MAY 18. Referred to the Committee on the Treasury.

To the Honourable the Continental Congress, now convened in the City of PHILADELPHIA:

The Memorial of Joseph Trumbull humbly showeth: That in July last your Honours were pleased to appoint him Commissary-General of Stores and Provisions for the Army raised and paid by the United Colonies, and annexed to said office the pay of eighty dollars per month. That he undertook said office, and has acted therein to the present time, and has exerted all his abilities to execute his trust with care and fidelity, and for the best benefit of the Colonies. That he has found it necessary to employ a large number of persons under him in the business of his said office, who are justly entitled to pay adequate to their respective services. That he has not made any agreement or stipulation with them for wages. That, by order of General Washington, in the month of January last he made out a list of the persons so employed, which is now lying before your Honours, waiting your determination thereon. And that he conceives the allowance of pay annexed to said office is by no means adequate to the importance, risk, and fatigue of said office, for himself and those employed by him; and therefore prays your Honours to take the same into consideration, and grant and allow to him, and those employed by him, such compensation for their services as to your Honours shall appear just and reasonable; and he, as in duty bound, shall ever pray.

JOSEPH TRUMBULL.

PHILADELPHIA, May 18, 1776.