The Committee on Indian Affairs, to whom it was referred to consider of a proper present for the Indians, brought in their Report:

Whereupon, Resolved, That the said Committee be empowered and directed to purchase Goods for a present to the Indians, to an amount not exceeding 426 60–90 Dollars.

The Congress then resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole, to take into their further consideration the Report of the Committee of Conference; and after some time spent thereon, the President resumed the chair, and Mr. Harrison reported, that the Committee had taken into further consideration the matters to them referred, and come to some Resolutions, which they desired him to report; but not having yet come to a conclusion, directed him to move for leave to sit again.

The Report from the Committee of the whole Congress was read:*.

Whereupon, Resolved, That six thousand Militia be employed to reinforce the Army in Canada, and to keep up the communication with that Province. To make up which number,

Resolved, That the further consideration of the Report be postponed till Monday next.

Resolved, That the Congress will, on Monday next, again resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole, to take into their further consideration the Report of the Committee of Conference.

The Committee of Claims reported, that there is due to Anthony Fricker, for boarding the Scotch Hostages from the 22d of March to the 4th of June instant, 246 78–90 Dollars.

To Samuel Patterson, for Wagon-hire and dining the Prisoners brought from North-Carolina, the sum of 7 60–90 Dollars, and that the same ought to be paid to Thomas Mc-Kean, Esq.

Ordered, That the said Accounts be paid.

The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,

Adjourned to ten o’clock, on Monday next.

Monday, June 3,1776.

Sundry Letters received by General Washington, were laid before Congress, and read.

Resolved, That an Order be drawn on the Treasurers for 1066 2–3 Dollars, in favour of Ephraim Blaine, Esq., in advance, for the purchase of Shoes, to be sent to Williams-burgh, for the use of the Continental Army; he to be accountable.

The Committee of Conference brought in a further Report, which was read.

Resolved, That the same be referred to the Committee of the whole Congress.

The Congress then resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole, to take into their further consideration the Reports of the Committee of Conference; 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 matters to them referred, and have come to sundry Resolutions thereon, but not having come to a conclusion, desired him to move for leave to sit again, †

The Congress then took into consideration the Report from the Committee of the Whole:

Whereupon, Resolved, That the General be empowered

* IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE, May 31, 1776.

The Committee of the whole Congress, to whom was referred the Report of the Committee appointed to confer with his Excellency General Washington, Major-General Gates, and Brigadier-General Mifflin, have taken into consideration the matter referred to them, and have come to the following Resolutions:

Resolved, as the opinion of this Committee, That the General be authorized to direct the building as many Fire-Rafts, Row-Galleys, Boats, and Floating-Batteries as may be necessary and suitable for the immediate defence of the Post at New-York and Hudson River.

Resolved, That six thousand men, in addition to those sent into Canada, be employed to reinforce the Army there, and to keep up the communication to that country. And to complete that number,

And, as a further reinforcement, Resolved, That a number of Indians, not exceeding two thousand, be taken into the pay of the Continent.

Resolved, That thirteen thousand eight hundred Militia be employed to reinforce the Army at New-York. To complete which number, that the Colony of—

Resolved, That the eleven Battalions raised and ordered to be raised for the protection of the four New-England Colonies are, in the opinion of this Committee, sufficient.

Resolved, That a Flying-Camp be immediately established in the Middle Colonies.

That the Flying-Camp consist of ten thousand men. To complete this number,

Resolved, That the present force provided for the protection of the Southern Colonies, is sufficient, except for South-Carolina and Georgia.

That the Militia be engaged to the 1st of December, unless sooner discharged by Congress.

That the pay of the Militia commence from the day of their marching from home, and that they be allowed one penny a mile, lawful money, in lieu of rations, for travelling expenses, and one day’s pay for every twenty miles between home and the general rendezvous, going and returning.

† IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE CONGRESS, June 3, 1776.

Resolved, as the opinion of this Committee, That three Majors-General and two Brigadiers-General be added to the Continental Establishment of General Officers; and that the vacancies in the offices of Adjutant-General and Quartermaster-General be filled up.

That the Governour and Assembly of the Colony of Connecticut, the Convention of New-York, the General Assembly of the Colony of Massachusetts-Bay, the Convention of the Colony of New-Jersey, and the several Conventions of such other of the United Colonies, in which there are any Lead Mines, be requested to transmit to Congress, with all convenient despatch, the state and condition of the Lead Mines in their respective Colonies, and use the most speedy means to procure their being wrought to effect.

That it be earnestly recommended to the Assemblies, Conventions, and Committees of Safety, in the United Colonies, to fall upon the most effectual means of removing the Stocks, Grain, and Meal from such parts of their respective Colonies as are invaded, or are in imminent danger of being invaded, by the enemy.

That two Provincial Brigadiers-General be employed in the Canada Department—one from Massachusetts-Bay and one from Connecticut.

That four Provincial Brigadiers-General be employed in the New-York Department—one from Massachusetts-Bay, one from Connecticut, one from New-York, and one from New-Jersey.

That three Brigadiers-General be employed for the Flying-Camp, viz: two from Pennsylvania and one from Maryland.

That the said Brigadiers-General be appointed by the respective Colonies above-mentioned.

That the Commander-in-Chief be authorized to form and fix such Magazines of Provisions and Military Stores as he may judge necessary.

IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE, June 4, 1776.

Resolved, That the Deputy Commissaries-General, Deputy Quartermasters-General, Deputy Adjutants-General, and Deputy Mustormastera-General make regular Returns and Reports to Congress, and to the respective Officers to whom they are Deputies, at least once a month, and that the principals also make Returns to Congress at the same periods.

Resolved, That the Paymaster-General and his Deputies make Monthly Returns to Congress of their expenditures, and the state of the Military Chest in their several Departments.

Resolved, That a resolve of Congress be passed for punishment of Spies found in any of the Continental Camps.

That the Flying-Camp be under the command of such Continental General Officers as the Commander-in-Chief shall direct.

Resolved, That Expresses be established between the several Continental Posts.

Resolved, That the Militia, when in service, be regularly paid and victualled in the same manner as the Continental Troops.

Resolved, That a Paymaster be appointed to each Regiment; that it shall be the duty of the Regimental Paymasters to keep all the Accounts of their respective Regiments, and to observe such rules and orders as shall be given them in command by the General or Commander-in-Chief, and that each of them be allowed, for this service,     dollars per month.

That the Aids-de-Camp of the Commander-in-Chief rank as Lieutenant-Colonels.

That the Aids-de-Camp of Major-Generals rank as Majors.

That Robert Hanson Harrison, Esq., be allowed the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Continental Army.

Resolved, That the Assistant Quartermasters-General be allowed Captain’s pay.

Resolved, That the pay of Regimental Surgeons be augmented to 33 1/3 dollars a month.