by Jonathan Elliot

Previous Day | Full Calendar | Next Day

Friday, June 13, 1783

The mutinous memorial from the sergeants was received and read. It excited much indignation, and was sent to the secretary at war.⁴⁷

Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789
FRIDAY, JUNE. 13, 1783

On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Theodorick] Bland, Mr. [James] McHenry and Mr. [Nathaniel] Gorham, to whom was referred a letter of 11, from the Secretary at War.

Whereas the Secretary at War was, by the resolution of the 26 day of April, 1782, directed and empowered to establish sufficient magazines at New London, in Virginia, and at sundry other places within the United States: and whereas the Secretary at War is of opinion, and it also appears to the committee, that it would be most proper to erect the magazine in Virginia, at a place more convenient than New London; therefore,

Resolved, That the Secretary at War be authorised to construct and erect magazines for keeping such of the stores of the United States as it shall be found necessary to send to Virginia, at such place above the falls of James river, as shall, in his opinion, be the best adapted for that purpose, [the above resolution notwithstanding; and that he lay before Congress, as soon as may be, an estimate of the expence for building and compleating the same, and such other of the magazines, mentioned in the said resolution, as yet remain to be built or comnpleated].¹

The committee of the week [Mr. Jonathan Arnold, Mr. Silas Condict, and Mr. Eleazer McComb] are of opinion that the within memorial [of John Jordan, James McKinsey and Joseph Brussel] be referred to the Agent of Marine to report.

Agreed to June 13, 1783.²

Foot Notes:

1 This report, in the writing of Theodorick Bland, except the part in brackets which is in that of Elias Boudinot, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 27, folio 231. The letter of the Secretary at War is in No. 149, III, folio 1. According to the indorsement, and the entry in Committee Book No. 186, it was referred to the Committee on June 12.
The following, undated, in the writing of Alexander Hamilton, does not appear to have been acted upon. It is in No. 27, folio 233:
“Resolved, That so much of the resolution of the //as relates to the establishment of a magazine at New London on James River in Virginia be repealed and that the Secretary at Wax be authorised to examine and fix upon such other place on that river in said State, as shall appear to him most convenient.”

2 This report, in the writing of Jonathan Arnold, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 137, II, folio 606. The memorial is on folio 605. See post September 15.

Previous Day | Full Calendar | Next Day

)