to bear to Spanish milled Dollars, brought in their Report, which was read. *

Ordered, To lie on the table.

Adjourned to ten o’clock, to-morrow.

Thursday, May 23, 1776.

Resolved, That a Committee of five be appointed to confer with General Washington, Major-General Gates, and Brigadier-General Miffiin, upon the most speedy and effectual means for supporting the American cause in Canada.

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

Resolved, That the Committee appointed to contract for the making Fire-Arms be directed to order the Manager of the Continental Factory of Fire-Arms at Lancaster, and the Manager of the Gun-Lock Factory at Trenton, to deliver to Colonel Shee, or his order, all the Muskets and Gun-Locks that each of them may have ready, in order to the more expeditious arming the Continental Battalion under his command.

That the said Committee be directed to bring in a Resolution for promoting and encouraging the making of good Fire-Arms.

A Letter from Charles Miller to Joseph Trumbull, Esq., Commissary-General, was laid before Congress, and read.

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

The Members chosen: Mr. Whipple, Mr. Gerry, and Mr. F. Lee.

Resolved, as the opinion of this Congress, That James McKnight ought to restore to the owners the money found on board the Sloop Sally, and also the effects, or the money he received for the effects, on board the said Sloop, at the time she was run on shore, and for the wreck, tackle, and furniture of said Sloop; which effects, wreck, tackle, and furniture, were sold, or pretended to be sold, or secreted, by him, the said James McKnight.

Ordered, That General Washington attend in Congress tomorrow.

The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,

Adjourned to ten o’clock, to-morrow.

Friday, May 24, 1776.

A Letter from Mrs. Abi. Grant was laid before Congress, and read, requesting permission to return to her husband and family in London, and to take on board necessary stores for the voyage.

Resolved, That her request be granted, and that the President give her a Passport to the place where she shall choose to embark.

The Committee for superintending the Treasury, to whom was referred the Account and Claim of Captain Heman Allen, of Lieutenant-Colonel Warner’s Battalion, brought in their Report, which was agreed to:

Whereupon, Resolved, That there be allowed to Captain Heman Allen, of Lieutenant-Colonel Warner’s Battalion, for sundry disbursements for the use of his Company, the sum of 360 Dollars, over and above the account allowed by the Convention of New-York, amounting to £240 18s., New-York currency.

The Committee to whom was referred the Petition of Joseph Trumbull, Esq., Commissary-General, brought in their Report, which was taken into consideration, and agreed to: Whereupon,

Resolved, That there be allowed to the several persons under-mentioned, employed in the Commissary-General’s Department in the Continental Army, the Wages and Rations annexed to their names respectively, during the time they have been, and shall continue, in the service of the United Colonies:

In the Issuing Store at CAMBRIDGE:

Charles Miller, Issuing Store-Keeper, 50 Dollars per month, and four Rations.

Peter Roe Dalton, First Clerk, 4s. 8d., lawful money, a day, and three Rations.

Ebenezer Perry and Thomas Durant, Clerks in Store, 3s. 4d. a day, and two Rations.

William Brown and Josiah Brown, Clerks at Scales, 3s. 4d. a day, and two Rations.

Robert Davis, Clerk of Weekly Allowances, 3s. 4d. a day, and two Rations.

Eight Labourers, one Cooper, and one Cook, each 2s. 8d., lawful money, a day, and one Ration.

Employed to issue to two Brigades.

In the Store at ROXBURY:

Aaron Blaney, Issuing Store-Keeper, 50 Dollars per month, and four Rations.

James Richardson, First Clerk, 4s. 8d., lawful money, a day, and three Rations.

Two Clerks in Store, and two at Scales, each 3s. 4d. a day, and two Rations.

Six Labourers, one Cooper, and one Cook, each 2s. 4d. a day, and one Ration.

Employed to issue to two Brigades.

On PROSPECT HILL:

Peter Philips, Issuing Store-Keeper, 40 Dollars a month, and four Rations.

Griffin Green, First Clerk, 4s. 8d., lawful money, a day, and three Rations.

One Clerk in Store, and one at Scales, each 3s. 4d., lawful money, a day, and two Rations.

One Cooper, and four Labourers, each 2s. 8d. a day, and one Ration.

Employed to issue to one Brigade.

* Report of the Gold Committee, (Messrs. DUANE, WYTHE, J. ADAMS, SHERMAN, HEWAS, JOHNSON, WHIPPLE, and JEFFERSON.)

The Committee appointed on the 19th April to ascertain the value of the several species of Gold and Silver current in these Colonies, and the proportion they and each of them bear and ought to bear to Spanish milled Dollars, have taken the same into consideration, and thereupon came to the following Resolutions:

Whereas the holders of Bills of Credit emitted by authority of Congress will be entitled, at certain periods appointed for redemption thereof, to receive out of the Treasury of the United Colonies the amount of the said Bills in Spanish milled Dollars, or the value thereof in Gold or Silver; and the value of such Dollars, compared with other Silver and with Gold Coins, is estimated by different standards in different Colonies, whereby injustice may happen in some instances to the publick as well as to individuals, which ought to be remedied: And whereas the credit of the said Bills, as current money, ought to be supported by the inhabitants of these Colonies, for whose benefit they were issued, at the full value therein expressed, and who stand bound to redeem the same, according to the like value; and the pernicious artifices of the enemies of American liberty to impair the credit of the said Bills, by raising the nominal value of Gold and Silver, ought to be guarded against and prevented: Therefore,

Resolved, That the several Gold and Silver Coins passing in the said Colonies shall be received into the publick Treasury of the continent, and paid out in exchange for Bills emitted by authority of Congress, when the same shall become due, at the rates set down in the following table:

* One Dollar of Continental Money.

Resolved, That a deduction, at the rate of one twenty-ninth part of a dollar per grain shall be made on all Gold Coins falling short of the weight specified in the aforesaid table, and an advance at the same rate shall be allowed on such as exceed the aforesaid weight.

Resolved, That all parts of the several Gold Coins before enumerated shall be rated in just proportion, according to the foregoing table; and that Gold in Bullion shall be at the rate of seventeen Dollars per ounce, Troy weight, sterling alloy, and silver at one Dollar and one-ninth of a Dollar per ounce.

Resolved, That all Bills of Credit emitted by authority of Congress ought to pass current in all payments, trade, and dealings in these Colonies, and be deemed equal in value to Gold and Silver, according to the rates set down in the foregoing table; and that whosoever shall offer, demand, or receive, more in the said Bills for any Gold or Silver Coins, or Bullion, than at the rates aforesaid, or more of the said Bills for any lands, houses, goods, wares, or merchandise, than the nominal sum at which the same might be purchased of the same person with Gold or Silver, every such person ought to be deemed an enemy to the liberties of these Colonies, and treated accordingly, being duly convicted thereof before the Committee of Inspection of the City, County, or District, or in case of appeal from their decision, before the Assembly, Convention, Council or Committee of Safety, or before such other persons or Courts as have or shall be authorized by the General Assemblies or Conventions of the Colonies respectively to hear and determine such offences.