sum for the defence of the River, that the Congress would direct the works to be done at the Continental expense:

Whereupon, Resolved, That the Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania be empowered, at the Continental expense, to erect the Redoubt, and to fix the Boom, or other obstructions, at the places aforesaid.

Thomas Bates, Blacksmith, proposing to supply the Continental Troops with a quantity of Camp-Kettles, of Sheet-Iron, at one and one-third Dollar each, provided he can have credit for five tons of Sheet-Iron:

Resolved, That Timothy Matlack, Esquire, be directed to write to Thomas Mayberry, of Mount-Holly, the manufacturer of Sheet-Iron, to send down to him five tons of Sheet-Iron, for which he will be paid on the delivery; and that Mr. Matlack be directed to receive the said Iron, and deliver it out, as it may be wanted, to Thomas Bates, and receive the Kettles as fast as made.

The matters to this day referred, being postponed,

Adjourned to ten o’clock, to-morrow.

Saturday, June 15, 1776.

Sundry Letters were laid before Congress, and read, viz:

One from Mr. McKean, of the 13th, and one from Mr. P. Peters;

One from General Washington, of the 14th, enclosing a copy of a Letter from General Schuyler, of the 10th, and sundry other Papers;

One from Governour Trumbull, of the 10th, with sundry papers enclosed;

One from David Waterbury, of the 6th, with Accounts enclosed.

Resolved, That the Letter from D. Waterbury, with the Accounts enclosed, be referred to the Committee of Claims.

A Letter from the Committee of Safety of Virginia, of the 5th, informing of the arrival of five tons of Powder on account of the Continent, was read: Whereupon,

Resolved, That one-half of the said Continental Powder be left in Virginia, and the other half forwarded to the Commanding Officer in South-Carolina.

Resolved, That a Committee of three be appointed to take into consideration the state of Georgia, and report thereon to Congress.

The Members chosen: Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Harrison, and Mr. S. Adams.

The Marine Committee having recommended—

Mr. Hector McNiel to command the Frigate Boston;

Mr. John Brown to be Lieutenant of the same;

Mr. Thomas Grennell to command the Frigate Montgomery;

Resolved, That they be accepted, and that Commissions be granted to them accordingly.

A Memorial from the owners of four private Ships of War, fitted and fitting out in Philadelphia, was presented to Congress, and read.

Ordered, To lie on the table.

The Committee of Claims reported, that there is due—

For expenses of sick men belonging to the Sixth Pennsylvania Battalion, the sum of 58 30–90 Dollars, and that the same ought to be paid to Captain Samuel Benezet;

To Hugh Hodge, for sundry necessaries for the sick of the Third Pennsylvania Battalion, the sum of 34 15–90 Dollars;

To Robert Erwin, Wagonmaster, for transporting Saltpetre from Egg-Harbour to Cooper’s Ferry, the sum of 210 70–90 Dollars;

To Peter Agnew, for repairing Arms for the Fifth Pennsylvania Battalion, the sum of 11 36–90 Dollars.

The said Committee further reported, that Peter Noble, a soldier belonging to Colonel Hinman’s Battalion, (Captain Watson’s Company,) who was taken prisoner near Montreal, with Colonel Ethan Allen, ought to have the sum of 40 Dollars advanced to him, and his receipt taken for the same, as part of his pay.

Ordered, That the said Accounts be paid.

It being represented to Congress that a number of Officers, whose men left them last winter in Canada, and who remained and served there during the whole winter, were returned, and were desirous of being some way employed and provided for:

Resolved, That their case be referred to the Board of War and Ordnance, who are desired to sit as soon as conveniently they can, and report thereon to Congress.

Resolved, That the President write to Governour Trusnbull, desiring that he will deliver to the Agent of the Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania the Cannon and Trucks ordered by Congress to be taken from New-London, and that he be informed the Congress expect this Resolution will be immediately complied with.

Resolved, That the Letters from Governour Trumbull, General Washington, and General Schuyler, be referred to the Board of War and Ordnance.

Resolved, That the Report of the Committee on General Washington’s Letters of the 9th and 10th, which was left unfinished, together with the Amendments moved and seconded, 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 referred to them; and after some time spent thereon, the President resumed the chair, and Mr. Harrison reported, that the Committee have had under consideration the matters to them referred, and have come to sundry Resolutions thereon, which they ordered him to report; but not having yet finished, desired him to move for leave to sit again.

The Report from the Committee of the Whole being delivered in,

Resolved, That a Committee of four be appointed to digest and arrange the several Resolutions agreed to in the Committee of the Whole, in order to be laid before Congress; and that the Committee of the Whole be discharged of the Reports, so far as they relate to the cartel entered into between Brigadier-General Arnold and Captain Forster for an exchange of Prisoners, and that the same be referred to the Committee now to be appointed.

The Members chosen: Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Braxton, Mr. Paine, and Mr. Middleton.

Resolved, That this Congress will, on Monday next, again resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole, to take into their further consideration the Reports to them referred.

Adjourned to ten o’clock, on Monday.

Monday, June 17, 1776.

A Letter of the 7th of May, from Brigadier-General Arm-strong, and one of the 6th of June from the Committee of Albany, were laid before Congress, and read.

The Board of War and Ordnance, to whom the Letter of Governour Trumbull, of the 10th of June, was referred, brought in their Report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon,

Resolved, That it be recommended to the Governour and Assembly of Connecticut to send the two Battalions mentioned in said Letter as raised, one for Boston, and one with a view to New-York, into Canada forthwith, as proposed in said Letter; and that a Battalion of Militia be sent to Boston, instead of the one intended for that place.

That blank Commissions be sent to Governour Trumbull, for the Officers of the Battalion raised with a view to New-York; the present exigency requiring this measure, the same not to be drawn into precedent.

That 10,500 Dollars be paid into the hands of the Delegates of Connecticut, to be sent to that Colony to defray the expenses of raising the said Regiment.

That Governour Trumbull be informed that Congress are of opinion that the provision made by the late Act of Assembly of Connecticut, for the purpose of engaging one-third of the Militia on the sea-coast, and one-fourth in the interior part of that Colony, for the defence thereof, and of the neighbouring Colonies, will by no means answer the object the Congress had in view by their Resolution of the 3d of June; and request that such steps be taken by the Assembly of that Colony as shall seem to them most likely to carry into effect the said requisition.

Resolved, That Commissions be granted to the Officers appointed by the Assembly of Connecticut for the Regiment ordered to be raised in that Colony for the service of the Continent.

Resolved, That the Secret Committee be directed to sell two tons of Gunpowder to the Convention of New-Jersey, for the use of their Militia.