ject, and other circumstances, render this article at least extremely doubtful. The British fleet at New York has been busy in preparing for sea, and will probably soon depart from that station. The West Indies most naturally occur as the object of its destination. It is said their preparations have been much expedited by the most direct and undisguised supplies from the people of New Jersey. Congress have been occupied for several days past with the case of Lippencot, referred to them by General Washington. On one side it was urged, that the disavowal and promises by the British Commander, the abolition of the obnoxious board of refugees, and the general change of circumstances, rendered retaliation unnecessary and inexpedient. On the other side it was contended, that a departure from the resolution so solemnly adopted and repeated by General Washington, with equal solemnity ratified by Congress, would be an indelible blot on our character; that after the confessions on the part of the enemy of the deed complained of, a greater inflexibility on our part would be looked for; that after such confessions, too, the enemy would never suffer the innocent to perish, if we persisted in demanding the guilty; and finally, that if they should suffer it, the blood would be on their heads, not on ours. No definitive resolution has yet passed on the subject. All the intermediate steps have been very properly entered on the secret journals. General Lincoln has just returned from the army. He has not yet made a report to Congress. He says, I understand, that his visit has had a very salutary VOL. I.-12* operation, but that some pay must be found for the army. Where it is to be found, God knows. The state of the public finances has already compelled the Superintendant to give a discharge to the former contractors, and to accept of a new contract, by which thirty per cent. is added to the price of a ration in consideration of credit for three months. He has, on this occasion, written a pressing exhortation to the States, which, I suppose, is accessible to you. Mr. Carroll moved, yesterday, a resolution for accepting the territorial cession of New York. stands the order for to-day. I regret much, on this occasion, the absence of Mr. Jones." It DEBATES IN THE CONGRESS OF THE CONFEDERATION, FROM NOVEMBER 14TH, 1782, TO FEBRUARY 13TH, 1783. IN CONGRESS, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH, 1782. ELIAS BOUDINOT was chosen President, by the votes of New Hampshire, represented by John Taylor Gilman and Phillips White-Rhode Island, by Jonathan Arnold and David Howell-Connecticut, by Benjamin Huntington and Eliphalet Dyer-New Jersey, by Elias Boudinot and John WitherspoonPennsylvania, by Thomas Smith. George Clymer, and Henry Wynkoop-Delaware, by Thomas McKean and Samuel Wharton-Maryland, by John Hanson, Daniel Carroll, and William Hemsley. The votes of Virginia, represented by James Madison and Theodorick Bland, and of South Carolina, represented by John Rutledge, Ralph Izard, David Ramsay, and John Lewis Gervais, were given to Mr. Bland. The vote of New York, represented by James Duane and Ezra L'Hommedieu, to Abner Nash. The vote of North Carolina, by Abner Nash, Hugh Williamson, and William Blount, to John Rutledge. Massachusetts, having no Delegate but Samuel Osgood, had no vote. Georgia had no Delegate. |