The Congress took into consideration the Report from the Committee of the Whole. Whereupon,

Resolved, That a Committee of five be appointed to consider what is proper to be done with persons giving intelligence to the enemy, or supplying them with Provisions.

The Members chosen: Mr. J. Adams, Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Rutledge, Mr. Wilson, and Mr. R. Livingston.

Resolved, That the Deputy Commissaries-General, Deputy Quartermasters-General, Deputy Adjutants-General, and Deputy Mustermasters-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.

That the Paymaster-General, and the Deputy Paymasters-General, make Monthly Returns to Congress of their expenditures, and the state of the military chests in their several Departments.

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

That Expresses be established between the several Continental Posts.

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

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, Esquire, have the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the Continental Army.

That the Assistant Quartermasters be allowed Captains’ pay.

That the pay of the Regimental Surgeons be augmented to thirty-three Dollars and one-third of a Dollar a month.

Resolved, That a Committee, to consist of one Member from each Colony, be appointed to consider of ways and means of establishing Expresses between the several Continental Posts.

The Members are: Mr. Bartlett, Mr. Samuel Adams, Mr. Ellery, Mr. Wolcott, Mr. Lewis, Mr. W. Livingston, Mr. Franklin, Mr. Rodney, Mr. Rogers, Mr. Braxton, Mr. Hewes, Mr. Lynch, Jun., and Mr. Gwinnett.

Congress then proceeded to the election of an Adjutant-General and Quartermaster-General, to fill up the vacancies in those offices; when, the ballots being taken and examined,

Joseph Reed, Esq., was elected Adjutant-General, and Stephen Moylan, Esq., was elected Quartermaster-General.

Resolved, That Joseph Reed, Esq., have the pay of 125 Dollars a month, and the rank of a Colonel.

That Stephen Moylan, Esq., have the pay of 80 Dollars a month, and the rank of Colonel.

Resolved, That the election of Major-Generals be postponed.

Resolved, That no person shall be appointed to any place of profit, unless the person to be appointed shall have a majority of the voices of the Colonies represented at the time of the election.

Congress then proceeded to the election of two Brigadier-Generals; when, the ballots being taken, the following gentlemen were duly elected: John Whitcombe, Esq., and Hugh Mercer, Esq.

Resolved, That this Congress will, to-morrow, again resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole, to take into their further consideration the Report of the Committee of Conference.

The Order of the Day, and the several matters to this day referred, being postponed,

Adjourned to ten o’clock, to-morrow.

Thursday, June 6, 1776.

Sundry Letters and Papers being received, were laid before Congress, and read, viz:

Two Letters from Major-General Schuyler, of the 31st of May and 1st of June.

A Letter from the Commissioners in Canada, of the 27th and 28th of May.

Three Letters from General Thomas, of which, two to the Commissioners in Canada, of the 15th and 20th of May, and one to General Wooster, of the 27th of the same month.

Three from Brigadier-General Arnold, of the 17th, 25th, and 27th of May, to the Commissioners in Canada, enclosing a Cartel entered into between him and Captain Forster, for exchange of Prisoners.

One from Brigadier-General Thompson, of the 25th of May, to the Commissioners. Whereupon,

Resolved, That a copy of the Letter from the Commissioners in Canada be sent to General Washington.

Resolved, That Brigadier-General Wooster be directed immediately to repair to Head-Quarters at New-York.

That the Letters just received and read, be referred to a Committee of five.

The Members chosen: Mr. Sherman, Mr. Wythe, Mr. Sergeant, Mr. F. Lee, and Mr. Gwinnett.

Resolved, That the Standing Committee for Indian Affairs be directed to devise ways and means for carrying into effect the Resolution of the 3d of this month, empowering the General to employ in Canada a number of Indians, not exceeding two thousand.

The Committee to whom was referred an extract of a Letter from a gentleman in Bermuda, dated 26th of April, and continued to May 1st, to a gentleman in Philadelphia, brought in their Report, which was read; and the same being taken into consideration,

Resolved, That the Secret Committee be instructed forthwith to fit out two fast-sailing Vessels, and load them with Provisions, to be sent immediately to supply the inhabitants of the Islands of Bermudas; and that the Committee of Secret Correspondence be directed to take such measures as they may think proper by those Vessels to discover the state of those Islands, and the disposition of their inhabitants; and that the Marine Committee be instructed to take such measures as they may think proper for purchasing, manning, arming, and fitting, at the said Islands, two Sloops of War for the service of the United Colonies.

Resolved, That the remainder of the Report lie on the table for consideration.

The draft of a Speech to be delivered to the Indians being read, was agreed to.

Resolved, That the delivery of this Speech be deferred for some days.

The Committee of Claims reported that there is due—

To Captain William West, for expenses in conducting Money to Williamsburgh, (Horse-hire, &c., included.) the sum of 219 40–90 Dollars;

To Melchior Meng, for twenty-one days’ hire of his Wagon and Horses, carrying Money to Virginia, the sum of 42 Dollars;

To Benjamin Towne, the sum of 26 27–90 Dollars, for Cartouch-boxes, being so much paid him less than the price contracted for;

To Robert Porter, for Accoutrements for Colonel Hartley’s Regiment, the sum of 18 66–90 Dollars, and that the same ought to be paid and charged to the said Regiment;

To John Kuntz, the sum of 21 40–90 Dollars, of which sum there is due, for entertaining General Lee’s Guards, the sum of 10 60–90 Dollars, and for Expresses, the sum of 10 70–90 Dollars;

To Michael Staddleman, for entertaining General Lee’s Guards, the sum of 11 39–90 Dollars;

To Benjamin Smith, for Board and Accommodations for Prisoners at Trenton, the sum of 31 4–90 Dollars. This money became due before the regulation of Congress for determining the price of their Board took place;

That there is due for expenses in apprehending Henry Edwin Stanhope and George Gregory, who broke their parole and ran from Northampton, the sum of 47 48–90 Dollars, and that the same ought to be paid, and charged to the said Stanhope and Gregory.

Ordered, That the said Accounts be paid to J. Hancock, Esquire.

The Marine Committee having recommended sundry gentlemen for Captains and Subaltern Officers for the Ships building or built for the Continent, the same was taken into consideration. Whereupon,

Resolved, That Thomas Thompson be appointed Captain of the Frigate built in New-Hampshire;