an Officer who attended to guard Major Rodgers to Philadelphia.

A Letter from the Convention of New-Jersey, of the 29th June, and one from Mr. Tucker, enclosing a Letter from two Prisoners at Burlington.

A Letter from the Convention of New-Hampshire, of the 17th June.

A Letter from Brigadier-General Lewis, from Williamsburgh, of June 17, with some Memorandums from Brigadier H. Mercer.

A Letter from B. Harrison, Jun., Deputy Paymaster-General to the Southern Department, with a Return of his Account to the 22d June.

Resolved, That an Order for 6,000 Dollars be drawn on the Treasurers in favour of Richard Graham, of Virginia, in full of a Draft in his favour of the 20th June, by Brigadier-General Lewis, and that the same be charged to the account of Benjamin Harrison, Deputy Paymaster-General for Virginia.

A Resolution of the Convention of Maryland, passed the 28th of June, was laid before Congress, and read, as follows:

“That the instructions given to their Deputies in December last be recalled, and the restrictions therein contained removed; and that the Deputies of said Colony, or any three or more of them, be authorized and empowered to concur with the other United Colonies, or a majority of them, in declaring the United Colonies free and independent States, in forming such further compact and confederation between them, in making foreign alliances, and in adopting such other measures as shall be adjudged necessary for securing the liberties of America; and that said Colony will hold itself bound by the resolutions of a majority of the United Colonies in the premises, provided the sole and exclusive right of regulating the internal government and police of that Colony be reserved to the people thereof.”

The Order of the Day being read,

Resolved, That this Congress will resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole, to take into consideration the Resolution respecting Independency.

That the Declaration be referred to said Committee.

The Congress resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole. After some time the President resumed the chair, and Mr. Harrison reported, that the Committee had come to a Resolution, which they desired him to report, and to move for leave to sit again.

The Resolution agreed to by the Committee of the Whole being read, the determination thereof was, at the request of a Colony, postponed till to-morrow.

Resolved, That a Brigadier-General acting in a separate Department be allowed an Aid-de-Camp.

A Letter of the 29th from General Washington was laid before Congress, and read.

Resolved, That the Letters this day received be referred to the Board of War.

Resolved, That this Congress will to-morrow resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole, to take into consideration the Declaration respecting Independence.

Adjourned to ten o’clock, to-morrow.

Tuesday, July 2, 1776.

Sundry Letters were laid before Congress, and read:

One from General Washington, of the 30th of June, enclosing an extract of a Letter from General Ward, of the 23d of said month; a copy of a Letter of the 19th from Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell to General Howe, and a copy of an anonymous Letter, dated Watertown, 21st of the same month.

One from the Council of Massachusetts-Bay, of the 26th.

One from Governour Trumbull, of the 20th of the same month, and one from the Paymaster-General, with a Weekly Account.

Ordered, That the last be delivered to the Board of Treasury.

That the Letter from Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell to General Howe be published.

That the other Letters be referred to the Board of War.

The Congress resumed the consideration of the Resolution reported from the Committee of the Whole, which was agreed to, as follows:

Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.

Agreeable to the Order of the Day, the Congress resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole; and after some time the President resumed the chair, and Mr. Harrison reported, that the Committee have had under consideration the Declaration to them referred; but not having had time to go through the same, desired him to move for leave to sit again.

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

The Congress being informed that, in obedience to their order, Captain Whipple and Captain Saltonstall were arrived in Philadelphia,

Resolved, That the Marine Committee inquire into the complaints exhibited against them, and report thereon to Congress.

Adjourned to nine o’clock, to-morrow.

Wednesday, July 3, 1776.

A Letter from the Convention of New-Jersey, of the 2d, and a Letter from the Commissioners of Indian Affairs in the Southern Department, dated Augusta, May 21, together with an account of their expenses, and the Minutes of their Conference with the Indians in that Department, were laid before Congress, and read.

Resolved, That the Account of the Commissioners be referred to the Committee on the Treasury.

The Congress took into consideration the Letter from the Convention of New-Jersey. Whereupon,

Resolved, That the Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania be requested to send as many of the Troops of their Colony as they can spare to Monmouth County, in New-Jersey, to the assistance of the inhabitants of that Colony, and to be subject to the orders of the Commander-in-Chief; the said Troops to be allowed the same pay and rations as the Troops in the service of the Continent, from the time of their march until their return.

That a Circular Letter be written to the Committee of Inspection of the several Counties in Pennsylvania, where Troops are raised or raising to form the Flying-Camp, requesting them to send the Troops by Battalions, or detachments of Battalions, or Companies, as fast as raised, to the City of Philadelphia, except those raised in the Counties of Bucks, Berks, and Northampton, which are to be directed to march, as aforesaid, to New-Brunswick, in New-Jersey.

That a copy of the foregoing Resolutions be sent to General Washington, and that he be desired to appoint a proper Officer to command the Flying-Camp, and also direct proper persons to supply the men with Rations.

Resolved, That the Marine Committee be empowered to contract with Shipwrights, to go to Lake Champlain, on the following terms:

To allow each man 34 Dollars and two-thirds per month; one month’s pay to be advanced, on their giving security, if required.

Each man to be allowed a Ration and a half, and one half-pint of Rum, per day.

Their Tools and Arms to be valued.

Two-thirds of their Wages to be paid monthly, to whomsoever they shall leave the power of receiving it.

Their Pay to commence from the day they sign Articles, and continue until they are discharged, with an allowance of one day’s pay for every twenty miles between the place where they are discharged, and their respective homes.

Resolved, That Dr. Franklin and Mr. Wilson, two of the Commissioners for Indian Affairs in the Middle Department, be authorized to discharge the Bills drawn by Mr. Morgan on the Commissioners of that Department.

Agreeable to the Order of the Day, the Congress resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole, to take into their further consideration the Declaration; and, after some time, the President resumed the chair, and Mr. Harrison reported that the Committee, not having yet gone through it, desired leave to sit again.