by Jonathan Elliot

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Thursday, April 24, and Friday, April 25, 1783

See Journal.

Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789

THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 1783

A memorial of Ignace Penet, late a lieutenant in Colonel Armand’s corps, and a report from the Secretary at War thereon, being read:

On motion of Mr. [Samuel] Osgood, seconded by Mr. [Alexander] Hamilton,

Ordered, That the memorial be referred to the Superintendant of finance, and that it be left to his discretion to act therein as he may conceive most proper.

The Secretary for Foreign affairs, having communicated to Congress a letter of 14 April to him from Sir Guy Carleton:

The Committee [Mr. Alexander Hamilton, Mr. John Rutledge and Mr. Nathaniel Gorham] on the letter of the 14th Instant from His Excellency Sir Guy Carleton submit the following Resolution,

Whereas his Excellency Sir Guy Carleton has proposed to Congress to empower one or more persons on behalf of the United States to be present at New York and to assist such persons as shall be appointed by him to inspect and superintend all embarckations which the evacuation of that place may require and to represent to him every infraction of the letter or spirit of the 7th article of the Treaty entered into between the United States and his Britannic Majesty the 30th day of November last that redress may be immediately ordered,

Therefore Resolved, That three Commissioners be appointed for the purpose abovementioned.¹

Ordered, That the said letter from Sir Guy Carleton, be referred to the Commander in Chief, and that he take such measures for carrying into effect the several matters therein mentioned, as to him shall seem expedient.

On motion of Mr. [John Lewis] Gervais, seconded by Mr. [Hugh] Williamson,

Ordered, That the memorial of Lieutenant Liston, praying for 200 dollars, on account of pay due to him, that he may be enabled to return to South Carolina, be referred to the Superintendant of finance, and that it be left to his discretion to act therein as he may conceive most proper.²

On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Thomas] Fitzsimmons, Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth, and Mr. [Alexander] Hamilton, to whom was referred a motion of Mr, [Alexander] Hamilton relative to the southern army:

Resolved, That the Secretary at War and the Superintendant of finance, take immediate measures for removing the lines of Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, [together with the corps of artillery and cavalry] now under the command of Major General Greene, to such places within their respective states as they shall think proper and that they concert with General Greene the necessary measures for disbanding the troops of No. Carolina and So. Carolina so soon as circumstances will permit³

On the question to agree to the above resolution, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [John] Rutledge,

So it was resolved in the affirmative.⁴

Foot Notes

1 This report, in the writing of Alexander Hamilton, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, II, folio 209. According to the indorsement it was read on April 22. According to the record in Committee Book No. 186, the committee was appointed April 22, and reported the same day.

2 See ante, February 26.

3 This report, in the writing of Thomas FitzSimons, except the words in brackets which are in the handwriting of Elias Boudinot, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 21, folio 339. The vote is indorsed on the report.

4 On this day, as the indorsement states, was read a memorial of William Trent, dated Philadelphia, April 17, 1783, in behalf of himself and others, proprietors of a tract of land called Indiana. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, X, folio 99–103.
Also on this day, as the indorsement indicates, a letter of April 24, of William Geddes relative to the accounts of John Sandford Dart, was referred to Mr. [William] Hemsley, Mr. [Benjamin] Hawkins and Mr. [Thomas] FitzSimons. It is in No. 78, X, folio 415. Committee Book, No. 186, states that the committee reported April 26. See post April 30.
Also a letter of April 24 from the Secretary at War enclosing a letter of April 10, from Captain Jonathan Lawrence. It is No. 149, II, folio 457, and Lawrence’s Letter is on folio 453.

FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 1783.

Ordered, That a motion of Mr. Clark respecting certificates issued at the Treasury Office be referred to the Superintendant of Finance.¹

That all certificates which may in future be issued from the Treasury Office on liquidated debts, be made payable to the bearer and transferable, in the same manner as certificates heretofore issued for money loaned; and that all certificates which may have been issued transferable only in the Treasury Office be renewed in manner above-said upon application of the present holders, and their returning those of the last description they at present hold.²

Foot Notes

1 This order was entered only in the journal kept by the Secretary of Congress for the Superintendent of Finance: Morris Papers, Congressional Proceedings.

2 This motion, in the writing of Abraham Clark, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 63. According to the record in Committee Books No. 186 and No. 191, the report of the Superintendent of Finance, delivered August 5, 1783, was committed, January 6,1784, to Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, Mr. [William] Ellery, and Mr. [Hugh] Williamson. Their report, delivered February 2, was acted upon April 15, 1784.

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