Ordered, That 7,784 60/90 dollars be advanced to the delegates of Virginia, upon their application, for the use of that State, which is to be accountable:1

That 750,000 dollars be advanced to Joseph Nourse, pay master to the Board of War and Ordnance, to be by him transmitted to Jonathan Trumbull, Esq pay master in the northern department, for the use of the said department and the posts on Hudson's river; who is to be accountable.2

The committee to whom was referred the letter of 8 from General Greene, Q. M. G., brought in a report, which was read:

Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury. Congress resumed the consideration of the motion respecting the letter from the commissioners of the king of Great Britain, which was amended, and is as follows: "That this Congress cannot hear any language reflecting upon the honor of his most Christian majesty, the good and faithful ally of these states:"

On motion, that the consideration thereof be postponed, Mr. [William Henry] Drayton required the yeas

1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 365. 'This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 363.

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So it was resolved in the affirmative.

A motion was then made, that the letter from the commissioners of the king of Great Britain lie on the table: passed in the negative.

On motion, Resolved, That the letter and papers accompanying it, be read; Whereupon,

The letter, of the 9th, and one dated June 1778, both signed Carlisle, William Eden, and George Johnstone; a paper endorsed copy of the commission for restoring peace, &c. To the earl of Carlisle, lord viscount Howe, Sir William Howe, or in his absence Sir Henry Clinton, William Eden, and George Johnstone, were read; and also three acts of the parliament of Great Britain:

Ordered, That they be referred to a committee of five; The members chosen, Mr. [Richard Henry] Lee, Mr. S[amuel] Adams, Mr. [William Henry] Drayton, Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, and Mr. [John] Witherspoon.

THREE O'CLOCK, P. M.

Congress took into consideration a report from the Committee on the Treasury, dated May 5th; Whereupon, Resolved, That the Board of War and Ordnance be

authorized till the further orders of Congress, to increase the salary of the secretary of the Board of Ordnance and pay master of the said Board of War and Ordnance, to a sum not exceeding one hundred dollars per month; and that the Committee of Commerce, the Marine Committee, the Committee of Treasury, Board of War and Ordnance, and secretary of Congress, be authorized to increase the salary of their clerks respectively, to a sum not exceeding one hundred dollars per month; having due regard to their qualifications and employments.

The committee to whom were referred the letters and papers from the Earl of Carlisle, &c. commissioners from the king of Great Britain, reported the draught of a letter, which was read: and after debate,

Resolved, That the farther consideration thereof be postponed until to morrow.

The Board of War brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

Congress came to the following resolution:

The Board taking into consideration the little effect of the reward offered in March last to such drafts as should bring firelocks &c with them into the field, reflecting too on the small number of arms and accoutrements in the public stores, are of opinion that larger reward should be proposed to the two new regiments ordered to be raised in Virginia and Pennsylvania, to induce them to come armed and accoutred; and beg leave to report—

Whereas, Congress, on the 2d day of May last, resolved that two regiments be raised in Virginia and Pensylvania, to serve for one year, and it is expedient that as many as possible of the non-commissioned officers and soldiers should provide themselves with arms and other necessaries:

Resolved, That each non-commissioned officer and soldier of the said regiment, who shall so provide himself

with arms and other necessaries, shall receive the following compensations, to be paid as soon as he has passed muster, upon his producing the said articles, viz.

For a good serviceable rifle, with a powder horn, bullet pouch, and mould, eight dollars; for a good serviceable musket, with a bayonet and a powder horn, and bullet pouch, or a good cartouch box, six dollars; for a like musket and accoutrements, without a bayonet, five dollars; for a knapsack, two dollars; for a haversack, one dollar; for a blanket, eight dollars.1

The Board of War having taken into Consideration a Memorial from the Officers in the Pensilvania Line complaining of the great distress the Pensilvania Troops are in for Want of Cloathing, and finding upon Enquiry, that considerable Quantities of Cloathing, particularly Linnen Shirts, have been purchased by the Pensilvania State Purchasers, which cannot be delivered unless Money is supplied for that Purpose from the public Treasury, beg leave to recommend to Congress,

That the Sum of Eighty thousand Dollars be advanced to James Mease Esq. Cloathier General, to be by him advanced to such of the Pensilvania State Purchasers, as, having made Purchases of Cloathing, cannot collect the Same, without an Advance of Money, and that the Cloathier General confer with the Supreme Executive Council of the State of Pensilvania concerning the Persons to whom it shall be judged necessary to make an Advance of Money, and the Sums proper to supply them with.

That the Cloathing so purchased be delivered by the respective Purchasers to the Cloathier General to be by him issued to the Officers and Men in the Pensilvania Line."

Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.

1 This report, in the writing of Timothy Pickering, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, II, folio 105.

This report, in the writing of Timothy Pickering, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, II, folio 101. It is endorsed "June 16, 1778. Postponed 17th."

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 1778

A letter, of 2 June, from General Schuyler, with papers of intelligence enclosed, was read:

Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of War. A letter, of the 4th, from Governor Livingston, was read, with four affidavits, respecting the enemy's treatment of citizens of New Jersey, at Hancock's bridge, enclosed:

Ordered, That they be referred to the committee appointed to prepare a manifesto on the conduct of the enemy.

Ordered, That the said committee proceed with all despatch in the business committed to them, and publish such facts relative to the conduct of the enemy as they may have collected, and have come to them well authenticated.

A letter, of the 8, from Governor Livingston, was read. A letter of 29 May, from Governor Clinton, of the State of New York, was read.

The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,

The Committee on the Treasury beg leave to report, that they have considered a Petition of Edward Chinn, Esq. offering his services as a Commissioner of Accounts: and being informed in a letter from Mr. Pickering to the Board, that "Mr. Carroll and Mr. Duer, Members of Congress, are acquainted with the Petitioner, and think him well qualified for the appointment he solicits:" Therefore

Resolved, That the said Edward Chinn, Esq. be appointed a Commissioner of Accounts for the Northern District.1

Ordered, That to morrow be assigned for electing a commissioner of accounts for the northern district.

1

1 Against this paragraph Laurens wrote "Nominated 17th."