Not considered.

That by a Letter from Silas Deane, Esquire, to the Committee of Foreign Affairs, dated the 29th November, 1776, it appears that Major General Conway was then a Colonel and an officer of great Merit in France, and that far from exacting of Mr. Dean any condition or Contract as Preliminaries to his engaging in the Service of the United States, "he generously confided in Congress for such Rank and appointment as they should confer." That therefore no gratuity has been allowed him for his time and expences previous to his appointment of Brigadier General by Congress: That he having served with Fidelity and Honor since that appointment, is entitled to a Reward according to his Rank.'

Resolved, That the sum of eight thousand two hundred and twenty-three livres tournois and four sous, and two hundred dollars, be allowed to Major General Conway, as a gratuity for his time and expences previous to his entering into pay of the United States, and for his return to France; and that bills of exchange be drawn by the President on the commissioners at Paris, in favour of Major General Conway, for 7,792 livres tournois; and that a warrant issue on the treasurer for 321 30/90 dollars, in favor of said General Conway; which sums are the balance of his account with the United States."

TREASURY OFFICE, June 15, 1778.

The Committee on the Treasury beg leave to report: That they have examined the Account of Colonel Mullens, late aid de camp to Major General Conway, and are of Opinion, that the sum of twelve hundred Livres Tournois should be allowed him as a gratuity for his time and expences in and from France; And a further sum of Nine hundred Livres Tournois, to pay his Passage to France, making in the whole two thousand one hundred Livres.

That he has received from Major General Conway nineteen hundred and ninety Livres, which leaves a Balance of one hundred and ten Livres Tournois on that Account due to Colonel Mullens.

1This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 355. "A letter of Conway, dated June 19, asking for a settlement of his accounts, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 159, folio 489. It is endorsed by Laurens: "Received P. M., at the door, and presented and read immediately."

That there should be allowed to him three hundred and forty two Dollars and eight ninetieths of a Dollar for his Pay and Rations, from the 10th October, 1776, the time he entered into the Pay of America, to the 13 May, 1777.

And the further sum of one hundred Dollars for his travelling expences to a port, to take shipping for France, making in the whole four hundred and forty two dollars and 8/90ths:

Resolved, That bills of exchange for one hundred and ten livres tournois be drawn by the President in favour of Lieut. Colonel Mullens, on the commissioners at Paris; and that a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of Lieutenant Colonel Mullens, for 442 8/90 dollars, which sums are the balance of his accounts with the United States, and that the same be delivered to General Conway.1

The Marine Committee brought in a report; Whereupon,

Resolved, That Captain Peter Landais be appointed to command the new frigate called the Alliance.

Resolved, That Colonel William Malcolm, deputy adjutant general in the army, now under the command of Major General Gates, be permitted to hold his rank in the army, and his regiment, if the same shall be kept up in the new arrangement now making.

Resolved, That to morrow be assigned for taking into consideration the articles of confederation.

Congress proceeded to the election of a commissioner of accounts in the northern department, and, the ballots being taken,

Edward Chinn, Esq. was elected.2
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.

'This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 361.

A petition from Chinn, dated June 8, asking for this appointment, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, II, folio 55. It was addressed to Gates, and was sent to the Board of Treasury on June 16.

4938-07-40

SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 1778

Mr. John Collins, a delegate from Rhode Island, attended, and took his seat.

A letter, of 18, from General Washington, was read, informing, that the enemy have evacuated Philadelphia: Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Intelligence.

A letter, of the 11, from Governor Livingston, and one, of 28 May, from Colonel Ethan Allen, were read:

Ordered, That the letter from Colonel Allen be referred to the Board of War.

The Committee on Indian Affairs, to whom was referred the letter of Colonel G. Morgan, dated the 10th instant, brought in a report; Whereupon,

Resolved, That the Committee of Commerce be directed to procure goods, and such other articles as are proper for presents to the western Indian nations, to the amount of ten thousand dollars, and transmit the same to Fort Pitt, to the commissioners, who are to treat with the Indians there on the 23 day of July next: and that the said commissioners be also directed to dispose of the said goods amongst the said Indians in such manner as they shall judge will best conduce to conciliate their affections and secure them in the interest of these states:

That the said commissioners be empowered to draw on the military chest, at Fort Pitt, for such sums as shall be necessary to defray the contingent expences of the said treaty.

Ordered, That the several boards of Congress put themselves in readiness to remove from this place.

'The letter of Washington is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, VI, folio 115; that of Governor Livingston is in No. 68, folio 379; and that of Allen in United States Revolution, sub dato.

A motion being made for an advance of 100,000 dollars to the State of New York,

Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury. The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,

Resolved, That five millions of dollars be emitted under the direction of the Board of Treasury, and on the faith of the United States:

That the bills shall, excepting the numbers, be of the same tenor and date as the emission directed on the 11 day of April last, and be numbered from the last number of each respective denomination progressively, and to consist of the following denominations,

41, 667 of the denomination of 40 dollars, 1, 666, 680

That all powers and duties of Michael Hillegas, Esq! and of the inspectors of the press, signers, and printers of the emission on the 20th day of May, 1777, shall extend to the said 5,000,000 of dollars now to be emitted, subject, however, to such directions and instructions as the Board of Treasury may judge expedient.1

The Committee on the Treasury, report, "That the commissioners of claims have communicated to the Board, sundry errors in the accounts of Colonel B. Flower, commissary general of military stores, referred to them for their examination, and that it appears to the Board that

'This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 373.

some of the accounts and receipts strongly indicate intentions of fraud in Cornelius Sweers, deputy commissary of military stores:" Whereupon,

Resolved, That the Board of War be directed, forthwith, to cause the said Cornelius Sweers to be arrested and secured until farther enquiry can be made into his conduct in the premises.

Agreed.

That the Warrant on the Treasurer of the 19th instant for four hundred and forty two Dollars and 8/90, and a set of Bills of Exchange of the same date for one hundred and ten Livres Tournois, on the Commissioners of the United States of North America in Paris, in favor of Lieut. Colonel Thomas Mullens, be delivered to Major General Conway, to whom the Treasurer is directed to pay the Warrant.1

Congress proceeded to take into consideration the articles of confederation: Whereupon, on motion,

Resolved, That the delegates of the states, beginning with New Hampshire, be called upon for the report of their constituents upon the confederation, and the powers committed to them; and that no amendments be proposed but such as come from a State.

Resolved, That the proceeding on the articles of confederation be postponed to Monday next, and that it be taken up immediately after the reading of the public letters and reports of the treasury, if any there are.

66

Ordered, That a copy of the report of the committee appointed to examine the evidence collected, and to state the charges against the general officers who were in the northern department when Ticonderoga and Mount Independence were evacuated," and which is on the files, be sent to General Washington, and that he be directed to appoint a court martial to proceed to trial.

1This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 37).