Mr. Clark, a delegate for New-Jersey, attended and took his seat.
Mr. Jones, a delegate for Virginia, attended, and took his seat.

On a report from the superintendent of finance, to whom was referred a report of a committee on a inemorial of Mr. A. Lee:

Resolved, That Arthur Lee, esq. be permitted to deliver up to the comptroller of the treasury, sundry loan-office certificates in his possession, amounting to 9950 55-90 dollars, and that the same be, on such delivery, cancelled; and that the superintendent of finance do thereupon pay the said Arthur Lee, the sum of £ 2238 17 9, sterling, with interest from the 10th day of August, 1781, at 6 per cent. by bills of exchange in his favor, in livres, at the rate of ten pence half penny sterling each.

On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. Lee, Mr. Rutledge, and Mr. Madison, to whom, upon a re-consideration, the resolution of the 28th of May last, was referred :

Resolved, That a commissioner be appointed by Congress, with full power and authority, to liquidate and finally to settle the accounts of all the servants of the United States, who have been entrusted with the expenditure of public money in Europe, and all other accounts of the United States in Europe, and to commence and prosecute such suits, causes, and actions, as may be necessary for that purpose, or for the recovery of any property of the said United States, in the hands of any person or persons whatsoever.

That the said commissioner be authorized to appoint one or more clerks, with such allowance as he may think reasonable.

That the said commissioner and clerks respectively take an oath before some person duly authorized to administer an oath, faithfully to execute the trust reposed in them respectively.

Congress proceeded to the election of a commissioner, and, the ballots being taken, Mr. Thomas Barclay was elected, having been previously nominated by Mr. Williamson.

Resolved, That Congress will hereafter make adequate provision for the said commissioner, according to the nature and extent of the services which he shall perform.

Ordered, That the superintendent of finance report the necessary instructions. for the said commissioner, pursuant to the order of the 29th of May last.

TUESDAY, November 19, 1782.

On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. Carroll, Mr. Osgood, and Mr. Peters, to whom was referred a report of a committee on a letter of the 30th of October, from the secretary at war :

Resolved, That the senior officers of each grade, sufficient to form corps agreeable to the act of the 7th of August last, (the regiments to have their complement of officers, as established by the acts of the 3d and 21st of October, 1780, except as to the therein proposed supernumerary subaltern for receiving the recruits, who shall be omitted,) shall be retained in service for the command of the said corps; and the redundant junior officers of the several grades, shall retire from immediate service, agreeably to the said first recited act, but the said junior officers, so retiring, shall retain their rank in the army, and be Table and entitled to be called into actual service, only when regiments or corps shall be raised for them by their respective states. But any senior officer, entitled to remain in service, shall have the liberty of retiring, with the emoluments of officers retiring under the acts last recited, for reasons satisfactory to the commander in chief, or the commanding officer of the southern army, on such retiring officer relinquishing his command and future right of promotion in the army, and signifying the same, on or before the 1st day of January next, to the commander in chief or the commanding officer of the southern army, who shall duly transmit lists of such retiring officers, to the secretary at war; any act or resolution of Congerss to the contrary hereof notwithstanding.

When the foregoing resolution was under debate,

A motion was made by Mr. Howell, seconded by Mr. Arnold, to strike out the words" command and ;"

And on the question, shall these words stand? the yeas and nays being required by Mr. Howell, `N.-Hampshire, Mr. Gilman,

White,

Massachusetts, Mr. Osgood,
Rhode Island, Mr. Arnold,

no

ay

no

no? Delaware,
Maryland,

Mr. Wharton,

ay

Mr. Carroll,

ay

Hemsley,

ay

ay

no
no no

Virginia,

Mr. Jones,

ay

Madison,

ay

ay

ay

New-Jersey, Mr. Boudinot,

ay

S.-Carolina,

Mr. Rutledge,

ay

Ramsay,

ay

Pennsylvania, Mr. Fitzsimmons,

ayay

So it was resolved in the affirmative.

Congress proceeded to the consideration of the report, and the committee having reported, "that commissions issue to the officers in the several state lines, who are or shall be entitled to promotion, prior to the 1st day of January next; that the retiring officers may leave the service with the ranks to which they are or shall be respectively entitled, previous to that period."

On the question to agree to this proposition, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. Howell,

WEDNESDAY, November 20, 1782.

Mr. Mifflin, a delegate for Pennsylvania, attended, and took his seat.
On motion of Mr. Peters, seconded by Mr. Clark,

Resolved, That commissions issue, on promotions properly certified, for all regimental officers entitled to fill vacancies happening before the first day of January next, excepting vacancies occasioned by senior officers retiring, agreeably to the resolve of the 19th inst. any resolution of Congress to the contrary hereof notwithstanding.

On the question to agree to this resolution, the yeas and nays being requir ed by Mr. Howell,

Ordered, That the pay-master general furnish the secretary at war, from

time to time, as they may be called for by him, with the accounts of all pay and advances received by or chargeable to the officers and men of the several regiments in the service of the United States.

The report of the committee, consisting of Mr. Lee, Mr. Izard, and Mr. Wharton, to whom were referred a letter of the 24th of May last from the superintendent of finance, and the orders given to captain Harding, being taken into consideration, and after debate postponed:

On motion of Mr. Duane, seconded by Mr. Madison,

Resolved, That the superintendent of finance be directed to instruct the commissioner for settling the public accounts in Europe, to take proper measures for adjusting, without delay, the accounts of Mr. de Beaumarchais or Roderique Hortales & Co. and to report such settlement to Congress, that order may be taken for payment of the balance, if any shall be justly due; and that in the mean time no farther remittances or payments be made to Mr. de Beaumarchais or Roderique Hortales and Co. by virtue of any former resolution of Congress.

THURSDAY, November 21, 1782.

A letter, of the 17th, from W. Paca, was read, informing, that the general assembly of Maryland having promoted him to the government of that state, he is obliged to resign his office of judge of the court of appeals in cases of capture.

The committee, consisting of Mr. Howell, Mr. Gervais and Mr. L'Hommedieu, having reported on the letter of the 6th from the governor of Maryland, relative to the case of colonel H. Hollingsworth:

Resolved, That Congress are satisfied with the report of the hon. Alexander Contee Hanson, esq. one of the judges of the general court of the state of Maryland, on the case of Henry Hollingsworth, referred to him by the executive of the said state, in pursuance of the act of Congress of the 20th July, 1780; and that the complaint against the said H. Hollingsworth be dismissed.

FRIDAY, November 22, 1782.

On motion of Mr. Madison, seconded by Mr. Osgood,

Resolved, That Monday the 2d of December next, be assigned for electing two judges for the court of appeals in cases of capture, one in the room of Mr. Paca, resigned, and one in the room of Mr. Hosmer, deceased.

MONDAY, November 25, 1782.

Mr. Alexander Hamilton, a delegate for the state of New-York, attended, and produced a commission under the great seal of the state, dated at Poughkeepsie, the 25th of October, 1782, which was read, and by which it appears, that on the 22d of July, 1782, the hon. James Duane, William Floyd, John Morin Scott, Ezra L'Hommedieu and Alexander Hamilton, were appointed delegates to represent the said state for one year, from the first Monday in November, 1782.

On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. Williamson, Mr. Madison and Mr. Peters, to whom was referred a motion of Mr. Madison:

Resolved, That the secretary for foreign affairs be, and he is hereby authorized to communicate to the ministers of foreign powers, who may reside near Congress, all such acts and resolutions of Congress, and all such articles of intelligence received by Congress, as he may judge proper, those only excepted which Congress may specially require to be kept secret, in which cases he shall make previous application to Congress.

WEDNESDAY, November 27, 1782.

Mr. W. Floyd, a delegate for New-York, attended and took his seat. The committee, consisting of Mr. Ramsay, Mr. Nash and Mr. Peters, to whom was referred a letter of the 20th from the secretary at war, reported

the draught of a supplemental ordinance for regulating the post-office, which was read a first time:

Ordered, That Monday next be assigned for the second reading.

Ordered, That Mr. Duane and Mr. L'Hommedieu have leave of absence.

MONDAY, December 2, 1782.

According to order, the draught of the supplemental ordinance for regulating the post-office, was taken up for a second reading; and after debate, Ordered, That it be re-committed.

A motion was made by Mr. Howell, seconded by Mr. Arnold, "that it be recommended to the several states, to settle with and satisfy the officers and men of such temporary corps of troops as may have been raised within them respectively, with the approbation of Congress, on account of their pay and emoluments during the time of their actual service, and the depreciation thereon, and charge the same to the United States."

A motion was made by Mr. M'Kean, seconded by Mr. Hamilton, that the consideration thereof be postponed:

And on the question for postponing, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. Howell,

Ordered, That the order of the day, for electing two judges for the court of appeals, be postponed to Thursday next.

TUESDAY, December 3, 1782.

The secretary for foreign affairs having assigned to Congress satisfactory reasons for relinquishing his office, and having requested permission to resign: Resolved, That Thursday, the 19th inst. be assigned for electing another person to fill the office of secretary for foreign affairs; and that Mr. Livingston be informed that Congress do approve of his proposal of continuing to perform the duties of the office until a person shall be appointed to succeed

him.

On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Peters and Mr. Osgood, to whom was referred a letter of the 22d Nov. from the superintendent of finance and secretary at war:

Resolved, That after the last day of December inst. in lieu of the rations hitherto allowed to the officers of the army, including those for servants, they shall be allowed subsistence money at the rate of four dollars per month for each ration; provided, that where circumstances in any case shall not permit the payment of such subsistence money, they shall draw their rations as heretofore.

Resolved, That after the fore-mentioned period, in lieu of the pay and rations allowed to the officers of the hospital department, including rations for servants, they shall be entitled to the following monthly pay and subsistence; provided in like manner, that where the said subsistence money shall not be paid, they shall be entitled to draw an equivalent number of rations, at the rate of four dollars for each ration per month, viz.

The director, 102 dollars pay and 60 dollars subsistence.

The deputy director and physician, each 100 dollars pay and 48 dollars

subsistence.

The surgeons, each 90 dollars pay and 40 dollars subsistence.

Apothecary and purveyor, each 92 dollars pay and 52 dollars subsistence. Deputy apothecary and deputy purveyor, each 59 dollars pay and 16 dollars subsistence.

Mates, each 42 dollars pay and 12 dollars subsistence.

Stewards, each 31 dollars pay and eight dollars subsistence.

Ward masters, each 21 dollars pay and eight dollars subsistence.

WEDNESDAY, December 4, 1782.

On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. Osgood, Mr. Madison and Mr. Hamilton, to whom was referred a letter of the 29th of November from the agent of marine, enclosing a copy of a letter of the same date, to him, from captain J. P. Jones:

Resolved, That the agent of marine be informed, that Congress having a high sense of the merit and services of capt. J. P. Jones, and being disposed to favour the zeal manifested by him to acquire improvement in the line of his profession, do grant the permission which he requests; and that the said agent be instructed to recommend him accordingly to the countenance of his excellency the marquis de Vaudreuil.

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

Resolved, That a committee be appointed to confer with a committee of the legislature of Pennsylvania, relative to the subjects of their late memorial to Congress: the members, Mr. Rutledge, Mr. Madison, and Mr. Hamilton.

The committee, consisting of Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Peters, and Mr. Osgood, to whom were referred a report of the superintendent of finance, on a letter of the 22d of November 1782, from capt. Schreiber, and a letter of the 25th of the same month from lieut. col. Cambray; report,

"That although they consider the situation of foreigners in the service of this country, remote from any resources which they may have in their own, and destitute of any competent provision here, as involving a peculiar hardship, and requiring if possible some discrimination in their favor; yet in the present embarrassed state of the public finances, they cannot advise any measure for their relief, which may derange the general plans of the superintendent of finance; and they therefore recommend, that the matter may be left to his discretion, to act therein as he may conceive most proper."

Resolved, That Congress agree to the said report.

The committee, consisting of Mr. Carroll, Mr. Osgood, and Mr. Peters, to whom was referred a letter of the 29th of October, from the secretary at war, on the subject of future promotions of colonels to the rank of brigadiers; report, That for the purpose of promotions of colonels or lieutenant-colonels commandant, the army of the United States shall be considered as classed in the following divisions; the eastern, middle, and southern. The troops of NewHampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode-Island, and Connecticut, shall form the eastern; those of New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland, the middle; and those of Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina, and Georgia, the southern division:

That whensoever it shall be deemed necessary for the service, to appoint brigadiers in any state or states where the number of troops in the field are sufficient to form one or more brigades, the brigadiers shall be appointed from the senior colonels or lieutenant-colonels commandant in the lines of such states; and when brigadiers shall be wanted to command brigades within either of the divisions composed of the troops of such states, who have not individually numbers in the field sufficient to form a brigade, the brigadiers shall be appointed from the senior colonels or lieutenant-colonels commandant in such brigades.