Congress are well satisfied, and that they return his name, with the names of the other Field-Officers, for the approbation of Congress.

That a Commission of Lieutenant-Colonel be given to Major John Visscher, in Colonel John Nicholson’s Regiment, in the New-York forces.

The Congress then resumed the consideration of the Re­port from the Committee of the Whole:

Whereupon, Resolved, That General Washington be di­rected to order an inquiry to be made into the conduct of the Officers heretofore employed in the Canada Depart­ment; that the said inquiry be made at such time and places as, in his judgment, shall be most likely to do justice, as well to the publick as to the individuals; and that the result of the said inquiry, together with the testimonies upon the subject, be transmitted to Congress; that, moreover, all Offi­cers accused of cowardice, plundering, embezzlement of publick moneys, and other misdemeanours, be immediately brought to trial. And whereas Congress is informed that an opinion has prevailed that Officers resigning their Com­missions are not subject to trial by a Court-Martial for offen­ces committed previous to such resignation, whereby some have evaded the punishments to which they were liable, it is hereby declared that such opinion is not just.

The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, Adjourned to nine o’clock, on Monday.

Monday, June 24, 1776.

Two Letters, of the 20th and 21st, from General Wash­ington, with sundry papers enclosed, were laid before Con­gress, and read:

Whereupon, Resolved, That a Letter be written to the General, desiring him to put a stop to the raising the Com­panies of Mohickan and Stockbridge Indians, mentioned in one of the enclosed papers; and that a like Letter be writ­ten to Governour Trurnbull.

A Letter, of the 21st, from the Convention of New-Jersey, was laid before Congress, and read, together with sundry papers enclosed therein, containing the questions proposed to William Franklin, Esq., an account of his behaviour on the occasion, and the Resolution of the Convention, “de­claring him a virulent enemy to this country, and a person that may prove dangerous, and that the said William Frank­lin be, confined in such place and manner as the Continental Congress shall direct:”

Whereupon, Resolved, That William Franklin be sent under guard to Governour Trumbull, who is desired to ad­mit him to his parole; but if Mr. Franklin refuse to give his parole, that Governour Trumbull be desired to treat him agreeable to the Resolutions of Congress respecting Pri­soners.

Resolved, That Mr. Mease be directed to advance to Captain Matthew Smith, of the Rifle Battalion, 1,040 Dol­lars, for the purpose of recruiting his Company; the said Captain Smith to be accountable.

Resolved, That Mr. Mease, and the Committee of Claims, be directed to forward to the Paymaster-General an account of the Moneys advanced and ordered to be charged to the Rifle Battalion, or the respective Rifle Companies, in order that the same may be deducted, and stopped from their pay.

The Congress being informed that a quantity of Tents, which were sent from Philadelphia for the use of the Colony of Massachusetts-Bay, have been stopped at New-York by the order of the Quartermaster-General:

Resolved, That the President write to the General on this subject, and desire him to order the said Tents to be de­livered up, and forwarded to the Colony of Massachusetts-Bay immediately.

Resolved, That a Committee, to consist of one Member from each Colony, be appointed to inquire into the causes of the miscarriages in Canada.

That the said Committee have power to send for persons and papers.

The Members chosen: Mr. Whipple, Mr. Paine, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Clinton, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Paca, Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Hewes, Mr. Middleton, and Mr. Hall.

The Committee of Claims reported that there is due—

To Gunning Bedford, the sum of 202 Dollars, of which sum 103 Dollars and 30–90ths, for pay and subsistence for two months, the remainder for a Horse for the Continental service.

Ordered, That the said Account be paid.

Resolved, That the Report on the Cartel for exchange of Prisoners, entered into between Brigadier-General Arnold and Captain Forster, be recommitted.

The Congress took into consideration the Report of the Committee on Spies:

Whereupon, Resolved, That all persons abiding within any of the United Colonies, and deriving protection from the laws of the same, owe allegiance to the said laws, and are members of such Colony; and that all persons passing through, visiting, or making a temporary stay in any of the said Colo­nies, being entitled to the protection of the laws during the time of such passage, visitation, or temporary stay, owe, during the same, allegiance thereto.

That all persons, members of, or owing allegiance to, any of the United Colonies, as before described, who shall levy war against any of the said Colonies within the same, or be adherent to the King of Great Britain, or others the ene­mies of the said Colonies, or any of them, within the same, giving to him or them aid and comfort, are guilty of treason against such Colony.

That it be recommended to the Legislatures of the seve­ral United Colonies, to pass laws for punishing, in such man­ner as to them shall seem fit, such persons before described as shall be provably attainted of open deed, by people of their condition, of any of the treasons before described.

Resolved, That it be recommended to the several Legis­latures of the United Colonies to pass laws for punishing, in such manner as they shall think fit, persons who shall counterfeit, or aid or abet in counterfeiting, the Continental Bills of Credit, or who shall pass any such Bill in payment, knowing the same to be counterfeit.

Resolved, That the remainder of the said Report be re­committed.

The Committee to consider what Harbours are proper to be fortified, brought in their Report; which was read.

Ordered, To lie on the table.

Resolved, That the said Committee be empowered to draw on the Treasurers for a sum of money sufficient to de­fray the expenses of surveying and examining the Ports.

A Petition from Antoine Felix Wiebert was presented to Congress, and read.

Resolved, That the same, together with the papers ac­companying it, be referred to the Board of War and Ord­nance.

The Board of War and Ordnance, to whom was re­ferred a Petition from Carpenter Wharton, brought in their Report; which was read.

Ordered, To lie on the table; and that the President write to General Washington, and request him to inform Congress of the cost of a Ration, as furnished by the Com­missary-General.

The matters to this day referred, being postponed, Adjourned to nine o’clock, to-morrow.

Tuesday, June 25, 1776.

A Letter of the 23d, from General Washington, with sundry Letters from Major-General Schuyler, Brigadier-General Sullivan, Brigadier-General Arnold, and others, were laid before Congress, and read.

Resolved, That the same be referred to the Board of War and Ordnance; who are directed to sit immediately, and report thereon as soon as possible.

A Memorial from Captain Stephen Rowe Bradley was presented to Congress, and read, together with sundry Ac­counts.

Resolved, That the same be referred to the Committee on the Treasury.

The Marine Committee having recommended Captain Samuel Nichols to be promoted to be Major of Marines; Andrew Porter, Joseph Hardy, Samuel Shaw, Benjamin Deane, and Robert Mullin, to be Captains of Marines; Da­niel Henderson, David Love, Franklin Reed, and Peregrine Brown, to be First Lieutenants of Marines; James McClure, William Gilmore, Abel Morgan, and Hugh Montgomery, to be Second Lieutenants of Marines; John Stewart to be Captain; Thomas Pownal First Lieutenant, and Richard