Journals of the American Congress: from 1774 to 1788

Mr. Hand, a delegate for Pennsylvania, attended, and took his seat.
On motion of Mr. Jefferson, seconded by Mr. Howell,

Resolved, That the post-master-general be, and he is hereby directed to give orders to his deputy, at the place where Congress is sitting, to furnish an extra post or posts whenever required by the president.

Pursuant to the order of the 10th of September last, the superintendent of finance and treasurer, laid before Congress an account of all the notes which have been issued by them on the credit of the United States, with an account of what part of those notes were in circulation, according to the state of the former on the 4th November, and of the latter on the 29th September, when their accounts are severally closed.

FRIDAY, December 26, 1783.

Congress assembled: Present as before.

- Pursuant to the order of the 5th September, 1783, the superintendent of finance, as agent of marine, having caused the ship Alliance to be surveyed, reported the state she is in, and an estimate of the expense necessary to give her a good repair.

SATURDAY, December 27, 1783.

Congress assembled: Present as before.

MONDAY, December 29, 1783.

Six states only attending, namely, Massachusetts, Rhode-Island, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia and North-Carolina; and from the state of NewHampshire, Mr. Foster, and from the state of Maryland, Mr. Chase, the president adjourned Congress to ten o'clock to-morrow.

TUESDAY, December 30, 1783.

Five states only attending, namely, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia and North Carolina; and from the state of New-Hampshire, Mr. Foster; from Rhode-Island, Mr. Howell; from Maryland, Mr. Chase, and from South-Carolina, Mr. Read, the president adjourned Congress till to-morrow at ten o'clock.

WEDNESDAY, December 31, 1783.

Five states only attending, viz. Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia and North Carolina; and from the state of New-Hampshire, Mr. Foster; from Rhode-Island, Mr. Howell; from Maryland, Mr. Chase, and from South-Carolina, Mr. Read, the president adjourned Congress till ten o'clock to-morrow.

THURSDAY, January 1, 1784.

FRIDAY, January 2, 1784.

Congress assembled: Present, Massachusetts, Rhode-Island, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and North-Carolina; and from the state of NewHampshire, Mr. Foster, and from the state of South-Carolina, Mr. Read.

On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. Osgood, Mr. Lee and Mr. Morris, to whom was referred a memorial of Philip Moore:

Resolved, That the following form of sea-letters be granted for the ship United States, belonging to the memorialist and others:

Most serene, serene, most puissant, puissant, high, illustrious, noble, honorable, venerable, wise and prudent lords, emperors, kings, republics, princes, dukes, earls, barons, lords, burgo-masters, schepens, counsellors, as also judges, officers, justiciaries and regents of all the good cities and places, whether ecclesiastical or secular, who shall see these patents or hear them read:

We the United States of America in Congress assembled, make known that Mr. James Moore, supercargo of the ship called "The United States," of the burthen of 300 tons, or

thereabouts, at present navigated by captain Thomas Bell, is of the United States of America and as we wish to see the said James Moore, supercargo, prosper in his lawful affairs, our prayer is to all the before mentioned, and to each of them separately, where the said James Moore shall arrive with his vessel and cargo, that they may please to receive the said supercargo with goodness, and to treat him in a becoming manner, permitting him, upon the usual tolls and expenses in passing and repassing, to pass, navigate and frequent the ports, passes and territories, to the end, to transact his business where, and in what manner he shall judge proper. In testimony whereof, &c.

SATURDAY, January 3, 1784.

Congress assembled: Present the same as yesterday.

A letter, of the 17th December last, from Mr. F. Dana, was read, informing Congress of his arrival at Boston, after a passage of 95 days from St. Petersburg; and desiring to know whether it is the expectation of the Congress, that he should come on to the place of their sessions, and, without loss of time, to render a more particular account of his late mission:

Whereupon, on motion of Mr. Gerry, seconded by Mr. Read,

Resolved, That the president inform Mr. Dana, it is the desire of Congress to receive his communication, relative to his mission to the court of Russia, and to the disposition of that court towards the United States, as soon as the circumstances of his affairs, and the season shall admit of his attending Congress

MONDAY, January 5, 1784.

On motion of Mr. Ellery, seconded by Mr. Howell,

Resolved, That the election of the five committees, directed to be appointed on this day, by the resolution of the 17th June, 1782, be postponed till the first Monday in February next.

On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. Lee, Mr. Williamson and Mr. Ellery, to whom was referred a memorial from Gustavus Conyngham, praying for the renewal of a commission of captain in the navy of the United States, received from the commissioners in Paris, in 1777, and lost by him, or to be reinstated in his former situation.

Resolved, That the prayer of the said memorialist cannot be granted, such commissions being intended for temporary expeditions only, and not to give rank in the navy.

On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. Ellery, Mr. Lee, Mr. Izard, Mr. Peters and Mr. M'Henry, to whom was referred a letter from the commander in chief, of the 28th August, containing a proposal from the secretary of the Polish order of knights of Divine Providence, that Congress should nominate a number of suitable persons to be created knights of the said order.

Resolved, That the late commander in chief, be requested to inform the chevalier Jean de Heintz, secretary of the order of Divine Providence, that Congress are sensible of the attention of that order, in proposing to them to nominate a number of suitable persons to be created knights of the order of Divine Providence; but that Congress cannot, consistently with the principles of the confederation, accept of their obliging proposal.

TUESDAY, January 6, 1784.

Congress assembled: Present the same as yesterday.

The committee, consisting of Mr. Howell, Mr. Gerry and Mr. McComb, to whom was referred a letter of the 22d November, from the post-master-general, with sundry papers enclosed therein, respecting the robbery of the mail at Princeton, report the following state of facts:

"That about nine o'clock in the evening of the 30th of October last, the mail for the eastward was closed and laid on the counter, in the post-office, that the post-rider came into the office, and passed into a room adjoining, with the postmaster, leaving the mail on the counter, and a lighted candle near it, without any

one in the office, the door leading into the street and the room adjoining being open; that under these circumstances some person entered the office at the front door, extinguished the candle and carried off the mail; that some days after the robbery of the mail, it was found in a meadow near Princeton, and returned to the general post office; that the mail contained a large packet of notes, signed by Michael Hillegas, treasurer, and other valuable effects, none of which were missing; but that five or six letters were lost, and several franked by members of Congress were broke open. Upon which state of facts the committee conceive that the interests of individuals, the revenue of the post-office, and the national honor, are intimately concerned in the safety and preservation of the public mails, and of the letters, packets and despatches committed to the postoffice." Whereupon,

Resolved, That a copy of the letters and papers referred to the committee, be transmitted to the supreme executive of the state of New Jersey, who are requested to order a strict enquiry into the conduct of John Harrison, postmaster at Princeton, and James Martin, post-rider, relative to the premises; to ascertain whether and how far they were culpable in the loss of the mail; to discover, if possible, the perpetrators of the robbery, and to transmit the result of such enquiry to Congress.

Resolved, That the post-master general be directed to inform Congress, to whom the mail was delivered when found, and whose hands it passed through till lodged in the general post-office; that he also be directed to give positive orders to the several post-masters, and post-riders, to take the most effectual care of the letters, packets, despatches and mails committed to them respectively, as any neglect or misconduct in that department will meet with no indulgence from Congress.

WEDNESDAY, January 7, 1784.

Congress assembled: Present as before.

THURSDAY, January 8, 1784.

Congress assembled: Present as before.

On motion of Mr. Howell, seconded by Mr. Ellery,

Resolved, That Monday next be assigned for the election of a chaplain to Congress.

On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. Gerry, Mr. Lee and Mr. Chase, to whom was referred a memorial of Jan Hendrick Christian Heinekin, one of the agents of the Prussian ship Minerva, touching a decree of the court of appeals in cases of capture:

Resolved, That the memorial of Jan Hendrick Christian Heinekin, with the papers accompanying it, be referred to the judges of the court of appeals in cases of capture, to report to Congress, as speedily as may be, the proceedings, proofs and judgment in the above-mentioned cause.

On the report of the committee, consisting of Mr. Osgood, Mr. Lee and Mr. Tilton, to whom was referred a petition of Thomas Sudler, setting forth, that his dwelling-house was, on the sixth of February, 1781, plundered and robbed by the British; and that he lost several continental certificates to the amount of 2300 dollars, exclusive of interest, which were dated about the 2d of March, 1779, and praying that certificates of the same tenor and date may be issued to him.

Resolved, That the certificates being made payable to the bearer, and probably at this time in circulation, the prayer of the petition cannot be granted. On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. Williamson, Mr. Tilton and Mr. Monroe, to whom were referred the memorial of capt Houdin, of the 2d Massachusetts regiment, and that of lieut. Thacher of the line, praying for promotion,

Resolved, That the definitive treaty of peace being signed, nearly the whole

VOL. IV.

of the army discharged, and the commander in chief having resigned his commission, it is inexpedient to make the promotion requested.

FRIDAY, January 9, 1784.

Congress assembled: Present as before.

On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. Ellery, Mr. Hand and Mr. Spaight, to whom was referred a memorial of the late major-general Sullivan : Resolved, That so much of the said memorial, as respects the payment of 1500 dollars, granted to him by Congress, by their act of the 31st July, 1781, be referred to the superintendent of finance, to take order.

SATURDAY, January 10, 1784.

Only six states attending, viz. Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and North-Carolina; and from the state of New-Hampshire, Mr. Foster, and from the state of Rhode-Island, Mr. Ellery, the president adjourned Congress till ten o'clock on Monday.

MONDAY, January 12, 1784.

Congress assembled: Present, Massachusetts, Rhode-Island, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and North-Carolina; and from the state of New-Hampshire, Mr. Foster, and from the state of South-Carolina, Mr. Read. Ordered, That the election of a chaplain be postponed till Monday next.

TUESDAY, January 13, 1784.

Congress assembled: Present as yesterday; and from the state of Connecticut, Mr. Sherman and Mr. Wadsworth, who produced credentials under the seal of the state; by which it appears, that at a general assembly of the governor and company of the said state, holden at New-Haven, on the 2d Thursday of October, 1783, the said assembly did appoint Roger Sherman, esq. William Williams, esq. James Wadsworth, esq. and William Hilhouse, esq. delegates to represent that state in the Congress of the United States of America, the year ensuing, in the room of Samuel Huntington, esq. Oliver Wolcott, esq. Richard Law, esq. and Oliver Ellsworth, esq. resigned,

Mr. J. Beatty, a delegate tor New-Jersey, attended, and produced credentials; by which it appears, that in the state of New-Jersey, at Trenton, November 6, 1783, the council and assembly in joint meeting, proceeded to the election of five delegates to represent that state in Congress, when the hon. Jonathan Elmer, Silas Condict, John Stevens, John Beatty and Samuel Dick, esqrs. were duly elected, and empowered to represent and vote in behalf of that state in the Congress of the United States of North-America, until the 5th day of November next, unless a new appointment shall sooner take place.

The committee, consisting of Mr. Ellery, Mr. Hand, Mr. Spaight, Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Lee, to whom was referred a letter of the 6th of November, from the legislature of New-Hampshire, on the subject of a memorial from the owners of the private armed vessel called the brig M'Clary, respecting the proceedings and sentence of the judges of the court of appeals in cases of capture, in the case of the brig Lusannah, captured by the said private armed vessel, called the brigantine M'Clary; together with a letter from Mr. J. Sullivan, agent for the proprietors of the said brig M'Clary, having made a report; and the said report, after debate, being postponed,

A motion was made by Mr. Gerry, seconded by Mr Osgood,

That the further consideration of the report be postponed to the 1st Monday of April next; and that a copy of the memorial be transmitted to the present claimants of the brig Lusannah, to shew cause, if any they have, why the prayer of the said memorial should not be granted; and in the mean time that all proceedings in the sentence of the court of appeals, touching the premises, ought to be stayed.

A motion was made by Mr. Chase, seconded by Mr. Read, to strike out the latter part, viz. and in the mean time, &c. to the end:

And on the question, shall those words stand? the yeas and nays being re

quired by Mr. Foster, N-Hampshire, Mr. Foster,

Massachusetts, Mr. Gerry

McComb,

Rhode-Island, Mr. Ellery,

Howell,

So the question was lost and the words were struck out.

nos no

ayay

On the question to agree to the motion as amended, the yeas and nays being

ay no

Lloyd,

Virginia,

N.-Carolina,

Congress assembled: Present, Massachusetts, Rhode-Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina and South-Carolina; Mr. Beresford having this day taken his seat; and from the state of NewHamphire, Mr. Foster, and froin New-Jersey, Mr. Beatty.

On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Gerry, Mr. Ellery, Mr. Read and Mr. Hawkins, to whom were referred the definitive treaty of peace between the United States of America and his Britannic majesty, and the joint letter of the 10th September, from Mr. Adams, Mr. Franklin and Mr. Jay,

Resolved, unanimously, nine states being present, that the said definitive treaty be, and the same is hereby ratified by the United States in Congress assembled, in the form following:

THE UNITED STATES IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED,

To all persons to whom these presents shall come greeting:

Whereas definitive articles of peace and friendship between the United States of America and his Britannic majesty, were concluded and signed at Paris on the 3d day of September, 1783, by the plenipotentiaries of the said United States, and of his said Britannic majesty, duly and respectively authorized for that purpose; which definitive articles are in the words following:

In the name of the most holy and undivided Trinity.

It having pleased the Divine Providence to dispose the hearts of the most serene and most potent prince, George the third, by the grace of God, king of Great-Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith, duke of Brunswick and Lunenburg, arch-treasurer and prince elector of the holy Roman empire, &c. and of the United States of America, to forget all past misunderstandings and differences that have unhappily interrupted the good correspondence and friendship which they mutually wish to restore; and to establish such a beneficial and satisfactory intercourse between the two countries, upon the ground of reciprocal advantges and mutual convenience, as may promote and secure to both perpetual peace and harmony; and having for this desirable end, already laid the foundation of peace and reconciliation, by the provisional articles, signed at Paris, on the 30th of November, 1782, by the commissioners empowered on each part, which articles were agreed to be inserted in and to constitute the treaty of peace proposed to be concluded between the crown of Great-Britain and the said United States, but which treaty was not to be concluded until terms of peace should be agreed upon between Great-Britain and France, and his Britannic majesty should be ready to conclude

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Journals of the American Congress: from 1774 to 1788: In Four Volumes ...